North Myrtle Beach SC - any trip tips?
 

We will be taking our first trip to North Myrtle Beach soon - Me & hubby, and two kids 15 and 9. On my list of things to do is visit relatives, go to Myrtle Beach state park & Huntington Beach state park, also Ripley's Aquarium. I have read prior threads about the area. Any other suggestions from anyone who has been there recently? Thanks in advance!

Everything is subjective, but some places I would suggest considering:

1. Ripley's Aquarium - I'm glad it is already on your list. Avoid the Butterfly Pavilion - I thought it was a ripoff.

2. Dixie Stampede - it has been three years since I went, but I think the entire family will enjoy it.

3. Alligator Adventure - I thought this would be a tourist trap, but I had a good time there.

4. Be sure to eat at Captain George's Seafood - this is my favorite resturant. We also had a nice (cheaper) meal at Preston's Family Seafood Restaurant. I also always have one meal at Ultimate California Pizza. They have tons of toppings. My favorite pizza from them is the Thai pizza.

Like all of Myrtle Beach, there are tons of movies, amusement parks, minture golf courses, etc. in the area.

After your trip, remember "I must post a trip report", "I must post a trip report" :-)

Have fun
Mike Honeycutt

Eat seafood at Hoskins's restaurant!

Eat LUNCH at Hoskins! Plate lunch, great pies, pound cakes for sale!!
Go to Calabash, NC for some really good fried seafood!
We have a place in North Myrtle and will be there over the 4th if the kids don't beat us to it!!

Need an inexpensive place to stay? My wife and I just purchased a small 1 bedroom condo that sleeps up to 6 people as a rental investment in Cherry Grove.

Calabash is certainly great for seafood.
Try out Hamburger Joe's across from Barefoot Landing for great burgers and other typical fare at an inexespensive price.

Sea Merchant on Hwy.17 for seafood and steaks is good and usually not crowded.

Stephens off of Hwy 9 is a local favorite with very good seafood.

Have a good time. The best thing Myrtle Beach has to offer is the beach itself!

Hey Mike B,

Is Stephens the place for oyster roast?
Is Billy the Kid's in the same area and is it good?

We usually head down to Rockefellers for happy hour oysters, they are good.. raw or steamed. Have never had dinner there, but items look really good.

Benny Rappa's is a small, but good Italian place.

Painter's for ice cream is good, but they sure are always grouchy!!

Sorry, I keep posting, but I just remembered a great seafood place on Hwy.9 and it is Horry's
But, I guess if you are visiting relatives they will take you to the best locals spots so how about posting when you get back and letting us know where the great locals restaurants are!!

I live here a block from the beach so suggestions given you are very good. Stop at the N. MyrtleBeach Chamber of Commerce right on you way in on 17 and there are many brochures for places to visit, restaurants,etc. Right here in Cherry Grove a favorite with locals and tourist for lunch is Captain's Plank and the Biscuit Shack for reasonable meals. We have the ,Mexico Lindo,Tonys, Basils for pizza, seafood and subs, K and W Cafteria, Applebys, and the list could go on. Boulineaus on the corner is a grocery store, reasonable restaurant that is also very popular. Your children will probably enjoy the beach more than anything. Noone mentioned the Palace Theater down at Broadway at the Beach where Spirit of the Dance as well as a Broadway Showtune show is playing. Dixie Stanpede is very popular as well as the Carolina Opry which are side by side. There is almost too much for us locals to do as well as resisting all the good food. Have a geat time! We love our beach,although the summer finds us very busy and crowded.

If there's decent seafood in Calabash, tell me where. We have searched, wihtout success.

Anybody recommend a good Italian restaurant in NC, near the SC border?

Guess you just don't like calabash style seafood, timeisonmyside.
Our favorite is Coleman's
Kids like Dockside
Neighbors we take to dinner like Beck's
Mother-in-law likes Etta's
Seafood Hut always has a line so we have never been there.

Is the Chesapeake House Restaurant still there? Located on Restaurant Row and popular with the locals, it was also fairly upscale. Great garlic scampi and lobster.

Calabash Seafood Hut always has a line for good reason. Great cheap seafood.

From North Myrtle Beach, make sure you take the Carolina Bays Parkway to avoid conjestion.

If you are going to go to Huntington Beach State Park, also go to Brookgreen Gardens. I'd do Brookgreen before the State Park.

Yes, the Chesapeake House is still there right beside Chestnut Hill which has a good Sunday buffet. Not sure if Stephens has oyster roast in the summer,but definitely in fall and winter months.

Hate to add one for the negative side, BUT: Calabash-style seafood gets a YUK!!! rating here.

We live in SC and have many visitors - love to accompany them on their trips up to the Myrtle Beach area. But, have to say I will never go back to another Calabash-style seafood place OR any of the casino boats on the other side of the nearby NC border!

Joy, there are so many wonderful things for you to enjoy, though, on your trip to MB. The beach is great, people are welcoming (my experience, anyway), and definitely take your kids to see the alligators at Huntington Beach State Park. If it's the same setup that it used to be when my kids were young and we camped in the park, that will be a definite attraction.

Enjoy...

IOPCarol, you are sooooo right! Whoever breads the fish in Calabash must have had a summer job retreading tires. All weather Fish Filets.

pleaseeeeeeeee no more bad comments on Calabash seafood. there are not lines out the door of every restaurant in Calabash because people like to drive 20 minutes from N Myrtle for bad seafood.

I don't know what it is they do to the seafood at the Calabash Seafood Hut but it is definitely not like one of those all you can eat buffet places. I think that they had their own shrimping boat.

Anyway, before you over generalize, realize that there are exceptions to everything.