You Guys Know Best, Tell Me Where To Vacation

The end of summer is upon on kids and I've been trying to figure out where I'm gonna take my boys for a lil summer vacation. I had entertained thoughts of a beach somewhere not in Texas.  I've been reading about beaches in Florida, Oregon, Maryland, South Carolina and a few other places I would actually never have thought of. I was on a big Outer Banks kick last year and just never pulled the trigger. The thing is I'm just not so keen on spending 5k to fly somewhere.  A friend of mine posted some pictures of her families most recent vaca and I fell in love with the national park they went to.  There were trees and a super awesome looking creek they were walking through, it just looked amazing. I was thinking that the place was beautiful and assuming it was in Texas so I decided, to heck with it, wherever it is, that's where we're going.  Turns out it was in Oregon.  Still beautiful, just a little too far for me to want to drive.  So now I'm hunting around online for best kept beachfront hotel secrets and it's really just getting me down. The year we stayed on the beach in Corpus was great but I was hopping to stay a different hotel on the beach this time.  Been looking all morning and afternoon and I can't find one that's just right.  I figure if anyone knows the best places to stay it would be you guys! I've always thought it would be cool to start a page ran by people who live in Texas that's basically a guide to all the best places to visit in Texas.  Like if you're wanting to go camping with big trees and some babbling brooks nearby, who better to find out from than someone that's been there a few times and knows all the deets, like best hotels in case you decide you can't handle camping-that would be me, best places to eat ect....

I want to take my boys either to the beach or somewhere there's a lake and big tall trees. Any suggestions? Votes for which is better? By the way if you make a suggestion based on a personal stay, pics or it didn't happen.  Also, if there's already a page like this let me know!