Martha’s Vineyard

Anonymous wrote:Ana Maria in FL. There is a cute little area of shops, but there are also just stretches of beach and less developed places.

This is a good area. AMI does get crazy traffic though during the busy season, and the beach can get packed. But the off season is glorious, and its not that far from the nice little downtown Bradenton waterfront area.

I'd add Sarasota and Long Beach Key to this general area as well. In fact, LBK beaches never ever get crowded simply due to how the island has been developed. I think they have some of the prettiest beaches in SWFL. And you're not too far from the quaint little town in AMI or Armands Circle shopping and eateries in Lido Key, or the arts scene in Sarasota.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duck and points north on OBX or Waves and points south

+1

Although, the food options in OBX aren't great. (Please, someone prove me wrong, I'd love to hear which places to eat at.)

There's a number of great restaurants in OBX. Where specifically would you like recommendations?

Anonymous wrote:Duck and points north on OBX or Waves and points south

+1

Although, the food options in OBX aren't great. (Please, someone prove me wrong, I'd love to hear which places to eat at.)

Ana Maria in FL. There is a cute little area of shops, but there are also just stretches of beach and less developed places.

pawleys island.

OP we're like you and LOVE HHI. A place we've found that we like in a similar vein is Rosemary Beach and the Seaside area. I give the preference to RB though bc it's closer to Panama City Beach, which we love. PCB has tons of activities and good food, the Pier Park shopping and attractions (including the revived Miracle Strip amusement rides) keep the kids busy at night.

We have a house on Hilton Head and I he one thing we don’t like is the restaurants. Overall they suck.

Anonymous wrote:Kiawah island.

There really isn’t much there. OP said worried about feeling isolated.

We are HHI lovers too. It's just so hard to get there for a week. We got tired of the 10-12 hour drive in summer traffic and flying is expensive and you can't bring your beach stuff. We have settled on Duck, NC but make sure you rent in the town itself where you can walk to everything. OBX doesn't have great bike trails like HHI but for us being able to park our car and not use it for an entire week makes up for it. If you post how many BR's you need I can recommend some neighborhoods.

Cape may?

Sea Island, GA
Watercolor or seaside FL
Rosemary beach, FL

Duck and points north on OBX or Waves and points south

Kiawah island.

what other places might we like? I like Hilton Head because it is a good mix of plentiful restaurants/shops/etc. to walk to, but it doesn't feel overdeveloped (we have been to Siesta Key, St. Pete Beach, Destin, and Clearwater Beach in FL and those all felt far too commercial for my liking). I like that the hotels/condos are set back quite a bit from the beach. Love love love all the greenery, the dedicated walking/biking paths, etc. Anywhere else that feels low key but isn't JUST beach? Never been to Outer Banks, but worried it might feel too isolated?

We will go to HHI this summer (again) but thinking for the future...