Photo: Barbara Bergwerf

Tomorrow, Charleston vacationers will have the opportunity to witness a truly amazing and heartwarming event. After 4 months of recovery in the Sea Turtle Hospital at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, McClellan the sea turtle will return to her home in the Atlantic Ocean. At 1 p.m. on Friday, October 7, 2011, the adult female loggerhead will be released at the Isle of Palms County Park in Charleston, South Carolina to begin her journey home. The public is invited to join sea turtle rescuers in celebrating McClellan’s remarkable recovery. McClellan’s fans will want to arrive early to get a good view of the release and a good parking space (county park parking fees apply).

Joining several other rescued sea turtles, McClellan arrived at the South Carolina Aquarium’s famous Sea Turtle Hospital in late June. The 228-pound giant had suffered traumatic injuries while entangled in a crab trap rope. One of the loggerhead’s flippers had been amputated during her struggle to free herself, and she had lost a portion of her shell from repeated propeller strikes. McClellan’s brave fight quickly captured the hearts of Charleston vacationers and residents. All summer long, visitors to Charleston’s Sea Turtle Hospital have watched the massive loggerhead’s difficult rehabilitation as experts put her through her paces, preparing McClellan to return to the wild. On Friday, fans and well-wishers will gather at Isle of Palms County Park to cheer the final step in McClellan’s remarkable recovery.

A visit to the South Carolina Aquarium and Sea Turtle Hospital is a highlight of any Charleston vacation. Just a short drive from luxury Charleston vacation rentals, the aquarium is located at 100 Aquarium Wharf at the edge of historic Charleston Harbor.

To visit the aquarium and Sea Turtle Hospital and explore Charleston’s many historic sites and beautiful beaches, book your Charleston vacation on iTrip.net today.

Steeped in history and oozing gentile Southern charm, Charleston, South Carolina is a delightful vacation destination known for its Revolutionary and Civil War history, architectural beauty, cultural arts and beautiful beaches. The city’s rich history is on constant display in its beautiful parks, charming streets, elegant antebellum homes and national historic sites, inviting visitors to explore and enjoy this graceful city. Many of Charleston’s most well-known outdoor attractions are free and just a short walk from beautiful our Charleston vacation rentals.

Many free outdoor activities provide a pleasant way to spend the day during delightful Charleston beach vacations:

Take a stroll through Battery Park and the adjoining White Point Gardens, two of Charleston’s most beautiful public parks. Located on the waterfront at the tip of the peninsula, the Battery provides gorgeous postcard views of some of Charleston’s most historic sites: Sullivan’s Island, the site of a fierce Revolutionary War naval attack that is commemorated by the white palmetto tree on the state flag; Fort Sumter where Confederate soldiers overwhelmed the Union-held fort to start the Civil War; and the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier which served with distinction in World War II and Vietnam and later as a NASA recovery ship.

Enjoy a self-guided art tour of Charleston’s French Quarter located between South Market and Tradd Street, Market Street and the waterfront. The area’s quaint cobble streets are a reminder of Charleston’s colonial days when French Protestants settled the area that now houses 30 exciting art galleries. Gallery maps are available at www.frenchquarterarts.com

Visit the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site across the harbor in Mount Pleasant. Pinckney was a principal author and signer of the U.S. Constitution. Visitors will learn about America’s “forgotten founder” and life on his 715-acre low country plantation, Snee Farm, 28 acres of which have been preserved. Interpretive trails and handicap-accessible boardwalks tell the story of 18^th century plantation life.

View more iTrip vacation rentals at iTrip.net!

A lot of people are unaware September 11^th is Grandparents Day. Start a new tradition or continue the tradition with a surprise vacation. Yes, there are a lot of great places you can take them, including Charleston, South Carolina.

If your grandparents are golfing enthusiasts they’ll enjoy the RiverTowne Country Club, an Arnold Palmer masterpiece.

The Magnolia Plantation & Its gardens, a 17^th century estate, includes some of the nation’s oldest gardens. The place includes a nature train, nature boat, an observation tower and more. You and your grandparents can visit the historic Fort Sumter National Monument; it’s where the Civil War began. The cruise to the island provides wonderful views. The historic Nathaniel Russell House, a grand Federal townhouse of Charleston merchant Nathaniel Russell, was completed in 1808. The beautiful interior includes elaborate ornamentation and a magnificent free-flying stair case.

The popular Sullivan’s Island includes great beaches and charming seaside neighborhoods and some casual dining venues. The island is treasured for its rich history, beauty and friendly atmosphere.

The Isle of Palms County Park is a favorite of those who enjoy Charleston beach vacations. It offers beautiful ocean frontage.

Downtown Charleston is within walking distance from tons of our Charleston vacation rentals. Your grandparents will have an enjoyable time visiting the art galleries and museums.

Your group can have a great meal at the Peninsula Grill, situated in the historic Planters Inn. The restaurant offers tasty regional cuisine. Hank’s Seafood Restaurant serves local seafood classics and innovative seasonal specials. By design, the restaurant looks like a 1940s Charleston fish house.

Your Grandparents will have a wonderful time in Charleston, South Carolina.

Our beach vacation rentals are available in a number of different coastal locations to allow you to choose your favorite, or to become a beach connoisseur by experiencing every type of coastline that North and Central America have to offer.

In the Northeast, Delaware Shores and Maryland’s Ocean City give you miles of beautiful Atlantic beaches as well as one of the country’s top boardwalks. The Atlantic Ocean on the Delaware and Maryland coasts offer some of the best recreational opportunities available — swimming, sunbathing, surf fishing, boating, deep sea fishing, surfing, skimboarding, dolphin watching, beachcombing, a relaxing walk. The ocean warms up to swimmable temperatures in May and remains warm enough to swim in as late as October. 

In South Carolina, vacation rentals in Charleston and North Myrtle Beach offer Southern hospitality and powdery sands. Exciting activities for the entire family include miniature golf parks, water sports, seaside amusement parks, theatres and of course the dance craze that was born in North Myrtle’s Ocean Drive, The Shag!

Along the Gulf of Mexico, in Alabama and Florida, we have Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, as well as Perdido Key, South Walton, Panama City, and Destin.  The Emerald Coast has sugary soft sand and mesmerizing green waters, as well as environmentally certified clean beaches. Further south, we offer vacation rentals around the award-winning St. Petersburg and Clearwater beaches, too.  

Going even further south into Central America, experience the exotic in vacation rentals in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Then, on your way up the West Coast, stop in Mexico’s Baja California and visit Cabo San Lucas.  And as you travel up past San Diego toward Los Angeles, you can experience the warmth and glamour of Southern California beaches with vacation rentals in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. 

Let iTrip.net help you and your family become beach connoisseurs!

This week iTrip is featuring the ocean front condo, Isle of Palms, located in Charleston, South Carolina. If you enjoy Charleston beach vacations this condo is for you!

The beautifully decorated condo includes three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Enjoy the beautiful views from the balconies. The condo has cable TV and DVD in every bedroom. After a fun day at the beach relax on a comfortable couch. Enjoy the jetted tub. Make some tasty meals in the full kitchen. The condo also has a BBQ grill.

The Isle of Palms condo is within easy walking distance to restaurants and beach district shopping. Swim in the private pool or take a walk down to the beautiful beach. If you enjoy fishing, charter boats are available. Golf enthusiasts staying at Charleston vacation rentals have a great time at the RiverTowne Country Club, an Arnold Palmer masterpiece.

Visit Fort Sumter National Monument; it’s where the Civil War began. Enjoy wonderful views while cruising to the island fort. While staying at one of the superb Charleston, SC vacation rentals check out the Magnolia Plantation & Its gardens. The 17^th Century Estate has some of the nation’s oldest gardens. The place includes a nature boat, nature train, an observation tower and more. 

Downtown Charleston is only 20 minutes away. Check out the museums and art galleries. Shop at the King Street corridor or at the open air market. The Peninsula Grill, located in the historic Planters Inn, serves regional cuisine. Hank’s Seafood Restaurant offers local seafood classics and innovative seasonal specials. By design, the restaurant has the appearance of a 1940s Charleston fish house.

Look at photographs, pricing and availability for Isle of Palms. Have a great time in Charleston, South Carolina!

Charleston, South Carolina is steeped in history and cloaked in southern charm. Settled in 1670, the city’s rich history is evident in its many museums, historic homes and ancient forts. Charleston’s location on the Atlantic coast also makes this beautiful city in South Carolina’s fabled low country a fabulous beach destination. From hands-on museums and fascinating historic tours to sandy beaches and delightful parks, Charleston offers a wide variety of family-pleasing attractions – many of them free, a definite parent-pleaser! Make your Charleston beach vacation even more affordable by booking your Charleston, SC vacation rentals on iTrip.net.

Here’s a round-up of some of Charleston’s best family-friendly attractions: 

• Touch a piece of U.S. history with a visit to Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum and tour the USS Yorktown. A stop at the Medal of Honor Museum is inspiring.
• Hands-on fun waits at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. Captain a pirate ship or scale the walls of a medieval castle.
• Learn how tea is made with a visit to America’s only tea plantation. Charleston Tea Plantation offers trolley rides through the tea fields and an interesting factory tour.
• Don’t miss the albino alligator and sting ray touch pool at the South Carolina Aquarium. The shark exhibit is fearsome!
• Spend the day picnicking and hiking the trails at Caw Caw Interpretive Center. Keep your eye out for birds and wildlife.
• Watch for dolphins and enjoy a panoramic view of Charleston as you cross the harbor in the Charleston Water Taxi.
• Peek into the Charleston’s anti-bellum past with a tour of Drayton Hall, America’s oldest plantation house built in 1738.
• Take a walking tour of historic downtown Charleston and find souvenirs at the open-air Old City Market.
• A trip to Charleston isn’t complete without a walk through historic Battery Park and White Point Gardens.

Need a place to stay in Charleston? Let iTrip.net take care of that. Find a variety of Charleston vacation rentals!

Everyone needs a vacation but keeping it affordable, especially if you’re traveling as a family, can be a challenge. Fortunately, you don’t have to ditch your vacation plans this summer. With a little planning and some savvy insider tricks, you can take your family on an affordable summer vacation to North Myrtle Beach or Charleston, South Carolina. US News Travel online recently named Myrtle Beach one of the world’s six Best Cheap Summer Vacations. It also made the US News Travel list of Best Beaches and Best Family Vacations in the U.S.

Use these tips to plan a memorable vacation that won’t cost you a bundle:

• Skip the noisy hotels and stay in affordable North Myrtle Beach vacation rentals or Charleston condo rentals. You’ll enjoy a more relaxing environment with all the comforts of home but still be only minutes away from the action
• Trim meal costs by eating breakfast and packing picnic lunches in the full kitchen of your North Myrtle Beach condo rental
• For beach time, head for the area’s beautiful public beaches. They’re clean and free and many have rest rooms
• Look for discount coupons to popular attractions in the free vacation guides available at tourist centers, interstate rest stops and airports
• Most attractions offer discounts for children, students and seniors. Remind the kids to bring their high school and college IDs along. Also ask about AAA or AARP discounts
• Save money by purchasing combination tickets. A Ripley’s combo ticket provides admission to Ripley’s Aquarium, Believe It or Not! Museum, and Haunted Adventure
• For the best prices, go to weekday matinees of live shows like the Carolina Opry and Alabama Theater

For an affordable summer vacation, book your North Myrtle Beach vacation rentals or Charleston vacation condo rentals on iTrip.net today.