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Made up of 60 miles of Atlantic coastline, 14 distinct communities, and a collection of attractions, activities, and one-of-a-kind experiences, Myrtle Beach is a vacation destination that truly has it all. First called the Grand Strand by a local journalist in 1945, the Myrtle Beach area stretches from Little River to Pawley’s Island on South Carolina’s beautiful, northern coast.
Because the Grand Strand is comprised of many different communities with distinct identities, there are many ways for visitors to explore the area that are unique to each place. Those looking for fun attractions and entertainment might gravitate toward Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, where the iconic 200-foot SkyWheel sits overlooking the ocean. There you’ll find amusement parks, arcades, various Ripley’s Believe It or Not experiences, and more amidst numerous oceanfront hotels and great places to grab a drink or a bite to eat. The boardwalk is the perfect spot to play a game of skee-ball, pick up some cool souvenirs from a few surf shops, and grab an ice cream cone before heading out to the beach.
This area is normally the starting point for a lot of visitors. There are many more attractions and entertainment options only a few blocks away, such as a wax museum, aquarium, zipline and ropes course, as well as a collection of watersports and mini golf courses to choose from. Drive up the coast a little further to ride a riverboat, take a helicopter tour, or visit Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach for live music or a show at the Alabama Theatre.
Sports fans might want to see the local minor league baseball team, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, play in their home stadium just blocks away from the beach. The town also hosts other sports teams to play in the Myrtle Beach Invitational, Myrtle Beach Bowl Game, as well as hosting the Myrtle Beach Marathon. Tennis fans will love the Myrtle Beach Tennis Center–pun intended. With 80 golf courses in the area, and 14 of them ranked on America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, you always have the option of playing a round or two.
Fishermen and fans of seafood alike will want to adventure further up to the oldest community within the Myrtle Beach area, Little River, for fishing charters and fresh seafood. If you happen to be in town during the month of May, you might catch the World Famous Blue Crab Festival, or even the Little River ShrimpFest in October.
Year after year, many visitors flock to the white-sand beaches for relaxation and to play in the southern sunshine. The surrounding natural beauty of this coastal area is stunning, and there are many ways for those of all ages to get outside and go exploring. Two of South Carolina’s State Parks are within the Myrtle Beach Area: Myrtle Beach State Park, and Huntington Beach State Park. Both parks have easy hiking trails and plenty of opportunities to admire the beauty of coastal woodlands to freshwater lagoons, and of course to watch for wildlife.
For those interested in learning more about local wildlife, head over to the southernmost part of the Grand Strand to visit Brookgreen Gardens. Not only can you stroll through the many themed sculpture gardens on the 9,100-acre property, but you can visit and learn more about the native animals in the Lowcountry Zoo. Featuring only animals bred and raised in captivity, or those who have suffered from an injury and have been rehabilitated, you’ll be able to see and learn more about red foxes, river otters, bald eagles, alligators, and more. Speaking of alligators, if you’re interested in seeing some animals that can be seen around the world, visit Alligator Adventure in North Myrtle Beach. There, you’ll be able to see additional reptiles and other animals such as mountain lions, hyenas, monkeys, and many more!
The Grand Strand covers a wide area, and there’s always plenty to do. Quest Travel Club makes it easy to narrow down things to do depending on your location, as well as saving you money on popular activities! Here are just a few of our favorites:
The best time to visit Myrtle Beach is during the summer season. From June through August, you’ll not only have the perfect weather for a beach vacation, but you’ll also find that there are a lot of concerts and other events scheduled.
One thing to keep in mind when visiting South Carolina in the summer is Hurricane Season. Beginning in June and ending in November with peak activity during August and September, hurricanes shouldn’t scare you away from planning your vacation–but be prepared for the chance that a storm does in fact interrupt your trip. Always take hurricanes seriously, and look into travel insurance for your summer vacation to Myrtle Beach.
As always, when choosing a place to call home for a week or even a few days, there are some elements that you need to consider. There are certain factors that everyone looks for in future accommodations for their trips, such as number of rooms and on-site amenities and activities. Those necessary factors are always unique to each group, and both the RCI Exchange and Quest Travel Club have tools that make finding the perfect room, condo, or villa for your stay extremely easy.
These two platforms also help in finding accommodations in the right location. Because the Myrtle Beach area covers a lot of territory with unique activities and landmarks across the 60-mile stretch, it’s imperative that you take a closer look at where you’d like your hotel or resort to be positioned. Would you rather stay closer to the picturesque fishing village of Little River, or would you like to soak in the history and culture of the Lowcountry by staying in the Murrells Inlet or Georgetown areas? Maybe you’d much rather stay in an oceanfront hotel steps away from the beach and plenty of entertainment and activities. Either way, it is highly recommended to rent a car during your stay in the Grand Strand, especially if you want to see it all. Take advantage of your Quest Travel Club membership for deals on rental cars and more.
Rates/Points are subject to change. The above are only a few recommendations out of the many fantastic resorts on the RCI Exchange we’ve found during the creation of this guide.
