Myrtle Beach for Families Who Like 4-Star Hotels

Myrtle Beach is known for its glitz. If you're looking for a lot of exciting things to do, then you're in the right place. If you want a destination that caters to bicycling and wildlife, then you should head further north to Hilton Head. Both places are known for their golf. Myrtle Beach caters to families who want amusement parks, dinner shows, seafood buffets and a beautiful beach. It also offers men-only clubs for those interested in that sort of thing. Is Myrtle Beach seedy? Yes, it can be. However, it is also a lot of fun. You just have to know where to stay!

Quick Tips:

The town of Myrtle Beach is the heart of the action. If you want to be able to walk to piercing parlors and Calabash buffets and you're not too particular about your accommodations, then stay in the center of town. However, if you're more accustomed to staying at the Marriott, then stay away from Myrtle Beach for sleeping arrangements. I must have checked a hundred, LITERALLY 100, motels and hotels and found them all to be the same-- worn, cramped, and old. Even those that seemed exceptional from the outside were disappointing.

There is a solution! Check out the resorts in neighboring towns. North Myrtle Beach is close by and offers better accommodations but convenience to everything fun. The same is true for Garden City and Surfside.

Some of the attractions that we particularly enjoyed include the Pavilion Amusement Park, the Grand Prix Go-Cart Raceway, the many miniature golf places, the Dixie Stampede, and, the beach and boogie boarding!

So, don't be afraid to visit Myrtle Beach. It's fun. Just play it smart!

One last tip, one Krispy Kreme by the Pavilion makes the donuts and trucks them to the other satellite stores.

Best Way To Get Around:

You absolutely need a car to get to the different attractions.

Best Things Nearby:
Myrtle Beach has so much for families to do: mini-golf, shows, amusement parks, and of course, the beach!

Best Things About the Resort:
It's on the beach. It's in Myrtle Beach.

Resort Experience:
I had an oceanview unit in Riptide II confirmed. The woman at the front desk was very nice in moving me oceanfront to be near an oceanfront unit I was going to rent for the week, another one-bedroom. When I arrived at the resort, however, I cancelled my exchange and rental (losing a night's room and tax). While the people working there were very nice, I could not say the same about the resort.

Parking is very limited and extremely difficult to navigate with my SUV. Overflow parking is across the street and up the hill.

Riptide II looks a bit nicer than Riptide I (if that's possible). The building seemed like it was under construction or never finished. Plywood on the walls, unpainted, etc. The smell was awful, both in the halls and in the rooms. Rooms were dark. Bedspreads and curtains were old and stinky. Pool looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a long while.

The best part of the resort was the view. It is on the beach. While it is convenient to restaurants and shopping, it is also right in the "heart" of the action...a bit too many people and cars, etc. I prefer to have a little more elbow room on the beach. For that reason, I've learned to look into North Myrtle Beach, Surfside or Garden City for future stays.

Many of the properties on Myrtle Beach seemed to be in the same state of disrepair as Riptide. I checked out several hotels and timeshares and found the rooms to be small and dingy.

I would rate this property on the same level as a one- to two-star motel. Some people love staying here. I need a little better.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Not Available
• Amenities: Poor
• Unit Satisfaction: Poor
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Good

Best Things Nearby:
Myrtle Beach has loads to do for families: mini golf, amusement parks, Dixie Stampede, and the BEACH!

Best Things About the Resort:
The resort is in a perfect location, close to the action but far from the crowds. It is clean and directly on the beach.

Resort Experience:
We liked this resort so much that my brother rented a unit here the next year.

Resort: Located in North Myrtle Beach, the resort is away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the Myrtle Beach Area. The buildings are in a U shape, with parking in between the two wings.
Between the hotel and the beach is a nice recreation area with two pools, four hot tubs, a kiddy pool, picnic benches, gas grills, a playground area, and plenty of lounge and patio chairs.

Amenities: Across the street were tennis and basketball courts. The north wing houses an indoor pool and hot tub, ping-pong table in a separate area and the laundry facility (coin operated). On the third floor is an exercise room with treadmill, cardio bike, and a four- station weight machine. Also on the third floor is the activities center.

Units: The units are clean, with most oceanfront or ocean view with private patios. Our unit was a 2-bed/2-bath oceanfront room on the first floor with king bed and two twins. We had very little view with shrubbery and play equipment outside our windows. If you are in rooms 01 to 26, you have an oceanfront room. Anything higher than that and you are in the south wing with a side view of the ocean. Patios do not allow for access to the pool. You have to walk out your front door, down the hall and around the building. They also have a penthouse three-bedroom unit with full ocean views on the top floor.

There are activities for the whole family every day. The beach is spectacular. If you've looked into other resorts in this area, you will know that this is much better than the rest!

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Very Good

The Melting Pot is a fondue restaurant in Myrtle Beach on 50th Avenue North on Kings Highway - Business 17 in the Rainbow Harbor Shopping Complex. Hours are Monday - Sunday: 5pm - 10pm.

Fondue originated in Switzerland as a way of using up hardened cheese. Fondue is derived from the French verb fonder, meaning "to melt." Today, all kind of foods are eaten using the fondue method.

The first Melting Pot restaurant was started in Maitland, Florida in 1975. Currently, there are 70 restaurants in locations all across the nation. This was my first experience with the chain and I was sadly disappointed.

I had never tried fondue. When I heard about the Melting Pot in Myrtle Beach, I thought this would be a great opportunity. I made a reservation for myself, my mother, my husband and our two young sons early one evening.

The restaurant is located in a shopping plaza and is a little dark inside with no windows. Each table has its own gas burner for the pot. The menu offers a four-course dining experience. You can select from a choice of four fondue cooking styles and a variety of entrees, including beef, chicken, duck, lobster, shrimp, scallops, and salmon. Cheese fondues can be ordered separately and are included with the purchase of any combination dinner. Along with every entrée, you’ll get breads, vegetables, and a choice of three different salads. You also get your choice of mouthwatering chocolate fondue desserts.

The waiter suggested we go with the special of the day (some kind of Thai sauce with all kinds of meat and fish). This didn’t sound too appetizing. We asked for the deep-fried fondue where we could batter the meats and deep-fry them in hot oil. The waiter said this isn’t suggested, that it was dangerous, and that no one gets this type of fondue. So, he sold us on a beef stock combination dinner and dipping sauces.

The cheese fondue was OK, but the bread wasn’t very good! Then, when the dinner arrived, we couldn’t believe how little was on the plate. My mother and I ended up giving all of our meat to my sons, as there wasn’t enough. In addition, we didn’t enjoy the taste of boiled meat and fish (in the same pot). In the end, we were sorry we let him talk us out of what we wanted to try. The experience was fun, but the food was not tasty.

The highlight of the meal was the dessert…delicious chocolate with dipping fruits, cheesecake, crackers, marshmallows, etc. This is the only thing I can recommend.

If you’re the type of person that likes four-star hotels then, like me, the abundance of calabash seafood buffets in Myrtle Beach won’t exactly excite you. I’ve never been one to enjoy food that is low in quality, cooked hours ahead of time, and then I have to get up and get it myself to boot. No thanks. I go out to dinner to be served better, or at least equivalent, to what I make at home. So while in Myrtle Beach, I set out to find some places that meet my expectations. Santa Fe Station was one of them.

I originally went to this restaurant because of its theme…trains. My sons love them. I found it very cool that it is built out of antique train cars. Even better was the inside décor. For a quarter (donated to charity by the owners), there are trains that run around the perimeter of the ceiling throughout the dining room. If you have children, ask the hostess to sit you somewhere with a good view and easy access to the switch.

I was very surprised by the crowds of people that were coming into the bar. I checked it out and it seems there is a really neat patio with a nice water view and great happy-hour specials. I had my kids with me this time so I couldn’t partake. I would go back to check it out without them.

The food here was surprisingly good! The ribs are to die for. They also offer good quality steak and seafood. My kids also enjoyed their kid’s meals. The service was equally exceptional (with the hostess throwing in a few tokens for the trains to delight my sons).

We left the restaurant after purchasing T-shirts for my kids. We will definitely return. I highly recommend this restaurant for families, couples or singles. It’s got it all!