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Hey all,

I am having trouble deciding where to head for a trip to the beach in June or early summer. I have only been to Panama City on spring break and I went to Orlando when I was little so I know very little about the best places to go. I live in Kentucky and I would rather not fly although I guess I could if I found a good price on a plane ticket.


Here are the requirements:

• *Beach
  *Fun bars in the summer. I don't need wild, I am more into laid back beach bars that have live bands that tend toward buffett tunes.
  *No more than a 15 hour drive from Kentucky. (that sort of eliminates Key West and Lauderdale, although if I am convinced of the merits I might break down and fly.)

Please help a Phello parrothead find his way to white sandy beachs and grande margaritas.

KYboatdrunk wrote:Hey all,

I am having trouble deciding where to head for a trip to the beach in June or early summer. I have only been to Panama City on spring break and I went to Orlando when I was little so I know very little about the best places to go. I live in Kentucky and I would rather not fly although I guess I could if I found a good price on a plane ticket.


Here are the requirements:

• *Beach
  *Fun bars in the summer. I don't need wild, I am more into laid back beach bars that have live bands that tend toward buffett tunes.
  *No more than a 15 hour drive from Kentucky. (that sort of eliminates Key West and Lauderdale, although if I am convinced of the merits I might break down and fly.)

Please help a Phello parrothead find his way to white sandy beachs and grande margaritas.

Try Virginia Beach, VA..or Myrtle Beach, SC..or OBX, N.C...

I travel from Delaware to go there..well worth the ride.

Nuttin' wrong with the Joisey Shore ya know!

Comes included with a personal tour guide.

NJPhinPhan wrote:Nuttin' wrong with the Joisey Shore ya know!

Comes included with a personal tour guide.

Sounds like an offer you can't refuse...

Jersey? I said WHITE SAND beaches. I don't think white trash bags count.



J/K

For some reason I just don't think Jersey when I think tiki bars of course I have never been on the NorthEast coast, I could be misinformed.

Try Saint Augustine, Florida.
I live near there and try to make it there every weekend.
Caribbean atmosphere ,A1A, beaches, lots of history, and lots of bars with Buffettesque performers.

KYboatdrunk wrote:Jersey? I said WHITE SAND beaches. I don't think white trash bags count.



J/K

For some reason I just don't think Jersey when I think tiki bars of course I have never been on the NorthEast coast, I could be misinformed.

Yes dear, you are quite misinformed!

THIS place is 10 minutes away from me....

http://www.tikibar.com/

And thanks to Clean Ocean Action....the beaches of NJ have never been cleaner. The only trash bags you'll find are IN the trash cans!

If it's white sand you're looking for, I can direct you to some very affordable Caribbean islands.

See the thread for Ocean City and Seacrets, it's a good place to go. Great beach, nice bars, decent hotels and not too terribly crowded. And it's definitely a shorter drive then Florida.

I may be a little biased in my opinion here, but I'm going to be brutally honest. I would NOT recommend Virginia Beach (and I live here!). Here's why:

1. Most people want to stay at the oceanfront (duh) but it's very, very expensive and most of the hotels down there are well used. If you want laid back....go for the Sandbridge area. Also in Va. Beach but kinda off the beaten path and still driveable to get to the "action" on the "strip".

2. Night life at the oceanfront can be kinda scary. Sure, there's tons of bars and good times but I would never bring children to the strip at night. There's usually a really creepy mix of people that come out at night. The city has tried to make this a "family friendly" place but unforunately they've failed.

3. Rules, rules, rules. So many things you cannot do on the beach...the list goes on and on. And don't let your car pass the same spot on Atlantic Avenue within a certain time frame or you'll get a ticket for "cruising". And I won't even get into the parking situation

So where do we go? The OBX - but go past Nags Head and on to Hatteras Island and/or Ocracoke. You won't regret the extra time to get there.

If you do decide to vacation in Virginia Beach.... let me know (that is, if the Chamber of Commerce doesn't kick me out of the city for my post)

Destin Florida is within 15 hours of Kentucky, has beautiful beaches, and more laid back bars than you can count (most with live music). If you want to do it on the cheap, stay in Fort Walton Beach or Okaloosa Island, 3 mile straight to Destin and it might be a little cheaper, plus more public beaches.
Just my two cent.
FromFLA

Thanks a ton. Hopefully I'll have the destination worked out in the near future.

Does anyone have an opinion good or bad about Myrtle Beach SC? I have not been there since I was a kid.

Cant tell you about SC but i can tell you about Key West... if you want beautiful sandy beaches and tikibars.. DO NOT go to Key West... I lived there for 5 years... the only nice beach is Smathers and the best beaches are on the Naval Base, as is the best Tiki Bar... it's on Sigsbee Island which is for military only....

Mississippi and Alabama have some wonderful beaches... Buffetts sister owns a bar/cafe outside of Mobile.. so that might be a real plus for you.

Emerald Beach and Destin Fl are wonderful places... I prefer the Destin area if I want to stay further north than the keys but the keys... for fun and sun.. cannot be beat in my opionion!

Up and down the keys you can find all sorts of cool places... my favorite place on Big Pine was No Name Pub... not on the water but the locals hang there... in Key West the options are unlimited... but if you go that far be sure to check out Kelly McGilles' (sp) bar, Kelly's Caribbean Bar and Grill. She even has her own brewery now.... OH!! and don't forget to check out Buffett's recording studio too! Unmarked and unadvertised so you may have to ask around alot... it's down at Key West Bight Marina .. a little tiny building that most people walk right past and never know...it's right on the water... least it use to be!

Hope that helps alittle... have a great time! We shall be waiting the results report...

later,

you can't go wrong with the Redneck Riviera.Gulf Shores, AL...not too far from JB's chilhood home and home of his sister's Lulu's Cafe....Ft. Walton Beach, Destin area in the FL Panhandle........probably less than 10 hours from KY

you will need to fly to find some of the best places.

you could go to Bimini in the Bahamas, or anywhere in the Carib.
Floriday is great but there are so many other great places and beaches that you could explore if you were willing to fly....

G.O.D

KYboatdrunk wrote:Does anyone have an opinion good or bad about Myrtle Beach SC? I have not been there since I was a kid.

I live in S.C., and I have mixed feelings about Myrtle. On the one hand, I grew up going there--my family and I would go there several times a year, so I have very fond memories of the Grand Strand. I don't enjoy it as much as I used to though, because it is sooooooo overdeveloped. It is always crowded during the summer, and it is hard to find a relaxing place to just kick back. I guess it depends on what you're looking for. I really enjoy a more peaceful, quiet beach atmosphere--if that's what you're looking for (and you want to come to S.C.), I suggest renting a house on Sullivan's Island or Edisto Island. But you'll have to go into Charleston to really find anything else to do (bars, etc.)

Myrtle is a fun place with lots to do, though. And they're getting a Margaritaville down there in July, so if you wait until later in the summer to take your trip, that my provide an added incentive for you to visit the Palmetto State!

Myrtle Beach is great if you like a lot of action. There are areas around MB that are layed back too.

The Outer Banks, NC is pretty layed back too. Atlantic Beach, just a short couple of ferry rides from Hatteras lighthouse, has a nice quiet beach area.

Gotta cast my vote for the Outer Banks....especially South Nag's Head (below milepost 17)....very quiet and great OF houses to rent. The OBX is the best of both worlds...quiet, wide beaches, but you can get to great restaurants, water sports, shops, etc very easily.

Myrtle Beach? Too overgrown....traffic can be terrible, both on the beach road and on the bypass. But you can go just north of Myrtle to Sunset Beach or just south to Pawleys Island and find some nice quiet places close enough to drive in to Myrtle for the night life.

Can't go wrong with OBX.

ya i agree...can't go wrong with the Outer Banks....I always go to Ocracoke...small town, natural beaches...nice restaurants and a few bars...my kind of place!

Clearwater Beach was kinda nice too

Hilton Head Island SC. gets my vote. Wide Beaches, golfing galore, restaurants, shopping Tiki Bar at the Holiday Inn ,Savannah 35 mins away, Harbor Town, every third car is from Ohio , every forth car is from Kentuck. I think the secret is out.

MelliJellyBean wrote:ya i agree...can't go wrong with the Outer Banks....I always go to Ocracoke...small town, natural beaches...nice restaurants and a few bars...my kind of place!

MelliJellyBean, do you ever take the Ocracoke - Swan Quarter Ferry? It's a 2.5 hour ride, but a great way to start your vacation and get you on island time.

http://www.ocracoke-nc.com/ferry-swan/