General Myrtle Beach Questions

Old Jan 8th, 2012, 03:11 PM
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General Myrtle Beach Questions

Hi,

We'd like to vacation in Myrtle Beach at some point and in looking at their official web site, it looks like Myrtle Beach has three sections that they call: North Myrtle Beach, Central Myrtle Beach and South Myrtle Beach.

Other than Central, I can't tell the difference between North Myrtle and South Myrtle. Does anyone know?

If anyone is familiar with the Eastern shore, we prefer Bethany Beach over Ocean City and Rehoboth, so which area would be closest to Bethany---meaning you're not smack right in the middle of things in a high-rise.

We would prefer to rent a condo or small house, but one that was part of a community with amenities and good for small children.

Thanks!
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Old Jan 8th, 2012, 03:29 PM
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Central MB is "smack right in the middle of things" The north and southern ends are less busy. In NMB I've stayed at a family owned beach house (simple and owned for decades) as well as a non-beachfront Hampton Inn. The oceanfront Hampton Inn in south Myrtle Beach is very nice. Not sure of what kind of community amentities you are looking for but just about any location in MB will be good for children.
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Old Jan 9th, 2012, 07:41 AM
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This seems an apropos place to ask (sorry for the thread hijack):

Would you say Myrtle Beach is just as family friendly as Hilton Head Island, more so, less so?

How would you compare the two?

I've never been to Myrtle Beach and a friend is asking me for advice about which I'd choose for a family and I don't have a comparison to give her. Her kids are about 4 and 6.

DCAreaMom, your question here is more or less what she asked of me, plus the comparison of the two.
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Old Jan 9th, 2012, 09:19 AM
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flygirl I know nothing about Hilton Head... but Myrtle Beach is very family friendly... albeit very much spread out. Most of the family activities are in the central area... water parks, amusement parks, Broadway at the Beach (restaurants, mini-golf, shops etc.) all within a 30-40 block area (short blocks).

South Myrtle Beach (which I love) includes Surfside, Murrell's Inlet and Pawley's Island. Less crowded beaches and restaurants... and great golf everywhere. Check out http://www.litchfieldbeach.com/ great accomodations very close to the beach.
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Old Jan 9th, 2012, 01:09 PM
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I've been to both. HH has no high rises, Myrtle Beach proper does. MB is more spread out that HH.

DCAreaMom, look at South Myrtle as suggested. Pawley's Island is a lovely place. It's more like Rehobeth, but you can go to Myrtle if you want to play putt putt and all that.
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Old Jan 9th, 2012, 02:30 PM
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Myrtle has a million things to do. It has a much busier vibe than Hilton Head. We rented a house in south myrtle beach which turned out to be in a religious toned (baptist) community with a campground. It was through a friend. I had no idea until we arrived. But the house was great (right across from the beach) and the community was fine. In Hilton head, we rented a condo. It was much more laid back than Myrtle.
We did both with our kids at the time aged around 10.
I personally liked the vibe better at Hilton head. We rented a private condo with two bedrooms full kitchen and living area. My extended family rented in the same building which had a pool and was ocean front. It has great bike riding paths. You could walk out very far in the ocean in Hilton head.
Both are family friendly and have stuff for the kids of all ages. Myrtle seemed more action and busier.
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Old Jan 9th, 2012, 04:18 PM
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Hi, my husband and I have been living in Myrtle Beach for 14 years, and we love it here, so please bear with me if I get too long-winded.

You're not the only one confused about locations and their referred names.

North Myrtle Beach is a city unto itself. It's the home to Barefoot Landing, more than 100 specialty and retail shops, factory direct stores, more than 1,000 feet of floating dock, a boardwalk and a handful of waterfront restaurants. Attractions include a riverboat, The Alabama Theatre, Alligator Adventure, and the House of Blues.

The Grand Strand revolves around the city of Myrtle Beach. In years past the area has been billed the Golf Capital of the World, the Campground Capital of the World and the Miniature Golf Capital of the World. The tourism experts say that Myrtle Beach's greatest attractions are still the Atlantic Ocean and the beautiful beaches. But so many other things have sprung up that it is hard for even locals to keep track. In addition to shopping, amusement parks, miniature golf, water parks, waterway cruises, golf and the live entertainment theaters, there is a constant quest among promoters to find more ways to satisfy visitors and residents alike. Whether it is the golfer's paradise, the country music and live-entertainment haven, the family beach, the food, the shopping, the amusements, the attractions ... whatever the draw, Myrtle Beach seems to provide something for everyone. he south end of the Boulevard is a solid line of accommodations - some large, some small. The mid-portion of the Boulevard features venues for entertainment and activities, including the Myrtle Beach Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, the new Boardwalk which opened in 2010, and the huge SkyWheel which opened in May, 2011. Myrtle Beach is also home to Broadway At The Beach, one of the most significant developments at Myrtle Beach. And don't miss The Market Common, located on the former Air Force Base in the Ciity of Myrtle Beach. The Air Force Base closed 1993. Now The Market Common is a self-contained live-work community featuring upscale shops, restaurants, apartments and single family homes.

The South Strand includes Surfside Beach, Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island. Compared with the rest of the Grand Strand, the South Strand offers a more leisurely pace and lifestyle, with less neon and glitter as well as a low key nightlife with just as much allure. Many praise this stretch of land, with its rich marshland, uninhabited beaches, bountiful inlets.Murrells Inlet, the oldest fishing village in the state. Murrells Inlet is home to anglers, writers, poets and more legends and ghost stories than any other part of the Grand Strand. Before his death, Mickey Spillane, who created the detective character Mike Hammer, used to live in Murrells Inlet, along with many other nationally known novelists, poets and musicians, all of whom love the small-town atmosphere. Fishing in the creeks and waterways of Murrells Inlet has been a way of life for generations, and the quiet community trumpets itself as the Seafood Capital of South Carolina.

The Grand Strand has a lot to offer visitors of all ages. For instance, here's a link to some things to do:
http://www.funbeaches.com/to_do.html

Please feel free to send me an email if I can help you with other questions:
[email protected]

Patricia Blackstock
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Old Jan 9th, 2012, 04:33 PM
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Thanks for all the replies.

We definitely are not interested in being right where the neon is, and would prefer even a nice planned resort community with a shuttle to the beach. We don't generally stay in the high-rises right on the beach.

So it sounds like either the north end or the area south of the south strand.
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Old Mar 24th, 2012, 06:25 AM
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Do take a look at Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort. You can rent beachfront, or if not, you can easily walk to the beach. There are pools, tennis, all the golf you want nearby. It is SO much nicer than MB. Putt putt is nearby if needed, good shopping. It is a quiet beach and even in mid July the beach is not overcrowded--I know, hard to believe!!

YOu have the best selection of restaurants on the SC coast in Murrell's Inlet (2 miles from Litchfield) or Pawley's.
I loved the MB resident's explanation of the area. The South Strand is really really a nice beach experience.
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Old Mar 24th, 2013, 05:58 AM
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It used to be that south of Myrtle was beach houses and there were only a few communities north of Myrtle. The newer developments built north and for a while during the 80's and 90's if you wanted to stay at a new resort you headed north. Now the southside has been revitalized. For good or bad many of the quaint cottages have been replaced with new condos.

MB is much more free spirtied than HH. Hilton Head as ordinances regarding signs, paint colors, mailboxes. The result is a Walt Disney style island. Tacky is king at MB. Stores advertise with giant billboards and flashing lights. You can avoid the crowds but not the tackiness by heading to South MB.

MB is built for cars. HH is built for golf carts and bikes.

I've had good luck using VRBO at both MB and HH.
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Old Mar 24th, 2013, 06:09 AM
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"we prefer Bethany Beach over Ocean City and Rehoboth,"

D you think Rehoboth is as "busy" as OC?
If you do then you had best brace yourselves for the thing that is Myrtle Beach.

I like the place but you have to understand what it is: OC on steroids.
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Old Mar 24th, 2013, 09:54 AM
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Finally some real info on MB. It is gridlock traffic and tacky is the word.
You don't have to go too far south to have really nice beach communities, but still if you need the glitz and glitter, you can be there in 20 minutes.
AND please don't eat the seafood buffets.
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Old Mar 27th, 2013, 05:14 PM
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I am with Gretchen: Litchfield is probably what you are looking for. You are out of the neon and closer to the food of Murrells Inlet and the solitude of Pawleys.
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Old Mar 28th, 2013, 08:31 AM
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Ditto w/G. In the Summer time the main drag is a parking lot w/kids jumping in & out of cars, music blaring & just plain annoying. Think Gatlinburg w/a Beach. Too many people & too much crap...unless you like Ripley's Believe it or not, a wax museum, the Dixie Stampede or similar experiences meant to provide 'culture' & empty the pockets of those that dare to visit...You'll probably think it is great...if you are 16.
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Old Apr 13th, 2013, 08:54 AM
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We go to Myrtle Beach every spring, it has over a hundred golf courses that is the whole strand. As you can imagine they are of every price, difficulty, description. The traffic is bad but there are many places to eat, golf, shop, etc. I like it. We stay at the Marriott, which is still Myrtle Beach but near North Myrtle. I was a little bored at Hilton Head.
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Old Apr 16th, 2013, 05:59 AM
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The other thing you will find here is that not many people will be on the fence about such places as MB. They either love it, or they hate it. Please take that into consideration as you sift through these posts...I loathe it...btw.
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Old Apr 16th, 2013, 07:08 AM
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San has it right!!
But there is NO way to deny it is just wall to wall "city" by the ocean at this point in time. I can remeber when we went to Ocean Drive (now NMB) and it was HOUSES on the beach. These are now hotels and resorts. If that is what you want, fine. But you can have a much quieter beach time and still have all the shopping and restaurants you want--that take 5 minutes to get to--not 30 sitting in traffic and looking for a parking place in a huge lot.
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