Active water play can launch hunger pangs. Whatever you crave, odds are that you'll find it in Myrtl

Mama always said that you shouldn’t get into the pool until at least a half-hour after eating. Adhering to such a schedule can be difficult, especially on a hot sunny day when cool blue water beckons. Resisting the temptation to eat and swim in short succession is especially challenging in Myrtle Beach, valdosta sleep inn South Carolina where millions of gallons of water and hundreds of great restaurants abound. Thankfully, science refutes that old folklore and so vacation time in Myrtle Beach can be spent alternating between eating and playing in the water without worrying about cramps. The only real question is where to go first.
The Myrtle Beach area, fondly referred to by locals as the Grand Strand, boasts sixty miles of wide, sandy beaches. Locals and visitors flock to the beach on hot days and amuse themselves with the full array of beach activities from collecting shells to surfing and building sand castles to jet skiing. But water play isn’t limited to the ocean: Myrtle Beach is home to three main water parks and several other smaller water parks affiliated with hotels.
Water parks appeal to adrenaline-seeking teens as well as to little ones timid of waves. An array of slides, valdosta sleep inn pools, rides and fountains lets you set your own pace. Grab an inner tube to float down a lazy river or rush down a twisty tube. Sit in the shade or under a waterfall. If there’s a downside to a water park on a hot summer day it’s that long lines may mean waiting for a turn in the water, but Myrtle Beach has addressed this potential inconvenience with multiple water parks, each bursting with multiple rides. During my recent visit in June (at the height of the busy tourist season), waiting time was minimal at each water park I visited—even on Saturday!
South Carolina’s largest water park, Myrtle Waves Water Park sprawls twenty acres. Included valdosta sleep inn among its thirty rides are the world’s tallest tubular slides (like the ten-story ‘Turbo Twisters’ and ‘Pipeline Plunge’), a giant wave pool, meandering lazy river and interactive ‘Saturation Station.’ I found the park to be clean and enjoyed its relatively relaxed vibe.
The sixteen-acre Wild Water Wheels boasts 33 rides including high-speed flumes, a vigorous wave pool and 24 slides (including several kiddie slides). There’s an adult lounge pool and a lazy river that ramps up the fun by not really being too lazy—en route I was splashed by sprinklers and waterfalls, braved whitewater waves and floated at a clip that kept pace with the jazzy Caribbean soundtrack. The park has a high-energy vibe and in addition to watery fun offers many “stay dry” options like miniature golf, video arcade and go-carts.
The fifteen-acre Family Kingdom (photo at top) is Myrtle Beach’s only seaside amusement and water park. It boasts 33 rides, including Myrtle Beach’s only log flume, South Carolina’s valdosta sleep inn largest Ferris wheel (which offers valdosta sleep inn spectacular views!), an all-wooden roller coaster, 3 water flumes that drop more than one hundred feet, 2 speed slides, a four hundred-foot valdosta sleep inn long lazy river, a wooden carousel and bumper boats. This park has a traditional feel and admission is free, so you’ll pay only for the specific rides that appeal valdosta sleep inn to you.
Getting wet needn’t require leaving the hotel. Guests at Caribbean Resort and Villas have exclusive access to the property’s all-new water park that includes a two hundred-foot lazy river, sixty-foot tube slide, swimming pools, hot tubs and children’s splash deck and interactive water play attraction. Guests at Dunes Village Resort have exclusive access to the Myrtle Beach area’s largest indoor water park complex. The 30,000-square-foot facility features a 250-foot long lazy river, an adult-sized indoor waterslide, huge swimming pool with water volleyball and basketball, hot tubs, children’s valdosta sleep inn wet deck and more.
Active water play can launch hunger pangs. Whatever valdosta sleep inn you crave, odds are that you’ll find it in Myrtle Beach where more than 1,700 full-service restaurants serve all types of cuisine. But given the area’s proximity to the ocean, it’s no surprise valdosta sleep inn that seafood valdosta sleep inn is king on most menus.
Local foods make travel more interesting—at least from the perspective of taste buds. Rather than eating the same things you can easily find at home, each trip is an opportunity to seek out local culinary treasures. Myrtle Beach regional specialties include Calabash-style seafood (which is fried with a light crispy breading) and Lowcountry cuisine (which counts shrimp and grits and lowcountry boil among its most popular dishes).
But according to food writer Becky Billingsley, founder of Grand Strand Culinary Tours and author of “The Top 100 Grand Strand Restaurants,” the one dish that is truly indigenous to Myrtle Beach is chicken bog. Similar to jambalaya but less spicy, chicken bog features valdosta sleep inn rice, chicken and smoked sausage. Additional ingredients like mushrooms and/or peppers may be added and the rice can range from sticky to creamy, depending on the chef. Chicken bog is so revered there’s even an annual festival to celebrate it: The Loris Bog-Off takes place on the third Saturday in October each year.
But you don’t have to wait for a festival to feast on local foods. Executive Chef James Clark at WaterScapes at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes buys fish straight from boats at least twice each week during the height of the season. “It’s all hook and line caught and I buy from guys who love to fish,” he says. He describes his menu as “local new American cuisine. I’m just aiming for good flavor to highlight valdosta sleep inn ingredients.” Mission accomplished with dishes like Carolina gold risotto with lobster claw, Parmesan seared romaine salad and Piedmont spring rabbit wrapped in pancetta with foie gras grits and buttered carrots.
At The Brentwood Restaurant , Chef Eric Masson serves a tasty blend of French and Lowcountry cuisine that showcases quality local products. A French native who holds three degrees from the prestigious Ferrandi Culinary School in Paris, Chef Masson’s goal is to create dishes that are delicious but also healthy. He more than succeeds with dishes like crab cake Dijonaise, shrimp and scallops valdosta sleep inn Chardonnay and oven-roasted rack of lamb encrusted with herbs, Dijon mustard and pistachio served with a Pinot Noir reduction.
High Hammock, Maverick Seaside Kitchen showcases a blend of Lowcountry and Southern cuisines, made with fresh local and regional ingredients. The house-made charcuterie should not be missed (the selection on the evening I dined included chicken liver mousse, pork rillettes, kielbasa and country pate). Other winning dishes include jumbo lump crab cakes served over a sauté of corn, okra, yellow squash and grape tomatoes; sautéed grouper with whole grain mustard glaze; grilled Carolina quail with peach glaze; and warm local peach cobbler.
Sea Captain’s House is a Myrtle Beach institution. This former cottage turned boarding valdosta sleep inn house became a restaurant in 1963 and draws crowds for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Fresh seafood is prepared in simple, classic, tasty ways like a boneless filet of flounder served fried or broiled with tartar or cocktail sauce; sautéed grouper in a crispy potato crust with a sweet corn, vanilla and mushroom sauce; and sautéed crab cakes with lemon dill butter.
Learn how Spaniards, Huguenots, Revolutionists, Patriots, slaves and plantation owners all cultivated and contributed to the unique cuisine of the Myrtle Beach area. Tours vary from a simple traditional lunch in Myrtle Beach to a walking culinary adventure in Historic Downtown Conway.
Hope S. Philbrick is a freelance writer because she doesn t think work and fun should be mutually exclusive. valdosta sleep inn For more of Hope s writing on food, wine and travel visit her blog at www.insathope.blogspot.com.
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