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Myrtle BeachJul 06 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Myrtle Beach should be near the top of everyone's vacation spot list!!!!! As a newcomer to the eastern U.S., I recently made my first trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I can't wait to move there!!! I grew up (Or have I really grown up?) on the beaches of Southern California, and have saltwater in my veins. So when my wife wanted to move back to her home state of West Virginia, the lack of beaches was tortuous!!! West Virginians joke that Myrtle Beach is the southern tip of West Virginia, because so many Mountaineers visit Myrtle Beach... The route we took was a 9-hour 15-minute drive from Charleston, WV, though I've since learned of a 6-hour route. We spent our first night at the Econolodge in Rock Hill, NC just south of Charlotte--and will never go back. It was the filthiest room I have ever stayed in!!!!! Econolodge should have comped the room, but reduced our rate to $20, with the promise of a free room coupon to be mailed... it never arrived! Such a surprise!!! Needless to say, we won't be back to this Econolodge! I don't spend much time at beachside hotels, so though I prefer Hampton Inn's or Country Inn and Suites, while at the beach, I prefer CHEAP!!!!! Myrtle Beach consists of three towns. North Myrtle, Myrtle Beach, and South Myrtle. Most of the action---and congestion--is in North Myrtle and Myrtle. For this trip, we book 2 rooms at the Super 8 at 27th South and South Ocean Blvd. This is in South Myrtle Beach--- away from the congestion, but a 3-minute drive up the street to Myrtle Beach and most of the fun zones... We had non-smoking rooms with partial ocean/beach views, above the pool, for the AAA rate of about $53 a week night and $70+ for weekend nights. AARP rates are similar. We were extremely happy with this location of Super 8!!! It was a 60-second walk to the waves, extremely clean, had a nice clean pool, shared laundry facilities, and a microwave and mini-fridge in each room. We stocked up on sodas and sandwich stuff from a Food Lion about a mile away... Included is donuts and coffee for "breakfast." There is also a soda machine on-site and pizza delivery, as well as plenty of nearby restaurants! The hotel staff, including owner Bob and desk clerk Lauren treated us like guests at the much more expensive Marriott!!! These two wonderful people made me forget that we were staying at an inexpensive motel. The only negatives about the property is that it is an older facility, and does show a few age spots, but it has recently been renovated, and is extremely well-maintained. The other negative is that through the reservations center, they only offer double-double bed rooms. There IS a queen sized room available, but you can only reserve it directly through the motel... something I would have preferred to do. Those are extremely small negative issues compared to the great service, rates, and location! The Myrtle Beach area has something for everyone! Miles of wonderful beaches with 80-degree summer water, lots of hotels to choose from, (some with indoor pools and lazy rivers) para-sailing (A MUST for anyone!---see my Para-Sailing epinion!) more than 1600 restaurants, (You can eat 3 meals a day for more than a month--all at a different restaurant!) several waterparks, a minor league baseball team, (Go Pelicans!) endless shops, an IMAX theatre, several fun zones ans amusement parks, and plenty of golf courses! If you can't have fun here, you don't know how to have fun! I spent most of my time at the beach, but did have fun at the Pavilion, as well as dinners at Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing, a pair of restaurant and shop locations about a mile inland. Name the restaurant-it's at either of these locations. We preferred Broadway at the Beach (In Myrtle Beach)which includes Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, Joe's Crab Shack, Landry's, and Tony Roma's. We boycotted the Liberty Steak House because the management there is stuck in tobacco row 1960's and doesn't offer a non-smoking section! SHAME ON LIBERTY!!!!! There are also several wonderful seafood buffet restaurants throughout Myrtle Beach, though they are a bit pricey. Of course, there are all the fast food options as well as my wife's favorite, K & W Cafeteria. Hardcore surfers will be disappointed with the 3-foot waves, but if you really want to surf, you know the Atlantic is not where to go. Try Oahu's north shore! For families, Myrtle's waves are enough for small children, including my 10-year-old nephew's first trip to an ocean. Discount Coupon books are available all over town (We used several Monster Coupon books) and have deals from Burger King to Seafood Buffet restaurants. The visitor's center at Broadway on the Beach offers discounts to on-site restaurants, but have a limited supply, so stop by early in the day.... you'll save lots of money... and besides, you'll need a day to see all the shops, IMAX, and sample the fine restaurants at Broadway on the Beach. Barefoot landing (In North Myrtle Beach) has the House of Blues, a Crabhouse, and other restaurants and shops, and can be toured in about half-a-day. Another site recommended by locals is the Carolina Opry, (Also in North Myrtle Beach)though I did not have time to visit this venue. The only negatives of Myrtle: Hotels are on top of each other like Miami and Waikiki... but once you're in the water, you forget it. Traffic can be heavy on 17-the main drag through town, but there are parallel routes (17 bypass, and Ocean Blvd) that flow freely and have far fewer stop signs... Oh yea, they get hurricanes every few years... but there is plenty of advance warning! Enjoy Myrtle Beach... I certainly did!  |
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