Tiny home accommodations, a water park, 4 pools, a lazy river, splash pad, putt putt course, sports courts, dog park, a jumping pillow for kids, beach volleyball, arcade, mini bowling, fitness center, beach shuttle transportation and scheduled events/activities for all ages? Such a place exists and it’s just a short drive from North Carolina.

Located in Conway, SC, Carolina Pines is a beautiful RV Resort. But wait, you don’t have to have an RV to stay. There are 4-5 types of cottages (aka, tiny homes) you can rent that will accommodate families (handicap accessible is available).

As someone who grew up camping on many family vacations from beaches to the mountains, this was taking that experience to the next level.

Our first trip was in 2021. We went in late April as a surprise for our oldest’s birthday. Picking up our son a little early from school just to tell him we were going on a surprise family birthday trip is such a fun memory for me. Having never heard of the place, he didn’t know what was coming.

Our boys are busy bodies. From sun up to sun down, there isn’t much time of rest and for that reason, I opted we didn’t rent a golf cart and packed their scooters. I’m so thankful we did this because the tiny home rental was just a short walk from the main attractions. There are bike racks all over the resort for kids to park scooters and bikes.

Our first two trips to Carolina Pines had perfect weather so we were able to enjoy all of the amenities. Check-in is at 3PM; however, you can arrive early and pay a small fee to enjoy the resort amenities. The Welcome Center is beautifully decorated and has very nice bathrooms that you can quickly change into your bathing suits after you check-in. Personally, I recommend arriving early if you can. This will give you an opportunity to drive around the entire property to familiarize yourself with where everything is and make a plan for what you want to do first.

Your days will be filled with so many memories from all they have to offer. On the go kids will love the main waterpark attraction, pictured here.

Newly added are these two plunge slides and a large lazy river.

The waterpark, putt-putt and bouncy pillow all open at 10AM. Sports courts are always open.

The Serenity Pool has a hot tub, lap pool, and one additional pool with chair loungers in a shallow pool. In our visits, this pool is not as busy and somewhat relaxing if you need to take a break from the waterpark.

Should you have rain impede on your plans, I suggest making the trip to Ripley’s Aquarium. It is just a short drive and will provide hours of entertainment. The shark tunnel alone was amazing.

A couple of tips when planning your visit:

1. Note the dates of when the waterpark is open and closed for the season.
2. Pack snacks, basic needs for making poolside lunches (bread, deli meat/cheese, PB&J, fresh fruit), ziplock bags, and possible meals for grilling as each home has charcoal grills.
3. Things you’ll need for grilling that are easy to pack, lighter, small bag of charcoal, and roasting skewers for marshmallows over the fire pit. If you’d rather, the general store at the resort has these items.
4. Coffee drinkers, pack filters and coffee. Each home has a coffee pot but you will have to provide the filters and beans for that cup of joe.
5. Pack basic needs for the pool: towels, sunscreen, puddle jumpers if needed, etc.
6. Pack sound machine & pack n play for the littlest ones.
7. Plan ahead. You can get a better deal and have more options of availability if you book well in advance. The homes book quickly!
8. Be prepared to plan a return visit! We’ve had so many friends and family visit Carolina Pines after we fist went based on our recommendation and they’ve since been back many times.

If you have specific questions about what home may accommodate your family best, I’ll be happy to try and help you make that decision.

One final recommendation while you’re at Carolina Pines. Try dinner at Ella’s, located in Calabash for a traditional seafood meal. It was a childhood favorite for my husband which he was thrilled to introduce the boys to. Easy to say they were happy.

Comment if you have been to Carolina Pines and any tips you may have learned on your visits.