4 Beach Getaways With Homes Big Enough For The Whole Family
Traveling to the beach with a big family or a group of friends? If so, you might want to consider what over 500 million vacationers around the world swear by: the large vacation home, a game-changing vacation trend that’s here to stay.
That’s because multigenerational travel is on the rise, as people of all ages combine family-time with vacation-time. No one wants to knock on hotel room doors or schedule meetups at restaurants; at the same time, they don’t want to share bathrooms or sleep on squeaky sofa beds. The solution is a large home equipped for a big family, the more amenities, the better.
For travelers looking to bond with family and friends while enjoying the sights, sounds, and flavors of the sea, a beach house is the perfect answer. These rental homes across the South have large common spaces to bring big families together and private retreats where everyone can recharge.
St. George Island, Florida
This 28-mile barrier island in Florida’s panhandle was ranked Number 1 Beach in the Nation by Dr. Beach himself, Stephen Leatherman. The sand is white, the water is blue, and even the loggerhead turtles know it’s the place to be – it is the largest nesting beach in the Panhandle. Forty-five percent of the island is state park, so there’s more than your usual opportunities to hike nature trails, find perfect conch shells, and enjoy quiet solitude. The town is quintessential Old Florida, and the locals like it that way. That’s why you’ll find beach houses rather than high rises and hotels.
The best place to choose the perfect family home is through Collins Vacation Rentals. They just celebrated their 50th anniversary on the island and can help you decide among their inventory of 270 homes, from Old Florida cottages to beachfront mansions. Since there is no major development in St. George Island, you can sit on a deck big enough for 20, look up at the dark sky filled with stars, and listen to the waves pound the shore just feet away. Pedal the beach on your complimentary bikes, or choose a home that comes equipped with golf carts to take you from one end of the island to the other.
For more info: collinsvacationrentals.com
Courtesy of Collins Vacation Rentals
Gulf Shores, Alabama
It may be on the southernmost tip of Alabama, but Gulf Shores is still surprisingly easy to reach. It’s a short drive from several major southern cities, and if you prefer to fly, it’s relatively equidistant from Pensacola International Airport and Mobile Regional Airport. Many visitors come here for renowned golf courses like Kiva Dunes and the Arnold Palmer-designed Craft Farms Golf Resort. But a range of offerings for all levels of activities abound. Take a dolphin watching cruise or go parasailing. Sign the whole family up for a class at Sand Castle University. Laugh with the kids at Waterville USA water and amusement park. Or have an angling competition off the longest fishing pier in the Gulf of Mexico.
It's all convenient when you book through Kaiser Vacation Rentals and stay in one of their 37 family homes. If you arrive by electric car, no worries – 14 of the homes have EV stations so you don’t have to waste valuable vacation time searching for a charge. And talk about a time saver – all of their homes have keypad locks so there’s no check-in process, allowing you to go straight to your home. Home automation allows you to preset thermostats and lights, and a guest portal provides information about the local area and allows you to communicate directly with Kaiser if you run into any snags.
For more info: kaiservacations.com
Outer Banks, North Carolina
One of the biggest draws to the Outer Banks is that it doesn’t just bring pristine beaches – it’s loaded with history (the first English settlement in America!). The Wright Brothers’ inaugural powered flight took place here, and 10 acres of beauty and history are preserved at the Elizabethan Gardens. The historical significance of this area of the country is only made more special by its beautiful beaches. According to the Currituck Tourism Bureau, about 20 percent of vacationers in the Outer Banks have visited more than 20 times.
This area, known as OBX, is also famous for its rental homes – 20,000 of them, in fact. It can be a bit overwhelming, but Twiddy & Company Vacation Rentals will take good care of you. Options range from smaller cottages to luxurious estates - including one with 36 bedrooms that sleep more people than any other home in the Outer Banks. More than 50 percent of Twiddy home renters become repeat guests, with about one-third choosing to stay in the same home every year. It’s the type of company that helps families create traditions that are passed down through the generations.
For more info: twiddy.com
Courtesy of Sand N Sea Galveston
Galveston, Texas
There’s an impressive depth of history in Galveston, making it quite different from your typical beach community. The architecture, the museums and homes preserved by the Galveston Historical Foundation, and even the storm-ravaged tree trunks that have been carved into beautiful sculptures speak to a town that honors its heritage. And Galveston also has a lot of local flavor, with unique shops and restaurants, antiquing, a carnival on the water called Pleasure Pier, Moody Gardens, regular festivals, and art classes, all in an easily navigable town. Every generation can find something to do – and you don’t have to go far to find it.
The West End of the beach is known as a quiet respite from all the action, where you can enjoy the peace of Galveston Bay but be in the heart of the town in under 10 minutes. Rent a home from Sand ‘N Sea, a family-owned business since 1974, take a stroll out onto the deck (the greatest draw for most renters), and you’ll see why their homes are so popular. You may look down on your private pool or hot tub, or eye your personal grill with a mind toward cooking up the fish you just caught. Either way, you’re in a private enclave. Sand & Sea’s long history in the area comes in handy, as they can connect you to someone who will help set up beach equipment, guide you on a tour, or create a private celebration in your vacation home.
And why not celebrate? You’re with the people you love the most in a beautiful home away from home.
For more info: sandnsea.com
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