Table for Four or More

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Planning a beach vacation can be a lot of fun. It can also be stressful too. There are a lot of factors to consider when planning. Where are you going? How will you get there? What do you need to pack? Where will you stay? Today I am putting together for you a compilation of resources I’ve created to help you plan your perfect beach vacation. It will include possible beach destinations, an easy resource to help you book your vacation rental, what to pack, how to prepare your house to leave for vacation, road trip essentials and beach tips. Sound fun? Let’s get started!

Pick your Destination

Whether you’re looking for a relaxed and quiet getaway or a busy vacation with a lot to see and do, you will find those choices and everything in between below. These are some of our favorite places to travel.

Destin, Florida

Destin is located in the panhandle on Florida’s Emerald Coast and is best known for its sugar-white sandy beaches and emerald green water. The sand feels like baby powder it is so soft.

Why We Love It

We fell in love with Destin first and foremost for the beach and the ocean. It is unlike any I had visited in the states before. After spending the day at the beach, we would venture out to one of the area restaurants and spend the evening walking around and shopping. Destin is a favorite among summer travelers so expect traffic delays and plan to wait for a table at a restaurant. If you have small children, consider going out to eat early to avoid the crowds and long wait times.

Interested in learning more about Destin? Read my post Ideas to Help Plan your Destin Vacation.

Dauphin Island, Alabama

Dauphin Island is known as the sunset capital of Alabama. Once you see the sunset in person you will understand why. This laid-back sleepy island is the perfect place to unwind and reconnect with loved ones.

Why We Love It

Out of all the beaches I’ve ever been to, Dauphin Island is my favorite here in the United States. I have never felt more at peace while on vacation, our time in DI was so amazing I cried walking out of the beach house for the last time. Our beach house was newly constructed and we were the second family to stay there. It was located on the bay side of the island but only yards from the Gulf of Mexico (you could see the gulf from the front of the house). Dauphin Island is not commercialized and you won’t find a traffic jam driving over the bridge to get to the island. What you will find are quaint locally owned shops and restaurants with plenty of southern hospitality to go around. If you ever need or want to get away from it all, Dauphin Island is the place for you.

Read more about Dauphin Island here.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach is where I vacationed as a child with my family. It is also the first beach I took my own children to. A coastal city located on the Atlantic Ocean, it is 60 miles of beaches with plenty, and I emphasize plenty, to do.

Why We Love It

Aside from the wonderful family memories made over the years, Myrtle Beach is just a fun beach to visit. After spending the day at the beach, you have everything from arcades, beachfront boardwalks, restaurants, amusement parks and souvenir stands to one of the country’s larges Ferris wheels, the SkyWheel. Your kids will never complain about being bored when visiting Myrtle Beach.

Read more about Myrtle Beach here.

Hatteras Island, North Carolina

Located off the North Carolina coast, Hatteras Island is a barrier island dividing the Atlantic Ocean and the Pamlico Sound. It is on the quieter end of the Outer Banks and includes the communities of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras.

Why We Love It

The beach at Hatteras Island was one of the biggest and least populated of all the beaches we’ve visited. I could walk for a mile along the shoreline and not pass a single person. If you’re looking for places to visit within walking distance, Hatteras Island is not it. There were nearby places to eat and shop but you had to drive to get there. However, on this end of the Outer Banks we were close to the ferry that took us to Ocracoke Island and to the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, both really fun excursions.

Read more about Hatteras Island here.

Find your Rental Using VRBO

Looking for a place to get away? Let me show you how simple (and fun!) it can be to find your perfect vacation rental using

VRBO. Searching for the perfect vacation rental can be a daunting task, especially if you have specific wants and needs. Whether you know exactly where you want to go or are looking for someplace new, VRBO (formally known as HomeAway) is the best resource out there to help plan your vacation. I’m here to show you how simple using VRBO is to find your dream vacation rental.

What is VRBO?

VRBO

is the most popular vacation rental site in the US with more than 2 million vacation rentals in 190 countries. You can find cabins, condos, villas, barns, houses, farmhouses, and even castles!

How to Search

Using the VRBO search engine is easy. Simply type in where you want to go, your arrival and departure dates (if known) and number of guests. Hit the search button and VRBO will provide you with a list of possible rentals. Next, you can add in more filters to find exactly what you’re looking for. For example, if you’re looking for a house on the beach with a private pool your filters will look like this:

Hit the blue “See 74 Results” button to search possible options and you will see listings that look like those below.

When you click on the house you’re looking at, you will be provided with more information and pictures describing the property. Information includes rates and availability, an overview of the property, reviews, and a map of the surrounding area.

As the needs of our family change, I have always been able to find exactly what I’m looking for using VRBO. Our next vacation rental on Hatteras Island for 18 people is on the water, has 6 bedrooms, an elevator, 5 bathrooms, and is pet-friendly (a must have!). Thanks to VRBO, I was able to find a house that is perfect for our family in no time at all. The hardest part was deciding which property to choose. See how easy it is for yourself! Use the search engine on the sidebar to start planning your vacation.

Vacation Rental Packing List

If you’re staying in a vacation rental for the week, you will need to be prepared to bring additional items for the kitchen and bathrooms. In some cases, you will also need to provide your own linens (check with your rental company to find out before you leave). Of course you can always purchase kitchen and bathroom items while you’re on vacation, but it’s more expensive and the trip to the grocery store will last forever (trust me on this one). Rental properties typically leave enough supplies to get you through the first day, but afterwards you’ll need to purchase more. Items such as toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap and others can be purchased ahead of time to save money while on vacation. From cabins in the mountains, condos at the beach, or large houses with an ocean view, the packing list is the same with a few notable exceptions. I’ve categorized the items in a free printable you can access at the end of this section. This list does not include personal items, only those items that you are accustomed to having at home but would be without in most vacation rentals. Most of these items can be stored in a large canvas tote or plastic bin when you travel. If traveling with a group, share this list with everyone and divide up the different items to reduce cost. Use my Vacation Meal Planner to decide what meals you’re going to make ahead of time so you can bring more of what you need.

For the Kitchen

• Paper Towels
• Napkins
• Paper Plates/Cups
• Coffee filters
• Dish soap
• Dishwashing detergent
• Trash bags
• Zip-lock bags
• Cooking spices, salt, pepper
• Condiments (ketchup, mustard, bbq sauce, mayo, etc.)
• Cooking oil, spray
• Aluminum foil (for grill)
• Disinfecting wipes/kitchen cleaner
• Hand soap & Sanitizer
• Dry goods (pasta, cereal, sugar, etc.)
• Lighter (for grill)
• Drinks

For the Laundry

• Laundry detergent (make sure to check if you need HE detergent)
• Softener/Dryer sheets

For the Bathroom(s)

• Toilet paper
• Tissues
• Hand soap
• Disinfecting wipes

Miscellaneous

• Bug repellent
• Linens (if rental does not include)
• Pool toys/Beach chairs/Beach towels
• Cooler

Download your Free Printable

Click on the image below.

How to Prepare your House for Vacation

When you’re on vacation, the last thing you want to think about is coming home to a dirty house. Preparing your house before leaving for vacation will help minimize the stress of returning home to a messy house. Walking into your door with your house still clean will allow you to focus on other important tasks. When doing laundry, putting everything away, cutting the grass, and grocery shopping are on the to-do list, who has the time or the energy to clean?

When preparing your house for vacation, schedule time to clean after the majority of the packing is completed. That way, you eliminate the piles of clothes, toiletries, beach accessories, etc. that can make your house feel cluttered. In this post, I’ve outlined for you the most efficient way I have found to clean the house before leaving on vacation. I have used this method of cleaning for many years and I am always grateful that I did. The idea that within a day or two I’ll be enjoying myself on vacation gives me enough motivation to get the job done. There’s nothing like walking back into my house after a long road trip and climbing into bed knowing the house is still clean. The car, not so much. That’s for another post. Looking for more house cleaning ideas? Check out my Organizing & Cleaning page where you’ll find everything from Quick Cleaning Ideas to Deep Cleaning Tips and more! Also, if you’re interested in using eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning supplies, click here to start your order with Grove Collaborative and receive your FREE Starter Set.

Before You Begin

This cleaning method is not meant to take a long time and can be easily modified based on your needs. We are a family of four with two children who are old enough to lend a hand. After all, I’m not the only one going on vacation. If you can, enlist the help of other family members to take some pressure off of you. Also, for this cleaning method to work, you will need to have the clutter picked-up from around the house. As mentioned before, have as much packed as you can before you begin to prepare your house for vacation. It helps to have a place in the house to put suitcases and other bags while you finish packing. For us, it’s our dining room. It keeps things out of the way while I clean but it’s near enough to put additional items in as needed.