................................................. MYRTLE BEACH: Sand, sun, surf and the annual Carolina Country Music Festival—these are a few of Darius Rucker’s favorite things about this legendary South Carolina beach town. Relive the glory of the city’s early days with a stay at the Waikiki Village: A Retro Motel . For upscale resort-style accommodations, reserve an oceanfront room at the Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes . Campers will love the easy beach access at Myrtle Beach State Park . For fresh, flavorful seafood dishes, let 2018 SC Chef Ambassador, Heidi Vukov, reel you in at Hook & Barrel , or join the party at Margaritaville , a Jimmy Buffett-themed eatery at Broadway at the Beach . No matter the time of year, fun is in season at Myrtle Beach. Stroll the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade , brimming with arcades and gift shops like the Gay Dolphin— said to be the largest gift shop in the nation. Look out over the Atlantic Ocean from the 187-foot tall SkyWheel Myrtle Beach observation wheel. Take the kids to Family Kingdom Amusement Park , an old-fashioned park with a wooden coaster and oceanfront water park across the street. You’ll find prime shopping, dining and entertainment at The Market Common . Or simply soak up the sun to the sound of the waves for the ultimate beach day. Drive to Murrells Inlet to shop fresh seafood markets, go crabbing or secure a spot on a deep-sea fishing excur-sion. Walk the halls of Atalaya, a Moorish Revival castle, and observe alligators at Huntington Beach State Park . Pencil in a few hours at Brookgreen Gardens , the widely acclaimed sculpture garden and wildlife preserve. End your day at the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk , where the restaurants serve up the world’s freshest seafood, the music is live and the boat-watching, sublime. In fact, boating South Carolina’s waterways is one of Rucker’s ideas of a perfect day, so don’t be surprised if you see a familiar face cruising those marsh waters. 6
South Carolina Vacation Guide 2021 SC Vacation Guide: Page 6
