Catching Waves in Myrtle Beach

We stayed in the Surfside Beach area, which is actually south of Myrtle Beach. We enjoyed this location, because we were somewhat removed from the summer congestion right in Myrtle Beach, but near enough to enjoy all that Myrtle Beach has to offer.

The beach in Surfside was very nice and clean. The waves were just perfect for boogie boarding. Parking was not a problem, even during the busiest season.

Our family really liked the fabulous mini golf courses in the area. Of course, there are also many wonderful full sized courses. My husband played on the Deer Track course in Surside and found it to be quite challenging. We also enjoyed a salt marsh tour in Murrell's inlet and the Ripley's Aquarium at Broadway at the Beach.

Quick Tips:

If you go in the summer, don't forget your sunscreen! The temperatures were blazing. Some days were over 100 degrees. We got into a routine of heading to the beach in the morning before it got too hot. Then, we rested in the afternoon and lounged by the resort pool. After dinner, it cooled down enough that we could be outside to play mini golf or walk around one of the many great shopping areas (Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot landing are fantastic).

Best Way To Get Around:

If you are staying outside of Myrtle Beach, you really need a car to get around. Traffic is quite heavy during the summer, so plan some extra time into your trips.

Best Things Nearby:
Surfside Beach is about 1.5 miles from the resort. It is a very nice, clean beach, without the crowds in Myrtle Beach. Murrel's Inlet, south of Surfside Beach, has lots of great seafood restaurants and a marina. Myrtle Beach has all sorts of great activites, including gold, mini golf, amusement parks, shopping centers, shows, and an aquarium. You won't be bored!

Best Things About the Resort:
We had a three bedroom, three bath villa, which was extremely spacious. We had six people in our unit, and it was wonderful to be able to spread out. The two person jacuzzi in the master was quite luxurious. It was very convenient to be located adjacent to the Deer Track golf course.

Resort Experience:
The villa was basically a two bedroom unit plus an additional studio. There was a full kitchen, washer/dryer, living room with pullout coach, and dining room in the two bedroom unit. The master bedroom had a king sized bed and two person jacuzzi tub. The guest bedroom had two double beds and another full bath. Then,in the studio portion of the villa, there was another partial kitchen, washer dryer, full bath with jacuzzi, pullout couch, and king sized bed. Our kids, ages 6 and 9, absolutely loved having their own "pad" in the studio. Everything in the unit was in good condition. The jacuzzi in the master bedroom did not work when we checked in. Maintenance was there first thing the next morning to take care of the problem. The only thing that was disapponting was the view from our unit. We were on the first floor, and the only thing we could see from our small patio was the fence right in front of us. The "elephants" in the unit above us also kept us from sleeping most nights until midnight. They really could have done a better job with soundproofing.

We enjoyed the Surside Beach area. Myrtle Beach was extremely crowded, and we liked being a bit removed from all the hustle and bustle, yet close enough to everything. Surfside Beach itself is a very nice beach - we spent most of our mornings there. My husband liked the Deer Track golf course adjacent to the property. My kids also enjoyed the pool, although it got quite crowded in the afternoons. The resort should consider building an additional pool, considering its size. The resort had the usual sort of planned activites during the week- pool games, bingo, etc. We did not partake in any.

Our favorite restaurants in the area were The Melting Pot for Fondue, The Inlet Grille (Murrell's Inlet) for Seafood, and Creek Ratz in Murrell's Inlet. We tried one seafood buffet (they are everywhere) - the Seafare Restaurant - and did not care for it.

One of our favorite activites, besides the beach, was mini golf (try Atlanticus and Hawaii Caverns). We also had a great time on Captain Dick's Salt Marsh Adventure. They catch varous sea creatures in touch tanks and let the passengers handle them. Painters in Garden City Beach had our favorite ice cream. Hot Krispy Creme doughnuts were another great treat.

Overall, we really enjoyed this resort.

• Unit Type: 3 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Very Good

The Melting Pot was our favorite restaurant in the Myrtle Beach area. It was rated as one of the most romantic restaurants in town, but it was also suitable for children. Our kids - ages six and nine - absolutely loved the experience. The fondue burner was built right into your table.

For starters, we chose the cheddar cheese fondue. Our waiter made it right in front of us. It was excellent - served with a basket of bread, veggies, and sliced apples. Then, our main course was a variety of meats which we cooked in a tasty broth. They had several sauces for dipping the cooked meat. The grande finale was a fabulous chocate fondue. We dunked strawberries, pineapple, bananas, brownie chunks, cheesecake, and more.

Although it was a bit pricey, this restaurant was well worth the splurge. The service was very good, and it was a unique dining experience.

This 2 1/2 hour trip through the salt marsh of Murrell's Inlet, SC is a fun and educational experience. There is a marine biologist on board who talks about the marine life in the salt marsh. Then, they bring up nets and let the passengers handle the various sea creatures in touch tanks. We saw sea stars, crabs, clams, sea urchins, and more. There is also a chance for fishing and a walk along a secluded beach. Everyone from grandma and grandpa to our kids enjoyed this boat tour.