Guide to vacationing in Myrtle Beach

Vacationing in Myrtle Beach is a complete delight. Why? Well 14 million visitors a year can’t be wrong, and they keep coming back, year after year. The great thing is, there is so much to do in Myrtle Beach. If the weather is good, which it is most of the time, there’s the beach, the ocean, the inland waterways and many outdoor attractions such as the Sky Wheel, which, by the way, is an absolute “must”. In the rare case of inclement weather, there’s a whole 60 miles of coastline to explore that’s filled with hundreds of attractions that have been created with the vacationer in mind.

Outdoor activities at Myrtle Beach include deep sea, pier and fresh water fishing in the local rivers and creeks. There are banana boats that the whole family can enjoy a thrill ride on, jet skis to hire, parasailing, surfing and wind surfing. One of the most popular of outdoor activities in America is golf, and the 60 miles of the Grand Strand has no less than 100 golf courses, many of which are of championship status. There are some challenging rounds to be played on courses that have been designed to be environmentally friendly by such well known names as Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Many of the hotels in Myrtle Beach associated with Vacation Myrtle Beach, such as Captain’s Quarters, offer golf packages that are well worth taking a look at.

Accommodation in Myrtle Beach is not lacking. Close to the town center and scattered along the Strand are numerous high rise hotels and family-friendly Myrtle Beach resorts. There are condos a plenty, motels, vacation homes, villas and the dozen camping grounds offer more than 7,000 camping sites. With 60 miles to accommodate them, cuisine in Myrtle Beach is catered for by more than 1,500 bistros, steak houses, fast food outlets and fine food restaurants. You’ll find that every conceivable taste is catered for from succulent steaks to some of the best seafood restaurants on the east coast.

One center worth mentioning is Broadway at the Beach, a $250-million strip mall that is a collection of shops, hotels, theaters and entertainment places that are clustered around a 23 acre lake. Ripley’s Aquarium is one of these attractions, and claims to be South Carolina’s most visited tourist attraction. You’ll also find the Pavilion Nostalgia Park and Carousel Park here – this features traditional amusement park rides including a classic carousel and there is a 100-year old German funfair organ. Alongside Broadway at the Beach are the Myrtle Waves Waterpark, a 20-acre park with more than 30 water rides and slides, and the Family Kingdom Amusement Park. The NASCAR Speedpark is in the same Myrtle Beach locality, with seven car tracks, a climbing wall and a 20,000 sq. ft. video arcade.

This is just a taste of the many attractions of Myrtle Beach. If you happen to be staying at any of the Vacation Myrtle Beach resorts it’s worth knowing that when you register you’ll be handed a VMB Card that entitles you to discounts at nearly all of the city’s main attractions, many of its eateries and vehicle rental establishments.