Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

My family has traveled to Myrtle Beach for years and years. My grandparents started going fifty years ago when the town was still a small beach town that had a handful of good fresh seafood restaurants, a few places to do the shag, and a small boardwalk by the water. 

Over years of course, the town has grown and expanded and become a huge tourist draw on the Carolina coast.  When I was little my parents took my sister and I every summer (and occasionally during spring break) for a week at the beach. In recent years, I haven't managed to make it every year, but still try to get down to the Grand Strand at least every other year. 

So as a long time visitor, I offer a few suggestions on what to do, see, eat, and enjoy!

HITS

-golf! Myrtle Beach is known for it's golf courses. I myself don't play, but my husband has enjoyed a couple of the fine courses. I prefer...

-mini-golf! :)  I LOVE mini-golf. And MB is the mini-golf capital of the world. There are a ton of courses, challenging and fun. A few favorite courses include:  Mount Atlanticus (awesome views from the top towers), Jungle Lagoon, Adventure Falls.

-the maze! Do you and your family like getting lost and teasing each other about it? Why then you'll love Maze Mania! We go every trip (although some of us wish we didn't 45 minutes into being lost among the wooden walls.) It's a fun way to spend an hour (or two, or three...ha) in the evening. 

-Ripley's! MB is home to 5 Ripley's attractions: the Believe It or Not Museum, the Aquarium, the Motion Theater, the Mirror Maze, and the Haunted Adventure.  I haven't done the Mirror Maze and I haven't been to the Haunted Adventure in a few years so I won't comment on those.  The motion theater is ok, maybe a little overpriced especially as a family activity.  I personally kind of like the Believe It or Not museum. It's an interesting collection of bizarre items and facts, though once you see it, won't need to visit again for a few years- the exhibits don't change that much.  The aquarium is a personal favorite. It's located at Broadway at the Beach and is always fun, especially for kids.  You get to walk underwater, see all kinds of sea life, pet sting rays, and see whatever special exhibits they have (my fave was the Titanic exhibit from a couple years ago. eery but fun!)

-shows! There are a ton of nightly shows at MB to match a variety of interests. A few that I have been partial to are Legends and Medieval Times.  

-amusement parks! Well since the Pavilion is long gone, you really only have Family Kingdom, but hey, rides are rides. 

-arcades! There a few around town, but my favorite is the one right down on the boardwalk on Ocean Dr.  Skeeball, baseball, claw games, and more!

-shopping! My favorite shopping experience is not really in MB. It's a short drive up the road in Calabash, North Carolina.  It's a huge store called Callahan's.  Most of the store is regular beach stuff, but the back half of the store is home to St. Nick's Nacks. It's a giganormous holiday decor store.  I never leave without spending at least $200 on new ornaments and decorations for Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick's, and Valentine's.  Which also leads me to the Christmas Mouse. I always manage to find a a few new items there as well. (You really should see my house at any given holiday!) Some other places to hit for shopping are the Tanger Outlets (although I think the deals are debatable) and Broadway at the Beach.  Also, if you're in to kitsch then hit up the Gay Dolphin right on the boardwalk. It's always a trip.

-food! A few of our favorite restaurants:  Mammy's Kitchen (best breakfast buffet), Spring House Family Restaurant (breakfast or lunch), Sam's Hot Dogs (lunch or 2 a.m. snack).  Some great dinner options:  Preston's (buffet), Rossi's (sit-down), Seafare (buffet), Chestnut Hill (sit-down), Crabby Mike's (buffet), Sea Captain's House (sit-down), and pretty much anywhere in Murrell's Inlet.  Also be sure to pick up some fresh taffy (and watch it be made) at Wee-R-Sweetz.

-the beach! of course.

MISSES

-I think Barefoot Landing is really overrated. There are so few shops I even go into anymore, but feel free to check it out for yourselves.  I hear the Alligator Adventure next door is pretty interesting.

-The Yachtsman Glass Tower.  The views are alright if you're ocean front, but it's a little dated inside and the indoor pool isn't always the cleanest.  

-the over-themed restaurants.  You know what I mean, all of the Jimmy Buffett places, Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock, Nascar ... they're just over priced and usually ridiculously crowded. There are far better places to eat, whether you want to hit a chain or local place.