My husband and I live in Massachusetts with our four children, ages 12, 9, 7, and 3. I have been trying to find a vacation for us that does not require a home equity loan! We're looking for a nice beach and pool along with two-bedroom accommodations that include a kitchen. Do you have any suggestions?

Great beaches, nice accommodations, economical prices...all sound like reasonable requests to us! Here are three top East Coast destinations for you to check out.

• The St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida area has some of the prettiest beaches in the Sunshine State--35 miles of clean, white sand, licked by calm, warm waters. Caladesi Island State Park and Fort De Soto Park are ranked sixth and seventh best in the country. Clearwater Beach has been named the top city beach in the Gulf region. You'll find a wide choice of accommodations and plenty of activities to keep your kids happy. For beachfront rentals in St. Pete Beach, contact Travel Resort Services by calling (800) 950-2534 or by clicking here. You might also try Resort Realty, which has two-bedroom condos with plenty of amenities--such as pools, spas, and game rooms. Call (800) 293-3979 or click here for more information.

• Check out the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area of Alabama before this hidden gem gets discovered and prices soar. You'll find 32 miles of sugar-white beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. If you can get your kids out of the water, there's golf, biking, hiking, fishing, nature cruises, and more. We like the Gulf Shores Plantation, which has 2,000 feet of private beach, several indoor and outdoor pools, sports and tennis courts, games rooms, and golf, on-site. Two-bedroom condos available. Call (888)260-SAND or click here.

For information and more condo rentals in the area, call the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 745-SAND or click here.

• Last spring, we headed to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for a multi-generational vacation. The beaches are top-notch and the island offers a multitude of activities--horseback riding, kayaking, tennis, and, of course, golf. For accommodations, Island Rentals is a good bet. They have two-bedroom villas and homes on the beach, many with on-site pools. Check out their off-peak, online specials to save up to 50%. Call (800)445-8664 or click here.

Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses and prices are subject to change. Originally published in April 2001. Updated April 2006.

Diane Bair and Pamela Wright have worked as a travel-writing team since 1988, when their first book, FUN PLACES TO GO WITH CHILDREN IN NEW ENGLAND was published. The Bair-Wright team has gone on to write more than a dozen more books, including ADVENTURE NEW ENGLAND: AN OUTDOOR VACATION GUIDE and WILD ENCOUNTERS: THE BEST ANIMAL-WATCHING ADVENTURES IN THE U.S. They are frequent contributors to several national magazines, including FAMILYFUN, BETTER HOMES & GARDENS, BACKPACKER, TRAVELAMERICA, PARENTING and NEW ENGLAND TRAVEL & LIVING. Bair and Wright are based in a 200-year-old brownstone in the seaport town of Newburyport, Massachusetts.