giradman
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We just returned from 4 nights in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - brief initial first quote from the web - a weird, wonderful, eclectic, historic area to visit - for young people and families, the area is more like a 'fantasy vacation' w/ theme areas, arcades, and plenty of live entertainment in the many theaters. For golfers, a paradise of possibilities; for seafood lovers, hundreds of restaurants from huge 'cheap' buffets to more elaborate and expensive offerings; for history and nature seekers, numerous activities - really a cornucopia to explore and for each to find their niches of interests and activities; the second quote from the link given simply to outline some of what is available in the area.
Susan & I have been going to Myrtle Beach since the mid-1970s when I was stationed for 2 years at Ft. Bragg (Fayetteville, NC) as an Army radiologist w/ 3 colleagues. I've written travelogues on the Charleston and Kiawah area (south of Myrtle Beach) and Hilton Head Island/Savannah, GA at the southern end of South Carolina; well, the Myrtle Beach area is in the north Atlantic strip of SC - see the first maps below - about a 4 hr trip for us from Winston-Salem - the second map w/ the blue circle shows the Myrtle Beach (MB) area north of Charleston and near the NC border - basically two sections, i.e. North MB and MB proper - on our previous two visits, we stayed @ the Marriott Resort at 82nd Ave - this time we picked a less expensive place called the Island Vista Resort at 62nd Ave on North Ocean Blvd, both kind of between the two areas. The 4th map shows MB & North MB, but also some of the places to explore in the environs of the north Atlantic coast of South Carolina - so, posts will discuss not only Myrtle Beach, but also Murrells Inlet, Georgetown, and Brookgreen Gardens.
The last pics are views from our 7th floor condo deck - the weather was not great during our visit, mostly overcast w/ intermittent light rain, so my pics are not the best, but as usual I'll be mixing those I've taken w/ others from the web. NOW - Myrtle Beach is not our favorite place to visit on the Carolina Coast - indeed, this is my first discussion, but if you plan to go, do a LOT of research before to 'match' your interests and needs, e.g. if you have a young family w/ a handful of kids, then much of your time will likely be spent in Myrtle Beach w/ its many attractions (I'll talk about just a few in later posts); if you like the beach, then there are miles and miles to explore, walk, and enjoy; in addition, golf, boating, and many other outdoor activities are available. Myrtle Beach itself has little history - started in the 1920s, then stopped by the Great Depression, the place is kind of a new man-made resort, but surrounding South Carolina is 'bubbling over' in history. And if you are into seafood, then there are SO many options (Susan & I shared 4 dozen oysters on the half shell in our brief stay, plus many other goodies!). Finally, LIVE entertainment is available (we saw one show w/ the Oak Ridge Boys), but depending on your interests, there may be much to see or not regarding live shows? Dave
Susan & I have been going to Myrtle Beach since the mid-1970s when I was stationed for 2 years at Ft. Bragg (Fayetteville, NC) as an Army radiologist w/ 3 colleagues. I've written travelogues on the Charleston and Kiawah area (south of Myrtle Beach) and Hilton Head Island/Savannah, GA at the southern end of South Carolina; well, the Myrtle Beach area is in the north Atlantic strip of SC - see the first maps below - about a 4 hr trip for us from Winston-Salem - the second map w/ the blue circle shows the Myrtle Beach (MB) area north of Charleston and near the NC border - basically two sections, i.e. North MB and MB proper - on our previous two visits, we stayed @ the Marriott Resort at 82nd Ave - this time we picked a less expensive place called the Island Vista Resort at 62nd Ave on North Ocean Blvd, both kind of between the two areas. The 4th map shows MB & North MB, but also some of the places to explore in the environs of the north Atlantic coast of South Carolina - so, posts will discuss not only Myrtle Beach, but also Murrells Inlet, Georgetown, and Brookgreen Gardens.
The last pics are views from our 7th floor condo deck - the weather was not great during our visit, mostly overcast w/ intermittent light rain, so my pics are not the best, but as usual I'll be mixing those I've taken w/ others from the web. NOW - Myrtle Beach is not our favorite place to visit on the Carolina Coast - indeed, this is my first discussion, but if you plan to go, do a LOT of research before to 'match' your interests and needs, e.g. if you have a young family w/ a handful of kids, then much of your time will likely be spent in Myrtle Beach w/ its many attractions (I'll talk about just a few in later posts); if you like the beach, then there are miles and miles to explore, walk, and enjoy; in addition, golf, boating, and many other outdoor activities are available. Myrtle Beach itself has little history - started in the 1920s, then stopped by the Great Depression, the place is kind of a new man-made resort, but surrounding South Carolina is 'bubbling over' in history. And if you are into seafood, then there are SO many options (Susan & I shared 4 dozen oysters on the half shell in our brief stay, plus many other goodies!). Finally, LIVE entertainment is available (we saw one show w/ the Oak Ridge Boys), but depending on your interests, there may be much to see or not regarding live shows? Dave
Myrtle Beach, a city and vacation destination on South Carolina’s Atlantic coast, is the hub of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile string of beaches. It’s known for its celebrity-designed golf courses and brown-sugar-colored beach. Along its beachfront boardwalk are arcades, souvenir stands and restaurants, as well as the old-fashioned Family Kingdom Amusement Park and the SkyWheel, one of the country’s tallest Ferris wheels.
.Myrtle Beach hosts a variety of special conventions, events, and musical concerts. The area's attractions include its beaches and many golf courses, as well as a number of amusement parks, an aquarium, Legends In Concert, retail developments, a number of shopping complexes and over 1,900 restaurants[6] including seafood restaurants. The area also has dinner theaters, nightclubs, and many tourist shops. Myrtle Beach has an estimated 460 hotels, with many on the beachfront, and approximately 89,000 accommodation units in total. Also in the city is Myrtle Waves, one of the largest water parks on the eastern seaboard.
The Carolina Opry is another highly acclaimed attraction, which features various musical, comedy, dance, and entertainment shows, including The Carolina Opry (variety show), Good Vibrations (best of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s), LIGHT—a Laser Extravaganza. During the holiday season, the venue hosts The Carolina Opry Christmas Special. It is currently housed in a 2,200 seat theater.
The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk opened in 2010 and has been recognized as the nation's #3 boardwalk by National Geographic[7]and one of the best US boardwalks by Travel + Leisure magazine.[8] The Myrtle Beach Skywheel opened at the boardwalk in May, 2011, and is a 200-foot (61 m) observation wheel, similar to a ferris wheel, with glass gondolas that look over the Atlantic Ocean. This is the first wheel of its kind in the U.S. Myrtle Beach State Park, established in 1935, has just under a mile of Grand Strand beach and is a prime location for camping, swimming, hiking, biking, and fishing.