One might expect South Carolina to be a perfect getaway from winter weary places like… Texas? Is it really? We decided to spend February in North Myrtle Beach to see how good a winter escape it is.
Myrtle Beach, a popular US vacation spot, is choked with huge hotels, discount shops, water parks, race tracks, amusement parks, shopping, and nightlife. North Myrtle Beach, on the other hand, is quieter and known for its golf courses and more upscale atmosphere. In winter both are quiet and have only a fraction of their summertime visitors.
I hear you, “That’s because it’s cold, dummy.” Well, cold is a relative term. Highs in February were mainly in the 50’s with a fair amount of wind. So, sunbathing days were few, but so were cold blustery days. Definitely out are swimming and taking long barefoot walks in the surf, although we did see people doing both on the warmer days. The water is cold, like 50’s cold. Better take your wet suit if you’re hoping to splash around in the ocean.
Winter in NMB is all about taking daily walks on the beach, which are extremely wide and mostly hardpacked sand. The low slope of the beaches and Atlantic tides means a significant percentage of the beach is smoothed over twice a day by the surf, leaving only a small section of untouched soft sand. As a result, you can take a leisurely stroll down the beach any time outside of peak high tide and not feel like you are doing a “beach body cardio” routine. Plus, in the winter, there are no crowds or beach furniture to manage. Though one morning, we did have to avoid some goofs playing softball on the beach of all things.
The other great benefit of NMB in winter are awesome deals for snowbirds. The huge vacation rental market and minimal visitors means big discounts for monthly stays. In other words, you can stay in an awesome condo for half of what it normally rents!
This made all the difference for us. Our beach side condo had a floor to ceiling wall of window looking out to the ocean and up to the North Carolina coast. It was the perfect place to relax. We stayed at the Seaside Resort, which has a mix of independently-owned condos and short-term hotel rooms. From the beach, it looks like cruise ship with huge wall-of-glass corner units and large port hole windows. Our 3-bedroom condo was one of those corner units. We secured it via Elliot Vacation Rentals and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
There is a good variety of activities and restaurants in the area. However, with COVID peaking in SC, we rarely ventured out for more than our daily long walks on the beach. We did visit a few local sites that are worth mentioning:
Vereen Memorial Gardens: Pleasant, easy hikes in marsh and woodland areas. Avoid high tide as can make some trails impassable.
Conway, SC: A delightful park and river walk along the Waccamaw River.
The Market Common: Lifestyle mall, residential community, and recreational areas developed on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. Home to Savannah’s Playground, an amazing playground accessible to children of all abilities and a fabulous destination for families with kiddos. We took a nice stroll on the fitness trail around the small lake and then ventured over to the shops to have a local brew at the The Brass Tap.
True BBQ: Located on Socastee Blvd, which is on the south side of Myrtle Beach, it was a bit of a drive. A small, ramshackle barbeque hut open for limited hours Thursday – Saturday, the meat, sides and sauces were all worth the effort.
Georgetown is a charming small town located about 45 minutes south of Myrtle on Winyah Bay at the confluence of 4 rivers. The 3rd oldest city in South Carolina and its 2nd largest seaport, Georgetown has a long history in the indigo, rice, and timber industries. Its history can be seen in a stroll through the Historic District: harbor walk, Live Oak canopied streets, historic homes, quaint shops and restaurants. We had an excellent lunch at the SoCo Grille with owner/chef and Karen’s childhood friend from Cincinnati, Greg Metcalfe. In fact, Greg was opening his new SoCo Chophouse, a higher-end place nestled in a cozy old building, that night. For a trip back in time and some good southern food, we highly recommend a visit to Georgetown and a stop in to see Greg for yourselves. The desserts alone are worth the trip.
Beer – we were stifled by the pandemic and weather here, so no stellar places to recommend. Maybe next time!
Bagels! The first sign we are getting closer to New York was that we found good bagels. Wow, it had been a long time! Thick and chewy – yum. I recommend both Krave Bagel and The Bagel Factory as excellent options, though their coffee options are lacking.
Speaking of coffee, yikes the pick’ens are slim. NMB does not have a coffee culture, at all… none! The only place in town with good coffee is Beach Dreams Market – an eclectic place that has a good selection of coffees. Heading north on Hwy 17 just across the border into North Carolina is Grand Stand Coffee Bar aka Eric’s Place. Good brew, tasty treats, and you might even get to meet Eric himself.
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