Is MB for us?

Hello!

My husband and I have just moved to Charlotte. I%26#39;m the designated vacation planner of the group and my friends have decided that a beach house for a week is our plan for summer 07. I%26#39;m trying to research different beaches in NC/SC but am running into some difficulty, of course Myrtle Beach is one of our top choices. There are 6 of us, we are in late 20%26#39;s early 30%26#39;s, no children. Is Myrtle Beach the place for us? My goal is to find a place that is nice, not overly expensive and not overrun by families. I realize that there are families everywhere, but as long as there are a few places we can go out and have a few drinks we are a-ok. Thoughs? Suggestions?

Thanks!

Is MB for us?

If you come to MB, you may want to consider staaying in North MB. Is is more of a laid back residental more type area.

Is MB for us?

Most (or all) beaches on Carolina coasts will be busy during the summer. Myrtle Beach is %26#39;overrun%26#39; by families and children. North Myrtle (closest drive from Charlotte), Surfside/Garden City (just South of Myrtle) will be busy, but nothing like Myrtle. These areas are primarily condos, beach/channel houses, and mid rise condo (not too many hi-rises, though they are starting to hit these areas now). In general, you will have to drive or taxi to pubs, etc... if you are on the beach in north or south of Myrtle, so keep that in mind also.

Well, you certainly have a lot of choices for a beach destination in the Carolinas.....

No kids eh?....Scratch MB proper....NMB possibly....even Surfside/Garden City (just south of MB) is going to have kids galore...Does anyone in your group fish?

I%26#39;ve long been a fan of Murrell%26#39;s Inlet (south of Garden City), which would keep you busy sampling all the watering holes %26amp; great restaurants. You can rent houses/cottages with water views there. Calabash NC is a similar place with great seafood restaurants but not as much of a ';happy hour'; destination.

Another idea, if you want the beach experience but little to no commercialism, is Pawley%26#39;s Island (aways south of Murrell%26#39;s)...few low-rise condos, mostly beachfront homes (not all are mansions, some quite affordable cottages). Somewhat similar to southern Outer Banks, another popular beach destination.

Then you have all the beach resorts further south, Charleston area, Hilton Head, etc. Have also heard Topsail Island area is nice.

You might try posting this thread to other forums.

Good luck deciding %26amp; have a great vacation.

I%26#39;d suggest a beach house near Buxton or Duck, NC....on the Outer Banks. I%26#39;ve stayed in 3-4 near Buxton and 1-2 near Duck. If you end up in Buxton, take the ferry over to Ocracoke and visit Howard%26#39;s Pub.

If you want a place that is not overrun by families then Myrtle Beach is not a good choice, IMHO. MB consists of about three busy highways, dozens and dozens of high-rise hotels/condos and, on every single inch of extra space, miniature golf (jungle golf, dinosaur golf, Hawaiian golf, etc., etc. etc.) go-kart tracks, amusement parks, museums, gift shops and beachwear shops. It is essentially a city with a beach along one side of it, and during the summer it will be jam-packed with kids of all ages.

I would recommend Hilton Head Island or the Outer Banks. HHI is much more sophisticated and laid back than MB and while there will be families with kids there, there will be only a fraction of the number you would find in MB and they will be much less conspicuous. There is none of the gaudy, cheesy miniature golf, go-kart atmosphere that pervades MB. HHI is about golf, fishing, tennis, sightseeing and dining. It has a natural, unspoiled quality about it compared to MB. I could picture a group like yours there much more so than I could at MB.

The Outer Banks are also much more laid back than MB, and there are a lot of beach houses to choose from in all price ranges. The lighthouses are really cool and the beach, especially in the area of the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, is natural and unspoiled, again compared to MB.

Unfortunately, it does seem these days that Myrtle Beach, all parts of it, are seriously overrun with families and kids, and there is little to attract couples and singles with any degree of sophistication. This comment is made by one who frequented the area a great deal in his youth and as a young man (who remembers shagging at the Pad at OD).

Take a look at the Sunday travel section of the Charlotte Observer and you’ll quickly see much more desirable destinations for your interests in Mexico, the Caribbean and the Bahamas comparably priced, including the airfare, to a stay in Myrtle Beach at a somewhat upscale resort for a week or two and dining at better restaurants.

Good luck to you on your research and best regards.

If you want a tourist trap and a golfing mecca Myrtle is the place. If u want a laid back place with a good not over crowded beach, pick the Wilmington, NC area. We are about a hour from Myrtle and u can still have the best of both worlds.

I guess I feel the need to ';defend'; areas of Myrtle Beach (and the surrounding communities) that arent ';gaudy'; and ';overrun with kids of all ages';.....Yes, I agree the MB proper area (esp. downtown) is your ';typical cheesy'; beach front town...complete with arcades, cheap t-shirt shops, greasy burgers, mini golf, and ice cream shops...and guess what, there are people that come back year after year, generation after generation because of that.....but if you make a drive a bit north, south or even west, you%26#39;ll find areas that are still pristine, still natural....head south to around the Litchfield Beach area (just south of Huntington Beach State Park and Brookgreen Gardens)....I really prefer this area over Hilton Head (and alot less $$)....nice condos or beachfront homes for rent in that area! And you have a number of places to shop (Pawleys Isle) and eat.

One of my fav areas located in the heart of MB (yep.....I%26#39;m surrounded by a concrete forest...well not quite!) is the area we call the Avenues. This area has a wonderful homeowners association so this is why you dont see many HUGE beach houses or LARGE condo towers...just your simple lowcountry style beach homes....really nice beach....to the south you have Sea Island Inn, Forest Dunes, or SouthWind Villas....to the north you have a number of resorts....yes, there are familes that stay in this area, but nothing like the south end or central MB. You arent far from Broadway at the Beach (guess that would be another of our ';tacky'; attractions according to some of the above posts) but it is really a popular place with just about any tourist group (family, single, spring-breaker, or golfer) that comes here. Great place to shop, eat and be entertained....you also have a number of OF places to grab a bite or have a drink and enjoy the view.

Granted there are a number of other options for your vacation....but if you are looking for a beachfront vacation in the NC/SC area that is not overly expensive, with plenty of things to do, and a wonderful beach......I think we deserve a serious look. Just my opinion.....

:)

I agree that MB has become very commercialized. It would probably be boring if it wasn%26#39;t. Have never stayed at Hilton Head, Outer Banks, Kiawha, Folly,etc.......But have heard from plenty if people who have.

Different strokes for different folks I guess. Those beaches are great if you want to play golf or read a book. Some places to eat and get a drink but not half the choices or variety you%26#39;ll have in MB. Unlimited shows, golf, restaurants, watering holes, shopping.......There%26#39;s no comparison.

Garden City, Surfside or any of the sections in NMB would work great for you. Five minutes to a number of restuarants where ever you stay. 15-20 minutes to most attactions, shows and shopping.

If in NMB I%26#39;d shoot for Cherry Grove. Fewer large buildings. Some kids and families but isn%26#39;t bad at all. I%26#39;d be bored if it was any less crowded.

Half my entertainment comes from watching others. Some hit the beach with a chair , a cooler and and a bag. Spend all day on the beach. Others show up packed for an expedition. 30 minutes to get settled. 30 minutes later they head up to the pool. 5:00 they come back to pick up their stuff.

Thanks for all the info! I%26#39;m going to make a few profiles of some of our options and present it to my friends (I%26#39;m a big dork, I research all my trips). I%26#39;ll be sure to stop by and let you know what we decided.

Again thanks for all of the help.

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