missypie, I wish I had something nice to add about Myrtle Beach. We moved to Charlotte last year and took a daytrip to Myrtle Beach from Georgetown, where we spent our Thanksgiving holiday. Even during off season I found it to be incredibly tacky. The beach may be pretty, but you can't see it with all of the high rises in front of it! It was just filled with mini golf courses, arcades and the such. Great for kids, I'm sure, but not so great for my husband and I.

However, there are some less touristy areas around Myrtle Beach if you have the time to visit them. We enjoyed the area around Murrell's Inslet and Pawley's Island. I'm not sure how quiet they are in June, but I would imagine just about anywhere on the coast would be quieter than Myrtle.

Good luck!
Tracy

We went to Myrtle Beach 1 1/2 yrs ago in February; my husband had a conference/exam at the Sheraton Convention Center. I enjoyed tooling around Broadway at the Beach - shops, restaurants, etc. (very few people there in Feb!)& after the conference, we went to Brookgreen Gardens in Murrels Inlet which was nice. Hope you have a great trip!

You fly into MB! It's a long way to Charleston and rarely to never are the fares less.
We have a place at Litchfield and I can't remember when I 've been to MB proper--to pick up some lost luggage probably. There so many easier places to be. But since you have to be there, it will be fun and fine.

missypie, I'm having a hard time believing that someone who loves to travel could be so negative to a new experience.

We make a point of getting to Myrtle Beach several times a year--there's much to love in a day at the beach. You find things you're interested in, you do those things, and you concentrate on that. For the sake of your daughter, you might consider an attitude readjustment. You could spoil the event for her.

I'm not missypie, obviously, but I don't understand your remarks. We all love to travel but we also all have our particular likes and dislikes.

Oops, posted too soon. I personally am not a "sit at the beach all day" kind of person and I hate hokie, tacky things so I avoid them and hence I too would be less then thrilled with a visit. I would hope that nobody would assume that I'm being negative because of my prefernces.

I think she was just trying to get a general consensus, and I don't think anything is wrong with that.

Tracy

Missypie -
I didn't mean to give the wrong impression about tons of stuff to do. It was my understanding that you were going with your daughter's dance company. As I said, MB is a great place for teens but my husband and I can also find things to amuse us. Some good restaurants, lovely beach, fun nightclubs, boat tours, gardens, etc. I'm not sure what you like to do. There are plenty of more "upscale" places. There are also plenty of tackier places. I think they all have something that is interesting or fun. On the other hand, I also love an activity that fits the description of "nothing to do, no amenities, bring your own food" - camping. What is your idea of a good time? Not being snide, just curious.

As some of you have correctly noted, this will not be our family vacation. It is a dance company event and it will just be DD and I on the trip. Lots of companies go out of state for Nationals every year. We never have, but a group wanted to do something different this year. Many of the dance company parents are not people with whom I'd voluntarily spend my time. Myrtle Beach has just never been on my VERY long list of places I'd like to visit. I'm sure the girls will have fun wherever we go, even if they just run around the hotel and order pizza together.

sigh.

Do you like the beach at all? If so, MB has one of the best walking beaches anywhere. Flat and wide, especially at low tide.

Hard Rock Theme Park will probably be open then.

Broadway at the Beach will be a neat stop, (shops, restaurants, aquarium, all centered on a lake); it's perhaps a mile from your hotel.

Your children might or might not enjoy the small Children's Museum that is perhaps a 1/4 mile from your hotel.

Beachdweller - I will defer to your wisdom as you reside there...however, I have been going to that general area (MB included) for 45 years. I compare it to Gatlinburg w/a beach. Obviously many people love it, or it would not be what it is. I, however, choose to frequent the less traveled areas North & South of MB. (Mainly, the Brunswick Islands in NC & the Charleston area islands). Not a stereotype, merely my own observations/opinions.

I agree with SanParis. I go to MB because I have to for business. If I'm going for a vacation, I prefer elsewhere. missypie is going for a specific purpose. IMO she will find things to like there and things she won't like there.

Two thumbs up for Myrtle Beach -- as previously mentioned - great place to visit with teens.

We sat through a condo sales pitch in order to get reduced tickets for the Legends concert. Check their website to see who is currently playing. Hubby always enjoyed the Blues Bros act -- think they are a permanent act there.

Yes, it is tacky, but it is a really great beach. And what a great place to people watch. One of its charms is that it does attract very disparate groups of people, not just the aforementioned, golfers, bikers, shoppers and teens, but christian groups, senior citizens from the northeast who camp in the motels all winter, and various other folks who seem to have blown in on a stiff wind. Not only will no-one force you to play mini-golf, the alternatives are not staring blankly into space or ducking acquaintances you are none too fond of. The outlet shopping really is great, and while I'm not familiar with that hotel's pool, all the resort hotels and condos have been playing one upmanship with the pool areas, so each one is more fabulous than the last. You can eat quite well, too, especially if you like seafood.

Myrtle Beach = Gatlinburg (w/a beach)?

Does Gatlinburg have several colleges, a symphony, an art museum (small but great quality of exhibits), several theatres, as well as eclectic music festivals (such as the one at Pawleys in its 13th year, or South by Southwest, or Blues Around the Fourth in Conway)?

I don't know, because I don't know Gatlinburg.

SAnParis, I guess I am a little worked up. But I think it is because you are portraying MB as one-dimensional. Also, the OP asked for positives about a place that she is locked into visiting. One final point, why do you keep coming back to MB if you detest it so much? Methinks thou might protest too much. :-)

I, too, am a little on the defensive, about some of the MB comments. Ages ago, Myrtle Beach became noteworthy as a beach vacation destination because of the great beach up and down the coastline -- on either side of MB proper. It was and still is hard to beat such a great beach region. In the distant past it was very affordable, thus it attracted all income levels. All types of entertainment venues moved in, both high and low. But more recently, due to massive regional and economic growth: the Universities, Symphony, Art Museums (with my favorite, being the Burroughs - Chapin Art Museum south of town – the link: http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/ ), and partly due to the continued overwhelming desire for folks to take a quality beach vacation, MB is attracting a higher end of travelers as well as continuing to attract those with a more moderate income. It continues to offer diverse activities for upscale and midscale vacationers and golfers. When someone comes to MB for a vacation or other type of trip, it is important to remember that its part of a group of communities—the Grand Strand—and that vacation activities throughout should be included in the overall list of things to do. The spread out nature of the Strand area is part of the appeal of the region. (Makes driving a nightmare though, at times) It does not have the historical antebellum flavor that a few more famous southern towns have and it doesn’t pretend to go there. But to even consider such a comparison would be like comparing apples and oranges.

MB region has charm, lots of charm. It’s growing and continues to grow at a rate that may swallow up its charm if it isn’t careful. Even now, a new interstate is underway to bring people in ever faster. Our back roads and shortcuts to the beach are now busy highways to new subdivisions. Even getting to the airport can be hectic. Here’s the link to the Myrtle Beach International airport.

http://www.flymyrtlebeach.com/flights.cfm

I hope that everyone who comes to the region sees and experiences the charm, sites and activities that it has to offer. I certainly enjoy it there.

I'll be sure to post a trip report if we actually DO anything. That's one of my big problems with spending money to travel out of state for a dance competition.

Two summers ago we went to San Antonio for Nationals. As is typical in July, the temp was in excess of 100 degrees. We could only do stuff very early in the day, because you can't really expect a kid to have the energy to dance well if she's spent the day in 105 degree heat. And swimming was out because she had to have her pony tail in tight curls. We'll basically have the same experience if we are in Dallas, San Antonio, or Myrtle Beach....it's just that Myrtle Beach will cost more.

And, it's actually not even very practical to ask for restaurant recommendations, because the "group" will inevitably choose to go to some big chain and DD will naturally want to join them.

So, maybe it's best if the competition is not in some location that I've been longing to visit. I can take it how it is and not feel like I'm missing anything!

Let me clarify, I have been going to Holden Beach (NC) for my entire life. During that time I, as well as now nephews & brothers-in-law, have gone through the rituals of Spring Break, Graduation, etc. Even as a teen, I didn't like it, having been born & raised (so to speak) on a quieter island. I still know tons of people who make the trek there every summer w/kids, Spring & WInter for golf, etc. Too me, personally, the traffic, congestion & 'tackiness' is not something I enjoy on vacation. But then, the majority of people also don't enjoy what I do on vacation. MB is what it is. However you want to dress it up is fine. I'm not denying that there are positives to MB, however there are certain times of year you couldn't pay me enough to go there. Do I venture there ? On occasion, usually to eat, but I have been opting for Southport & such more recently. We'll just have to agree to disagree. I am sure the off-season is quite nice. But Summer ? No, thanks.

Plus, there are some real scumbags who go to MB! Mainly M/M Budman, M/M iceeu2, M/M Kathleen....and M/M beachdweller & M/M GoTravel are just some of the scum! Low lifes...all of them, I say.

missypie, if you can sneak away from the group....drive up to OD (that's Ocean Drive)...go to the pavilion or Fat Harold's or Ducks and watch some of the old scums dance. Love watching those who can shag!!

If you can break away, go to Liberty Steakhouse and brewpub at Broadway at the Beach for a few pints. Happy hour 4-7 with apps. If you don't like the smoke, Liberty Tap Room on 76th. Indoors no smoking. ((b))

To each their own. I hated MB and I'm not going to defend myself for that. I didn't see any of the charm, only tackiness. And we too joked around about how it was like Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge or Branson on the beach. I'm sure people with kids could love it. I just hate traffic and congestion and highrises on the beach and mini golf courses on every block.

Missypie, good luck! I do hope you hae a good time and maybe you can find the charm that many of us don't see!

Tracy