We're playing around with the idea of visiting Myrtle Beach this summer for a week and as we've never been there, were wondering if anyone could give us some ideas, advice on the place? What part to stay in? Rent a cottage or hotel, or other? What type of price would we be looking at in July? Are the beaches any good? Places to plan to visit...we have two boys ages 12 & 14. Any good shopping? What's been your experience?
Any and all advice would be helpful!!
Myrtle beach is a wonderful spot, the beaches are wide and sandy ,good shelling on much of it. "The Grand Strand" refers to a large area along the beach of the area basically ,Myrtle, North Myrtle ,Cherry Grove ,Pawleys Island ect.
The price you'll pay in july will be high season rates as the area is after all a summer vacation area and will depend on what area you stay in and what sorts of accomondations your looking for.Ocean front will be the most exspensive ranging from hotels and condos as well as duplex and single family beach front homes as well. BE CAREFUL many advertise themselves as ocean view not ocean front.Also there are 1st 2nd and 3rd row condos and homes , the further away from the beach obvisously the less the y cost. If your going in July and looking for ocean front now is the time to be looking as these tend to fill up first but wiith a high Canadian dollar and the US economy you might still score a bargain.Basically the further north you go the cheaper it tends to be with Pawleys Island being on the high end and Cherry grove on the "low" end but dont let the price fool you,we've stayed several times in Cherry Grove ,its not high crime or dirty its just a little furthr from the attractions is all and requires some driving but most areas along the Grand Strand do anyway
Theres no end to entertainment with Dinner Shows and the re-reopened Hard Rock park as well as a couple of large outlet malls and every resteraunt known to man is represented. Dont forget to check out Broadway at the Beach either for shopping and dinining. Also there are several buffets and cafeterias that are very good as well as inexspensive. Schlotzkys deli and the House of Blues are excellent ,check the House of Blues site to see who might be playing there for the dates your going ,the last 2 times we went we just missed George Thorogood and Willie Nelson , my wife wasnt as heart broken as I was but go figure
Expect the beach to be very busy in summer but if your into golfing at all ,from mini golf to par 3 to championship courses your going to be in heaven.Searching Info on the area is a little confusing online but a good place to start is the Myrtle Beach chamber of commerce.Places such as travelocity ect tend to only list hotels and not the condos ect.If your looking for a rental try Elliot Realty, we've used them in the past with good results for condos.
http://www.northmyrtlebeachtravel.com/ Good luck ,hope this helped a little.
