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The Beach Trip That Let Us Breathe
Firstly, the South Carolina beach at North Myrtle Beach is one of the most beautiful in America. Fine sand, warm water, and it goes for miles. It’s easily my favorite beach destination on the East Coast.
We’ve come here many times over the years, and every trip just reinforces why we keep coming back. The kids absolutely love it—not just the beach itself, but everything around it. Nearby Myrtle Beach is packed with family fun: mini golf, go-karts, shopping, arcades, and enough activities to keep everyone entertained well beyond the shoreline.
North Myrtle has also become one of our favorite spots to reconnect with extended family and friends. It’s easy to find large houses close to the beach where everyone can spread out, cook meals together, and enjoy slow mornings and big group dinners. This place has delivered time and time again, and it’s officially earned its spot as our go-to beach destination.
Getting There: Worth the Drive (or a Quick Flight)
We usually drive down from the Northeast, and to be honest, it’s not our favorite road trip. It’s long, the I-95 corridor can be a grind, and let’s just say the backseat negotiations get intense. But every time we pull into North Myrtle, we remember exactly why we do it—the destination makes it more than worth it.
That said, if you’re not up for the drive (or just want to fly and save some hours), Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) is a great option. It’s just a 30–35 minute drive from most North Myrtle rentals and super manageable with kids. There are usually good rental car deals through Expedia, and having your own wheels makes beach life way easier.
Get your Rental Car – Expedia.com
You can also fly into Wilmington International Airport (ILM) in North Carolina. It’s about 1 hour and 15 minutes away and can sometimes offer better fares or schedules, especially during summer. Either way, you’ll want a car for beach runs, takeout pickups, and spontaneous mini-golf challenges.
Where We Stayed
We booked a near-beachside Airbnb in the Cherry Grove neighborhood, just one street off the ocean. It faced the marsh, which gave us peaceful views and wildlife sightings—and the extra 30-yard walk to the beach saved us a nice chunk of change compared to direct beachfront. Totally worth it.
The house had four bedrooms, a private pool, grill, and a full kitchen—all huge wins when traveling with kids. After long beach days, we’d rinse off in the outdoor shower, take a dip in the pool, and fire up the grill for easy dinners while the kids splashed or played marsh-front hide and seek. There was even a washer/dryer, which felt like a luxury by midweek.
For families, we can’t recommend this setup enough. North Myrtle has tons of similar rentals, especially in Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, and Windy Hill. If you’re looking for hotels or condos instead, Booking.com has solid family-friendly options with beach access too.
Looking for Something Similar? Try These Coastal Favorites
If you love the laid-back, family-first feel of North Myrtle Beach but want to mix it up next time, there are a few other East Coast gems a little further north worth checking out. Topsail Island, North Carolina offers a quieter, more residential beach experience—think long stretches of sand, charming beach houses, and a pace that practically demands flip-flops. It’s a bit too far from the tourist options of Myrtle Beach, but beautiful.
Further south, Oak Island delivers that same slow-coastal magic with family-friendly beaches, gentle waves, and plenty of room to spread out. Both spots are perfect for beach bums who prefer board games and sandcastles over boardwalk crowds. They’re ideal if you’re looking to unplug and reconnect—with your family and the ocean.
Day 1: Arrival + Beach Picnic Dinner
We pulled into North Myrtle just before our 3:00 PM check-in, unloaded our bags, and immediately felt the shift—beach mode activated. After a long drive, none of us wanted to get back in the car or start cooking. So we went with our favorite arrival-day tradition: an easy, delicious picnic on the beach.
We ordered a few pies from Sweet Sauce Pizza through DoorDash—reliable, quick, and always a hit with the kids. While we waited, we grabbed our beach blanket, a cooler of drinks (including a couple well-earned adult beverages), and walked the short block to the sand.
Dinner was simple and perfect: pizza slices in hand, toes in the sand, and a warm ocean breeze in the air. The kids ran circles around us while we watched the waves roll in and clinked our plastic cups to vacation finally beginning. No schedule, no traffic, no restaurant wait—just sunset, sea air, and the first deep breaths of the week.
Day 2: Sandcastles, Shells & a Sunset Stroll for Ice Cream
We woke up to sunshine and that salty breeze rolling off the Atlantic—perfect conditions for a full beach morning. After breakfast at the rental, we packed the cooler with sandwiches, fruit, chips, and plenty of drinks, then hauled the beach gear down for our first big day in the sand. (If you don’t have a Sand Wagon – Get one! It makes the hauling so much easier.)
The kids spent hours boogie boarding (we brought a couple from home, and the house had a few backups), and we all joined in on shell hunts and sandcastle building. The beach was buzzing but not crowded—plenty of room for everyone to play. As the day went on, the kids made fast friends and got pulled into a spontaneous beach soccer game and a round of water catch, complete with splash battles and lots of laughs.
By early afternoon, the sun and salt started to catch up with us, so we headed back to the house to rinse off and recharge. Some of us napped, others jumped in the private pool, and before long it was time to head back out.
Dinner that night was a fun, low-key meal at Boardwalk Billy’s, where the kids had room to roam and the seafood basket hit the spot. My husband had the Ribs that he proclaimed. ‘Amazing’ and the kid’s stuck with the burgers – surprise, surprise. But the real treat came after: Whit’s Frozen Custard of North Myrtle Beach. There’s just something about frozen custard—creamier, smoother, somehow more magical. It’s our go-to dessert here, and the kids (okay, the adults too) were in frozen heaven.
Portable Beach Gear Must Haves!
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Day 3: Morning Waves + Mini Golf & Barefoot Landing Fun
After yesterday’s full beach session, we decided to ease into Day 3 with a slower start—coffee on the porch, cereal and bagels at the kitchen counter, and another short walk to the ocean.
We spent the morning back at the beach, playing in the waves, digging trenches, and giving the boogie boards another workout. By midday, the sun was climbing high and we were ready for some air conditioning—and a little adventure beyond the sand.
After heading back to the house to clean up and grab a quick lunch, we made our way to Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf. It’s classic Myrtle Beach mini golf at its best, complete with a mining train that takes you to the first hole, waterfalls, and enough silly challenges to keep everyone entertained (and only mildly competitive).
Next, we headed to Barefoot Landing, a fun, open-air complex with shops, snack spots, and enough space for the kids to roam a bit. We browsed toy stores, picked up some souvenirs, and grabbed cold drinks while watching turtles and fish in the water below the bridges.
Dinner was also at Barefoot Landing—LuLu’s was our pick, thanks to the lively atmosphere, waterfront seating, and built-in kids’ play area that gave us a few glorious moments to enjoy our food and drinks in peace.
We headed home full, happy, and just tired enough to call it an early night. Tomorrow: waterpark day!
Day 4: Splash, Slides & a Starry Beach Night
By Day 4, we were ready for something different—but still all about the water. After breakfast, we packed up and headed to Shark Wake Park, tucked inside the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex. It’s the kind of place that feels like a hidden gem until your kids are racing across the floating obstacle course, laughing and yelling like it’s the Olympics.
The Aqua Park—a giant inflatable course on the lake—was a huge hit. Our older kids scaled every tower and slide they could find, while the younger ones bounced, splashed, and spun through the course. With life jackets required and helpful staff on hand, we felt good letting them roam free while we caught a breather.
Lunch was quick and easy from the park’s café—burgers, fries, and cold drinks—then the kids were right back out for round two. Somehow, they had energy to spare, and we had a shady seat and a peaceful view of the lake. Everyone wins.
We headed back to the rental in the late afternoon for showers and some well-earned downtime. For dinner, we pulled out our pre-made lasagna—something we’d stashed in the cooler before the trip and popped into the oven. It was hot, hearty, and required zero thinking. Pro tip: pre-make a couple meals before vacation. You’ll thank yourself when you’re not scrambling to cook or clean after a full day of play.
After dinner, we grabbed flashlights and sweatshirts and made our way down to the beach one last time that day. We watched the fishermen casting lines from the beach, chased a few ghost crabs scuttling across the sand, and laid back to stargaze while the waves hummed in the background. No screen, no schedule—just one of those nights that makes the whole trip feel unforgettable.
Day 5: Nature Trails, Local Bites & Game Night In
After a couple of high-energy days, we were all craving a slower morning—and Heritage Shores Nature Preserve was the perfect fit. Just a short drive away, this quiet gem offers shaded boardwalk trails winding through salt marsh and tidal creeks. It’s flat, stroller-friendly, and full of wildlife if you take the time to look. The kids loved spotting fish, fiddler crabs, and herons, while we soaked up the peaceful pace.
We spent about an hour wandering and exploring before grabbing lunch at Nacho Hippo—big tacos, bold flavors, and plenty of casual seating for our sandy crew. It’s fun, fast, and colorful, which pretty much nails the vacation lunch trifecta.
Back at the house, we took the afternoon slow. Some of us hit the private pool, others napped or read, and it felt like a mid-week reward to do nothing but relax.
For dinner, we leaned into our pre-made meal strategy again—this time with baked ziti and some grilled chicken on the patio. Minimal effort, zero cleanup stress, and everyone left the table happy and full. Seriously, prepping meals like this ahead of time was one of our best vacation moves.
Instead of going out for dessert or another activity, we declared it family game night. We pulled out Scattergories and a few other favorites, and it was honestly one of the best nights of the trip. Everyone got silly, competitive, and surprisingly creative—turns out “jellyfish” is a valid answer for more categories than you’d think.
Day 6: Sleep In, Sand & a Knight to Remember
By Day 6, we were in full beach rhythm—but this time, we gave ourselves a slow start. Everyone slept in a bit, and we lingered over breakfast at the house, sipping coffee on the porch and chatting about the week’s highlights.
We didn’t hit the beach until around noon, but honestly, that late start was just what we needed. The afternoon stretch is one of our favorite times anyway—less crowded, warm water, and a perfect breeze. The kids boogie boarded and dug a network of sand tunnels, and we all just soaked up the last full beach day vibes.
Evening is my absolute favorite time on the beach, so we stayed out as long as we could—watching the sky shift from blue to gold, digging our toes into the cooling sand, and letting time drift a little.
Back at the house, we showered, changed, and got ready for something completely different: Medieval Times. Yes, that Medieval Times—with jousting, cheering, and eating with your hands. Our show started at 7:00 PM, and it was just the right pace for an entertaining, no-pressure night out.
We laughed, shouted for our knight, and really let ourselves enjoy the moment. Gourmet? Not exactly. Fun? Absolutely. By the end of the night, we were all a little hoarse from cheering. Remember it’s all what you make of it and we just had fun with it and were definitely a little surprised by how much we loved it.
Tip: When traveling on Highway 17 in the evening, leave yourself plenty of travel time. It can have bad traffic around that time.
Day 7: Packing Up & Planning the Next Trip
Checkout day always sneaks up on us, no matter how long we stay. Ours was 10:00 AM, so the morning was a blur of bag repacking, fridge clean-out, and the usual “why are there still so many wet towels?” scramble.
We kept breakfast simple—coffee, fruit, and the last of the muffins—and gave the kids one final chance to soak in the view from the porch. Even the youngest seemed a little quiet, staring out at the marsh and already asking when we’d come back.
After loading up the car and double-checking every drawer and closet (because someone always leaves a charger behind), we pulled out of the driveway a little sandy, a little sleepy, and completely content.
That’s the magic of North Myrtle Beach—every trip feels a little different, but it always delivers. Whether it’s the familiar rhythm of beach days or trying something new like cheering at Medieval Times, this place somehow hits the perfect balance of relaxation and fun.
As we drove north, already plotting next summer’s return, we knew one thing for sure: we’ll be back—and probably with more frozen custard and even better beach games.
Adventures We Missed (But Are Totally on Our List)
Even with seven full days, there’s always more to see, do, and eat. We like to leave a little room for next time—and North Myrtle Beach definitely gave us a reason to come back. Here are a few things we didn’t get to this trip but are on our radar for next time:
Alligator Adventure – Just next to Barefoot Landing, this spot has alligators (obviously), plus reptiles, lemurs, and other wildlife. Fun and educational with shady walkways and shows that keep kids engaged.
Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park – For families with older kids or teens, this treetop ropes course and zipline park looked epic. It’s inside the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex—just a short drive from the beach.
The Carolina Opry – A Myrtle Beach classic. Think Broadway-style music, dancing, and family-friendly fun. Great for an evening out if you’re looking to change things up from mini golf and arcades.
Pirates Voyage Dinner Show – If you loved Medieval Times (or just want dinner with a side of pirate battles), this Dolly Parton-produced dinner show is over-the-top in the best way.
Murrells Inlet MarshWalk – A bit of a drive south, but this scenic boardwalk is packed with fresh seafood spots, live music, and great views—especially at sunset.
Fishing Charter or Dolphin Cruise – Several local companies offer kid-friendly boating adventures if you want to get out on the water in a whole new way.
So yeah… North Myrtle isn’t done with us yet.
