Endless Holiday

There’s a reason Myrtle Beach is one of the best-loved vacation destinations on the East Coast. In 2004, when I first moved to the area, I was impressed to discover that approximately 13 million visitors descend on the Grand Strand each year. As of 2024, that number surpassed 19 million.

The reason for the region’s popularity is quite simple: it offers a spectacular array of things to do and see and boasts some of the best family beaches on the eastern seaboard.
However, from a local’s point of view, I can tell you that googling the proverbial top 10 lists, such as, “Where to stay in Myrtle Beach” and “What to do in Myrtle Beach,” isn’t the best way to plan your vacation; getting advice from someone who lives here is a far better option.

Below are some of the best kept secrets about this outstanding vacation destination from the viewpoint of a person who’s been enjoying the Grand Strand for 20 years:

The Best Attractions in Myrtle Beach

Naturally you want to visit places like Broadway at the Beach, the Sky Wheel, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, Hollywood Wax Museum, and Ripley’s Aquarium while visiting the Grand Strand.
However, there’s no need to research these famous establishments and landmarks. You’ll trip over them upon your arrival. How about those off-the-beaten path attractions that locals save for their friends and families when they visit? Below are some places you’ll wish someone had told you about sooner:

Barefoot on the Sand

Escapology on the Grand Strand

For an enlivening and thrilling adventure you won’t forget, visit Escapology Myrtle Beach and challenge your inner Houdini. Each exhilarating escape room leads to a new world, so whether you’re simply curious to give it a try or you’re a seasoned escape artist, an exciting, suspenseful experience awaits.

The Big M Casino Boat Cruise

I often hear the phrase, “too bad there’s no gambling on the Grand Strand.” Oh, but there is. South Carolina’s only gambling cruise is located just minutes from Myrtle Beach. Take a three-hour ocean excursion, where you can interact with the one-armed bandit or try your hand at the tables as you sail along. The Big “M” Casino Boat departs daily from Little River, offering lunch and dinner cruises featuring comfortable, scrupulously clean surroundings, delicious food, and spectacular views of the water.

Wacky Walks of Myrtle Beach

Among the Grand Strand’s18 million yearly visitors, only a tiny handful know about this royal-themed scavenger hunt, designed to work on a simple phone app. Complete wacky tasks to advance in the game, while traveling hither and yon in Myrtle Beach competing against other group members to become King or Queen. Wacky Walks is one of the most enjoyable, innovative, and inexpensive attractions in the area.

Polynesian Fire Luau and Show

Myrtle Beach is not Hawaii, but you’ll certainly feel like it is when you experience the Polynesian Fire Luau and Show. Make sure you come hungry and enjoy songs and dances from Polynesian cultures around the world, as well as mesmerizing performances by the world champion Samoan Fire Knife Team. This unique dinner theater is located on the southern end of the Grand Strand, and it simply can’t be explained; it must be experienced.

North Myrtle Beach Eco Cruise

If you’re visiting from the concrete jungle and have always wanted to take an eco-tour, head to North Myrtle Beach for a one-of-a-kind excursion on South Carolina’s Intracoastal Waterway. These customized tours for up to six patrons were designed by North Myrtle Beach Fishing Charters to be both adventurous and informative. You’ll go home knowing so much more about South Carolina’s unique ecosystem, while satisfying your inner “green.”

The Best Restaurants in Myrtle Beach

Regarding eateries, ditch the classic “top 10 Myrtle Beach restaurants” search in lieu of this advice: dine where the locals do. The following are the best-kept dining secrets on the Grand Strand.

Sure, you don’t want to miss Sea Captain’s House, Greg Norman’s Australian grill, or Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. However, the restaurants with the longest lines don’t always offer the best food on the Grand Strand.

Some of the top eateries in Myrtle Beach are also establishments that do little or no advertising because locals fill the seats every day. This is a win-win for vacationers, since expensive ads lead to expensive menu prices. Here are some top picks for Grand Strand restaurants:

Chestnut Hill Restaurant–Hiding in Plain Sight

Established in 1987, this unique establishment focuses on serving outstanding meals overall, as opposed to specializing in one type of food or another. When the owners use words like, “fresh” and “homemade,” they mean it. The menu is expansive, and all plates are made to order. Whether you want veal Parmesan, beef tips, barbeque chicken, or lobster tail, a delectable meal awaits. If a great family restaurant in Myrtle Beach is what you’re after, Chestnut Hill is it.

Joe’s Bar and Grill– No, it’s Not a Greasy Spoon

I’ve wondered over the years if perhaps the proprietor of Joe’s Bar and Grill wanted to make sure it would only be discovered by locals. Naturally, the ordinary name brings to mind a corner bar serving up the typical greasy fare and prepackaged-toss-it-in-the-microwave platters, but that isn’t the case. Joe’s Bar and Grill is a white tablecloth establishment that’s both casual and classy. Steaks are a popular specialty at this restaurant, but their seafood is also out of this world.

The dining room view is a one-of-a-kind experience, and includes a “raccoon run,” where you can watch masked bandits indulging in restaurant leftovers each night for added entertainment. Talk about a photo opportunity.

This Myrtle Beach restaurant is also home to a beautiful cocktail lounge with leather chairs and genuine oak coffee tables, and is a superb choice for couples, families, and groups.

The Library is Opened

You can’t take the books home, but if you want to escape the boisterous side of Myrtle Beach and disappear into a quiet, secluded restaurant straight out of a romantic novel, The Library should top your list.

This amazing French steakhouse wows you from moment one, and everything on the menu is sumptuous. The service is impeccable, the decor unparalleled, and yes, two rows of books border the walls on all four sides.

Make sure you get a picture of the 17th-century chandelier that adorns the dining room before you leave.

Victoria’s Country Cookin’

Despite its excellent reviews on all sites, Victoria’s Country Cookin’ is an eatery that you’ll miss if you blink. Located on 3rd Avenue, a non-touristy street, this Myrtle Beach restaurant’s menu consists of homemade breakfast and lunch items for outrageously affordable prices. The fare is so tasty that locals–myself included–regularly ask the owner to expand the hours to cover dinner.

Also well worth mentioning are Simply Southern Smokehouse, and Thoroughbreds Fine Dining Restaurant. It’s doubtful you’ll see billboards for these well-guarded secrets either, but you owe it to yourself to visit them as well.

The Best Hotels in Myrtle Beach

Understandably, you’re likely to head to trip advisor or other review sites in an effort to determine which Myrtle Beach hotels are the best. This is not necessarily a bad course of action, but it’s not always that easy, either. What you come up with may not be as accurate as what you can discover from a local guide. Here are four failsafe options guaranteed to live up to your expectations.

The Crown Reef Beach Resort and Waterpark

If you’re vacationing with children who like water sports, end your search with Crown Reef Beach Resort and Waterpark. This oceanfront playground is home to 15 water features, and because of its enormous size, it never feels crowded even in the heart of summer. That characteristic is not something most Myrtle Beach resorts can boast.

Dunes Village Resort

On-site dining, top-notch water amenities, and some of the best views on the beach, the Dunes Village Resort does not disappoint. I spent time at this hotel prior to moving to the area, and just a few years ago when relatives came to visit, they expressed the same satisfaction with it that I did so long ago. The choice of accommodation is also broader than many other Myrtle Beach resorts, including everything from small studios to expansive, four-bedroom, suites.

Ocean Reef Resort

Boasting 10 water features, including a unique “Shipwreck Waterpark,” Ocean Reef Resort is another stalwart option if you’re traveling with children who are quickly bored. On-site dining with incomparable views is also available at this establishment, and the service is always something to write home about.

The Sandbar Hotel by Wyndham

From marble floors to blackout curtains and flat screen TVs, the Sandbar Hotel by Wyndham offers an exceptional number of amenities and activities for all ages. This Myrtle Beach resort should top your list if you’re planning on snorkeling, boating, or windsurfing, since these three amenities can be accessed directly on-site.

If you go:

Consider spring or fall, during which temperatures are still in what most people would consider the summer range. The water is still warm enough for swimming, virtually all the attractions are still open, but the lines are not nearly as long as they are in the heart of summer.

Tip: Myrtle Beach is a big vacation ownership area, so taking promotional tours for free show and attraction tickets is a highly popular activity here. If you’re the type who doesn’t mind going to a presentation to get free stuff, I recommend Wyndham Resorts because of a unique move they made this year. Interestingly, to distance themselves from a “hard sell” reputation, Wyndham now gives attendees their gifts at the beginning of the presentation, so there’s no fear of being “held hostage” for hours on end. If the time is up and you’re not interested in buying anything, you can show yourself to the door with your freebies already in hand.

Jesse Broadt has been a professional web content writer for over two decades and specializes in travel. Raised by missionary parents, she grew up all over the world, which resulted in an intense love for travel that never died. When she decided, along with her husband, to ditch the chilly Northeast for points further south, she took a temporary job writing advertorials for a travel agency. This quickly parlayed into a successful freelance career, and she cannot imagine ever doing anything else for a living. Broadt is also the author of the Hot Winter Sun historical fiction series, under the pen name Jessica Russell. She lives just outside Myrtle Beach with her husband and her faithful, purring companions.