Hotel at a Glance: Aqua Beach Inn

Sand, surf shops, and seafood restaurants line the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, which begins at the city’s 2nd Avenue Pier and stretches along the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the 14th Avenue Pier. It’s arguably the biggest tourist attraction in the area. From the high-rise Aqua Beach Inn, located directly across from the boardwalk’s terminal point, it’s an easy walk to the promenade and the beach.

• Cook something: Each unit has a fully equipped kitchen, including a fridge and a two-burner stove.
• Nearby attractions include the Myrtle Beach Civil War Collection, Ripley’s Aquarium, and everything along the boardwalk.
• Take in the sunrise from your private ocean-view balcony.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Sandy Beaches, Golf Courses, and Classic Amusement-Park Rides

Myrtle Beach is the crown jewel of South Carolina’s Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of white-sand beaches along the Atlantic seaboard that draws surfers, fishers, and kayakers. The city was named one of the best vacation spots in the United States for a family by USA Today, in part because of its wooden boardwalk, which stretches for more than a mile and buzzes with carnival games and amusement-park rides. Hop into the SkyWheel Ferris wheel’s gondolas, surrounded by more than a million LED lights, for a panoramic view of the city below.

Less than 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach, the tiny fishing village of Murrells Inlet provides a tranquil contrast to the boardwalk’s hustle and bustle. At Brookgreen Gardens, more than 2,000 sculptures stand amid sprawling floral gardens and massive, moss-covered oak trees that have been around for centuries. Murrells Inlet is also home to the Tom Fazio–designed TPC Myrtle Beach golf course, 1 of nearly 100 courses in the area that helped Myrtle Beach earn its title as the seaside golf capital of the world.