Myrtle Beach Hotels Blog

Comparing South Myrtle Beach hotels and attractions to North Myrtle Beach’s offerings can help you zero in on where to stay for your next getaway. Downtown Myrtle Beach can come with plenty of hoopla and busyness, so many vacationers choose to stay just north or south for a lower-key experience. You’ll find excellent attractions, dining, and accommodations in either direction you choose.

What Is the Difference Between North Myrtle Beach and South Myrtle Beach?

The main difference between North Myrtle Beach and South Myrtle Beach lies in the atmosphere: The northern resorts are interspersed with expansive, serene beaches, and the southern properties fit tightly together, offering a shoreline with pool decks teeming with activity. 

Which Is Better South or North Myrtle Beach?

Deciding whether North Myrtle Beach or South Myrtle Beach is better depends on your personal preferences, but generally, the northern area is attractive to vacationers who desire easygoing beach days and quiet afternoons by the pool, and the southern district appeals to visitors wishing for an active getaway. While North Myrtle Beach may be statistically safer than South Myrtle Beach, families, couples, and solo travelers can enjoy carefree and comfortable outings at the resort pools, on the beaches, and while exploring tourist areas in either location.

South Myrtle Beach Hotels vs. North Myrtle Beach Hotels

Both South Myrtle Beach hotels and North Myrtle Beach hotels offer a variety of accommodations for any budget. Every area includes condos and suites for large families, and you’ll find plenty of romantic rooms for two. The expansive oceanfront affords an endless selection of hotels in Myrtle Beach with ocean views, so you can watch the waves from any resort.

South Myrtle Beach hotels are known for towering water slides, splash pads packed with kids, and live music and poolside entertainment. Parents are off the hook when it comes to entertaining children at these resorts. Most of these kid-friendly Myrtle Beach hotels include numerous amenities for children, like kids’ clubs, an arcade, a snack bar and ice cream shop, and even a hotel bowling alley.

Heading north doesn’t mean your vacation will be a snooze, though. North Myrtle Beach hotels let their oceanfront pools and beach accesses do most of the entertaining, and there’s nothing boring about taking a dip in the refreshing blue waters of the pool or the ocean. If you have kids along, you can still stay north of the Boardwalk in a water park resort or at a Myrtle Beach hotel with a lazy river. And thanks to all the affordable hotels in the city of North Myrtle Beach, any budget-conscious traveler can stray a few miles farther for an even cheaper stay.

Attractions in South Myrtle Beach vs. North Myrtle Beach

If you can peel yourselves away from the hotel pools and beach, getting out to the attractions in Myrtle Beach provides many fun experiences. Broadway at the Beach is only a few miles from the resorts along the north end and features family-friendly attractions and interesting stores, and the restaurants at Broadway satisfy any appetite. North Myrtle Beach doesn’t have a boardwalk like downtown Myrtle, but the city is home to Barefoot Landing, a walkable entertainment district with stores, attractions, bars, restaurants, and even places to go wine tasting.

Resorts on the southern end of Myrtle Beach offer easy access to excellent attractions in Myrtle Beach. The Market Common neighborhood features stores, restaurants, and modern conveniences like a movie theater and escape room. You’ll also find many standalone attractions near hotels in South Myrtle Beach, like 810 Billiards and Bowling, DinoLand Café, and Fun Warehouse. Staying south of the hotels on the Myrtle Beach strip puts you only a short drive away from Brookgreen Gardens, the largest sculpture garden on the East Coast.The choice is yours! Whether you select a hotel in North Myrtle Beach, a resort on the northern end of the Myrtle Beach strip, or a suite on the southern side of the city, you’re in for a special getaway you won’t forget.

Celebrate Halloween at Myrtle Beach with trick-or-treating, adults-only events, and Halloween costume contests for all ages. Create lifelong memories of Halloween on the beach at the Grand Strand’s top attractions. Myrtle Beach is a fun Halloween destination where everyone will enjoy a spooktacular time, thanks to events that cater to children and adults.

BooLu’s at Lulu’s North Myrtle Beach includes costume contests, candy and more.

Locals and visitors alike go wild for the Halloween activities in Myrtle Beach. Get into the spooky spirit with a weekend packed full of Myrtle Beach Halloween 2023 events. Barefoot Landing is bringing Halloween to North Myrtle Beach on Saturday, October 28th with a day filled with festivities. Adults looking for Halloween parties in Myrtle Beach will find them at the bars at Broadway at the Beach on October 28th, and at Murrells Inlet on Halloween day. On Tuesday, October 31st, parents can take advantage of the kid-friendly and free Myrtle Beach Halloween events, including trick-or-treating at Barefoot Landing and Broadway at the Beach. 

Party with the sharks at Ripley’s Aquarium for the Halloween Dance Party.

Consult our list of the best Grand Strand haunts and enjoy your fun-filled Myrtle Beach Halloween:

Kids’ Halloween Activities in Myrtle Beach

Friday, Oct. 27

River Island Adventures | Enjoy an evening of thrills at the Haunted Island Tour at River Island Adventures on Friday, Oct. 27 or Saturday, Oct. 28. This terrifying and immersive experience starts at 7 p.m. and is open to adults and teens between the ages of 13 and 18 with supervision.  

Saturday, Oct. 28

Barefoot Landing | Put your best foot forward this Halloween at the Monster Dash 5K at 8 a.m. This event welcomes runners to wear costumes and holds a contest for best dressed. BooFest! At Barefoot Landing is a family-friendly Halloween celebration with costume contests for kids and pets, entertainment, and a free showing of Halloween classic Hocus Pocus in the Dockside Village Amphitheater. These festivities at Barefoot Landing run from noon to 4 p.m., and Hocus Pocus begins at 7 p.m.

Ripley’s Aquarium | Splash into Ripley’s Aquarium for a Halloween Dance Party from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 28. The family-friendly event at Ripley’s Aquarium includes music from a live DJ, stilt walkers, a cash bar, giveaways, and games.

Downtown Conway | Catch the Halloween Golf Cart Parade in downtown Conway at 9 a.m. Oct. 28. Participants dress in costumes and decorate carts for the drive through downtown. Prizes will be awarded for the best carts.

North Myrtle Beach | The annual Howl-o-Scream in North Myrtle Beach will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 28. The North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex transforms into a spooktacular site for hayrides, games, and trick-or-treating.

Tuesday, Oct. 31

Broadway at the Beach | Broadway at the Beach hosts Trick-or-Treating from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Halloween evening. Bring your little princesses and knights to Broadway at the Beach for hours of family-friendly fun.

Barefoot Landing | Trick-or-treating at Barefoot Landing runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31. Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach offers a safe space for young ones to collect candy without the concern of traffic.

Murrells Inlet Marshwalk | Halloween on the Marshwalk includes trick-or-treat and costume contests for the little ghouls and goblins followed by adult fun in the evening. Trick-or-treating begins at 5 p.m. Kids can participate in costume contests at 6 p.m. in front of the pirate statue at Drunken Jack’s.

Adults’ Halloween Activities in Myrtle Beach

Saturday, Oct. 28

Broadway at the Beach | Join Broadway at the Beach’s Halloween Bash on the Avenue with a live DJ and an adult costume contest. This adult-friendly party at Broadway on the Beach starts at 7 p.m. on Oct 28.

Tuesday, Oct. 31

Murrells Inlet Marshwalk | Once the kids clear out, Halloween on the Marshwalk hosts a frightfully fun evening for an 18+ crowd. The adult costume contest kicks off at 7 p.m. and includes up to $4000 in prizes.

Fishing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is any angler’s dream because of the endless places to wet your line and hook a whopper, inland or out to sea. The Atlantic Ocean is where many anglers net legendary catches, but Myrtle Beach inland fishing is nothing to scoff at. Whatever waters you try, you’ll still need to know how to find the trophies. That’s what makes the bait shops in Myrtle Beach so invaluable. Not only do they rent fishing rods and sell bait, but these local stores often point aimless anglers in the right direction.

Whether you prefer to deep-sea fish, cast in fresh waters, or drop a line in the surf, you’ll soon discover the fishing is always good in Myrtle Beach, in any season on the calendar. That means it’s always a good time to visit because the weather is rarely bad and the fishing is always incredible. The hardest part about your trip will be deciding which hotel or resort to book for your stay.

Start planning your fishing getaway today and enjoy the excitement of landing a lunker by boat, from a pier, or while standing on the beach. There’s always something out there ready to bite. Here are some hotspots to hook dinner or a trophy for your wall:

These 5 Myrtle Beach thrill rides are the biggest, fastest, and scariest and promise stomach-churning speeds, incredible heights, and a jaw-dropping rush. Even beach bums agree vacations aren’t complete without a little adventure. When it’s time to turn up the fun, hit up these amusement park thrill rides and give everyone in your crew more than enough excitement.

Myrtle Beach is a warm-weather wonderland with snow cones, cotton candy, and thrill rides sprinkled throughout the city. Head to popular entertainment districts to get your heart racing before going to a show, or walk to thrilling attractions from your hotel on the strip whenever you summon the courage. Many Myrtle Beach rides are visible from oceanfront hotels, and the daring stunts and dazzling lights are impossible for thrill seekers to ignore.

People looking for the scariest thrill ride in the Grand Strand can choose between the terrifying 10-story, 350-foot water slide, a harrowing flight on the Myrtle Beach Sling Shot, or The Beast, a spinning, swinging pendulum. If you love heights, the Sling Shot ride is the highest thrill ride in Myrtle Beach, reaching about 300 feet at its peak. But since we’re certain you’ll have your eyes closed, follow it up with a trip on the SkyWheel to savor the sights from nearly 200 feet above the Boardwalk.

While there are probably 20 awesome rides at Myrtle Beach amusement parks that could have made this list, we’ve narrowed it to the top 5 below. These serious attractions are for the unafraid adrenaline-junkie teens and adults who seek out thrills wherever they go. Buckle up, you’re in for the ride of your life

Hotels near the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex make the perfect home base for families and athletic clubs looking for fantastic and convenient lodging. The fields and facilities at the Sports Complex are designed for nearly any contest, including softball, baseball, tennis, field hockey, and soccer, and it includes parks and a nature preserve, so staying nearby is a smart move for athletes or anyone who loves an active vacation near outdoor entertainment. 

Selecting accommodations by proximity is important, but the hotels near this North Carolina sportsplex have more to offer than their great location alone. Any of the properties on this list is the best hotel for sports teams because each is mere minutes from the fields and offers a variety of suites and condos to accommodate your family, the coaching staff, or your team’s top players. Some include full kitchens so you can prepare and feed healthy meals to your team before big competitions, and everyone gets a good night’s rest in the spacious, private bedrooms. Sparkling blue pools and bubbling hot tubs welcome everyone ‘home’ after a long day of events, and having easy access to this family-friendly shoreline is ideal for making the most of days off. 

Whether you’re seeing these venues in person or viewing North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex, Ripken Experience, or Grand Park Athletic Complex in photos, it’s easy to tell how much the Grand Strand prizes its well-designed sports facilities, and this sports complex is one of the best. Expect nicely appointed batting cages, perfectly manicured fields and walking trails, and clean picnic shelters, and the area hotel hosting your stay nearby won’t disappoint. 

Even though it’s well over 100 acres, the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex isn’t in a remote area. There are many things to do in North Myrtle Beach, including visiting Barefoot Landing, a fabulous attraction with shopping and dining. The North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex is also a great source of entertainment for downtime. Guests of pet-friendly hotels love visiting the dog park there, and the three playgrounds, walking and biking trails, and wake park with a floating obstacle course offer plenty of fun options for all.

Ball clubs and spectators looking for hotels near the Triple Crown Sports Tournament, Global World Series, or any upcoming national or regional contest, find these accommodations to be just what they need. Even families staying at hotels near the OrthoCarolina Sportsplex choose to finish their vacations on the coast near Myrtle Beach to enjoy all that the area offers. Before booking your stay in the Grand Strand, check out lodging options in North Myrtle Beach:

Start your day with a fantastic breakfast in Myrtle Beach indulging in mouth-watering hash browns, eggs, fluffy pancakes, and other delectable recipes. The seafood breakfasts Myrtle Beach is known for, including seafood omelets and Benedicts, are treats for diners looking for a fresh combination of local ingredients and classic morning fare. 

While some hotels offer free breakfast, there are many restaurants worth venturing out to, and most are conveniently located near the area’s resorts. When you’re looking for a place open for breakfast at 5am, head to one of the 24/7 restaurants to eat anytime. These spots cater to the early risers and late-nighters, offering hearty portions of waffles, eggs, biscuits and gravy, and grits.

When your stomach is growling for a tasty meal first thing in the morning, check out this list of the 10 best breakfast restaurants in Myrtle Beach: