This post about 3 days in Myrtle Beach is in collaboration with Discover SC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Earlier this year, Southwest Airlines announced a new non-stop flight from Nashville to Myrtle Beach. The flight is only an hour, nonstop and affordable! You can hop on a flight and be at the sunny beach in a little over an hour.
My husband and I wanted to have a getaway before Christmas and knew Myrtle Beach was just the place. It’s their off season so it’s not too busy and the weather was so nice. So we hopped on a plane one Saturday evening and headed to South Carolina. Today I’m going to share all we did on our trip and right in time for Christmas!
3 Days in Myrtle Beach: What to Do, Where to Eat and Everything to See
Where to Stay
We stayed at the lovely Marriott Resort Myrtle Beach Grande Dunes. We had a lovely king sized bed with a view of the beach! They had several onsite restaurants, some swimming pools (for warmer months) and access to the beach. We would put on jeans and a hoodie and walk the beach each morning with our coffee to wake up and enjoy the sand between our toes. It was also in a great central location, we could get anywhere we needed to easily.
Places to Eat
Hook & Barrel – On our first night we were starving so luckily Hook & Barrel was right down the road from our hotel. Hook & Barrel is a sustainable seafood restaurant in Myrtle Beach with the most delicious food. We started with fish bites and the delicious bourbon bacon as appetizers and then finished with the Braised Short Ribs and Pan-Seared Scallops. The dishes were so mouth watering!
Wicked Tuna – Wicked Tuna had amazing sushi and seafood with gorgeous views of Murrell’s Inlet. We sat by the water, enjoyed the water front view and enjoyed Shrimp Bo Boy’s and other yummy seafood.
Rustic Table – Rustic Table is a great dinner spot with fantastic comfort food. Tim caught up on football while we ate fried chicken with lima beans and mashed potatoes and a smash burger and french fries.
Johnny D’s Waffles & Bakery – Looking for a good breakfast? It is the most important meal of the day. Start at Johnny D’s Waffles & Bakery. It’s family owned and has the most delicious pancakes, waffles and baked goods!
The Crazy Mason – The Crazy Mason is a spot where you stay for a while and have some fun. The location at Market Common has an arcade, bowling, and billiards. It’s family friendly and so much fun. Of course while you’re there you must try one of their ridiculous milkshakes. Their signature shake is “The Don’t Worry Be Happy”; Fruit Punch (Superman) Ice Cream in a signature Mason jar with a rim coated in vanilla buttercream icing rolled in crushed graham cracker. Topped with a white chocolate candy starfish, a wave of cotton candy and a custom surfboard sugar cookie, then finished with whipped cream and blue sugar.
Flamingo Grill – Close to the Carolina Opry, is the Flamingo Grill. Flamingo Grill has a fun Art Deco atmosphere and great steaks and seafood, it’s owned by a long-time Myrtle Beach restaurant family. Come for dinner and try the lobster bites! This is the perfect spot to dress up and go for a date night in a sophisticated atmosphere.
Things to Do
Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park – Atalaya Castle is one of South Carolina’s most recognizable landmarks.The picturesque, Moorish-style winter home belonged to Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, a philanthropist and sculptor. Our tour guide, Mike, was so knowledgeable and answered all our questions and have us so much history about Atalaya. The weather was amazing so it was the perfect day to explore the grounds and take a walk on the adjoining beach. Make sure you bring your camera and snap some photos of the grounds, palm trees and beautiful architecture.
Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens – One of the favorite things we did on our trip was see the Night of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens. Brookgreen Gardens was a part of Archer and Anna Huntington’s property and adjacent to Atalaya Castle. From 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. you can walk the garden pathways with wine or hot cider while 2,800 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights bring the property to life. It was magical walking around the festive property and listening to live music.
Ride on the SkyWheel – There’s a lot to do when you’re walking around the Boardwalk, one thing you have to do is ride the SkyWheel. Go up and enjoy 360 degree view of Myrtle Beach and the Boardwalk.
Mini Golf at Captain Hook’s – Nothing like a little friendly competition between spouses! My husband and I are pretty competitive so a round of mini golf might as well be the Olympic Games. We played a fun round of Mini Golf with Captain Hook, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell and as much as I hate to admit it. My husband won… Still, fun was had!
Go Kart Racing at Broadway Grand Prix – Like I said above. Us Hollar’s are a competitive bunch. Give us unlimited Mini Golf & Go Karts at Broadway Grand Prix and we’re unbearable. Go Karts turned into the Indy 500 and I won this round!
Ice Skating at Winter Wonderland on the Beach – Right off the Boardwalk, there’s a little Winter Wonderland on the Beach. You can ice skate, stroll among all the holiday lights and have a merry good time!
Go See a Show at the Carolina Opry – Who doesn’t love live music and a Christmas show? I got a combination of both at the Carolina Opry. If you’re in town for the holiday season, stop by the Carolina Opry for their Christmas Show of the South. There is classic holiday music, dancers, cloggers and even Santa himself shows up!
Horseback Riding on the Beach – One thing I was excited about going on this trip was horseback riding on the beach. It has been years since I’ve been on a horse and this was a great way to enjoy the beach! My horse was named Kid and he was a kicker. Other than a few horses getting in his personal space, Kid was an angel and we had a great ride together. Make sure you bring a coat or shacket for the beach wind and some boots. This is at the top of my list to recommend to anyone visiting Myrtle Beach!
Shopping at The Market Common – Before we headed to the airport, we stopped by The Market Common to do a little holiday shopping. We stopped at Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, a few unique boutiques and had a bite to eat. You can also visit the movie theatre, bowling alley or escape room for some extra fun!
Have you ever been to Myrtle Beach? For more South Carolina travel, check out Discover SC!
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