MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Warmed by the Gulf Stream in winter, the coastal Carolinas enjoy mild temperatures and are a day's drive closer to Canada than Florida. They also deliver great value without skimping on amenities or charm.

For Canadians who are passionate about fishing, there's no better destination than the Cape Fear Coast around Wilmington, N.C. Two small, friendly beach towns — Carolina Beach and Kure Beach — offer very reasonably-priced accommodations and charming character.

Carolina Beach is an ideal area for surf fishing, bottom fishing, shell fishing and deep sea fishing, thanks to its location at the convergence of the Cape Fear River, the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. The Carolina Beach Fishing Pier is a great place to drop a line; it's open to the public and has a tackle shop, grill and arcade.

At nearby Kure Beach, the fishing is just as good. In fact, the Kure Beach pier enjoys an international reputation among fishermen as one of the best places to pier fish for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, flounder and blues.

Accommodations range from quaint family-owned beachfront motels, to wonderful bed & breakfast establishments, to a towering oceanfront hotel.

There's also plenty to do for the non-fishermen. Restaurants serve seafood fresh from the boat or shops offer gourmet treats. There are also several impressive historic sites to visit, as well as the North Carolina Aquarium.

Check out these two towns at CarolinaBeachGetaway.com and KureBeachstories.com.

A short drive south of the North Carolina beaches is the world-famous golf Mecca of Myrtle Beach and its "Grand Strand." This friendly little southern destination has been rolling out the red carpet for Canadians for nearly fifty years with its springtime Can-Am Days celebration. As those festivities begin, golf courses up and down the Strand have turned lush and the town is ready to play.

Right outside the heart of Myrtle Beach, The Glens Group is offering value-added packages that include lodging at the Village at the Glens. The Village overlooks the spectacular, award-winning Heather Glen Golf Links and there's even a practice green right next to the villas.

For those traveling by air to the beach, check out the "Just Pack Your Shoes" golf package. With Custom packages available at any price point, guests booking this vacation with the Glens Group will receive accommodations in a luxurious golf villa and three to four rounds of golf on The Glens Group's award winning courses, as well as free top-brand name rental clubs (Taylor Made, Callaway and Wilson), a new golf glove, Nike golf balls, free range balls and carts.

There's even a Glens package that combines days on the golf course with a night of gambling on a casino boat. Now that's a new twist — even for Myrtle Beach. Play the Glens Group's award-winning courses by day and visit the casino boat at night. This package includes tickets to a gaming cruise featuring Vegas-style slots, Blackjack, Roulette, Craps and Poker.

Find out more at www.glensgolfvacations.com or www.glensgolfgroup.com. You can even book your golf vacation online with just a few clicks of the mouse.

On Southern end of the Strand, there's a hidden gem known as Pawleys Plantation. Located in the historic resort town of Pawleys Island, S.C., it offers 200-year-old, moss-draped live oaks; enchanting egret and heron rookeries; a stately antebellum-style clubhouse; and a fabulous Jack Nicklaus golf course. A "Best Ever Golf School Package" offered by the resort is a genuine steal in terms of both price and quality. The package is available through May 18, 2009, with rates ranging from $799 to $999 per person, based on double occupancy. It includes three nights accommodations in a luxurious one-bedroom suite, two rounds of golf with carts on Pawleys Plantation's signature Jack Nicklaus course, three breakfasts, and three-days of golf instruction.

Guests stay in spacious and beautifully-appointed villas that line the park-like setting of the golf course. There are breath-taking views of the course, lakes and the salt marsh, as well as tennis, swimming, a fitness room, gourmet dining and much more. First-time visitors to Pawleys Plantation are amazed at what they get for the money — Travel+Leisure Golf magazine calls it "one of the most underrated golf resorts in the Southeast."

Go online to pawleysplantation.com to learn more about Pawleys Plantation or call 800-367-9959.