Hellobee Boards

@Smurfette: Is there one in Sea Pines? I feel like there is one called the Monarch? That place is supposed to be great; we used to always get a condo in Sea Pines and the main Sea Pines beach access is right beside it.

This year we are not staying in a plantation; nothing in SP that was affordable was anywhere near the beach. When I was a kid we would bike to the beach with three toddlers. I'd be down for biking, but being pregnant biking scares me! Maybe another year!

@locavore_mama: that would be a miserable trek! Especially considering you'd pass so many other comparable beaches on the way!

@Smurfette: We go with the IL's to SGI every year, which is in a secluded part of the gulf coast, and it is fantastic! We do that in August. I used to live in AL and we went to Gulf Shores quite a bit back in those days. I've never been to Destin but I'd love to! Everyone's pictures have such pretty blue water. I'm really desperate to try Grayton Beach but the cost is just too prohibitive; I think that area is really trendy right now so the prices have shot up.

My parents are huge marriott people. My dad travels a lot and gets tons of points. They just got back from staying at a marriott club in west palm beach.....color me jealous!

@Mrs. Pen: It depends on what you want out of your experience. Building is very controlled, so there aren't a lot of options for staying directly on the beach unless you stay in a highrise (there are only a few, they tend to be more expensive, and sometimes don't accommodate families as well as a condo would). So usually there is some walking involved. But it is very shady with very well-developed bike paths so the walks are usually ok. Other downsides: the sand isn't powdery and the water is usually pretty murky. But I kinda like the wildness of the Atlantic and like to go every so often to see that. And I like that there are lots of rules in place about colors, building size, signage, so it doesn't feel terribly commercial, although it is extremely popular. Plus it is a 30 minute drive from Savannah for daytrips. There are other islands, like Fripp and Harbour and Tybee that I'd like to try, but HHI is a lot cheaper.

The food is ok, but food on the gulf is much better IMO! Atlantic shrimp are skinny! Gulf shrimp are fatties!

But definitely, for clear water, white sand, blue water, and an ocean view, the gulf is your best bet unless you can go further south! My husband refuses to drive more than about 7 hours, lol!

@lemondrop: I'd love to go to the beach in the fall!