MYRTLE BEACH, SC Vacation Help

[shells4]

Sorry if I am repeating any info, did not read thru the whole thread. Personally we don't care for MB, way to busy and crowded. We rent a house on Pawleys Island about 20 miles south of MB. We stay a block or so off ocean so it is an easy walk and the houses are more reasonably priced ($1200-1500/week). It is usually cheaper for us to rent a house then a week at a resort/hotel plus we love having a kitchen, washer, and dryer. All private homes, no businesses on the beach. Much more relaxing. You are close to MB if there are things there you want to do. My kids never want to leave the island to do anything, they would rather spend the week at the beach then even Disney! Husband and son usually do a day long fishing trip out of Murrell's Inlet and my daughter and I do some sort of special activity together like dolphin watching trip, boat trip to an island with lighthouse, marsh tour, etc. There are many small towns between MB and Pawleys Island that you can rent homes and be away from the noise of MB. Surfside, Litchfield, Murrell's Inlet. Even if we had a pool, kids would not want to use it. They want to swim in the ocean, walk on the beach, and go fishing 24/7.

 

[aprilgail2]

Even if we had a pool, kids would not want to use it. They want to swim in the ocean, walk on the beach, and go fishing 24/7.

Total opposite for us, we have to find a place with a pool because my daughter hates swimming in the ocean "ewwww there are fish in there"--- ummm yes there are- they LIVE there LOL....

 

[highwayg]

We are heading down there in August, but we will be camping in our RV. (have a few campgrounds on the list but havent made reservations yet) Love this thread! Seems like there is a lot to do. We have been to Ocean City MD a few times and enjoyed it. Sounds similar.

 

[shells4]

Total opposite for us, we have to find a place with a pool because my daughter hates swimming in the ocean "ewwww there are fish in there"--- ummm yes there are- they LIVE there LOL....

LOL We go looking for the critters. Spend hours in the marsh areas looking for them. Although we have salt water aquariums and kids have grown up with them. They have learned nothing to be afraid of, just respectful and cautious.

 

[MrsPete]

I'm not sure about all these places, but the ones I know are not in Myrtle Beach . . . They are in North Myrtle Beach, an adjacent town that is quite different from Myrtle itself. North Myrtle is a newer area, and the nicer hotels are located there. South Myrtle is also an okay place, though more rustic (poor word choice) but you want to stay out of Mytle Beach itself.

As for comparisons to Hilton Head, Charleston, etc, they're all different places. Choose Hilton Head, Fripp, Holden, Oak Island or Lady if you want a quiet, family beach vacation. Choose Charleston if you want history and amazing food. Kiawah or Edisto if you want nature. Choose Myrtle and its surrounding environs if you want low prices, aren't overly concerned with quality and enjoy chain restaurants.

Some of the nicer hotels in Myrtle Beach are

Marina Inn Grande Dunes - not oceanfront, but they have private beach access by shuttle or you can drive and park there. It is a AAA 4 diamond property.

Marriott Grande Dunes - oceanfront with nice pool. Also a 4 diamond property.

Embassy Suites at Kingston Plantation - I think this has a small water park. We haven't stayed here, but we know people who have and they have liked it. Includes breakfast.

There is a Hilton at/near Kingston Plantation. Don't know anything about it, but I have seen it and it is oceanfront.

Kingston Plantation also has condos to rent.

Hampton Inn and Suites gets/used to get good reviews on Trip Advisor. We stayed here once for a night and moved to the Marriott Grande Dunes, but we had booked a regular room and it seems that most positive reviews were for the suites.

We have stayed a few times at Dunes Village, most recently in January. I think your kids are probably too old to appreciate the water park for more than an hour or two. My kids are 13 and 10 - the 13 year old went down a couple of slides and was done. The 10 year old lasted about an hour but actually preferred the outdoor lazy river (in January ). Dunes Village is like a much, much smaller Great Wolf Lodge with slides and small pools divided between two buildings. Dunes does have a nice oceanfront location.

Some of our friends recommended the Breakers the next time we go to MB and want a hotel with a water park. We have not been there personally.

I find most of the MB hotels to be a bit rundown, but we like the Marriott and the Marina Inn a lot. It just depends what you are looking for.

Be sure to visit Wonderworks if you have not been to the Orlando one (or another one). The kids and adults in our family love it!

 

[bmraar]

We stayed at Landmark Resort the last time we went. It is not fancy, but I certainly not call it a dump. They have both an indoor and an outdoor lazy river. There is a large indoor pool, and indoor kiddy pool, and an indoor and an outdoor hot tub. It is right on the beach. The outdoor pool had a DJ during the day, and folks doing balloon animals and temporary tattoos. At night there was a hula show put on by local students and a fire breather. There was a restaurant that served breakfast, but a short drive away was a Krispy Kreme so we got donuts. My kids are still talking about that trip a year later, and how they can't wait to go back to Myrtle Beach. Definitely go to Broadway at the Beach too. Fun times!

Kim

 

[Jaya]

We stayed at Bay View on the Boardwalk for spring break and really liked it. They have an indoor pool, lazy river, kiddie pool and hot tub and an outdoor "splash area". We had a 1-bedroom apartment with full kitchen and washer/dryer. Two queens in the bedroom and a sleeper couch in the living room, two balconies. Walking distance to the amusement park and the sky wheel area. There's a Starbucks in the hotel, but no actual restaurant.