Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Charlie & Debbie

Nation’s Best Vacation Spots For Families Names This South Carolina Favorite

Author Debbie Nance

Vacation season is coming for families around the world. And, to help guide your choices, the nation’s best vacations spots for families list names this South Carolina favorite.

Of course, when you’re planning a vacation you often look for fun in the sun, ease of getting to the destination and affordability. And, I think this spot has all those requirements.

Nation’s Best Vacation Spots For Families

According to aaa.com, their list of the nation’s best vacation spots for families, puts Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at number 3 behind Anaheim, California and Orlando, Florida. That’s tough competition competing with Disney Land and Disney World.

The article points to iconic attractions in Myrtle Beach such as the SkyWheel, Wonderworks at Broadway, mini golf and plenty of watersports. Of course, there’s the obvious…chilling on the beach.

Plus, the publication recommends Marina Inn at Grande Dunes as the ‘top rated accommodation.’

And, I know many reading this will push back on Myrtle Beach being named among the nation’s best vacation spots for families. That’s a fair point. Myrtle Beach does have it’s concerns with a fair amount of crime.

However, our family visits several times a year. And, we have done so since our child was very young. And, we have never run into any problems. I think as with travel to any popular tourist spot, you just need to be careful and smart.

What We Like About One Of Nation’s Best Vacation Spots For Families

We often travel to Myrtle Beach with our best friends. And, we have groups we have met and come to know on the beach through the years. So, it’s very familiar and like a second home.

There’s no shortage of vacation rentals and activities. Also, we have our favorite restaurants and bars for great food and live music.

longboard nachos on a platter
Debbie Nance
Longboard Nachos at Crooked Hammock in Myrtle Beach are big enough to share.

We mostly hang out in the space between Myrtle and North Myrtle. Our families enjoy the Barefoot Landing area, plentiful with restaurants and outdoor spaces full of families.

One of our favorite hangouts is Crooked Hammock. You’ll often find us at Tortuga Island at the bar grabbing some Longboard Nachos and a spicy margarita.

Myrtle Beach South Carolina Restaurants We Consider Must Visit Spots
Debbie Nance
Our group at Crooked Hammock Brewery And Restaurant at Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Plus, the newly opened Big Chill Island House will be a must visit.

Then, we venture over to the nearby River Street Sweets for fudge and pralines!

Often times, we venture further down to Little River to some faves like The Parson’s Table, Clarks and Captain Archie’s.

And, there’s more cities in the Carolinas and beyond on the AAA list of nation’s best vacation spots for families. So, browse and plan your trip!

Debbie Nance is the afternoon co-host along with her husband on "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been with the station for 18 years. Debbie is a CMA Award winner for Radio Personality of the Year. And, she has worked in radio for 40 years. Before her current afternoon position, Debbie spent more than a decade as co-host on morning shows in several markets across the Southeast. As a content creator for Country 1037, Debbie writes articles about food, new restaurants in the Carolinas and travel experiences.

6 Myrtle Beach South Carolina Restaurants We Consider Must Visit Spots

We make at least two visits to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina every year.  And, as you might imagine, we spend a good bit of our time looking for the best places to grab a bite.  In fact, we just returned from our annual winter trip.  And, since it’s too cold for the sand, eating takes an even more important role!  So, I figured a list of Myrtle Beach South Carolina restaurants we consider must visit spots would be a welcome guide for your next trip.  Obviously, the area has so many places loved by many visitors.  Visit Myrtle Beach says more than 19 million people visit the area annually.  And, the region is home to more than 1800 full service dining options.  However, the list I put together are the ones that we not only truly enjoy, they are those we feel we must visit every time.  In fact, if we don’t eat at these each time we go to the beach, we feel we missed something.  Some of these are Myrtle Beach institutions.  And, chances are you know them well.  But, others might not be as familiar.  We count ourselves lucky to have adventurous friends willing to try just about anything.  Therefore, I feel like in the 17 years since we began  our annual trips, we tried a bunch of places.  So, here are the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina restaurants we consider our must visit spots every time we’re at the beach.

Myrtle Beach South Carolina Restaurants We Consider Must Visit Spots

Our group at Crooked Hammock Brewery And Restaurant at Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

  • King's Famous Pizza and Pasta

    We absolutely love this place. It’s been around forever, famous for their pizza and subs. While their pizza and other Italian entrees are amazing, my fave is their Italian Sub. It’s served warm on toasty bread, piled with salami, ham, veggies and drizzled with the house dressing they’re known for. My friend and I always make a beeline for King’s the minute we get into town. And, yes, we always get extra dressing for the hot sub. The service is great, the friendly faces are familiar and the food is out of this world. Find them at 3511 Hiway 17 S.in North Myrtle.

  • Lombardo's Italian Restaurant

    This spot is one we added to the must visit list a couple of years ago.  Of course, we eat seafood and all the things you expect on a beach trip.  But, there always comes a time during our trip we get a craving for Italian food.  And, one of the places we love to satisfy that craving is Lombardo’s.  I can’t say enough about the olive oil and herb dipper they bring out with the warm toasty bread.  I can’t even tell you how they make it so incredible.  And, believe me I wish I knew so I could re-create it at home.  And, an Italian staple, their meatballs are awesome.  One of their specials is always the lobster ravioli.  It’s definitely a keeper.  Honestly, everything I ever ordered is great.  Find them at 7604 N. Kings Hiway in Myrtle Beach.

  • Odori Japanese Steakhouse

    This spot just joined our list of must visits last year.  Some friends who live at the beach introduced us to Odori.  And, I’m glad they did.  We love Japanese hibachi restaurants.  Of course, we love to visit Myabi for the tremendous hibachi cooked right before us at the table.  But, this place is a bit different.  There’s no prep at the table.  It’s simply prepared in the kitchen behind you and brought to you.  But, it’s still incredibly delicious.  The entrees are the familiar ones you find at any Japanese steakhouse.  Also, we love that for a small charge you can share the entree with your dining partner.  That’s a welcome opportunity since these servings are usually so big!  And, the meal finishes with yummy rainbow sherbet.  Find them in North Myrtle at 627 Main St. in a charming little shopping area.  And, they took the Myrtle Beach Herald readers’ choice awards for 2022 in the Asian Style Restaurant category.

  • Crooked Hammock Brewery

    We like this must visit place so much that we visited twice this trip.  Crooked Hammock Brewery is at Barefoot Landing.  The atmosphere is cool and there’s plenty for kids and adults to do on sunny afternoons.  There’s cornhole or ping pong happening.  This time we grabbed some adirondack chairs outside and ordered food and drink to enjoy outdoors in the sun near Tortuga Island.  That’s the outdoor bar.  I highly recommend the Long Board Nachos for sharing at the table.  The burgers are so good.  And the pineapple wings are just the right amount of sweet and savory.

  • SOHO Steak And Seafood Sushi Bar

    We can’t leave without a stop at this must visit spot.  We absolutely love their happy hour bites and drinks.  They’re very affordable if you go early.  And, the outside bar is our favorite location at the North Myrtle Beach location.  It looks out onto the intercoastal waterway.  The Bang Bang Shrimp is wonderful.  And, for their many sushi choices, they will do a soy paper in place of the nori wrap if you like.  That’s definitely what my friend and I always get!  If you haven’t already, add this to your list.

  • Bimini's Oyster Bar And Seafood Cafe

    My hubby and his best friend call this place “the office.”  However, the only work getting done there is throwing back a “Bimini’s Oyster Shooter.”  It’s a shot glass filled with beer, an oyster and a pickled jalapeno slice with hot sauce.  I admit, that item is not my jam.  But. the vibe is great.  The bar food and fried seafood baskets as well as oysters resonate with beach regulars and tourists alike.  So, in honor of mine and my friend’s hubbies, we add this as a must visit restaurant in Myrtle Beach. Find them at 930 Lake Arrowhead Rd. in Myrtle Beach.

Get The Country 103.7 All Access Newsletter Delivered To Your Inbox

Enjoy the latest country music, entertainment, and local stories, plus exclusive contests, games, and more!

*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Author Debbie Nance
Category:
Tags:
,,,

More Charlie and Debbie

Load More