VAcation ideas for the wife and I

OK, the wife and I are looking mid-June to go away for a few days (4-5) and get some beach time and celebrate our 10th anniversary. We HAD narrowed it down to Panama City and Myrtle Beach, but some people have offered other options/ideas.

What we do: I sit under an umbrella and read, she scours the sand for shells and splashes in the water. I don't swim, but she does drag me out lathered in SPF50 sunblock occasionally. We are thinking of bringing our "girls", so it'll need to be pet friendly.

Thoughts, suggestions? We're looking at the gulf coast and Atlantic coast. Been to the Outer Banks 4 years ago, looking for some place new. Trying to stay under $1000 for food/hotel.

I would personally stay away from Myrtle Beach for many reasons. Have you looked at Sanibel Island on the Gulf Coast of Florida? Its hot in June, but not very crowded. Great beaches and shelling. Look on VRBO.com for waterfront condos.

Sanibel is 20 hours each way... which is a little more than what we were looking to do. We're looking in the 12-14 hour range from the house... so relatively "close".

In reply to mightymike:

I second VBRO and other sites to search for rental apartments/condos. I'm writing this from a rental flat in London that I found through one of those services. Nice place in an expen$$$$$ive neighborhood in South Kensington, great location, for way less than any non 5 star hotel.

I have one of those green turtle sandboxes in the backyard.....you're within the driving distance you want. I'll even fix up the shed real nice so you and the wife can have "alone time". And pet's are only $10 more a week
Sorry, nothing good to add.

Check the Myrtle Beach times. You never know what "bike week" or whatever will be going on. Ive never been to Panama City, but I hear it is fun. Oh, if all you guys do is sit on the beach, check out Wrightsville Beach NC (about 1 hour north of MB). Its cheaper, quieter and has some really good places to eat.

For early June the weather could possibly be cold but since you are starting in Indiana, have you ever been to the northwest shore of Michigan. Much less sun burn than Panama City I recommend the Charlevoix, Petoskey, Boyne City are of Michigan.

Easily dog friendly. I can recommend many places and provide you with places that are very remote (but easy to get to if you know the local routes) where you can have a small fire on the sandy beach and a bottle of wine while you watch the sun go down right into the water (on this west coast.)
Once the sun is down, you stay for some ultra-secluded romance right there in the sand.

Great food
Hiking if you want it.
World class golf
Pretty views and nice scenic driving.
Tons of water and beach access (fresh water!)
Quaint shopping if wanted
Lodging in all price categories and styles
and more and more.

I've been there, the wife hasn't. She doens't consider the great lakes to be "real oceans" (which she's correct).

Bobzilla wrote: I've been there, the wife hasn't. She doens't consider the great lakes to be "real oceans" (which she's correct).

too bad. I was going to suggest Door County.

Wrightsville Beach is WAY better than Myrtle Beach, IMHO.

Bobzilla wrote: I've been there, the wife hasn't. She doens't consider the great lakes to be "real oceans" (which she's correct).

Minus the salt, they look pretty much the same as you can't see the other shore.

I found this place: http://www.travelocity.com/trips/productDetailsInternal?ac_state=FL&guestCounts=2&guestCodes=ADULT&propertyIds=1761&city=Seagrove+Beach&numRooms=1&numNights=3&hotelAmenitiesUsed=true&path=hotels&isPriceFilterChanged=false&roomOptions=true&pTxId=2368445&checkInDate=2012-06-18&checkOutDate=2012-06-21&tabId=information&filterHtlSmiley=&filter_byHotelAmenityIds=22&configId=S21949757&locLink=HOTELLIST1%7CPOS1&dest=VPS&_gsid=S21949757-NE118066709998947554100430470345011406&hotelRequestId=310107310622694#details_header

Good place? Location wise that is...

Grtechguy wrote:

Bobzilla wrote: I've been there, the wife hasn't. She doens't consider the great lakes to be "real oceans" (which she's correct).

Minus the salt, they look pretty much the same as you can't see the other shore.

Yeah, if it's just wanting to get to a beach, we have Lake Michigan 2 and a half hours away. No need to get a hotel. Wife wants ocean and shells.

Destin is a great Family beach location.

There is alot for the kids to do in Panama City.

Take a day trip to Mexico Beach if you want to hunt shells.

Gasoline wrote: Destin is a great Family beach location. There is alot for the kids to do in Panama City. Take a day trip to Mexico Beach if you want to hunt shells.

No kids. Just the wife and I, and if we could find a beachfront pet friendly hotel our two "girls"... maybe 3. But the oldest is not doing well.

I was in Panama City Beach once on business. The place was really quiet when I was there and I really enjoyed it. Forget what time of the year, but I am thinking it was wintertime.

I would stay further West to be closer to the Naval Aviation Museum

Tybee island/savannah ga?. Lots of history, plus all the beach stuff you like.

I am a big fan of the Outer Banks. Not much traffic or crowding - you can find a cabin on the beach that is mostly affordable and just chill.

http://www.outerbanks.org/

That Mi destination that jrw posted looks great to me.

We spent 4 days in the OB about 3 or 4 years ago. We're trying to find someplace new to us.

So... DAytona, OB, Jersey Shore, St Augustine are all "out" as destinations. We've been to them before, some multiple times.

I was going to suggest Door County too, but oh well. I have been to Pensacola, Florida. It's way less ...'Spring Break'-y than Panama City and there are some cool things to see. The Blue Angels practice there (at least I saw them practicing there) and there is a big Civil War fort on the beach.

I would hit Bat cave Bat cave NC

From the description of your wants and the budget you've set, I think the choices you made are good ones. Yeah, maybe Myrtle Beach and Panama City are popular tourist destinations. But I've never understood why people say that like it's always a bad thing. I'm on vacation, I travelled to get here. That makes me a ???? Tourist. I'm OK with that. Not that all "tourist traps" are good, some are bad. But I have no problem visiting a popular tourist spot if it seems good.

Klayfish wrote: From the description of your wants and the budget you've set, I think the choices you made are good ones. Yeah, maybe Myrtle Beach and Panama City are popular tourist destinations. But I've never understood why people say that like it's always a bad thing. I'm on vacation, I travelled to get here. That makes me a ???? Tourist. I'm OK with that. Not that all "tourist traps" are good, some are bad. But I have no problem visiting a popular tourist spot if it seems good.

The wife and I feel the same way. We like to be entertained with the local flavor of touristy stuff. We're not "travel snobs" lol

Gasoline wrote: Destin is a great Family beach location. There is alot for the kids to do in Panama City. Take a day trip to Mexico Beach if you want to hunt shells.

I was going to say Destin too, great place. Go to the Florida gulf the beaches are better than east coast beaches. I didn't like Wrightsville, NC when I went last August.

Kure Beach, Carolina Beach, Oak Island, etc. are all good beaches in North Carolina.

We're taking our vacation in Sunset Beach this summer, mainly because I do a lot of fishing.