Family * Travel * Food

The Travel Files - 6 Reasons To Visit Myrtle Beach In The Off Season

Every year we visit Myrtle Beach several times with our family. It is always a good time and we can't ever get enough. Most people prefer going to the beach in the summer, but we feel differently. We go no matter the season or weather. One of our favorite times of year to travel to Myrtle Beach is in the winter. Yes, winter! I've come up with a short list of reasons why you should visit Myrtle Beach in the off-season.

We love an oceanfront view! 

  • Great weather- The weather is often times still mild in the beginning of the winter season. Next week will be in the lower 70's and upper 60's. Not bad if you love to walk on the beach like we do! 
  • Lower cost to stay oceanfront- If you love listening to the sounds of the ocean, you can stay in an oceanfront condo for less than you think. A condo offers all of the comforts of home including private bedrooms/baths, kitchen, washer/dryer, and dishwasher. Our favorites are Avista Resort and Prince Resort. There are many great amenities like indoor pool/hot tub, fitness center, on-site restaurant/bar to name a few. Check out the rates, you will be pleasantly surprised. Also, most locations don't require a minimum night's stay like they do in the summertime. Often times you can find a spacious 3-bedroom condo for as low as $100 per night! 
  • Less crowds- If being in the midst of crowds is not your thing, the off season is the best time to visit. Sometimes you will feel like you have the whole beach to yourself. As long as you dress in layers, you will be good to go. 
  • Outlet shopping- Right after Christmas, stores slash prices on merchandise to make room for spring items. This is the perfect time to rack up some good deals on clothing, home decor, toys, accessories, and more. You can even get some holiday gifts for the next year at deep discounts. 
  • Lots of attractions- Myrtle Beach is full of fun attractions for the entire family. There are themed restaurants, putt-putt mini golf centers, museums, live shows, animal exhibits, holiday festivities, arcades and more. If you plan ahead, you can often times get specials that can save you a few bucks.
  • Make everlasting memories- Being at the beach with your family is a great way to reconnect and have some fun. We make new memories every time we go and have even created new traditions along the way. 
This hot tub at the Avista Resort is where you'll find me

If you're curious about renting a condo, check out my reviews and tips from previous visits to Avista Resort and Prince Resort. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.
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Our visit to The Prince Resort at The Cherry Grove Pier (Review) #MyrtleBeach

This past weekend our family took a trip to Myrtle Beach to celebrate William's 7th birthday. We chose the Prince Resort at The Cherry Grove Pier because William loves that location. He enjoys fishing with his dad, so the Prince was the best choice for his birthday celebration. This was actually our second time staying there, so we had a good understanding of what we needed and how to make our check-in process smoother. The Prince Resort is actually made up of two separate towers; Tower 1- oceanfront and Tower 2- ocean view. We love staying directly on the beach with a full oceanfront view so we stayed in Tower 1. When you get to the actual property, they have temporary guest parking for checking in/out as well as getting your luggage loaded up to take to your suite. All parking is across the street in Tower 2. It's no big deal at all to take the few steps back across the street to have access to Tower 1, the beach, restaurants and the pier.
Checking in was a breeze, just be sure to have the credit or debit card you used to book your suite with as well as your license plate number for the parking pass. It was nice to receive a courtesy call from the front desk to ensure that we had a pleasant check-in experience and to see if our accommodations were to our liking. Very professional!

We stayed in a 1,075 square foot 2 bedroom/2 bathroom oceanfront suite. It was very spacious and included one King bed, two extra long double beds, full kitchen and a Queen sleeper sofa in the living room.  Additional amenities included a private balcony, dishwasher, washer and dryer and three televisions. We loved the overall layout and it really felt like home. The one thing that really was the star of the show was that 6th floor view of the ocean and Cherry Grove Pier. It is incredible! It's so nice to be just steps away from that glorious ocean and sand.

Check out the photos below to get more information and my personal tips to make your stay even better.

The living and dining rooms are very comfy and have plenty of space for your family to eat, lounge or just take in the scenery. It's not unusual to see flocks of seagulls or pelicans a mere 15 feet away flying past your balcony. The couch has a pull-out bed and this was perfect for my little guy. He loves "camping" out in the family room.
The master bedroom was super nice. The bed was very comfy and the bathroom was huge! We love keeping the blinds open to be able to watch the waves crash ashore. The bathroom had a big tub and relaxing waterfall style shower head. They kept it fully stocked with towels and toiletries. Just remember that if you go in the warmer months, bring your beach towels. The second bedroom was very spacious for the girls to share and the bathroom was surprisingly huge!
The homemaking nerd in me loved the full kitchen and washer/dryer unit. I had all of the basic tools I would have in my own kitchen at my finger tips! I recommend packing up food and drinks especially if you have a big family. They provide coffee, but I prefer my brand I use regularly. I am one of those crazy moms who packs the things most people would never think of-- coffee creamer, sticks of butter, condiments, dish scrubbers, kitchen cleaning gloves and laundry pacs. I figured that if I bring everything I need, we won't have a reason to leave the property. It's great to be able to cook up a family style meal while overlooking the beach. 
The weather was in the mid 50's so it was too cold for us to get in the water or the pools. That was fine since the highlight of the trip for William was the pier. My husband rented a fishing pole and purchased bait. Although they did not catch a thing after fishing ALL day long, they were able to make fun father and son memories. They have already planned their return trip for when it warms up and they will bring their own fishing poles. It costs $2 per person to get a walking pass for the pier that is good for the entire day. That's a great deal! In the summer, we were able to see dolphins playing in the water as well as nurse sharks on the side of the pier where the fish cleaning station is set up. The kids love watching the sharks feed on the discarded fish parts left over from cleaning them. 
You can enjoy Oceanfront dining at 3500 Ocean Grill or the more relaxed Boardwalk Beach Cafe and Ice Cream Shoppes. We love ordering shareable menu items from the Boardwalk Beach Cafe to bring back to our suite to enjoy. While we wait for our food to be prepped and cooked, we enjoy a beer or cocktail at the bar. It's nice chatting with other guests to find out where they are visiting from and how they are enjoying Myrtle Beach. One thing that can't be beat in the state of South Carolina is that true Southern hospitality!

You can visit the Prince Resort website to see details of all of their accommodations and book your trip with a few simple keystrokes. You can even call to book a reservation. Their staff is always very courteous and happy to answer your questions. If your budget is tight, consider going in the off season when the rates are extremely reasonable and you don't have to stay the minimum of three days like you do in the summer months. It's really very nice and super relaxing. Also consider getting an ocean view suite. You will still have great ocean views and easy access to the beach, pier and restaurants. The last time we stayed at the Prince we were on the 19th floor in a 3 bedroom suite. I think I actually preferred the 2 bedroom and the lower level being on the 6th floor.

If you ever want to visit Myrtle Beach you should definitely give the Prince Resort a try. Be sure to check them out on the web, Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for their emails so you can see what offers and promotions they are running. We loved our stay and look forward to going back at the end of the summer. This specific area of Myrtle Beach seems a lot less 'touristy' than some other parts we have visited. It's perfect for a romantic couples getaway or even for Mother's/Father's Day. What are you waiting for? Go run and book your Myrtle Beach getaway!

Disclosure: I was given a media discount rate in exchange for an honest review of the resort. All opinions are my own as always. 
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Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts "Mother’s Day Girlfriend Getaway Package"

My family will be headed away to Grande Shores Resort in Myrtle Beach very soon for a much needed getaway. I wanted to share the latest promotion from Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts.

Spring is finally here! The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming, which means Mother's Day is right around the corner.  Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts is offering the ultimate "Mother's Day Girlfriend Getaway" package including oceanfront accommodations, shopping and dining on the world-famous Grand Strand.


Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts (MBSR) – operator of the area’s premier oceanfront condo-hotel and vacation rental properties – announces the “Mother’s Day Girlfriend Getaway Package” featuring oceanfront accommodations, daily breakfast, dinner and a Tanger Outlet coupon book.

Starting at $279, the ultimate vacation for mom includes two nights in an oceanview room at any MBSR property, a daily Southern breakfast buffet for two, dinner for two at one of the resort’s acclaimed onsite restaurants, as well as a welcome wine and fruit basket. The package also includes a coupon book valued at up to $1,300 in savings to the area’s premier shopping center, Tanger Outlets.

Rates are based on double occupancy in a one-bedroom suite over Mother’s Day weekend. Price includes all taxes and resort fees. Additional nights and guests can be added. Package is available May – December 2014.

Myrtle Beach is within a half-day’s drive of population centers like Washington D.C., Raleigh, Charlotte and Atlanta. Moreover, Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) is conveniently located to all Seaside properties. Serviced by Delta, Continental, Spirit Airlines and US Airways, it features daily, nonstop flights to over 25 destinations including Philadelphia, Baltimore, Newark and Chicago.

All lodging options provide easy access to dining, shopping, sugar sand beaches and other area attractions on the world-famous Grand Strand.

For additional information and reservations: Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts, 888.571.4104


About Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts

Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts is a collection of six oceanfront and ocean view condo-hotels in North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Avista Resort, Prince Resort, Horizon at 77th, Grande Shores, Seaside and the Towers at North Myrtle Beach all provide the comforts of full-service resort hotels with the space and luxury of condominiums.

Each property features modern décor that reflects a coastal lifestyle and breathtaking views of the pristine northern region of the world-famous Grand Strand. Elegant yet affordable, units are spacious one to three bedrooms with fully-equipped kitchens, washer / dryer, and private balconies. Most hotels have fitness centers, an array of indoor and outdoor pools, on-site dining and access to world-class beaches.

For additional information: Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts, 888.571.4104
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Top 5 Fishing Piers of the Carolinas

Here are five of the best in the region:

North Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Cherry Grove Fishing Pier
The 985-foot Cherry Grove Fishing is one of the most popular family fishing and sightseeing destinations on the South Carolina coast. The pier is adjacent to the beautiful art-deco Prince Resort and has a fully equipped bait and tackle shop.

Nags Head, N.C. – Jennette’s Pier
The oldest on the Outer Banks, Jennette's Pier was destroyed by Hurricane Isabel in 2003 but was rebuilt by the NC Aquariums as an all-concrete, 1,000-foot-long educational ocean pier offering educational programs and even fishing classes.

Beaufort, S.C. – Paradise Fishing Pier on Hunting Island
Located on Hunting Island in South Carolina’s most popular state park, the pier extends 1,120 feet into the Fripp Inlet. With five miles of pristine South Carolina beaches, a publicly accessible historic lighthouse and over 200 campsites the island is the premier Palmetto destination.

Hatteras Island, N.C. – Avon Fishing Pier
The 600 foot long Avon Pier offers some of the best redfish fishing in the world. Golfers will love the pier's golf center with an 18-hole par-3 course on the premises!

Folly Beach, S.C. – Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier
Stretching 1,045 feet off the coast, the Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier is the second-longest East Coast pier extending directly into the Atlantic Ocean. The 23-foot high pier, offers amazing fishing in the Folly Beach surf, spectacular views and a variety of fishing tournaments, special events and dining.

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