Help me save my 'vacation' (Oak Island, Sunset Beach: rentals, hotel, houses)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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I planned a getaway for this weekend. Took Friday off, planned to drive to Sunset Beach, stay two nights in a cheapish motel, then drive home early Sunday AM so kids could spend Father's Day with dad. All I wanted to do was lay on a beach and read books and sleep and bob in the ocean and eat a seafood dinner. For a couple reasons this may be the only 'vacation' I can get.
Now oldest child has to work 9-5 on Friday. I'm hesitant to drive to Sunset at that point because it seems like there will be a lot of Father's Day/First Weekend off from school traffic. We can still leave early on Saturday and spend one night (if I can get the motel to agree to a one night stay). but that seems like a bit of effort for just one night.
So I guess what I want is to go somewhere with a decent hotel room on a freshwater shore where I can do all the things I'd planned but is in a different direction from the beach so we don't have to contend with traffic...
Any ideas? Or am I worrying about friday night traffic for nothing?
I'd still go but I'd leave late on Friday. Usually even on holiday weekends traffic is fine if you leave after 7 PM. And Father's Day is isn't a big travelling weekend here so I wouldn't expect any more than the usual summer beach traffic. Lots of other NC school districts have been out since before this week, only WCPSS traditional schools got out on Monday of this week.
I'd still go but I'd leave late on Friday. Usually even on holiday weekends traffic is fine of you leave around 7:30 PM. And Father's Day is isn't a big travelling weekend here so I wouldn't expect any more than the usual summer beach traffic. Lots of other NC school districts have been out since before this week, only WCPSS traditional schools got out on Monday.
Agree. I know a lot of people going camping this weekend, locally. Don't know anyone going to the beach. And anyone going is likely leaving early in the day since the kids are out of school anyway.
I think you'd be better off sticking to your original plan. Sat traffic is the worst day for heading to the beach. If you can leave right at 5 you could be there by 8 or 9.
Most beach houses rent from Saturday to Saturday so you're much more likely to get caught up in traffic then than on a Friday evening. I have been in some pretty bad Saturday traffic on Hwy 17 between Wilmywood and Sunset. Just leave Friday as soon as the big kid gets off from work.
We go to the beach quite often (Oak Island) and intentionally leave on Friday at 7 PM to avoid the traffic. We come home at 7 PM on Sundays and hardly see any traffic.
The poster that said most weekly rentals are Sat. to Sat. is correct. We always see more traffic coming on to the island Sat. between 2 and 5. I think check in is usually around 3 or 4 PM.
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