7 ways to make the most of winter in myrtle beach
Winter in Myrtle Beach can be awfully cold. But it doesn’t have to be boring! The city actually can feel brand new because there is more freedom to explore areas that otherwise are just too busy for my liking. Here are some ways that we make the most of winter in Myrtle Beach (with kids)!
1. visit these parks (our winter time favs)
1. Savannah’s Playground | We’ll ride those zipline thingys for 10+ minutes in the off season! So nice to be able to move around here freely and more easily keep an eye on two kiddos.
2. GARDENS BY THE SEA | This park is small but we love visiting it because the ship feature makes it unique and it’s just cool to be swinging with a beach view. It also connects to a .7 mile walking trail along the beach.
3. NMB Park & Sports Complex | This one can get pretty busy in the summer too, especially if there are games at the complex. It’s also mostly unshaded so it’s nice to get the warmth of the sun if it’s a chilly day.
4. HBSP & MBSP PLAYGROUNDS | These, especially MBSP’s playground stay pretty busy in the summer because of camping families. It’s nice to enjoy them while the state park’s are less busy.
5. Barefoot Landing Playground | That thing is incredible but usually swamped. It’s a little better in the wintertime, take advantage!
2. hike & explore in nature
Mercifully winter usually means mosquitos aren’t a problem and let’s all say hallelujah for that. That makes exploring in nature, especially around water, much more pleasant. We’re working on rounding up some of the best places to hike/walk so check that out here.
I’d prioritize the trails at the state parks because those can get pretty bad in the summer. The Hulk and Cox Ferry is two more awesome spots!
3. eat at beach front restaurants
This is the time to eat at those beach-front restaurants! Parking is easier and the wait is manageable. And two big events happen in the off-season. SC Restaurant week is mid-January and MarshWalk Restaurant week is late February. RipTydz has locals appreciation month in January with Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays. Jeremiah’s Italian Ice has BOGO on Mondays in January.
Some oceanside (or very near) spots we love: Pizza Hyena, River City Cafe Surfside location, Snooky’s Oceanfront, Hot Fish Club on the Marshwalk, Neptune’s has the outdoor play ship and great views, and there are plenty more! Even other popular spots like Crooked Hammock BreweRY have happy hour deals this time of year that they don’t during peak season.
4. SHOP LOCAL & HIT THE TOURIST SPOTS
SHOP LOCAL | This is always a priority but especially in the off-season. You might have to seek out some favorites like the vendors from the Farmers Market. Find their FB or IG pages to see where they’re popping up or other places you can get their goodies while the markets are closed.
TOURIST SPOTS | It’s also fun to explore places like Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing, and the MB Boardwalk while there are so few people around. Now is the time to visit Ripley’s Aquarium, play Ripley’s Crazy Golf, play an outdoor putt-putt course and support our local play centers like STAR Academy.
5. still go to the beach!
It will always feel colder on the beach but winter does still offer us plenty of days in the 60s and even 70s. When those come we do not hesitate to head to the ocean.
We bring chairs and sand toys and just sit for a while. Also bring an extra change of clothes and plenty of beach towels because kids are crazy and will still get in the water.
6. look for deals on top attractions
Keep an eye out for special deals from attractions that see a lot less visitors in the off-season. For example, Patriots Point in Mt Pleasant just held a “Pay What You Can” weekend and I’ve seen a discount of up to 30% off for stays at Mansfield Plantation. Keep an eye on sites like Groupon and even if they don’t advertise an “off-season discount” you you can always ask!
7. visit our local museums & ed centers
We have some good indoor options for education, history, and art. We also have compiled a longer list of all our favorite indoor fun activities.
8. TAKE A DAY TRIP or an overnight!
We use January through March as prime time for some regional exploring. Day trips and quick overnights are excellent this time of year because hotels are more affordable and you can often get deals on attractions too.
