Travel Pundit: Sun ‘n’ Fun
Somebody forgot to tell Myrtle Beach about the recession. Despite a sluggish economy, the South Carolina travel destination is thriving this summer; beaches are packed with bikinis, restaurants filled with hungry appetites, and hotels booked with travelers from up and down the coast and across the country.
Take the Hampton Inn & Suites Oceanfront in South Myrtle, which is hitting full stride after celebrating a grand re-opening last year that included a major renovation and the addition of a second tower of suites. The attention to detail from the makeover shows, from the welcoming lobby area with its polished heart-pine floors to a great room and common dining area with a fireplace and overstuffed chairs and couches that offer relaxing beachfront viewing.
“Our bookings have been very strong for this summer and fall looks good, as well,” said Nancy Lee, the resort’s marketing director. “Part of that is because we expanded our marketing efforts this year to offset the poor economy, but a lot of it is repeat customers who’ve come to appreciate the value we offer.”
Even repeat customers can expect something new; the resort this year launched its latest offering with a Sanctuary Spa, a feature that makes for a great mental and physical escape – even on vacation. Spa offerings start at a reasonable $40 and go up to a full luxury package that rolls in at $235 for a couples’ massage and mineral bath that can be had with a beachfront view.
All the suites at Hampton, in fact, have oceanfront views and feel more like hip beach bungalows, but with full turndown service, rather than standard hotel fare. The two-bedroom suites come with private balconies, a kitchen and living area, a King bed and private bath in one room and a nice perk for kids in the second room – bunk beds with their own TV, along with an additional Queen bed.
The resort offers private access to a pristine swath of beach, but has plenty of fetching alternatives for anybody with an aversion to sand: three lazy rivers, indoor and outdoor pools, an awesome kids’ waterpark, and a set of oversized Jacuzzis.
An added bonus is the Hampton’s location, a few blocks from the new and wildly successful Ocean Boulevard boardwalk. The latest twist to South Myrtle has been a boom for area businesses, and is great for the causal stroll with some shopping and dining, but don’t forget the old-school Family Kingdom amusement and water parks, home to state’s largest Ferris wheel and the iconic “Swamp Fox” wooden rollercoaster that’s been thrilling fans since the mid ‘60s.
Admission to the amusement-park side of Family Kingdom is free – just stroll in off Ocean Boulevard; ride tickets can be purchased individually or with an all-day pass. Best bet: spring for an all-day pass for the kids and have parents single-shot rides of interest. Kids, of course, being interested in all rides, all the time. Family Kingdom’s waterpark has a variety of wickedly fun slides that cater to all ages, along with a huge lazy river that provides some nice downtime for parents to catch their breath and regroup.
For a change of pace from Myrtle Beach proper, it’s hard to beat a short trip to Murrells Inlet. By all means, check out Blue Wave Adventures and hop on board one of their Dolphin Watch tours. It’s a bargain that’s hard to beat and a memory that’s good for a lifetime. Seeing dolphins up close, in their natural habitat, is a far cry from the standard aquarium experience.
Blue Wave takes it to the next level by using an unobtrusive Osprey boat for their tours, a 30-foot, inflatable rigid-hull vessel that comfortably carries up to 24 passengers. The tours, which last about 90 minutes on the water, are made even more intimate by a running commentary from Blue Wave co-owner Amy Huettl, who provides a low-key but informative tutorial on the biology and history of dolphins, mixed with homespun humor and a no-pressure pitch on the importance of conservation in helping to maintain marine habitat.
“One of our missions is to present an honest representation of what dolphin watching is all about,” Huettl said. “The main thing to keep in mind is that these are wild, free-ranging animals.”
As such, there’s no guarantee of spotting dolphins on any given tour, but Blue Wave has an admirable 85-percent success rate. Even without the dolphins, it’s a neat boat ride and good nature lesson, with thrills tossed in courtesy of some nifty open-sea maneuvers courtesy of Capt. Mark Collins, a licensed US Coast Guard Merchant Marine officer, who spent seven years working with dolphins and whales in Hawaii.
After a dolphin watch, you’ll want to take a stroll down Murrells Inlet’s famous Marsh Walk; be sure to hit Creek Ratz when you do. It has an inviting waterfront patio that’s great for adults to enjoy some live entertainment, and is extremely kid-friendly to boot – there’s a whole section with chalkboard walls and beanbag chairs to keep them busy and content. The restaurant, in fact, nabs its moniker from the colloquialism used to describe kids that grew up on Murrells Inlet, where they’d fish and swim all day, usually to return home covered in mud.
Creek Ratz’s menu hits the standard seafood offerings – fresh catfish, plump crab cakes, shrimp and mahi mahi, among the many – along with turf-side favorites like pork chops, hibachi steak and BBQ spareribs. Two don’t-miss items: a decidedly unique and wonderfully delicious “Creek Ratz Reuben,” made with spicy shrimp instead of the traditional corned beef, and their deep-fried okra appetizer, served with a homemade and fiery “boom-boom” sauce.
One of the best features of any trip to Myrtle Beach remains the area’s off-season travel rates, which typically kick in right around the end of August when the temps are still balmy enough to enjoy a full compliment of beachin’ it activities; perfect for families looking for a post summer-blues vacation without having to drop a load of cash.
Before packing your bags, check-in with VisitMyrtleBeach, where you can find a host of travel ideas and options, along with galleries of coupons for additional savings on everything from lodging and restaurants to area attractions.
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