- Charleston (South Carolina): If the tri-state area has a town that's designed for families, it's Charleston. The city has been called an 18th-century etching come to life. You can take boat rides to Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began; explore Magnolia Plantation, with its petting zoo and gardens; and visit several family-oriented nature parks, including one at Palmetto Islands.
- Hilton Head (South Carolina): Much more upscale than Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head is filled with broad beaches. You can enjoy myriad activities, such as biking on the beaches, taking a dolphin-watching cruise, and exploring the 605-acre Sea Pines Forest Preserve, a public wilderness tract with walking trails. All major hotels offer summer activity centers for kids.
