Still Traveling

By Paula

May 18, 2006 12:38 PM | Link to this

I used to love travelling to Myrtle Beach with my entire family every year when I was young.I have so many memories of the different rides, eating cotton candy while walking along the boardwalk, walking along the beach, especially at night to see the crabs come out from the sand, as well as shopping in the many different stores along the strip. I hate to see the Pavilion close. I’d love to share those memories with my children and grandchildren!

By me

May 18, 2006 1:04 PM | Link to this

I have always loved myrtle beach and have always stayed at the Sands South. Always reasonable and accomadations good. Last year we were disappointed. Stayed in what we could find and it was not good. Things to high, activities moved away from beach, things cost too much. Murrell’s inlet still the same and good place to find sea food.

By OldSchool

May 18, 2006 1:11 PM | Link to this

Boy, do I remember Myrtle Beach! My aunt lives in Conway and that was our base of operations for beach trips and crabbing. My parents took the 5 of us kids to the Grand Strand. When we were little, the hand-pedal cars that rode on a track through the big organ was a real favorite.

As a teenager, my cousin convinced me to ride the Swamp Fox with him. I was fine until he told me to open my eyes…at the top right as the cars made a 90 degree turn and went straight down!

A trip to the Gay Dolphin was a must for us kids and I still have the Ocean In A Bottle that my dad let me buy.

But the best time of all was visiting Brookgreen Gardens. Take your little ones and a picnic lunch and enjoy those beautiful grounds!

By lwa

May 18, 2006 1:12 PM | Link to this

Only with the kids. I enjoy Hilton Head for an adults only trip.

By Casey

May 18, 2006 1:33 PM | Link to this

I used to think Myrtle Beach was a redneck vacation destination until I went there last year. The Grand Strand has some of the best golf in the world!

By mc

May 18, 2006 2:07 PM | Link to this

Casey, I agree it is some of the best golf around and I still meet my ole skool down there for golf only, on the southside side of Mytrle.

But dude, it is still redneck as it gets over there!

By me

May 18, 2006 2:11 PM | Link to this

Well dude, go somewhere else.

By Lala

May 18, 2006 2:45 PM | Link to this

I absolutely love Myrtle Beach. My summers were spent there from early childhood on. I cannot believe they are going to close the Pavilion. I used to sit in awe at the German Organ as it played with my grandfather and my father and sat just as much inawed with my own children. I guess everything has to change, but why the Pavilion. I just moved back to Atlanta and really can’t afford a summer vacation this year, but I will be sacraficing something or someone to go if this is the last year for the Pavilion and my organ!!!

By PattiKay

May 18, 2006 3:11 PM | Link to this

I have such great memories of Myrtle Beach. We went there as a newly married couple, then many times with the kids, and last year, I took my grand-daughter.

She wants to go to Gatlinburg and Dollywood this year - I am Soooo disappointed. And, yes Lala, this is the last year for the pavilion. Eat peanut butter sandwiches for a while and go!!!!!!!!

By Karla

May 18, 2006 3:16 PM | Link to this

I was just there over the weekend and am glad to be back in the ATL! No bike week for me! I am originally from the area and moved away 26 years ago. I do not regret it. We visit about once a year. The only area I can tolerate: hotels 30th Ave North to 80th Avenue North and the Pawley’s Island/Litchfield area. My grandfather used to own a big piece of Pawley’s, so I am partial to this area. “Arogantly shabby”, quaint and not so commercialized. You can also get the heavenly Charleston in about 1.5 hours. MYR is OK for families but for adults, go somewhere with more class. It is still the Redneck Riviera but is more upscale than it was 20 years ago. You have to know where to go to get away from the tourist song and dance and the tatoos. It is better than Daytona or Panama City if you want a comparison.

By mc

May 18, 2006 3:22 PM | Link to this

well dude, there are guzillion other beaches that are 100 times better than MB. I enjoyed going to MB when was I was growing up, being from SC.

But, now, it is a classless place with nothing but chain resturants (fried seafood) in a nutshell the place is tired. I suggest you drift on down to the Pauleys Island area.

By Lynne Henderson

May 18, 2006 4:24 PM | Link to this

I love it. My family and I have gone every year for the last 5 years. I also coordinate bus trips to MB. I have a bus going this year. I would recommend it to everybody.

By law_gurl21

May 18, 2006 4:56 PM | Link to this

I havent been to MB in about 2 years, but have planned a trip next week for bike week. Has it fallen off that badly? More responses please just in case I need to cancell reservation while I still have time!! Thanks

By Donna P.

May 18, 2006 5:55 PM | Link to this

Myrtle Beach is a great beach for families. I love the putt-putt courses (there are about 15 different ones to choose from) plus the dinner theaters are great fun. It isn’t as run down as Virginia Beach and as boring as Nags Head. It is still a good beach for Southern families to go and relax. There are lots of shopping and restaurants to choose from too. I took my husband there in 2004 for his first time and he loved it. He is from Massachusetts and loved the beach.

By Steve Skelton

May 18, 2006 6:01 PM | Link to this

My family has been going to Myrtle Beach every year for what seems like forever. We stay on the north side (Cherry Grove…as far north as you can go on the beach in SC). It has been built up quite a bit, but it isn’t as touristy as things are down in the main part of town. Calabash, NC (just north of the NC state line right off US 17) has some amazing seafood (best fried shrimp I have ever tasted). Go see a Pelicans game if you are down there this summer. Minor league baseball is a blast…they have a nice new ballpark right near Boardwalk on the Beach west of downtown MB.

By CC

May 18, 2006 8:24 PM | Link to this

I am actually going to Myrtle Beach on the 29th. I’m from South Carolina on the beach traffic route and it was a family ritual to go there every summer to the Pavilion. Once I found out it was closing, I had to book a trip down there. I miss the old Myrtle Beach but I’m looking forward to walking on the boardwalk and Ocean Ave. Staying at the Sands South. Surfside Beach is really nice. I heard they built this huge mall a few years back…supposedly the biggest one in SC. Then there’s the outlet stores.

By john

May 19, 2006 8:10 AM | Link to this

One of you mentioned Daytona and tattoos in the same post. We actually spent 4 nights at Daytona beach three weeks ago. Lodging’s cheap and it’s till a good beach for running on, and it always brings back lots of memories. But geez, tattoos, tattoos everywhere. It was funny. I know that a different class of folk hang there now, but it was hilarious how nearly ALL of them had tattoos! I’d see a person or couple who at first glance seemed higher class, but sure enough, closer examination would reveal some sort of tattoo engraved on their hide. City leaders are trying to turn the place around…tearing down some of the old ’60s hotels/motels and putting up new condos, along with squelching the old traditional spring break.

By SexZscorpio

May 19, 2006 8:55 AM | Link to this

I have been to Myrtle beach for the last 10 years and over that period I have discovered that it has changed tremendously and is only for family trips. I am in a bike club and we usually go to the Black bikers weekend but this year we have decided not to go due to the police and just plain ole tired of the same scene. I went in April with my kids and really enjoyed myself. My kids asked me every month when are we going again. I am booking a trip for us for June. It is a nice place to enjoy with your family but not a whole lot to do with just adults. I agree Charleston or Hilton Head is a much better fit for an all adult weekend.

By lynn

May 19, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this

I used to travel to MB with multi generations of my family when I was young. We always rented a house and had tons of fun. I went back last summer with my husband and kids and stayed at a condo on the main drag. The beach was covered in trash, most noteably cigarette butts, that had washed down from the street in the sewer drains and homeless men sleeping under the pier. If someone asked me to go back I would have to say “No thanks!!”

By KC

May 19, 2006 10:34 AM | Link to this

I take my family to Myrtle Beach every year for the past 11yrs. We used to come down from Jersey, now we just commute from Atlanta. It’s a great place for he kids. Very kid friendly,clean, most hotels have the lazy susans & plenty of affordable activities. I recommend the dolphin speed boat tour (can’t remember the comapny name) but the kids still talk about it. Although the food seems a little pricey the hotels are very affordable. If you go at the right time the prices are down right cheap. Myrtle Beach is still tops on my list.

By gadawg

May 19, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this

Myrtle Beach is GREAT. It has everything you need in the summer. You have more golf courses than one could ever play, a brand new mall to go with two great shopping centers/entertainment centers in Barefoot and Broadway at the Beach. They have just a countless amount of restaurants so you can try something new every time you go and with the exception of a few major holidays and nights on the main strip traffic is a breeze. I go every year; I stay at the Breakers Resort although I may try one of these new places soon. Also on travelers tip, if you travel in the middle of the summer check the prices for golf packages, I have found out that if you book a golf package in mid summer your price goes down b/c golf courses have a hard time getting player on due to the heat. When I booked a two round golf package at Breakers for a week stay ocean front in June, July, or August I save about $200 and get a free breakfast for everyone in my party each morning. And if you do not golf all you have to do is cancel your tee time last minute and you are fine. That is a little tricky but I am all about saving money. Best part of Myrtle is that it is reasonably priced, has tons of attractions and is growing rapidly (new Hard Rock Theme Park is being built and is one of a kind), and it is close (only 5 – 6 hour drive depending on where you live in Atl.)

By Trying to be helpful

May 19, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this

I was forced to live in MB for a year when my husband ran a hotel there. It was the worst year of my life. What a scummy, tacky town full of scummy, tacky people. Full of blue collar golfers getting drunk and going to a strip club on every and any corner. It’s gross. Don’t waste your vacation time or money.

By gadawg

May 19, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

Hey that last comment from “Trying to be helpful” was from a woman whose email address is “@seapines.com” which is a resort in Hilton Head. So I would not listen to a person who works for a hotel in a “competing” town. I have been to both beaches recently and my opinion is go to Hilton Head if you are trendy and want to tell your friends you went to a trendy spot. IF you go to Myrtle you will save $$$, have 50 times more to do, and be on basically the same beach!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By john

May 19, 2006 1:27 PM | Link to this

Referring to gadawg, very interesting observation about the poster. As far as H. Head, I spent a few nights there back in ‘99; pretty ho-hum, nothing special. But I’m not a golfer so maybe if I were, I’d think more of the place………..

By chixbaby27

May 19, 2006 3:10 PM | Link to this

I am a huge Myrtle Beach fan. My husband and I got engaged there 11 years ago, and have gone back several times…my children got their first glimpse of the ocean in MB, and I will never forget the look on their little faces. There are a lot of chain restaurants, but there are also a lot of mom and pop establishments ~ you just have to spend a few minutes looking for them. We’ve stayed all up and down the beach, but highly recommend the Dayton House. We stayed there last year and will return this year. I won’t ever visit during bike week, as I’ve talked to too many people who have, but any other time is a good time for MB!

By PattiKay

May 19, 2006 3:15 PM | Link to this

Hey gadawg - I know you from the AI blog!!!! Go Soul Patrol!!! Actually, missing Chris.

Anyway, on the subject of MB vs HH or Sea Pines - Been to both several times. Love HH - but, you’ll spend THREE TIMES the money. Sometimes, it’s only within my budget to make it to MB.

By Cletus Snow

May 19, 2006 3:25 PM | Link to this

Myrtle Beach, panama City,Pigeon Forge,not much difference except Pigeon Forge has no beach.It would be hard for me to call a trip to either of them a vacation.

By niki

May 19, 2006 3:45 PM | Link to this

Aw come on guys let form a shag line…………..

By Motorcyclist

May 19, 2006 7:13 PM | Link to this

Yes, it is a great place. Everyone should go there for vacation, or Daytona Beach or Panama City.

Meanwhile, I will be enjoying a quiet place in the Blue Ridge Mountains. :)