Even in the heart of winter, Myrtle Beach remains an idyllic beach destination, mainly because of the Grand Strand’s countless year-round pursuits, including golf, entertainment, dining, and natural beauty. Shrewd travelers visit Myrtle Beach during the winter months to avoid crowds, receive discounted hotel rates, and book cheaper flights. Seemingly endless sunshine and serenity await. Contrary to popular opinion, compiling a list of things to do in Myrtle Beach in the wintertime is as easy as pie, especially with so many shopping centers, golf courses, theaters, city parks, and public beaches at our disposal. Average highs typically range from 56 to 65, but Jack Frost often greets the city with paradisical 70s from late December through late March.
25 Unique Things to Do in Myrtle Beach This Winter
If you plan to visit Myrtle Beach this winter, please bookmark this article for future use. Most attractions, restaurants, courses, and shopping complexes remain open during the coolest months, including everything from the SkyWheel to Brookgreen Gardens and Ripley’s Aquarium. Families, groups, and lovebirds alike cannot resist this 60-mile-long stretch of sand. Its beauty is only outmatched by its ability to entertain. Without further ado, here are 25 unique things to do in Myrtle Beach in the wintertime.
- Play 18 holes of championship golf at a world-famous course
- Explore a nearby state park, such as Huntington Beach or Myrtle Beach
- Spend an afternoon at Ripley’s Aquarium, a jaw-dropping, year-round spectacle
- Stroll down the crowd-less Boardwalk and Promenade
- Shop ‘til you drop at Tanger Outlets on Highway 17 (or Highway 501)
- Meander through the historic, undeniably picturesque Brookgreen Gardens
- On a particularly warm afternoon, spend several hours in the sand
- Refresh and rejuvenate at Celestial Spa, Majestic Spa, or Carolina Wellness
- Work on your short game at on-site Neptune Blacklight Indoor Mini Golf
- Embark on a culinary voyage across the Seven Seas of flavor—including ice cream, Italian classics, and Southern BBQ (with a stop at Restaurant Row)
- Pretend it’s the 1980s inside the Family FunZone’s newly-remodeled arcade
- Swirl, sniff, sip, and savor fine vino at a nearby winery
- Warm-up with a cup of joe at a local cafe
- Splash inside a heated indoor pool
- Spend an evening at Medieval Times, a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience
- Tour the ever-changing (and always spellbinding) Hollywood Wax Museum
- Ride the 187-foot-tall SkyWheel
- Dine, shop, and laugh at Broadway at the Beach
- Walk down the peaceful Conway Riverwalk
- Join an Intracoastal Waterway fishing expedition
- Bike “the Neck”
- Plan a day trip to historic Charleston
- Hop aboard Myrtle Beach’s self-guided brewery trail
- Embark on an Alligator Adventure
- Soar above the Grand Strand in a helicopter
Sand Dunes Resort, the Ultimate Grand Strand Vacation
During the winter months, Myrtle Beach sees much less precipitation. Thus, when the sun is shining, “beach season” remains in full effect. And Sand Dunes Resort is the perfect place to start and finish each day of birdie putts, live shows, long walks, and great buys. On-site luxuries include the aforementioned arcade, a mini-golf course, and an indoor pool, as well as restaurants, semi-private beach acreage, free parking, and unobstructed views of the vast Atlantic Ocean on each balcony.
Please browse through our money-saving packages and specials. Booking direct is the easiest way to save money and avoid hidden third-party fees. You can also call us at 866-845-1011 to book a long-awaited escape to sunny Myrtle Beach.
South Carolina’s sprawling, sandy Grand Strand spans 60 miles from the North Carolina border to Winyah Bay, an estuary near Georgetown. Sailors, deep-sea anglers, and casual boaters coast up and down the Strand to various locales, including quaint Little River, picturesque Murrells Inlet, and, of course, the Intracoastal Waterway in bustling Myrtle Beach. Here at Sand Dunes Resort, we welcome all types of boating enthusiasts. Some folks motor into town from a nearby city, while others tow their vessel from afar and dock it at a nearby marina. Regardless, plenty of reputable Myrtle Beach marinas near the resort offer swift service, affordable rates, and a handful of amenities.
Myrtle Beach Marinas: 7 Nearby Options
While you’ll likely want to dock your boat as close to the resort as possible, there are many advantages to choosing a slip in either Little River or Murrells Inlet. Availability tends to be more attainable, they’re typically within steps of award-winning seafood eateries, and there’s less foot traffic in these small towns. That being said, the convenience of a Waccamaw River or Intracoastal Waterway slip is often too great to pass up. Without further ado, here are the seven best Myrtle Beach marinas.
Barefoot Marina – North Myrtle Beach
Location: 2051 Bridge View Cort, North Myrtle Beach, SC
Why choose Barefoot? Boaters can quickly reserve slips online. Oh, and it’s located across the Waterway from Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach’s most beloved attraction.
Osprey Marina – Myrtle Beach
Location: 8400 Osprey Road, Myrtle Beach, SC
Why choose Osprey? It’s one of only the marinas on the Waccamaw River, home to some of the finest largemouth bass fishing on the East Coast.
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club – Little River
Location: 714 Highway 17 North, Little River, SC
Why choose the Yacht Club? Besides being associated with a prestigious yacht club, sailers love the poolside Tiki Hut, live webcam, and fish cleaning station.
Cricket Cove Marina – Little River
Location: 4495 Baker Street, Little River, SC
Why choose Cricket Cove? They have 73 wet slips; there’s bound to be one with your name on it. Cricket Cove always shares the space with some of the premier fishing charters in South Carolina (Captain Smiley and Fisher of Men).
Marlin Quay – Murrells Inlet
Location: 1508 South Waccamaw Drive, Murrells Inlet, SC
Why choose Marlin Quay? Marlin Quay is so much more than “just” one of the best Myrtle Beach marinas. It’s also a fishing, boating, and sunset cruise mecca. It’s not often you find an 11-boat fishing fleet!
Lightkeepers Marina – Little River
Location: 4603 Lightkeepers Way, Little River, SC
Why choose Lightkeepers? This no-wake marina is a stone’s throw from U.S. 17, and it boasts the cheapest power rates along the Grand Strand.
Crazy Sister Marina – Murrells Inlet
Location: 4123 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC
Why choose Crazy Sister? Unlike most Myrtle Beach marinas, Crazy Sister also offers a vast array of tours, including kayaking, dolphin watching, paddleboarding, parasailing, and so much more!
Myrtle Beach Hotels with a Water Park
Start and finish each day filled with aquatic adventures at Sand Dunes Resort, home to a quintessential water park (including a lazy river), an arcade, a blacklight mini-golf course, and some of the most spellbinding unobstructed Atlantic Ocean views in the city. Of course, you’ll always be mere steps from the salty sea when you choose Sand Dunes. Other family-friendly pursuits include live entertainment, the Boardwalk and Promenade, and deep-sea fishing. To learn more about our latest money-saving specials, please visit us at SandDunesMB.com. Otherwise, a reservationist is always standing by at 866-845-1011.
Very few thrills rival an offshore excursion several miles into the azure Atlantic in search of the monstrous (and delicious) creatures of the deep. “Common” targets include hammerhead sharks, barracuda, and king mackerel, all of which provide quite the oceanic battle. What makes the Grand Strand so undeniably enticing for anglers are the ample inshore possibilities, where tens of thousands of plump redfish thrive. Luckily for prospective anglers, Sand Dunes Resort is a short drive from the best fishing charters in Myrtle Beach.
The Top 3 Fishing Charters in Myrtle Beach
Fishing, whether far at sea or in a backwater wetland, is a magnificent way to spend time with the kids. Learning a new skill, such as fishing, helps put a memorable stamp on a vacation! Thankfully, there are a handful of fishing charters in Myrtle Beach that specifically cater to families and small groups—no prior experience is needed.
Reel Action Fishing Charters
Reel Action, the pride of North Myrtle Beach, does it all: shark hunts, king mackerel runs, kid-friendly jetty casts, and backwater boat trips. Their slogan, “We can travel anywhere you’d like to go,” is especially alluring to anglers with years of experience in the area. However, Reel Action’s knowledgable, professional team is more than happy to make recommendations based on the season. Reel action simplifies things: Anglers receive four hours of fishing for $400 (or $450). Now, you cannot beat that price!
Wise Fishing Charters
The guys and gals at Wise Fishing Charters specialize in Intracoastal Waterway angling; although, they also have decades of experience deep at sea. Captains Steve and Daniel Wise know these waters like the back of their hands. Typically, the team will troll or bottom-fish for sea bass, cobia, sharks, and two types of mackerel. We also recommend Wise during the shrimp season (May through December) because netting is just as much fun!
Low Country Fishing Charters
The four-man team at Low Country has over three decades of experience in the region. Still, Low Country remains a “hidden gem” amongst competing fishing charters in Myrtle Beach. That being said, their newly-expanded list of services—which ranges from Gulf-stream charters to dolphin watching—is starting to turn heads at the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club. Rates are comparable to like outfits, but we think that Low Country offers more bang for their buck. They target just about anything, including marlins, grouper, mahi-mahi, black drum, and trout.
Myrtle Beach Hotels with a Water Park
After four hours aboard one of the premier fishing charters in Myrtle Beach, we recommend walking the Promenade, visiting a nearby winery, or buying a round of ice cream cones. Then, let the beach relaxation begin! Sand Dunes Resort is a unique destination because it boasts a free, on-site water park, lazy river, arcade, and mini-golf course. We also boast an array of Myrtle Beach golf packages, semi-exclusive beach access, and several on-site dining options. You’ll rarely have to leave our little slice of South Carolina paradise to get the most of your vacation. Oh, and you won’t find better Atlantic Ocean vistas in the city. Check availability online at your earliest convenience (or give us a call today at 866-845-1011).