We just returned from a really lovely stay at Minnesott Beach, NC. This was our first time traveling here.. and it wont be the last! It was quiet, convenient, and just what we needed.
This particular cottage is called Change in Attitude and is available through Airbnb. It offers 2 bedrooms/2 baths, full kitchen, washer/dryer, and most importantly- a PRIVATE BEACH. Yes, you read that right. Your own personal beach area. All for $150/night.
Can I tell you how easy that was with the kids?! It was the perfect size for them.. and I didn’t have to worry about anyone wandering off! Additionally, it was located on the Neuse River.. which provided a much easier experience than playing at the oceans edge. While it was too cold to fully get in, the calm current did make it a really great play environment for the kids. My husband, Thomas, was working a good portion of this trip.. so having the convenience of this beach was really important. We chose this location knowing that I would be handling the kids alone for a good portion of our trip. If it were any other scenario, I likely would not have taken them to the waters edge alone.
I’ve spoken about this before.. but having a free standing rental is really important to us. When you have young children (and also a child on the spectrum), having a full kitchen and ample space is really important! Merritt has a really limited diet so being able to cook foods for him on site is really helpful. Additionally, having a location where he has room to move and run is helpful (Merritt needs a lot of movement). While we have managed this in a hotel room, it’s just not as easy.. and I constantly worry that he is bothering others below or beside us. Being able to enjoy your vacation as a parent is equally important. So keep that in mind when booking your stay. What will put ALL of your family members at ease when traveling?!
One of the downsides (and upsides!) of this rental was it’s remote location. There was one Dollar General located within a 15 minute drive.. but all other stores were at least a 30 minute drive away in New Bern. The Ferry is located around the corner.. and can be taken across to Cherry Branch. From here, you are an hour (or less) drive from Beaufort and Atlantic Beach. There is a military base located across the river and it did provide a lot of air traffic during the day.. but the kids really enjoyed seeing all the different types of military planes come through!
We planned accordingly and brought all food items that we needed for the week. With Thomas traveling for work, he was able to stop by the grocery store for a few items as we needed. But my advice would be to plan ahead as its not an easy trek out for a forgotten item! For this trip, I pre-made breakfast burritos, ham & cheese sliders, trail mix, and chili! Having the burritos meant not having to travel with loose eggs, bacon, or condiments. For the chili, I was able to freeze it and allow it to thaw along the way. We ate this for dinner our first two nights. Having a solid meal plan is key (in my opinion) and makes for easy decisions after a long day on the beach!
The plus side of this remote location was that we did not encounter a single person for DAYS! Maybe this was due to it being the off-season.. but almost all houses around us were vacant. The two houses that were directly next door looked to be quite neglected.. and obviously did not have frequent visitors. We did see cars at other houses further down the beach.. but it’s likely they are mostly locals.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this location! It offered a really relaxing and quiet getaway. The views were spectacular and the convenience of the beach could not be beat. If you’re in the area, definitely give it a try!
travelingonthespectrum.com 