OT: Myrtle Beach/Charleston, SC

[Melman]

After all the great help with my NE question, it's my turn to try to provide a little help. I live in upstate SC and have been to Myrtle Beach and Charleston quite often.

I'm modifying my original post a little bit. I couldn't see when you'd be there until I posted it. October. The rest of my message from here down was posted when I was thinking you might be here in tourist season. I won't retype this whole thing. Let's just sum it up with Myrtle Beach is much more a tourist trap that the other beaches nearby. You're not going to run into as many tourists in October...in fact lots of people like going down there during October because the crowds are gone.

If you or your hubby golf, Myrtle Beach is supposed to be wonderful. Can't vouch for that myself.

South of Myrtle are several more laid-back beaches...Surfside, Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, Pawley's Island, etc. Most of these places don't have huge hotels (unlike Myrtle!!) They're primarily weekly rentals of condos and houses. My family has had an annual week at Litchfield Beach for as many years as I can remember. At Litchfield, two places come to mind since you're only looking at a night or two. Litchfield Inn is older...rooms are ok...but it's right on the beach. Litchfield Golf and Beach Resort (I think that's the name) is a large gated "community" that has mainly weekly lodging...but also has some nightly condos available. I've stayed in the condos a couple of times. Not bad at all...especially since they don't charge an arm and a leg.

There are some great restaurants between Myrtle and Pawley's Island (at least a gazillion if you go INTO Myrtle). Murrell's Inlet is THE PLACE TO GO for seafood! My favorite restaurant there is actually NOT seafood specific...it's called Bovine's. They advertise as "wood fired specialties"...their pizza is AWESOME. Everything I've had there is wonderful. If you're really wanting great-tasting seafood, my family likes Shabby's at Pawley's Island.

I've been to Charleston quite a few times, but not nearly as many times as I've been to Myrtle. I know there are some wonderful islands to the north and south of the city that lots and lots of people just LOVE. I think south is more "rustic"..and north is more hoity-toity (ok..maybe more really expensive houses per square foot ;-)). I've never stayed at either place, only driven through for a visit.

In Charleston, there are some AWESOME restaurants!! I know there are people on the bb that live(d) there. I'll leave the specifics to them. WONDERFUL seafood!!

Charleston has fantastic shopping too! That's probably my favorite part of a trip (well...other than the food!!) Lots of beautiful sights if you're into picture-taking.

Charleston and Myrtle Beach are very different types of beaches. I just tried to think of any comparisons on anything (food, shopping, scenery, types of tourists)...they're just very different.

By the way, you'll miss the majority of the REAL Myrtle Beach from the airport. I've never flown in/out of there...but I think the exit of the airport is on 17 Bypass. The beach and all its sights are on 17 Business. If you're there, at least drive in and see it. Plus...as you drive down 17 Bypass, you'll see the signs for Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, Pawley's Island, etc.

Good luck! Have FUN!!

[This message has been edited by Melman (edited 06-24-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Melman (edited 06-24-2001).]

[GayeC]

I live in SC also. Everything that Melman said is good advice. If I were in your situation I would probably stay in Charleston the entire time, since you only have 4 nights (unless, as she said, you are big golfers). Charleston is so wonderful that you could just enjoy the whole time there and never run out of things to do. If you had a full week after the wedding I would consider going to Litchfield/Pawleys Island and staying in a condo or rental house. Also, that would be a great place to come back to and bring the kids sometime.

There is an article in the paper today that says that Charleston has some of the best restaurants IN THE COUNTRY (hard to believe -- in SC we are not used to being the best at anything!). Some of the really wonderful ones are 82 Queen, Magnolia's, Charleston Grill (in the Charleston Place Hotel), Louis's, Cypress, High Cotton, Hank's,and Circa 1886. These are all very pricey restaurants (just for the record, I have not eaten at all of them!). I will ask my sister, who lives in Charleston, for some recommendations for more casual and slightly lower cost restaurants too. One that comes to mind is Shem Creek, which is outside of Charleston, which is your basic old family-style seafood restaurant.

Hope you have a great time. Charleston is a terrific place to go alone with your husband. And if you decide to go to the Litchfield/Pawleys area, you cannot go wrong. I used to live at a place called Salt Marsh Cove in my pre-married days (it is not far from the Litchfield Inn, which Melman mentioned) and thought that the beach at Litchfield was the most wonderful walking beach I had ever encountered, expecially walking south where you will come to the channel between Litchfield and Pawleys, a place that often has good shells.

Have a great time. Gaye

[This message has been edited by GayeC (edited 06-24-2001).]

[Laura B]

I am from SC and I also recommend staying in Charleston the entire time. I don't care for Myrtle Beach very much and agree that you will find enough to do in Charleston to satisfy you for four days!

[schuh]

I have been envying all of you on this BB planning great trips. Well, now it's me and I'm so excited! It's my husband's and my 10th anniversary and our first trip without kids in six years! We are going to a family wedding in Charleston in October. We're flying in and out of Myrtle Beach due to much cheaper airfares. That's where I need your advice:
I know we'll be spending two nights in Charleston for the wedding. I'm wondering what do do for the other two nights -- stay in Charleston or Myrtle Beach? Also, any suggestions on where to go/stay/eat in either of those areas?
Thanks in advance!

[Beth H]

I also live in SC and would recommend spending the whole time in Charleston. Myrtle Beach does have some great golfing, but I find it crowded and touristy (I haven't been to Murrell's or Pawley's, though, which are not as crowded). Charleston does have great, great restaurants -- in fact, I just ate at Hank's on Saturday night, and it was wondeful. Good atmosphere, fantastic seafood. The best beach in Charleston (I think) is at Kiawah Island. Even though it's a private community, they do have public beach access. Beatiful beach, not crowded at all.

[carolyn.1]

Schub, I live right outside of Charleston and have lived here all my life. I worked in downtown Charleston for 2 years. I also suggest you stay in Chas. for your full visit. Myrtle Beach is slammed right now with out of school kids, it will be so crowded you will have to wait for food service and everything else you want to do. Charleston has the best beaches, rivers, restaurants, it has historical history every where you look. There are several hotels/motels that you can stay that are in the heart of the city. The old "slave market" is wonderful, it is on Market Street--full of Charleston vendors selling their wares.
The visitors center is on Meeting Street, it will give you pertient info that you can use.
If you are interested I can find out more info for you, just let me know. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif
Carolyn--

[carolyn.1]

Beth H, your not stepping on my toes, so don't worry. You are corrrect, the actual slave market was burned down many years ago by a homeless person starting a fire one winter to keep warm.I remember it well. The market on Market Street just started to evolve into the old slave market I guess for historic reasons, and they didn't want to let go of the "legend". It is commonly called the old slave market, but I too know it is not the original. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. I also had forgotten.
Carolyn--

[carolyn.1]

Schuh, I'm sorry I just now realized you said in October---how in the world I missed that I don't know. I must think I'm a speed reader...LOL

I still say take your whole vacation in Charleston
Carolyn--

[Beth Y]

I second the others that say stay in Charleston. I am not a big Myrtle Beach fan, WAY too much neon. Even in the off season, it would still be way over built for my taste. As previous posters have said, there are quieter beaches farther south. However, if you want to see places like House of Blues and do some outlet shopping, it is a good place for it.

Also, if you do go to Myrtle, I highly recommend Brookgreen Gardens south of Murrells Inlet, I think. It has a great garden and sculpture garden. They also have guided kayaking in the old rice plantation canals. It is easy paddling (flat, flat, flat) and you get to see some great birds and other sites.

Have fun!

[laughsandlaughs]

Here's another vote for Charleston all the way. Myrtle Beach can be rather tacky, while Charleston has beaches, fabulous restaurants, shopping and lots of fun sightseeing. It's my favorite city in the whole country! I'm jealous!!! It's just a little far to get to from San Diego, where I live now, but that's my only complaint!! Since you're going in October you'll miss the hot, hot, hot weather, and that's a blessing too.

My absolute favorite restaurants are Magnolia's (you might recognize the name as Tyler Florence of FoodTV fame used to work there). It's right downtown and very popular. A less well-known but also fabulous restaurant at the beach (Sullivan's Island, a 10-15 minute drive from downtown) is Atlanticville. Here's a link to their menu, which is similar to Magnolia's. http://www.atlanticville.net/dinner.htm Both are very good. While you don't have to have reservations weeks in advance, some reservations are recommended if possible.

If you want hotel recommendations let me know. Have fun!!!

[schuh]

Thanks, all for your suggestions. We'll definitely spend a majority of our time in Charleston (although I'm intrigued by the kayaking in Myrtle Beach). We'll be staying in the hotel set by the wedding party, so that's all set. I am really excited now!

[Beth H]

Carolyn1, I hope you won't mind if I step on your toes a bit with a little correction to your information. The market (which is a fun place to visit) actually never was a slave market -- it was solely used to sell vegetables, fruits, and other agricultural "stuff." There was a slave market in Charleston but it is elsewhere in the city (and is very small). I know it is commonly told here in SC that the market was a slave market, but this is just a legend. Sorry -- I don't mean to sound like a know-it-all, but I used to work in museums here in SC, and the market story is a little pet peeve of mine.

[funnybone]

We've been to Myrtle Beach a couple of times and have enjoyed it. Since you will be there in Oct, I know it will not be as busy as the summer. However, the only problem with that time of the year is that it is Hurricane Season. The same would hold true for Charleston though.

Since you are already flying in and out of Myrtle Beach, you might as well spend the day there at least. Depending on the time of your flight, you could spend the day you leave, there.

We have stayed at condo type hotels with efficiencies because of the kids. We've stayed at "Captain's Quarters" and "Tradewinds" (I believe that's the name) along the beach strip. Both were nice and they have both indoor and outdoor pools.

[kabs]

schuh- here's the link to an old post on Charleston restaurants...
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/007037.html

[Marg]

I love Myrtle Beach in 'off season' - i.e. NO KIDS - great dining and only golfers! Have stayed many times at the Beach Colony which is a fantastic property. Great restaurants! It will only be crowded with golfers in October - amazing golf as you know - but you will have the pool/beaches to yourself during the day as 'they' are there to golf - just my opinion.