Times could be tough with the economy crawling back to recovery but it doesn’t mean you and your family cannot have fun. Myrtle Beach with its 60 miles of sand from South Carolina to North Carolina can be the perfect answer for families looking to enjoy some sun.

Myrtle Beach offers a bit of things for everyone. There are old bungalows you can rent on Pawleys Island and there are also pricier condos along Myrtle Beach. Pick from amusement parks, mini-golfs and of course the great beach and waters.

It will be best to browse through pages of information over the internet about Myrtle Beach before bringing your family anywhere. If you don’t have time to go online make sure you visit the visitor centers. They have one a few blocks from the beach, one at the airport, and another one in Murrells Inlet on the southern portion. Their staff extends help for making reservations and planning a great time in Myrtle Beach.

Getting Around

Most come to Myrtle Beach by car. It can mean heavy traffic if you are going on a weekend. The government has constructed new roads in the recent years to help everyone get there without any hassle. You can check out on the map State Route 22, Conway Bypass and the State Route 31, Carolina Bays Parkway which are expressways instead of going through stop and go situations on the older roads. There will also be the I-73 in the future.

There are useful websites like www.visitmyrtlebeach.com which can help you get a picture of fuel costs by clicking on the city of your origin. Good tool if you are on a budget.

Free and Almost Free Activities in Myrtle Beach

A $6 million boardwalk is being constructed and schedule to be completed at the center of the sands of Myrtle Beach. There will be a ton of space where you can hang out and enjoy the offerings of face painters, free concerts, and other street performers.

• Broadway at the Beach just near the Intracostal Waterway and the shore. It is a big shopping and entertainment complex which features Ripley’s Aquarium, IMAX 3-D cinemas, Hard Rock Café, and other clubs and restaurants. They also do concerts here when the weather warms up.

• Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk – If you are tired of the party scene, relax and head to the Murrells Inlet where you can enjoy stunning views of wildlife and fishing boats. You can also access excellent seafood restaurants on the mainland side.

• Canadia-American Days Festival – This happens from March 13 through 21 along the Grand Strand. Enjoy free events, parades, and concerts. There is also the Sun Fun Festival by June or the Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival during Labor Day.

• Market Common – This shopping complex built from an old air force base offers KidZone on Mondays. Kids can enjoy jumping castles for $10 and that is for an all day access. The Valor Park offers great music nights on Fridays.

• Franklin G. Burroughs Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum – You can enter this art museum which features works since the 1970s for free.

Spend-some-more-dollars fun things to do in Myrtle Beach

• Family Kingdom Amusement Park – You have a wide variety of choices in terms of water and amusement parks in Myrtle Beach. Family Kingdom is the only one at the seaside. This was built back in the ‘60s and features the biggest Ferris Wheel in SC and they also have the wooden roller coaster ride known as the Swamp Fox. There is no entrance fee but you have to pay for the rides. You can also get a combo pass for the water parks and amusement park for $33 which gives you unlimited access.

• Pavilion Nostalgia – If you are familiar with the old Myrtle Beach Pavilion and missed their rides and funnel cakes, you can visit the Pavilion Nostalgia at the complex of Broadway at the Beach.

• Play a round of Golf – While the kids are having fun at the parks, adults can enjoy swinging their clubs in Myrtle Beach. There are about 100 golf courses around the area. Another good thing is that most courses are public. Just to give you an idea, annually about 4 million rounds of golf are enjoyed here with the a PGA Tour event every fall.

• Grand Stand – If you want to enjoy the golf clubs with your kids, try Grand Stand which features about 50 miniature courses. Adults get a pass for $8 while kids enter for $6. It can be cheaper if you will visit during day time compared to busier times after the sunset. You will also shopping here from almost 400 stores offering practically anything or dining from 1,7000 restaurants that boast of excellent seafoods , barbecue, to wonderful international dishes.

Accomodations in Myrtle Beach

You don’t have to worry about your choice of accommodation in Myrtle Beach. The 60 kilometers of shoreline give you a myriad of options.

The Grand Stand can give you about 90,000 rooms to choose from. There are luxury hotels, budget motels, villas, or condos at the golf course. Ask for the best deal when you drop by at the visitors’ center.

You can also find great Myrtle Beach hotel deals online. Between March and April you can find condos pitching their deals from $100 to $200 a night.

You can also bargain for goodnights during spring or fall especially if you are staying for a few nights. You can stretch the value of your money if you just do some research and ask.

The Dunes Village Resort has about 15,000 sq.ft. of indoor water park that guests can use for free. Not everyone can enjoy the ocean during spring since the water can still be a bit too cold for some. There are condos that offer indoor pools, lazy rivers, and hot tubs.

There are also campsites, about 350 of them at the Myrtle Beach State Park which you can check out for hiking trails and nature programs. Another 133 camp sites can be found farther down South at the Huntington Beach State Park.

More Tips

Spring and fall are good times for shopping and golfing in Myrtle Beach. You will find people from the colder states who come down to enjoy the perfect weather for sunbathing in April. Still summer is the most popular time to go to Myrtle Beach. Busiest week will be during the Independence Day weekend.

July gives you about 87 degrees and the humidity can make the environment hotter. July afternoons often come with some shower and a good refreshing sea breeze to enjoy.