I love vacation rentals.  I have a husband, 2 kids - and a couple dogs - so when we vacation it’s a moving department store/zoological park.  We are dragging around the favorite bunny for sleeping, the special pillow, extra pup treats and the video games.  That’s a bunch of junk to cram in your run-of-the-mill hotel room.  Vacation Rentals are the perfect alternative - there’s plenty of room, you can cook breakfast (or throw donuts at everyone, including the dogs) so you dont have to get up at 7am while you’re on VACATION.  Bonus points - they usually have a washer and dryer - and more than one TV.  It’s like being at home - but you’re not!  A vacation rental at the beach is a necessity - here’s why:

• Beaches mean sand, and sand gets EVERYWHERE.  Being able to wash off and throw the sandy beach stuff in the washing machine is priceless.

• More and more vacation rentals are pet-friendly.  Many more so than hotels.  It’s a bonus when every member of the family can enjoy the vacation.  If you need to, you can even throw the dog in the tub!

• Shells are everywhere - and believe it or not - even the dead ones stink.  LUckily in a vacation rental - you probably have room to bleach them BEFORE you cram them in your suitcase for a day of traveling - leaving your clothing and other things smelling decidedly “funky”

• Privacy and convenience are important when we’re on vacation.  I love having a little beach cottage we can sit on the back deck and the kids can run on the beach til they pass out.  Hotels usually involve a lengthy gathering of junk and hauling it down to the beach - and lots of “back and forthing” to restroom, eat, etc.  If you’re staying ON the beach - you’re right there - no need to travel far to soak your feet.

Westie photo courtesy RandySonofRobert
Beach House photo courtesy The Wolf

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One of my family’s favorite beach-type pass times is shelling. We hit the beach and drag great gobs of different shells back to the vacation rental - only to be forced to leave 90% behind because we cant pack them all - or they smell funny.

I did find out you can clean seashells so they don’t smell - but picking up “dead shells” is your best bet for this, although that doesn’t guarantee they’ll be ’stink free’.

Depending upon what part of the states you visit, some of the shells you find are pretty dull. The Oregon coast for example delivers a vast number of mussles - which are pretty neat with their iridescent colors - but after you’ve seen a hundred of those, big deal!

So where else can you go to spend hours picking through shells on the beach. I actually did a search for best shelling beaches in Florida and found out the “Lee Island Coast” in Southwest Florida was actually one of the best places in the WORLD for shelling. Featuring nearly 100 barrier islands, some of the more familiar names would be Sanibel Island, Marco Island and Captiva Island.

Plan your shelling for low tide, so check out the tide tables before you leave on vacation - that way you’ll know the best time of day to hit the beach with your pail. You can also have better luck by checking out the “lay of the land” so to speak. One good spot is where the waves break over as they come up on the beach, it will look like a slight “ditch” just past the water line.
Be forewarned, live shelling is banned - this means if there’s a critter, or a portion of a critter inside, leave it alone!

You can actually “charter” a guide to take you shelling after kayaking to a barrier island. Or visit a “shell museum” - that’s some hard core shelling action!

There are over 400 species of shells that can be found int he area - from the common scallop to something called the brown speckled junonia - but when I search for that type of shell - all I get are images of butterflies - so that one must be pretty rare. You can also expect to find conch and sand dollars in abundance.

When you consider hitting the Lee Island Coast - I always recommend vacation rentals for your stay.  I found a few that are right on the gulf beach and offer great convenience to shelling.  Consider a Marco Island Condo Rental at South Seas on the Beach.  Captiva Island Vacation Rentals also has some nice places on the sand.

top image from adactio

lower image from Francesco Z

We’ve talked in the past about how “pet friendly” Hilton Head Island is - as a mom I feel I’m remiss in not mentioning all of the Hilton Head activities and attractions for Kids and Families!  Beyond the beach and digging in the sand, there are tons of things for kids to do in the area - things that are going to amuse mom and dad also.  Lets face it, a happy kid on vacation leads to happy moms and dad’s on vacation.

 If you’re into adventure - try out Adventure Cove (warning there’s music on that site!).  This entertainment center has a water park, a parachute ride, laser tag, a 4D movie theatre, bumper cars, virtual roller coasters and more.  You could spend a whole day here and not run out of fun stuff to do before you ran out of the energy needed to do them all!

The Art Cafe is a hit with everyone - select your own potter and paint it - make your OWN Hilton Head souvenir for Grandma and Grandpa - it’s the perfect gift.

 The Coastal Discovery Musem is open year round and offers a great variety of indoor and outdoor exhibits.  There are activity centers and you can sign up for one or more of 11 different cruises that take you around the island to learn more about the unique history, flora and fauna.

Saddle up for a ride through the Sea Pines Forest Preserve with Lawton Stables (843) 671-2586.  Sea Horse Farms (843)681-7746) offers beach rides.  Keep in mind, minimum age for trail rides from both purveyors is 8-years-old.

If you’re going to be on-island from June through August - the kids might enjoy some Kayak lessons or even Kayak Camp.  Outside Hilton Head offers something for kids starting at age SEVEN!

If you’re staying at a resort some will offer on-site kid’s programs - but if you’re choosing a vacation rental or other lodging - consider putting together a variety of activities and making your own kid camp!  I always recommend vacation rentals as I love to have a kitchen and not have to rush to breakfast when the kids’ feet hit the floor.

photo courtesy terren in Virginia

Located on the southern-most end of North Carolina’s brunswick Islands, Sunset Beach offers one of the most soothing beach getaways you will experience. As you cross the one land pontoon bridge over the salt marsh, you’re entering a different world - one of laid back atmosphere and quiet relaxation.

Hunt for shells on the beach or lounge in a chair and watch the sea birds. The cottages and homes located among the dunes will remind you WHY you’re on vacation and reinforcethat “I never want it to end” feeling.

Just under an hours drive from Myrtle Beach - you can enjoy a laid back pace and still take advantage of some of the most scenic roads while you travel to a round of golf in one of the most famous golf destinations there is. Courses such as Oyster Bay, Sea Trail, Panther’s Run, Heather Glenn and many more are within a fifteen minute drive and there are over 100 courses within a forty mile radius of Sunset Beach!

Sunset Beach was made for weddings. The breathtaking blue waters and wide beaches make planning your special day easy and enjoyable. Rent a home on the beach for the wedding party and have an informal gathering at sunset or enjoy a blowout at one of the nearby resort properties. Temperatures in June through September hover in the low 80’s and water temperature is in the high 70’s. Not too hot, nice breeze and warm water! Excellent!

You’ll find great local dishes at a wide variety of eateries. Check out Magnolias at Sea Trail - a nearby golf course. or check out Ellas at Calabash - a town just a few miles away.

Lodging provides a variety of choices. A beach cottage or condo looks to be your best bet. Most local rental agencies run specials based on season. Low season for a Sunset Beach NC Vacation Rental would be Jan 1 to May 19 and Sept 1 to Dec. 31. High season would be June 9 to August 18 and Value Season would be some weeks in May June & August - depending upon the rental company and their inventory.

Photo Courtesy Michael Jastremski for openphoto.net CC:Attribution-ShareAlike

There arent many things on earth more beautiful than the Tetons. I visited Jackson Hole once in the summer many years ago and I still think about that trip almost weekly. We did a lot of sightseeing, ate great food, shopped like crazy and had a great time in general. One thing we did NOT do was whitewater raft. I wish we had, especially after seeing this video on YouTube!

Video Courtesy Karen Eason Photography

This is the ultimate commercial for why Jackson is so much fun in the summer. I cant imagine having a better time with friends and family. Some best bets from our visit and from reviews I’ve read lately are:

Get a vacation rental - even though the food is great here, it can be expensive. If you choose a condo or home rental you will have a kitchen to cook a few meals in, even if you just do breakfast in you can save a good deal of money.

If you’re headed to Grand Teton or Yellowstone, leave early. Summer time traffic in both parks can be a bit of a problem sometimes, so be prepared to wait and be prepared to have FUN!

Book your “extra-curricular” activities before you get there. Rafting, climbing and other types of activities book up quick, if you make reservations for these things before you even get to Jackson you’re guaranteed the chance to participate.

The animals are WILD, people - dont try to feed them skittles or some other sort of “people food.” Buffalo are not nice animals, they’re beautiful, but mean - stay away! Same with elk and moose.

Most of all, come with a few extra memory sticks for the camera, let loose and have a good time - you wont regret it.

Dining Recommendations:
Breakfast - You cant miss The Bunnery - best bread in the country, let along Jackson Hole
Lunch - We enjoyed the Cadillac Grille when we were there, but the Tripadvisor.com reviews are mixed a bit. Their burgers over at Billy’s Giant Hamburgers were great (one side is the grille, one side is the hamburger joint)!
Dinner - We liked the Mangy Moose - and they have decent Tripadvisor reviews. The gift shop that is attached is great fun also.

Lodging Recommendations:
Mountain Property Management of Jackson Hole offers great vacation rentals and is definately a Jackson Hole Lodging alternative to hotels.
Wagon Wheel Village - Motel rooms for budget travelers to Jackson - I havent stayed here but they have pretty good reviews in Tripadvisor.