The Perpetual Tourist

Among other nicknames, Virginia is called “The Mother of Presidents,” as eight former U.S. Presidents have been born here. Charlottesville, home to Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, makes a great home base from which to take your tour of these historic homes.

Monticello - You may recognize Thomas Jefferson’s Charlottesville homestead from the back of the US nickel. Tours of Jefferson’s home and extensive grounds run seven days a week. Architecture was one of Jefferson’s many passions, and you’ll get a firsthand feel of his unique style as you tour the home he designed himself. Since TJ thought wide staircases were a waste of space, fire code prohibits large tour groups from going upstairs to the home’s most recognized feature, the Dome Room. You can purchase tickets for Evening Signature Tours that will take you to the restricted areas. Visit Monticello in the summertime to avoid school crowds and see the gardens in full bloom.

Ash Lawn-Highland - Don’t spend ALL day at Monticello, because just down the road is Ash Lawn-Highland, home of James Monroe. At Ash Lawn, historical interpreters give house tours and teach educational workshops covering several aspects of 18th century life. You can participate in hands-on lessons about cooking, crafting, games, and more. Each summer, the grounds are host to the Ash Lawn Opera Festival, with several outdoor theater productions. Playing this year are My Fair Lady and Carmen, with several other special productions. Visitors to Charlottesville often overlook Monroe’s home in favor of Monticello, but I highly recommend visits to both!

Montpelier - James Madison was born, raised, and died in this Orange, Virginia home. Since 2004, the home has been undergoing massive restoration to return it to its 18th century state. In addition to regular tours of the home and grounds, theme tours are available. Running April through October are special Grounds and Gardens tours, as well as the Enslaved Community tour, which focuses on the lives of Madison’s 100 slaves and the former president’s attitudes about slavery.

Mount Vernon - Just south of Washington, DC in northern Virginia, George Washington’s plantation is the most popular historic estate in the United States. It’s not really in central Virginia, but it’s worth an extra hour or two of driving. George and Martha Washington lived in Mount Vernon from their marriage in 1759 until George’s death in 1799. In that time, Washington worked to expand the grounds from 2,000 acres to 8,000, and the house from six to twenty-one rooms. Filled with artifacts, videos, and activities, Mount Vernon is an all-day (or more) experience. Visit Mount Vernon’s calendar of events for a detailed list of all the special events offered for your visit.

You can easily make a whole week of these historic tours. Even if you’ve visited once before, there’s always something new to discover your next time around. As a child in school in central Virginia, I visited each of these homes many times, and continue to go back from time to time as an adult. It’s amazing how over two hundred years later, the history is still unfolding — research yields new details and insights all the time, and the visits are never the same.

In addition to the homes listed above, you may be interested in Woodrow Wilson’s birthplace in Staunton. Though he only lived in Virginia as a baby, we still claim him, and you’ll find that many things in Staunton bear Wilson’s name. To the south, you can find Jefferson’s retreat at Poplar Forest in Bedford, Virginia.

I love flying in and out of Portland International Airport. The airport itself is very cool, but the real appeal is getting a bird’s eye view of all the major peaks of the Cascade Range. Even though it’s a few hundred miles away from Portland, Mount Rainier in Washington is one of the most imposing sights on the skyline.

Whenever I see people with window seats on the plane not staring out at the mountains, I am convinced they have no soul. My husband says it’s just that they grew up in the area and the mountains are an everyday sight for them. Whatever — the mountains of the Pacific Northwest are just as stunning to me now as they were the first time I saw them, and if I could see them all the time, I’d never look at anything else.

If you think the view from the sky is stunning, just wait until you see Mount Rainier from its own slopes. Mount Rainier National Park is open all year, but the most popular time to visit is mid- to late summer, when more of the mountain is accessible. Summertime can be crowded at Rainier, so mid-week is the best time to visit if you come during this peak season.

In the spring, you’ll find waterfalls created by melting snow, or later in the year you can take in the vibrant colors of the fall, but remember that weather conditions will dictate how much of the mountain you’ll be able to visit. Don’t expect to get anywhere by car if you come in the winter!

Non-motorized boating and fishing are permitted in most of the park’s lakes, but keep in mind that they are only ice-free for a short window, usually from July to October.

As you might expect, there are plenty of hiking trails around Rainier. If you plan to camp overnight, you must obtain a permit, available at any of the park’s ranger stations. Never hike alone, and always inform someone else of your plans so that they can notify authorities if you do not return when expected. Check the latest wilderness alerts before leaving for a hike or climb.

Snow starts falling each year in late October, making Rainier a great place to enjoy snow sports like skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, showshoeing, and sledding. Conditions can get hazardous, so stick to the designated areas for these activities, and never go out alone.

For accommodations at Mount Rainier, there’s no better place to be than Paradise, an appropriately named area on the south slope of the mountain. The historic Paradise Inn has just reopened following two years of renovations. Paradise is the park’s main winter-use area, and also home to its main visitor center, the Jackson Visitor Center. Roads in and out of Paradise are kept plowed throughout the winter.

For more information about accommodations and things to do at Mount Rainier, visit the national park website here.

You probably think I’m crazy for even addressing this question, when all we hear on the news is how bad the housing market is, how awful the economy is, and how things are only getting worse. True, the situation is bad — worse than it’s ever been in my memory — so unless you are already in a really good place financially (and most Americans are not these days), you should not even consider tying yourself up in a mortgage right now.

If you are one of the lucky ones with your head still above water and your bank account still well in the black, it may be worth it to you to dig a little deeper than the doomsday news reporting. Yes, the housing market is awful — for most people. Given the credit crisis that kickstarted this whole mess, you will have to have excellent credit to get a decent mortgage. But for those who do have good credit, mortgage rates are very low right now, and might be as low as they’re going to get for a while, since the Fed finally put an end to its string of rate cuts earlier this week.

More good news for home buyers — it’s the sellers who are hurting the most right now (besides those being foreclosed). Prices are dropping and the market is absolutely saturated with houses for sale — that means that sellers must be willing to cut their asking prices and put up with more demands than ever from buyers. If you are a buyer with good credit, you hold all the power in this market.

You probably can get a heck of a deal on a vacation home now, but there are still some other factors to consider before you call your realtor. If you are buying a summer home on your favorite beach to live with your family for a few months out of the year, there may never be a better time to do it. But if you’re thinking of a second home as some sort of investment or income generator, don’t get too excited.

What are you planning to do with your beach house? Rent it out to vacationers? Don’t count on it. Economic woes are keeping travelers closer to home this year, and there’s no telling when the economy will be healthy enough to fill all those beach houses again. Can you afford to maintain the place if no one is renting it? Think about the cost of gas and your own travels — how much are you going to realistically be able to use the place?

If you’re simply thinking of real estate as a better investment than the stock market right now, well, that could be true, but this is a risky gamble. Prices are likely to continue to drop. We won’t know where the bottom is until we’ve already hit it. Don’t expect to be able to flip any properties for a profit anytime soon. People are still out there trying this, and there are some success stories, but these are the exceptions.

All these caveats in mind, if what you want out of a vacation home is just a place to kick up your heels when you want to get away, and you’ve got the money and the credit to get into the market without stretching your finances thin, then this is a great time for you. The house may drop in value in the short term (and possibly, but hopefully not, the long term), but as long as you are able to afford the mortgage and don’t depend on the equity, you don’t need to be scared off by all the bad news in the media.

In the United States, surprise fees are the norm whenever you stay at a hotel. Sure, it’s 89 bucks a night, but factor in taxes, service charges (whatever that means), and $3 for every coffee bean you used, and your budget hotel room is now costing your month’s rent.

That’s why the idea of an all-inclusive resort is so appealing. The price tag may seem a little steep at first glance, but factor in all the charges you won’t be hit with at checkout, and you might actually find that you’re saving money. In fact, if you’re someone who likes to be really active on vacation, you’ll probably save lots of money with all-inclusive resorts, which not only include your meals and all the cocktails you want, but often also activities on and off the resort.

All-inclusive resorts dominate Mexico tourism, and Cancun is one of many vacation hot spots in the country. The Cancun climate is temperate year-round, with average temperatures in the 70s and 80s whenever you visit. Rainy season is from May through October, so expect wetness and high humidity in these months. Winter months are generally more comfortable for travelers. Just keep in mind that if you visit during March and April, you’re likely to meet up with crowds of spring breakers.

For your family vacation

• Beach Palace Cancun - Your stay at Beach Palace includes all your drinks, snacks, and meals at any of the resort’s four restaurants and four additional bars, non-motorized water sports, daily activities, nightly entertainment, and guided tours of the hottest sites around Cancun. Beach Palace hosts theme parties and shows each night, sure to be a fun treat for the whole family.
• Grand Oasis Cancun - This large resort boasts over a dozen restaurants, as well as several swim up bars, so you don’t have to get out of your bathing suit to enjoy your afternoon (or morning - we won’t judge) cocktails. Oasis holds live nightly entertainment as well as theme parties, daily activities for kids and adults, and off-site excursions.

Adults Only

• Temptation Resort - A 21+ resort for singles and couples, Temptation sells itself as a sensual, sexy getaway. Nightly entertainment includes games and shows, all with a naughty twist, like “PJ’s and Lingerie Casino Night,” where the dress code is as sexy as possible, and prizes are awarded for the sexiest outfit.
  
• Desire Resort - Recommended as a couples-only destination, Desire is known for its clothing-optional beach and jacuzzi lounge bar. The resort bills itself as “Deliciously Erotic.” Also a 21+ destination, Desire features three restaurants and three bars, a disco lounge, water sports, and over 200 different tourist excursions.

With most of the all-inclusive resorts, everything on site is included, except sometimes spa extras like massages, while the sightseeing excursions generally cost extra. Before you book anything, though, be sure to shop around for specials — most of the resorts offer various specials throughout the year, including deep discounts on rooms or free extras, like the sightseeing packages.

All the free liquor is grand, and the resorts are definitely comfortable, but be sure to peel yourself away long enough to see some of what the surrounding area has to offer. The ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza are not to be missed, and I’d also recommend that you check out Xcaret, an eco theme park where you can swim with dolphins, see live educational shows, visit Mexico’s best aquarium, visit archaeological sites and more.

Not far from Cancun’s hotel district, you’ll find lots of shopping. I’m not one to tell you what souvenirs to bring home, but you’ll find great deals on silver jewelry, which makes a nice gift for those you left behind, or a lovely keepsake for yourself.

The luxury resorts around Mexico are as clean, if not cleaner, than most places you’ll go in the states, but when you’re out and about, you will need to be careful about what you eat and drink. Stick to bottled water and avoid food from street vendors. Just be smart about what you put in your body, and you shouldn’t have to deal with any major GI situations.

Yellowstone National Park is one of those places everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. It was the first national park in the US, and it is certainly one of the grandest, surrounded by the towering Rocky Mountains and featuring more wildlife than most zoos and geysers unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. But there’s something you probably haven’t heard about this place: it smells horrible.

Trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas leak out through cracks in the ground, especially around the geysers in the park, which makes the place smell like rotten eggs. I’m not trying to sell timeshares in Wyoming, so I’ll be honest with you: the smell is damn near unbearable at times. I would have enjoyed my trip to Yellowstone much more if I’d had a decent sinus infection.

The odor is a definite bummer, but it is by no means a reason to avoid the park. Yellowstone is one of the most lovely places I’ve ever been, and I guess that unless you want to dress like Michael Jackson (a lot more acceptable in the 80’s), there’s no real way to prepare for the stench. Still, I think it’s only fair that visitors be warned so they can at least brace themselves…

The nearest major airport to Yellowstone is Salt Lake City, about five hours away, but I’d recommend flying into Jackson Hole if you can find a good deal. It’s more convenient to the park, and the drive to Yellowstone from Jackson Hole, Wyoming takes you through Grand Teton National Park. You might as well make it a twofer when you visit this area, because both parks are really gorgeous — and Grand Teton smells like regular fresh air!

The climate in this area (northwest Wyoming) is one of cold winters and mild summers, which makes it a popular summer vacation destination. Expect crowds if you come in the peak season. When you visit in winter, you can take advantage of better hotel prices and guided snowmobile tours. It sounds like a lot of fun, and it would be nice to avoid great masses of people, but I still think summer is the best time to see Yellowstone.

For one thing, the weather is pretty nice (as opposed to bitterly cold), and even though there won’t be any snowmobiling, you have many more options in the summer, like camping, hiking, boating, and fishing.

Of course you’ll have to visit Old Faithful. So named because it is one of the few geysers in the world that actually erupts on a predictable schedule, Old Faithful shoots boiling water up to 184 feet in the air approximately every 90 minutes. Be patient, though, because the schedule isn’t entirely precise. Sometimes smaller eruptions precede the real deal, and when I visited the geyser, it started gurgling a few minutes after a crowd started to assemble. It burped up some smelly water for a little while, maybe five or six feet high, then settled down. Everyone was pretty bummed. “That’s it?!” Most of the crowd left to explore other parts of the park, so my folks and I were some of the only witnesses of that hour’s real eruption, some fifteen minutes after the teaser.

Old Faithful is the most famous attraction, but Yellowstone has plenty of other charms. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone was my favorite place when I visited. Several lookouts along the canyon offer incredible views of the Upper and Lower Falls, at 109 feet and 308 feet, respectively. Along some of the park’s hiking trails, you’ll come to petrified forests, which are really not forests but rather groups of petrified trunks. Still pretty cool.

And then there’s the wildlife. Yellowstone is home to dozens of endangered species, as well as animals that you just don’t see anywhere else. One memorable sighting on my trip was when my parents were talking about how they’d like to see a coyote.

“There’s one,” I said, pointing to the coyote that had just sauntered past our car. “And there’s a bear.” Remember to practice smart camping techniques if you pitch your tent in Yellowstone. The animals really are everywhere.

Even with threatening bears and that awful smell, I put Yellowstone in the top ten places I’d like to see again. It was worth the inconveniences the first time around, and knowing what I’d face on a return trip, I’d still love to do it all over again.

I have been a Priceline user for a while. I can sometimes find better deals booking directly through the provider, especially when that provider is Southwest, but Southwest doesn’t fly to Medford, Oregon, and after comparison shopping on all the travel sites, Priceline had the best deal on a flight to Medford — or so I thought.

After yesterday, I am a very dissatisfied customer. Getting here was an incredibly stressful experience for me, and the problems I faced really shook my confidence in this leading provider of cheap airfare and hotel deals.

When I booked my flight, I got stuck with one of those multiple airline, multiple stop deals. Priceline scheduled me to fly from DC to JFK on Delta, and then switch from Delta to United Airlines for JFK to San Francisco, then Frisco to Medford, with layovers of just under 90 minutes each. It was going to be a long day.

By the time my Delta flight took off, nearly an hour late, I knew my chances of catching my connection were slim. We made up some time in the air, though, and were only about 30 minutes late arriving in New York. That still gave me an hour to catch my next flight. Right?

No such luck. JFK is a HUGE airport, and each major airline has its own terminal. To get from one terminal to another, you have to actually go outside and enter the new terminal through its own security checkpoint. I was screwed.

It took me 30 minutes just to get from the gate where I landed to the check-in counter outside the United terminal, where I found out my flight had already boarded and was pulling away. Furthermore, I was told, even if my first flight had landed on time, I still wouldn’t have made this flight. You have to check in at least 30 minutes prior to boarding to even be allowed through security.

“Who booked this flight for you?” asked the agent. “This is an impossible itinerary.” I was livid. It had been years since I’d flown into JFK. I didn’t realize I wouldn’t be able to get from Delta to United without going through security again — at most airports, you can get from terminal to terminal from beyond the security gate, so it didn’t even occur to me at all that I’d have to do that again.

I didn’t know better, but Priceline should have. This flight shouldn’t even have been available. Like the ticket agent told me, it was an impossible itinerary. Shame on you, Priceline.

I’m glad I decided against checking bags on this trip. Had I checked a bag on the first leg of my flight, it wouldn’t have made it onto the next plane — or maybe because of the multiple airline schedule, I’d have had to pick it up at baggage claim and re-check it — making catching the connection doubly impossible.

I’d never flown multiple airlines on the same trip before, unless you count airline partners, like the regional operators and international carriers that are still technically the same airline, for travel purposes. I am going to avoid this in the future. You need an incredibly long layover to ensure that you can make your next flight after crossing the airport, checking in again, clearing security again (where necessary), and re-checking bags (again, I don’t know if I would have had to do this, but I’m guessing that I would have), and who likes a long layover? And now with several airlines charging for each checked bag, would I have to pay twice if I flew two separate airlines? Just guessing again, but I’m thinking yes.

I did make it to Medford, and all my bags made it with me (but only because I packed lightly enough to carry everything on the plane), so I admit that this trip could’ve been a lot worse. Even so, I think my relationship with Priceline is over.

According to the calendar, summer doesn’t officially start for another week and a half.  Even so, the past two months have been oppressively hot in most of the country.  If it gets hotter still in the real summer, I think I’ll move to Antarctica and live there until it all melts.

It is incredibly uncomfortable to be outside for very long in heat like this, but I’m an outdoorsy person, and I belong out there.  Getting in the water is usually a nice way to stay cool, but when I went for a swim in my neighborhood pool, it just felt like I was in a giant bathtub.  That’s why my friends and I made plans to go tubing down the James River today.  Tubing is a summer tradition, and if you’ve got a river, you can go.

No matter how hot the bathwater in my pool gets, I can always count on the James River to be cool and refreshing.  Tubing is just what it sounds like — you sit in an inner tube and float down the river for a couple of hours.  It’s not exactly an extreme sport, but the route that we’re taking today will take us by a rope swing (slightly extreme) and a part of the river where you can get out and go cliff diving (definitely extreme).  If you’ve never gone tubing before (and even if you have, really), you should go with a professional company rather than just blowing up a raft and setting yourself off down the river.

The James River Runners, the company that I’ve always dealt with, doesn’t actually send a guide down the river with your group.  They just provide the tubes and life jackets and take you by bus to the launch point so you don’t have to worry about coordinating cars.  I’d guess this is how it works with most tubing outfits.

Lots of people take coolers of food and drinks when they tube.  You can just put the cooler in another tube (with a bottom instead of a hole) and let it float along with you, but it can be a bitch to keep track of your cooler.  Someone always has to tow it and keep an eye on it so it doesn’t flip over.  In my opinion, it’s not worth it, but some folks will tell you it’s not tubing without a case of beer.

You should always wear shoes when you go tubing, because the river bottom can have sharp rocks and other hazards.  Teva sandals are my preferred tubing footwear, because it’s no problem if they get wet and they won’t come off my feet like flip flops will.

Sunscreen is a must, because you’ll be out on the water for several hours.  Since bugs love rivers, I’d recommend a sunscreen that is both waterproof and insect-repellent.  If you’ve got somewhere you can put it, bring it down the river with you and reapply every hour or so.

True, you’re just sitting in a tube for three hours and floating, but there’s something really fun about tubing — it’s why five of my buddies are blowing off work this afternoon to come with me, and we keep going back summer after summer.  It’s a great group activity, and fun for all ages.  Next time the heat drives you back indoors, get your friends together and get in the river.

For the past two months, I’ve been on the road. I just got word that I’m wanted on the west coast again, so it looks like I’m flying back out there this weekend. For one short week, I get to enjoy being home. I may not be around here much, but of all the places I’ve been, I can’t think of a better place to call home than Charlottesville, Virginia.

I’m not the only one who feels this way. Every year, Charlottesville is named on various top ten lists, mostly having to do with being the best place to live. It has its negative qualities just like anywhere else, but I feel like this big small town has enough charms to make up for any of its failings, the worst of which are the humidity and the pretentious UVA students.

I’d like to embark now on a virtual tour of my favorite part of good ol’ C-ville — the Downtown Mall. This is not some giant shopping complex where all the kids hang out after school. It is where the cool kids hang out, but it’s not known for the shopping. The Downtown Mall is an open-air pedestrian mall in the heart of the city, six blocks long from end to end, packed from first to last brick with great food, entertainment, and even shopping.

Summers are a great time to enjoy the mall, because the city hosts a weekly party called Fridays After Five. Every Friday, street vendors, activists, and entertainers fill the bricks of the Downtown Mall, and at the Pavilion on the east end, professional musicians put on free concerts lasting well into the evening. There’s beer, there’s wine, there’s dancing, and there are lots and lots of friendly people. It’s a great way to unwind after a long week at work or school, and you’re sure to bump into old friends and make new ones.

On top of the Fridays After Five festivities, if you come to the mall on the first Friday of the month, you can partake in the First Fridays celebrations as well. On the first Friday of every month, all the Charlottesville art galleries — many of which are right on the mall — open their doors to the public for free receptions. You can meet and mingle with the artists and chow down on free refreshments while taking in a rich variety of art.

It’s true that the best things in life — even the things that are usually quite expensive — are free, right here in C-ville.

Of all the storefronts and restaurants on the Downtown Mall, only one that I know of is a true chain (Five Guys) — so don’t go there. You have literally dozens of fantastic restaurants all within a 2-minute walk of anywhere you’re standing on the mall. For lunch, I recommend Himalayan Fusion, and Indian restaurant near the Pavilion end of the mall. They have an inexpensive all-you-can-eat buffet that changes daily, but always includes rice, naan, four vegetarian dishes, three meat dishes, and a dessert. I could eat there every day, and when my office was on the mall, I did. For dinner, Himalayan Fusion is still a fine choice, but my top pick is Zocalo. Featuring an eclectic Mediterranean menu, Zocalo has been consistently voted the best restaurant in Charlottesville since it opened a few years back.

Sticking with Best of C-ville winners, I like to spend my evenings at the Gravity Lounge. It’s an intimate music venue with a great wine and beer list, comfortable seating, and the best music that comes through town. Because of its size, Gravity doesn’t draw a lot of big names, but I’ve never had a bad experience there. The music may not be popular, but it’s excellent.

For the finest hotel in Charlottesville, you don’t even have to leave the mall. The Omni Hotel offers luxury accommodations at the west end of the mall. I’d argue that you could have a fantastic vacation week in Charlottesville without ever traveling more than six blocks away from your hotel room when you stay at the Omni. It’s true, but then you’d be missing out on all the other great things my home town has to offer. More on that another time.

A kid at the beach can be completely entertained with nothing more than a shovel and a bucket in the sand, but unless you want to come home with a fried child, you’re going to want to limit the time you spend at the ocean and mix up your activities a bit. At a place like Myrtle Beach, your choices are endless.

My nieces are 2 months old and 4 years old, and they are here with us this week. Our schedule most days has been to go to the beach as soon as the girls wake up, and stay until 11am or so. This gives the girls — well, the oldest one, anyway — plenty of play time in the sand and water before the sun gets too strong. After lunch and a nap, our afternoons are reserved for other activities.

Our first priority was to try out one of the many miniature golf courses here. My niece couldn’t have cared less that we were playing golf, but she loved the pirates and the bright green water. All the mini golf places here have unnaturally bright water. They have names and themes, too, but we identify them as the place with the pink water, the place with the green water, and the one with the blue water. My niece picked green, which was also the place with the pirates and the ice cream when we were done. Most towns have a mini golf course or two, but if you want the courses with wild obstacles and crazy decorations, then you want to play mini golf at the beach. There are lots of courses both indoors and outdoors. I think playing outdoors on a warm evening is the best.

If the ocean doesn’t provide enough water fun for you, Myrtle Waves is South Carolina’s largest water park, with rides, slides, and hours of aquatic enjoyment for all ages. Ticket prices are completely reasonable, compared to other water parks I’ve visited. Park officials suggest coming on Sundays to avoid big crowds, as these are “by far” their slowest time of the week.

If you’re a family of sports fans, then you should definitely check out the Myrtle Beach Pelicans while you’re in town. This Single-A Braves affiliate baseball team draws a big crowd for its Carolina League games, no doubt thanks in part to all the entertainment at the games. There’s the standard between-innings promotional dizzy bat races and the like, but also a large kids’ area and a really cute tradition after each game where they let kids onto the field to run the bases.

Of course there’s lots more to do here, but we try not to push ourselves too much. Going out every day would be a little excessive with two little ones and a large, expensive family. For a more low-key activity, a walk around the fishing piers can be a nice way to spend a couple of hours. The one nearest our vacation house — on 37th Avenue — costs $1.50 per person to enter. The guys went fishing and caught some sharks (just eight inches long or so — not terribly fearsome) while my niece had her hair done in braids yesterday afternoon. The braids are a nice beach tradition — they’re festive and they keep the hair out of her eyes while she swims.

I’ve loved coming here ever since I was a tiny tot, and now that I’m older, it’s great fun for me to spend this time with my nieces. It’s also perfect being here with the whole family, because while the kids can just go and go, I like to have some down time in my day. Having lots of adults willing to take kid shifts will keep you from getting worn out.

For more ideas of things to do with your family at Myrtle Beach, the Sunny Day Guide has a very long list here.

Every year, my family takes a week-long vacation to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This year, I was actually invited. We’ve been doing this for so long that we’ve got beach vacationing down to a science. To have a great beach trip, it helps to have a flexible schedule. Everyone wants to come to the beach in the summer, but picking the right part of the summer can make or break your vacation.

When the beach is really crowded, it can be hard to have a good time. Someone’s frisbee is always flying into your personal space, you can’t ride a boogie board without running over some kid, and it’s just too loud and hectic to ever relax. That’s why the best times to come to the beach are before the end of the school year in May or early June and after the kids go back to school in August or early September. Of course you don’t have this luxury when your own kids are in school — so if you really hate crowds, get your beach vacations in before they start kindergarten and return to the tradition after graduation.

Another advantage to going early or late in the season is that prices will be lower for rentals. Hotels at the beach are either really expensive or really crappy, so we’ve always preferred to rent vacation houses. Some people find a house they like and keep renting the same one year after year, but there are so many different styles and locations on the beach that I think it’s better to mix it up a bit. This year, we rented a large house just a block off the ocean from this company. According to the listing, our house sleeps 20 — but our family of 9 fills it comfortably. Just because there’s room for 11 more bodies doesn’t mean that many more people could be comfortable here — keep that in mind when you select a rental. If you have a group of 20, look for a house that sleeps 30, or divide your group between two houses. You’ll be much more comfortable that way. The number a house will advertise it holds usually assumes two people to every bed and sleeper sofa, so if everyone wants their own bed, divide that number in half.

We used to always stay in Myrtle Beach, but lately we’ve been finding rentals in North Myrtle Beach, in the Cherry Grove area. It’s just a few miles north, but it’s much less commercialized and crowded, so we prefer it. And it’s still not a long way from all of the great beach attractions here.

When you rent a house or condo with an ocean view, you’ll pay a premium for that luxury. But ask yourself this: is standing on your deck to watch the waves a few minutes each day really worth an extra $1500? We look for the cheaper rentals that are a block or two back from the ocean — still just a short walk from the beach, and at a fraction of the cost. Many of these homes are situated on the manmade channels that run throughout the city, so you still have water in your backyard. These channels are a great place to park or launch a boat, and also a great indicator of the tides, as the water levels will rise and fall with the ocean.

If you want to save even more money, you can rent a place a little way inland, and drive to the beach when you want to spend time at the ocean. There is plenty of free public parking around here — something you don’t find often at other beaches.

It’s usually warm enough here by May to get the most out of the ocean — the water has been very comfortable for us at around 80 degrees this first week of June — and it generally stays nice at least through September, so no matter how early or late you celebrate your summer, you can make the most of this beach nearly any time you visit. For vacation house rental information, these three realty companies seem to be the most popular here in Cherry Grove: Century 21 Thomas, Elliott Realty, and Grand Strand Vacations.