Our a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC, about this time last year, was a chance to visit some younger friends and check out a town my sister enjoyed. Upon arrival, I was surprised with the cold weather! Despite the palm trees and sunshine, it was far colder than we expected, even in November, necessitating an emergency trip to the outlets to snag a necessary pair of jeans. Note to self: always pack layers for the South Carolina coast!
Much of our itinerary was keeping in mind the early 20s age we’d be spending time with. We found a nice balance of feeling younger and reminiscing about our earlier years.
Day 1 – Broadway at the Beach
We arrived in town about 11 and prioritized finding a place for lunch. The entertainment hub for the trip was Broadway at the Beach, the massive entertainment zone packed with shops, restaurants, and attractions. We ate at the Carolina Ale House then enjoyed a relaxing walk around the lake, watching the fish, and ended the afternoon with a great view of the city from the top of the Ferris wheel.
We spent time driving around the area—visiting the Coastal Carolina college campus, reminiscing about our younger years. We marveled at how busy and retail heavy Highway 17 is, and drove up to North Myrtle Beach to see the difference in the housing and general feel of the area.
We had dinner at some place in a gated area, near the water, that served pizza and other things like Justin’s chili dog. I picked it because I thought it was a brewery but it was not.
Day 2 – Mini Golf & BBQ
We spent a quiet morning exploring the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk area after breakfast. Parking downtown was paid, but finding a spot right on the path near the water was easy in November. Not much was open that early, but we enjoyed the classic ocean view framed by the stately palm trees.
Myrtle Beach is the undisputed mini golf capital of the world, and I remember as a kid driving through and being amazed by the massive, multi-story courses. This time, we chose to play at the iconic Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Golf.
As an adult, I have to admit I found the elaborate Atlantis theme a little… well, cheesy! Sure, it’s multilayered, vast, and features huge waterfalls, but the actual putting was surprisingly easy. I think I had four hole-in-ones, which seemed to be a trend among all four of us. We chose the course recommended by the attendant, and of course, had to try for the legendary 19th hole—a highly famous, very thin green set on a tiny peninsula where a hole-in-one wins a lifetime pass! It was amazing to see the wall around the 19th hole of all the people who got the hole in one, I was surprised there were so many. So while none of us in our group got it — go for it, it certainly happens for some!
We headed over to the Carolina Roadhouse for some Barbeque. There were two orders of ribs and fries which I heard were really fantastic, a hamburger and fries, and I ordered the spinach nachos, which were different, never had that before, it was creamed spinach on corn chips with some cheese, While not bad, I wished I ordered two sides instead.
After parting ways with our friends, we made sure to visit a local brewery, stopping by Grand Strand Brewing Company for a few local pints and were disappointed we had just had lunch because their snacks smelled good.
After a short nap, we headed back out, and Justin got his golf fix at Tiger Woods’ PopStroke, also located at Broadway at the Beach. This course is a totally different take on mini golf—it’s designed for serious putting practice! We tackled both the Black and Blue courses; there are no cheesy cut-out obstacles, but the challenging hills, undulations, and angles definitely make it challenging. A major bonus: you can take your drinks on the course. Like any golf, we unfortunately got stuck behind a slow party, but we easily skipped ahead to the next course!). Not realizing when we arrived we could play both courses as much as you want (all day passes — you could stay there and play all day), we were there longer than expected, so we just ordered take away when we were done.
Had we realized what PopStroke was and where it was, it would have been better to pair it to the day before when we were down in that area.
Day 3 – Departure morning
We met up with young friend for a quick breakfast at Waffle House then said goodbye. We continued our trip down to Charleston, followed by Savannah. You can read about our bike tour in Savannah here.
Final Thoughts:
As a classic vacation resort filled with every store and activity imaginable (land and water!), Myrtle Beach is undeniably a great spot for family fun. Our trip delivered the perfect blend of relaxation and nostalgia while we caught up with friends. What was most surprising to me was the traffic. I was absolutely shocked by how busy the main roads were in November. If that’s the off-season, I truly can’t imagine the summer congestion. Glad we saw it, but you definitely won’t find me planning a summer vacation here, I like it a bit more quiet.