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We stayed at a place in Wrightsville that can be rented like a hotel, but they're individual condo's with a separate bedroom, kitchenette, and all that. I can't remember the name of it.
Anywhere from Duck to Myrtle Beach would be about the same value for you. If you have teenagers Myrtle Beach is better because there is more to do. An internet search will be very productive.
With a toddler I'd go for the Brunswick County beaches. Ocean Isle might do you — there are several sets of condos there. The beaches there are wide and gentle and at low tide there are often tide pools that form in the sand and they are absolutely perfect for toddlers to splash around in w/o mom and dad worrying about them getting knocked over by waves.
That's what the tide pools look like. They are there for 4 or 5 hours around low tide. Really fun for little kids. It's a natural phenomenon so no guarantees, but my kids sure loved them. Just don't stay at either end of the island where there are erosion problems. The north/east end is worse. The west end it's mostly just right near the end. We usually stay with friends in a condo not far from The Isles and the beach is very wide there.
Sunset Beach is also great, but they don't have any ocean front condos. I don't know if Holden Beach does or not.
IMO, the Brunswick County beaches are much nicer for little people than the OBX and I'm going to the OBX in July. I like it there, too, but for a toddler OIB would be my recommendation.
We stayed at a place in Wrightsville that can be rented like a hotel, but they're individual condo's with a separate bedroom, kitchenette, and all that. I can't remember the name of it.
Edit: Shell Island Resort
no No NO NONONONO
Unless you get very lucky with the unit you rent it will be miserable. That place, in general, is filthy (and I'm not that picky but when I'm on vacation I don't want filthy). Add in clueless staff and management that doesn't care and questionable billing practices...you can do better. If you go to Wrightsville you're better off in Holiday Inn ( we are trying Blockade Runner this year so no report yet). Also they just built a suites hotel in Carolina Beach (it's a Hilton hotel, I think it's a Hampton Inn and Suites).
But I would take poppy dog's advice and stay where you can get tidal pools to deal with.
I used to rent a condo down at Garden City south of Myrtle Beach. It was away from the busyness of Myrtle Beach but still a short drive away to Myrtle Beach and other places like Murrells Inlet, Brookgreen Gardens, Huntington Beach State Park. But that was 20+ years ago, don't know how much it's changed since then. I had an 8 year old stepdaughter back then and there was plenty to do in the area to keep her from getting bored.
Unless you get very lucky with the unit you rent it will be miserable. That place, in general, is filthy (and I'm not that picky but when I'm on vacation I don't want filthy). Add in clueless staff and management that doesn't care and questionable billing practices...you can do better. If you go to Wrightsville you're better off in Holiday Inn ( we are trying Blockade Runner this year so no report yet). Also they just built a suites hotel in Carolina Beach (it's a Hilton hotel, I think it's a Hampton Inn and Suites).
But I would take poppy dog's advice and stay where you can get tidal pools to deal with.
I guess we got lucky. We went once, it was fine - not fancy but it was clean. I wouldn't go back, but only because I'm not a fan of Wrightsville. They did have a nice little Tiki Bar.
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