Myrtle Beach recommendations?

Chris_Morris · 10-15-2003, 08:31 AM

We leave in the morning for a weekend trip there, and would love any ideas (family type, non-golf except miniature).

Right now we are planning on the Medieval Times (this will be the highlight of the trip for me) and Barefoot Landing (my father-in-law would disown us if we didn't take my son there). And we've picked a few restaurants (Yokosho's Japanese, and the Seafare). Any other can't miss places or restaurants?

Chris

Scott Merryfield · 10-15-2003, 08:40 AM

We own a condo in North Myrtle Beach at Ocean Creek Resort, directly across from Barefoot Landing. For restaurants, I would recommend Sam Snead's Grill (excellent food and lots of golf memorabilia), Cagney's and Chestnut Hill. They are all along Restaurant Row on King's Highway (north side of the strand). I would advise avoiding the all you can eat buffet places. The food is usually not that good.

For entertainment, check to see which acts are playing at the Alabama Theater and House Of Blues. Both are located in the Barefoot Landing complex, as is Dick's Last Resort, which also sometimes has live music. Also, the Ripley's Aquarium is worth a trip. It's located at Broadway At The Beach, which is on Bypass 17 just north of the airport. There is also an IMAX Theater at that complex. Finally, there is a Legends act with celebrity impersonators on the southern end of the strand.

SteveA · 10-15-2003, 09:09 AM

I was just down there a few weeks ago. Captain George's seafood buffet was excellent. It's right across the street (17 Bypass) from Broadway at the Beach and the aquarium.

Chris_Morris · 10-15-2003, 10:07 AM

Thanks for the input. Has anyone been to the Med. Times? We went to the Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge and loved it, this sounds even better based on their website. I think we'll skip the Ripley's stuff since we did that in Tennesse, and are trying to do something a bit different. I know there are alot of mini-golf places, but some have to be better than others (obstacles, ambience, etc.) so what are some good choices there?

There's alot of information online, but getting expierences by people who have been there beats any website or guidebook

Chris

Malcolm R · 10-15-2003, 11:19 AM

This is my thread from last year asking a similar question. Lots of good stuff in there. My personal experiences:

Barefoot Landing

Broadway at the Beach

Carolina Opry

Dixie Stampede

Brookgreen Gardens

Ripley's Aquarium

Tons of mini-golf places, though we never seemed to find time to stop and play. There's also a Nascar Cafe if you're a racing fan.

We did try one of the buffet places at the far northern end of the strand, it was OK. We also went to the Longhorn Steakhouse (not the chain, an independent) which was quite good. Generally, we found we had such big, late lunches that we were never hungry for supper.

This is a great time of year to be going. Traffic was minimal and there were no lines or delays for anything that I can remember.

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Scott Merryfield · 10-15-2003, 12:08 PM

To me, at least, all the mini-golf places look about the same. They all seem to be built like a mountain or volcano. Now, if you want some recommendations on real golf courses, I can help you out.

Quote:

This is a great time of year to be going. Traffic was minimal and there were no lines or delays for anything that I can remember.

The crowds really die down after Labor Day. We were down there in late September, and even the golf courses were not crowded. I played two early morning rounds solo with the courses to myself. I love 2 hour 18 hole rounds of golf.

Chris_Morris · 10-15-2003, 12:09 PM

Thanks Malcolm! The Carolina Opry sounded promising, what didn't you like about it? We decided that since we only had a few days, and my son has never seen the ocean, that we would limit ourselves to one big "show" type event, had we have picked two though, the Carolina Opry was going to be the other.

What is Brookgreen Gardens?

Quote:

Traffic was minimal

Best news I've heard so far

[side story] We went to Pigeon Forge two years ago, around this same time, hoping things wouldn't be too crowded. We got stuck in traffic right outside Sevierville, and took well over 2 hours to go maybe 4 miles

It caused us to run very late, and that night the traffic was bad again, causing us to miss a show in Gatlinburg. I was ready to pack up and go home, no point in paying a lot of money to have to sit in traffic forever. That night we walked the main street, did some fun stuff (my son, 4 at the time had his first experience with 'amusement' type rides) and found out from a clerk in a mini-mart that there had been some kind of reunion during the weekend, and that the traffic was never that bad. The rest of the week was wonderful, very light traffic, and we had a great time. Needless to say I hate traffic

[/side story]

Chris

Scott Merryfield · 10-15-2003, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Thanks Malcolm! The Carolina Opry sounded promising, what didn't you like about it?

I'm not Malcolm, but I did not care for it either. However, I'm not a big fan of variety musical shows. By contrast, my wife and parents all enjoyed the show. None of us, though, cared for the variety show at the Alabama Theater.

Quote:

What is Brookgreen Gardens?

It's a botanical garden with lots of sculpted greenery and many statues. During certain times of the year, there are also lots of flowers. It's quite a large complex.

Malcolm R · 10-15-2003, 12:19 PM

From their website:

Brookgreen is the country's oldest and largest sculpture garden where some 550 works of American figurative sculpture are displayed throughout the Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington Sculpture Garden, one of the most beautiful public gardens in the Southeast. In addition, there's a Lowcountry Trail with native wildlife exhibits as well as historical and cultural exhibits that reveal the distinctive life and land of Lowcountry Carolina. Tours and excursions are offered daily, as well as seasonal programs.

Probably not something you want to do if you're only going for a couple days with children. But it was amazing.

The Carolina Opry I think was just too corn-pone, hillbilly country for me. I felt like I was watching a live version of "Hee Haw." I like country music, but more of the modern variety I guess, and the comedy bits were all inane and imbecilic. I also found the theater to be uncomfortable (hot, too crowded, tiny hard seats, etc.).