You don’t have to go all the way to L.A. to see the stars. A vacation to Myrtle Beach and a trip to its latest attraction will do.

Opened in the summer of 2014 just across from Broadway at the Beach, the Hollywood Wax Museum features two floors of wall-to-wall celebrities. Rub elbows with the legendary musician Johnny Cash, get up close and personal with actress Julia Roberts, and snap some selfies with actor Johnny Depp – all under one roof.

Speaking of the roof, don’t be alarmed by the 40-foot gorilla scaling the building. It’s just King Kong, the “biggest” star of them all, posing for a recreation of his classic self-titled film. Hollywood Wax Museum performed a major renovation of the old NASCAR Café, transforming it into the only museum of its type dedicated to pop culture.

It’s as close as most folks will get to these Hollywood A-list celebrities. These life-size and lifelike wax figures are so realistic you might be tempted to ask for an autograph or two. Best of all are the great photo opportunities you can use to fool your friends.

Imagine posting pictures of yourself on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter posing with stars so realistic you are sure to fool a few. And imagine the family vacation photos of mom and dad spending time with Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe, or shots of the kids spending time with a younger, hipper Brat Pack. It’s like a stroll down the red carpet at one of Hollywood’s famous “who’s who” parties.

Hollywood Wax Museum also features a pair of side attractions – Hannah’s Mirror Maze and Outbreak, a zombie-themed thriller. Fumble your way through the house of mirrors or try to avoid the zombie apocalypse in these bonus attractions. Guests can purchase tickets to one or discounted packages of two or all three.

Hollywood Wax Museum is located at the corner of Highway 17 Bypass and 21st Avenue North in Myrtle Beach. The doors open at 9:30 a.m. and remain open till midnight, seven days a week. For ticket prices or more information, visit www.hollywoodwaxmuseum.com.

Myrtle Beach’s seafood is among the best anywhere. The Lowcountry cuisine is as memorable as it gets. Our produce is the freshest around. In other words, when you come here you will eat some of the greatest meals of your life.

But sometimes you just need a pizza, you know?

Lucky for all the foodies, the Grand Strand boasts our fair share of the Italian-American staple, and we’ve rounded up five of our favorite spots to grab a slice or two.

Looking to keep up with your workout routine while you’re on vacation in Myrtle Beach, but don’t want to be stuck in a boring, unfamiliar gym? There’s the beach for that! Working out on the beach can be rewarding in more ways than one – from the resistance provided by sand and water to the healthy outdoor atmosphere, it’s definitely the place we recommend working out while in town.

Check out these best beach exercises to do on your Myrtle Beach vacation:

• Walking: Like to take it easy? Walking is definitely a stress-free exercise to do on the beach. Whether you walk a mile or more, walking in the sand is better than walking on flat ground due to the resistance from the sand. Want to add a little extra to your walk? Try bending over and picking up shells in sets to work those abs!

• Running: Take walking up a notch by running on the sand! Running forces your body to burn 1.6x more energy than running on a hard surface due to resistance. Enjoy a great workout along with a beautiful view and a nice ocean breeze.

• Biking: Another exercise that is good for all skill-levels is riding a bike on the beach. Hop on a beach cruiser and pedal along the coast while listening to the waves crash against the shore.

• Surfer Get-Ups: Never heard of this exercise? It’s pretty simple, really. If you’ve ever seen a surfer get up into a standing position on a board, then you know how to do this exercise. Start off in a plank position with your stomach touching the sand. Then, thrust yourself up into a squatting position. Repeat these steps while alternating your lead leg.

• Swimming: This one is just self-explanatory. Make your way into the ocean and swim your heart out! Swimming is known to be one of the best workouts you can do, as you’re using almost every single muscle in your body. Add in the current and waves from the water and you’ve got a great calorie burning, muscle-toning session on your hands.

• Lunges: Lunges are perfect to do at the beach. For a good workout, start off doing lunges in the sand, and then make your way into the water. Find a good spot where you’re about knee-deep in the ocean and proceed to do some more lunges. The resistance from the sand and the water make this work out well-worth doing!

• Beach Chair Pull: This one sounds a little silly, but we promise it’s a good workout! Set up your beach chair like normal. Then, stand with your back facing the chair. Bend at the knees, reach down behind you, and grab the bottom of the chair. Next, run forward and drag the chair behind you through the sand. This is a great shoulder exercise and is perfect for circuits.

• Sand Skips: This exercise sounds exactly like what it is – skipping through the sand. We’re not talking little girly skips, we’re talking about throwing yourself as high into the air as possible with each skip, landing softly into the sand, which will provide added resistance.

• The Beach Crawl:  This is another exercise that sounds exactly like what it is. Start off in a planking position and crawl forward on your hands and feet for 30 seconds at a time. You can also move backwards or from side to side. This is best on dry sand.

• Land and Sea: This is a fun yet challenging exercise that utilizes the whole beach. Start off inland where the sand begins, and run in a large circle that loops you into the water. This way, you’re running from the sand to waist deep in the water, and back out to the sand again. Keep going and you’ll definitely start to feel the burn!

New Year’s Eve is just around the corner and Myrtle Beach is busy prepping for this huge annual celebration. If you are lucky enough to be spending New Year’s at the beach this year, you won’t find a shortage of exciting events. From decadent dinners to dancing and more, you are sure to find something to please everyone in your group.

Check out our roundup of the Myrtle Beach area’s top New Year’s Eve events and make plans to ring in 2019 in style!

Whether you are in Myrtle Beach for vacation during the holidays, or if you just feel like relaxing instead of cooking during your Christmas celebrations, you’re in luck; many restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area will be offering holiday meal options on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2021.

Note: the following information may change depending on demand and staffing, so you may want to call the restaurant ahead of time to make sure.

Landry’s Seafood | 1312 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, SC | Broadway at the Beach

Landry’s Seafood at Broadway at the Beach will be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The full Landry’s menu will be available, or choose from the holiday specials, which include a Filet and Shrimp or a Seafood Stuffed Salmon.

Greg Norman Australian Grille | 4930 Highway 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, SC

Greg Norman Australian Grille will open for a fine dining experience from 2 to 8 p.m. on Christmas Day. They’ll be serving a special holiday menu which includes a lamb special or a bone-in Australian Wagyu Tomahawk as well as a limited dinner menu.

New York Prime | 405 28th Avenue North, Myrtle Beach, SC

New York Prime will be open Christmas Eve (3 to 9 p.m.) and Christmas Day (5 to 9 p.m.) serving their regular menu, which includes mouth watering steaks, seafood platters and classic sides.

Gulfsteam Cafe | 1536 S. Waccamaw Drive, Garden City, SC

Gulfstream Cafe will be open from 3 to 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for dine-in customers. A special carryout prime rib feast, which feeds 4-6 people, is also available.

Hard Rock Cafe | 1318 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, SC

Hard Rock Cafe at Broadway at the Beach will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Christmas Day. Enjoy selections from the 2- or 3-course special menus, which include a variety of burgers, ribs, steak or seafood. Reservations can be made online.

Looking to book your Myrtle Beach vacation? There are plenty of great deals going on right now that will make booking your vacation much easier on the wallet. Check out these Myrtle Beach hotel deals going on for the week of September 24: