Are you planning on renting a car/van once you arrive at your destination?
If so, my advice is to look at our lovely beaches of southern Lake Michigan.

Lots of very sweet small towns, beautiful dunes and beaches, and little downtowns filled with quaint shops and ice cream parlors.

We usually use vrbo.com or homeaway.com because we prefer to rent houses rather than hotels or condos but I am sure you can find some small cottages or condos in some of the cities.

Look at-
Michigan City, IN
Beverly Shores, IN
Union Pier, MI
New Buffalo, MI (has small playground on beach)
Bridgman, MI
South Haven, MI
St. Joeseph, MI (has several playgrounds on beach, a splash pad and carousal just behind the beach)
Grand Haven MI

Fly into South Bend IN and all the beaches are only 1 hour away.
Good luck.

Judie and Victor
lucky parents to
Frankie 3/95
Maggie 7/96
Rose 7/96
Elizabeth 7/96