Myrtle Beach Must Do?
 

Staying a long weekend in Myrtle Beach...any "must do's"?

Planning on relaxing by the pool most of the time...looking for any restaurants or sight seeing...?

Thanks!

8-)

When are you going/time of the year, where are you staying? Lots more to do than stay by the pool. ((b))

Thanks Budman!

I should know to post more details...

Going in July!

8-)

Where are you staying? If you are staying in North MB, restaurants and things to do are different than if you are staying in South MB, i.e., it may not be worth driving from the north to south to Murrells Inlet for restaurants. ((b))

It's always worth driving to Murrells Inlet. :-)

Golf. Par 3 golf. Mini-golf.

Shows, if you like them.

What kind of restaurants do you like?

Marriott's Ocean Watch Villas...

Not sure what side that is on?

Haven't heard of Murrells Inlet...will check it out!

Oh, and we will eat ANYTHING! We love a great dinner...it's an experience!

8-)

We vacation in North Myrtle and never drive to Murrell's Inlet unless Daddy Wonderful is roasting oysters.

I had a great meal at Murrell's Inlet last trip at one of the restaurants GoT recommended. It was wonderful - and the boardwalk along the water was a great after dinner stroll. I'll see if I can find the thread with GoT's recommendations.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34840034

This is not the thread I remembered, but GoT's recommendations are there. I ate at Creek Ratz.

Here's the thread I was thinking of with GoT's recommendations - including the Marshwalk

I agree with GoT that the marshwalk is a fine way to spend an after dinner stroll.

Near where you are staying, Liberty Tap Room on 7651 North Kings Highway - good beer, good bar food.

Bonefish is nearby. A chain, but great food. ((b))

SWEET! Great start!

I have been using this website for just over a year. I have gotten so much great feedback from here!

I love it! Thank you!

8-)

But, to eat in Murrell's Inlet is a hop skip and jump for GoTravel. Traffic in July is horrific in Myrtle Beach. From the Marriott to Murrell's Inlet is a 45 minute drive at best. There are plenty of good restaurants in the area you will be in cwojo.

Oh, for lunch, the Sea Captain's House. Great luncheon specials. http://www.seacaptains.com/ ((b))

For fine dining, Thoroughbred's is nearby. Maybe beachdweller will come on and help you. He and the mrs. seem to do some fine dining.

My favorite restaurants in Myrtle Beach are probably not the usual favorites, but here are mine -

Bangkok House for Thai

Sea Captains House for almost anything on their menu

Bonefish Grill for martinis and lobster

They have an Islamorada Fish Company now in MB and the Smoked Fish Dip is one of my favorite appetizers at the first one in Islamorada in the Keys. I had planned to go there on the last MB trip, but went to K&W Cafeteria to get my veggie fix that night instead.

Here's a link to their menu -
http://www.ifcmyrtlebeach.info/menu.htm

Let's try this again -
Here's the link to GoT's recommendations in Murrells Inlet -

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34815046

I didn't have any trouble with traffic on 6/20 of last year. Let's see, I left a conference at the Marriott at the end of the work day, stopped by the Hampton Inn on 75th to change clothes, drove down 17 (around, not through MB on Business 17), ate at Creek Ratz, drove a bit further south on 17 past Brookgreen and Huntington Beach SP, turned around, mailed a letter from the MI post office and was back online at the Hampton Inn on 75th (north of MB) and was online by 7:23pm.

I'm in MB on business several times a year and wanted to try something new and different. I truly enjoyed the change of pace and dining by the marsh at Murrells Inlet. It was worth the 20.76 mile drive (one way) to me - but then I like driving and seeing new places and scouting out things to see the next day or on the next trip.

I'm glad GoT recommended Murrells Inlet because I enjoyed it very much. Evidently, not everyone does/ would.

We have a ton of time! Just relaxing!

I definately think we will try the inlet...thanks!

And it sounds like Daddy's Wonderful needs to roast some oysters!

I am also into some drinks and dinner...Liberty tap room!

I will look into all the recommendations! Olives, Sea Captains, Divine Fish House!

I cannot wait!

Make sure you go to Broadway on the Beach, lots of shops and restaurants.

cwojo99....I am in no way saying not to go to Murrell's Inlet. Just want you to know it is not the closest proximity to the part of Myrtle Beach you are on. I stand corrected by starrsville on the distance and time. You will be driving a minimum of 30 minutes one way to get there.

Friends of ours had dinner at the Divine Fish House and loved it. Said it was definitely worth the drive.

I just don't like to get in the car and drive forever.

The nice thing about the Liberty Tap Room is that it's smoke free. Great happy hour with 1/2 price apps.

They have a fairly large outside covered section if you are a smoker. It's got overhead heat in the winter. ((b))

I used the Marriott's website to get directions and North Myrtle Beach is 16 minutes for 9.7 miles from the hotel. So, 45 minutes makes sense from N MB to Murrells Inlet.

I stay at the Hampton Inn near where the OP will staying and it's a breeze for me, because I just bypass MB. Staying on Business 17 WOULD be a nightmare.

Different strokes for different folks. I really enjoyed seeing new countryside and dining along the marsh in Murrells Inlet. The Marshwalk is such a nice, quiet after dinner stroll - checking out the boats, etc. Good people watching too :-)

I didn't encounter any traffic delays or any problems, and didn't mind the drive at all. But, I'm the kind of traveler who will drive (or attempt to drive) every road on an island just to see where it goes. Some of my best adventures have been on such drives.

I like getting away from the hustle and bustle from MB.

BTW, traffic was such a nightmare on Business 17 between the Marriott and the Sea Captains House, I had to take my lunch back and eat it at the conference. Business 17 can be a nightmare - which I guess makes the drive from North MB to MB such a chore. You'll be fine in the 70's because you can bypass the craziness of 17 heading south - if you choose to or want to.

The 17 Bypass is getting to be almost as crowded as 17 Business. I would not recommend trekking down to Murrell's Inlet if you are going to imbibe on adult beverages. ((b))

Good advice, Budman!

cwojo99, are you flying in and renting a car? If so, I can give you a couple of tips to save you a few bucks. ((b))

cwojo99,

you've gotten great advice so far, all of which I agree with.

Your lodging, Ocean Watch at Marriott is at the northern tip of Myrtle Beach, so you're really convenient to a lot.

A few fine points. July is peak season; amazingly, there is a big difference even between June and July as far as traffic. But you've said you're not in a hurry, so that's the solution. Just expect heavy traffic volume EVERYWHERE. I live here. There is no escape from it in July.

Here are some other nice dining options. I'll concentrate on what's relatively close to you and what is a cut above the rest. UMI Pacific Grille is about 2 or 3 miles north of you, near Thoroughbreds. Sea Blue is a tapas restaurant in North Myrtle Beach. Aspen Grille is about 3 miles or so south of you in MB. Collectors Cafe is perhaps a mile from you, across Bus. 17 from Taproom that Budman mentioned. If you like steak, there is apparently only one place: New York Prime (in the heart of MB though, I think on 28th Avenue North, anyway between Bus. 17/Kings Hwy and Ocean Blvd). I don't eat steak but all my carnivore friends rave about it. Oh yeah, an underrated nice restaurant is Flamingo Grill, perhaps 1.5 miles south of you. Try the seared tuna, ask for Gail to be your waitress. Flamingo is a sister restaurant to Cagney's which is popular (although I don't know why).

There's lots more. Ask away if you have specific questions. One last thought. I'd avoid the bigger glitzier Italian restaurants (Rossi's for instance) in favor of some small, casual places with a lot more attention to flavor than flash. Ciao on Kings Hwy (near Aspen Grille is one) and Benny Rappa's in North Myrtle Beach is another.

Oh! One more last thing. I agree about Bangkok House in the heart of MB being good, but oriental food is REALLY lacking here. Except for E-Noodles, with two locations (1 in NMB and 1 in the southern tip of MB near the airport, next to the K&W).

Dang, is it dinner time yet?

Great advice! We will heed the traffic warnings!

We are flying in from DC via United (probably). Our car rental will probably be free. I travel a ton for work and have earned some free rentals through National.

What kind of deals are out there Budman? Sometimes it is better to hold onto the freebies if paying for it for the current trip isn't too expensive!

8-)

If you are getting free rental, go for it. It's just that airport rentals are outrageous with their airport rental add-on fees. I checked with Hertz off-airport rentals. Way cheaper than renting at the airport, plus I took a taxi to the Hertz rental (Beach Ford) cost us $15, and they took that amount off the cost of the rental. It turned out to be a great deal as I dropped it off at the airport on my return for no additional fee. ((b))

What an excellent tip though! I never thought about checking off site when I travel.

8-)

Make sure you check prices at Spirit Air if you're flying from DC. We've gotten some great fares on non-stop flights between MB and Reagan.

cwo, definitely go to Benny Rappa's for Italian. It's very intimate (small in other words)! And, if you have the desire to drink too much fine wine, give me a call and I will have the neighbor unlock the beach shack for you. You can just roll down the street.:-D

icee....how do you know me that well? Knowing I am the wine drinker! Don't tell though! :-$

Beach dwell....I will definately check that! We live in No. Va. but it is easy to get to DC if we need to! 8-)

Happy Valentine's Day! Husband and I are flying to Myrtle Beach mid March for 4 days..renting a car...and love the tip to rent off site..thank-you! Where to stay...looking for a bit of a treat..something nice...love Atalaya..planning on revisiting...can't remember where we stayed last time..except don't want to go back..love to drive around, walk around, eat and drink..not into shopping...Am writing down the where to eat tips...thanks! ..now where to stay???

I think Hertz is the only one that has the off-site location. They list it at a hotel on 21st Street, but it is actually at the Ford Dealership - on Jason Blvd. ((b))

thank-you Budman...hotel tip(s)

Nope - stay with family in MB - sorry. ((b))

thank-you...I went through some old threads...picked up a few tips. happy valentines day

One of my family's favorite things to do is go to Liberty (Broadway at the Beach) for happy hour -- awesome prices on beer & appetizers -- and sit out on the patio people watching. They make their own beer -- I personally love the Unfiltered Wheat & the Nut Brown Ale. We also always head to Gulfstream in Garden City for our seafood fix. Make sure to call ahead & put your name on the list. It's a long wait, but it's worth it.