Also ... North or not?

What is the difference, other than location, in MB and North MB? Which would be the best area to go to with the kids? Thanks again!

Also ... North or not?

Guess since I used to vacation in MB, and now live in MB, I tend to recommmend places to stay and things to do here....NMB isnt as built up as MB (which can be good or bad, depending on what you are looking for in a vacation)..there is a better selection of beach houses and OF condos to rent in NMB than MB, but as for attractions and entertainment, IMO, MB has a bit of an edge over NMB.

In Myrtle Beach you have:

Broadway at the Beach

NasCar Speedpark

The Pavilion (amusement park)

Family Kingdom (amusement park)

Downtown area (arcades, ice cream, etc.)

Dixie Stampede (dinner theatre)

Carolina Opry (show)

The Palace (a number of shows...Grande Cirque, Dean Martin Variety)

The Pelicans (baseball/Atlanta Brave affiliate)

Myrtle Waves (waterpark)

MYR (airport)

Golf and mini golf

Ocean Front and Waterway restaurants

Niteclubs

MB State Park (great interpretive center)

Ripley Aquarium (at Broadway)

Bus transportation

In North Myrtle Beach :

Barefoot Landing

Myrtle Beach Grand Prix (go carts/amusement)

Golf and Mini Golf

Downtown area (arcades, ice cream...)

Alligator Adventure (at Barefoot)

Waterway restaurants

Alabama Theatre (at Barefoot)

Waterway cruises

Pier

Like I said, I%26#39;m sure that NMB has a few more things to offer than I%26#39;m missing out on, but I would say with kids...Myrtle Beach would be my choice.

:)

Also ... North or not?

Yes i Agree NMB is just more for oldder people wanting to be away from crowds. it%26#39;s more of quite secluded place MB is alot beter for kids, and alot more fun.

Too add to your confusion, there are two areas referred to as ';north'; Myrtle Beach. At the far north end of the Grand Strand is the city of North Myrtle Beach. It%26#39;s made up of four sections. Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Cresent and Windy Hill.

In between NMB and Myrtle Beach is another area. Kings Road, Lake Arrowhead and Arcadian Shores are in this area. It has seen heavy development in the last 20 years and is often referred to as ';north'; Myrtle Beach. You%26#39;ll find your newer accommodations and long lists of amenities around here. It is away from the busy part of Myrtle Beach and is very kid freindly.

I%26#39;ve been to the beach as a kid, a parent and last several years a grandparent. Here%26#39;s my opinion. Don%26#39;t shoot me if you disagree.

A lot depends on age of the kids. Toddler to early teens (12-13) I%26#39;d lean towards North Myrtle Beach. (Cherry Grove,Ocean Drive,Cresent,WindyHill)

Less crowds. Easier to keep eye on the kids. More relaxing for the parents.

Less traffic. No through traffic. Mostly local. Vacationers driving to and from their rentals. No ';cruisers';. No major attractions to draw more traffic into the area. Great for evening walks to dairy bar with kids for ice cream or bike rides during the day.

Plenty of ';kiddie'; attractions out on Rt17. Short drive to the major attractions like Barefoot and Broadway.

As kids get a little older (11-12)it%26#39;s safe to let them roam a little. They get the feel of a little independence but there%26#39;s little they can get into. Things usually start to quiet down around ten pm.

With older teens (14-17)Myrtle Beach would be the best. More ';action';. Watch the cars cruising the strip. Watch the girls or boys. Whichever the case may be. More attractions that they can walk to without parental supervision.

To the south of Myrtle Beach are Surfside and Garden City. Both are very similar to NMB.

No doubt, there are more attractions and amusements in Myrtle Beach vs. North Myrtle. I take my family to Cherry Grove section of N. Myrtle everytime, however. Our primary attraction is the beach, and to me, the beaches are more appealing (cleaner, less crowded) in North Myrtle Beach, especially in Cherry Grove. Myrtle beach is about 30 minutes away, so still an option from the north. If your priority is amusements, rides, arcades, etc...stay in Myrtle....if the beach and a more relaxed atmosphere is what you are looking for, no brainer...North Myrtle.

By the way, North Myrtle Beach is not ';just for older people';. Families, for the most part, stay in North Myrtle. Accomodations (condos, houses) offer more room at better prices than the typical accomodations in Myrtle. Many families prefer to spend quality time at the beaches, rather than running through arcades, rides, and amusements.

Totally agree with gator.....(of course I%26#39;m biased because our condo is in the Little River area!).....my 2 cents worth....

Stay in the NMB/Little River area where rates are much more attractive and spend your beach time up on the barrier islands in Brunswick County. Sunset Beach is only 15 or 20 minutes away...Ocean Isle a little farther, but the beaches are just so much less crowded, more relaxing, clean, no high rises...etc. You just might like it!

Gerry -- beachesandbunkers.com

Just wondering where the waterway restaurants are in North Myrtle beach and any recommendations.

JLF,

They are in Calabash NC, just a short drive from North Myrtle.

One of are favorites is a place called Dockside Restaurant.

Here is a link that might help you.

www.townofcalabashnc.com/pages/18/index.htm

Other waterway restaurants in the NMB area are Greg Normans Grill and T Bones in Barefoot Landing (yep, thats the intercoastal waterway there)...then up in Little River one of my favorites there at the waterfront is Crabcatchers. I love there fish fry there! Of course a few other great options there is Cockney Cheddars and Capt Juels.

:)

Calabash seafood is fresh, and most restaurants are on the water, but everything is fried and atmosphere at restaurants not much to speak of (in my opinion).