Sand Dollar Vacation Rental · Caribbean Way

Your Local Area Guide
to Myrtle Beach

Everything you need to eat, explore, and unwind — curated by the hosts of Sand Dollar, your home base on the Grand Strand.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Steps from the beach

Myrtle Beach draws 20 million visitors a year — and for good reason. Sixty miles of warm Atlantic coastline, over 90 world-class golf courses, a boardwalk full of classic seaside fun, and a restaurant scene that can hold its own with any coastal city in the South.

Sand Dollar sits right in the heart of it on Caribbean Way, which means Family Kingdom Amusement Park is a two-minute walk, the Boardwalk is five minutes by car, and just about everything else is under twenty minutes away. This guide covers what we’d tell our own family and friends when they visit.


01

The Beach & Boardwalk

Your front yard. Sand Dollar is a short walk to the water — here’s how to make the most of it.

The beach at Caribbean Way is central Myrtle Beach at its best — wide, sandy, and far less crowded than the stretch near the Pavilion further north. Arrive before 9am or after 5pm for the quietest experience.

Free

The Beach at Caribbean Way

🚶 2–3 min walk from Sand Dollar

Your easiest and most-used amenity. Central Myrtle Beach has wide, gently sloping sand and calm enough surf for kids. The water is warmest July–September.

Tip: Beach supplies are provided at Sand Dollar — grab a chair and towel before you head out.
Free

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade

🚗 5 min · 1.2 miles of oceanfront walkway

One of the top-ranked boardwalks in the US. Stretches from 2nd Ave Pier to 14th Ave North, lined with arcades, restaurants, souvenir shops, and live music. The SkyWheel rises nearly 200 feet above it all.

Tip: Walk it at night — the SkyWheel lights up and the energy is electric. Go early morning to beat the crowds.
Family

Myrtle Beach SkyWheel

🚗 5 min · On the Boardwalk

One of the tallest Ferris wheels on the East Coast. Enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas for all ages. Sunset rides are particularly memorable. Adults from $19.99, kids 3–11 from $15.99, under 3 free.

Family

2nd Avenue Pier

🚗 4 min

A classic Grand Strand pier with fishing, unbeatable ocean views, and a rooftop bar with panoramic Atlantic outlook. Great for an early morning walk or a sunset cocktail.

Tip: Fishing rods available for rent — no license needed from the pier.
Free

Gay Dolphin Gift Cove

🚗 5 min · On the Boardwalk

A Myrtle Beach institution since 1946. Five floors of souvenirs, novelties, and everything beachy — the kids will want to spend an hour in here. Free to browse.

Family

Myrtle Beach State Park

🚗 10 min south

A pristine, less crowded stretch of beach inside a maritime forest park. Hiking trails, a fishing pier, and a nature center make this a full half-day outing.

Tip: The park beach is consistently cleaner and calmer than the main strip. Worth the short drive.

02

Family Attractions

Sand Dollar is surrounded by some of the best family entertainment on the East Coast.

One of the great things about staying on Caribbean Way is that Family Kingdom Amusement Park is literally next door. Within 15 minutes you have enough family attractions to fill a week.

Thrill Rides

Family Kingdom Amusement Park

🚶 2 min walk — right next door

Carolina’s biggest seaside amusement park, open since 1966. Over 35 rides including the iconic Swamp Fox wooden roller coaster — 72 feet high, 2,640 feet of track, and views of the Atlantic. Entry is free; pay per ride or buy an all-day wristband.

Tip: Wristband deals are cheaper online. Go weekday evenings for shorter lines.
Family

Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

🚗 6 min · Broadway at the Beach

One of the best aquariums on the East Coast. The centerpiece is Dangerous Reef — a 340-foot underwater tunnel where sharks and rays glide overhead. Ray Bay lets kids touch stingrays. Mermaid shows and glass-bottom boat rides too.

Tip: Book online for a discount. Allow at least 2–3 hours.
Family

Broadway at the Beach

🚗 10 min

350 acres of restaurants, shops, and entertainment on a lakefront. Home to Ripley’s Aquarium, WonderWorks, a rope course and zipline, live shows, and over 20 dining options.

Family

WonderWorks Myrtle Beach

🚗 10 min · Broadway at the Beach

The iconic upside-down building. Over 100 interactive science exhibits, a ropes course, laser tag, a 6D motion ride, and a roller coaster simulator. Great for rainy days.

Water Thrills

Myrtle Waves Water Park

🚗 8 min

The Grand Strand’s largest water park. Wave pools, high-speed slides, a lazy river, and a splash zone for younger kids. Open May through mid-September.

Tip: Arrive at opening (10am) to beat the afternoon rush.
Entertainment

Medieval Times & Pirates Voyage

🚗 12–15 min

Two beloved dinner-show institutions. Medieval Times combines a four-course feast with jousting. Pirates Voyage delivers acrobatics over a full-size indoor lagoon. Book ahead in summer.


03

Where to Eat

From fresh-off-the-boat seafood to local comfort food — our honest picks near Sand Dollar.

Myrtle Beach has over 1,700 restaurants. Murrells Inlet — 20 minutes south — is the Seafood Capital of South Carolina and worth a dedicated dinner trip.

Seafood & Local Favorites

$$$
Sea Captain’s House
Classic Seafood · Oceanfront

A Myrtle Beach institution for over 60 years, right on the beach. Known for award-winning She-Crab Soup and legendary seafood platters. Consistently earns OpenTable Diners’ Choice Awards.

She-Crab Soup, broiled seafood platter
$$$
Hook & Barrel
Upscale Seafood · Sustainable

Winner of a 2025 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Award — rated the top seafood restaurant in Myrtle Beach. Women-owned, sustainability-focused. Think lobster-stuffed flounder and house-made smoked fish.

Lobster-stuffed flounder, house chowder
$$
Mrs. Fish
No-Frills Local Seafood

Small, unpretentious, and packed with locals. Simple menu, honest prices, always fresh. If you want to eat like a Myrtle Beach resident, this is your spot.

Whatever the daily catch is
$$
Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood
All-You-Can-Eat Buffet

Eleven themed dining rooms including an open-air deck over the Intracoastal Waterway. The all-you-can-eat buffet is legendary — crab legs, shrimp, oysters, and more.

Go for the buffet — load up on crab legs

Casual & Family-Friendly

$$
River City Cafe
Burgers & Casual American

Famous for towering, creative burgers and peanut-shell-covered floors that kids love. Fun, unpretentious, and genuinely delicious. Multiple Grand Strand locations.

The signature burger, onion rings
$$
RipTydz Oceanfront Grille & Rooftop Bar
American · Oceanfront Views

On the Boardwalk with unbeatable rooftop views. Great for a sunset drink or a laid-back dinner watching the waves.

Fish tacos, something cold from the rooftop bar
$$
Peaches Corner
Classic Boardwalk Eats · Since 1937

The oldest restaurant on the Boardwalk. Hot dogs, burgers, and milkshakes in a tiny but beloved spot. Pure nostalgia.

Hot dog, chocolate shake

Worth the Drive South — Murrells Inlet

Twenty minutes south, Murrells Inlet is the real deal for seafood. The MarshWalk has a string of excellent waterfront restaurants.

$$
Dead Dog Saloon
Waterfront · MarshWalk

A MarshWalk anchor with great water views, a lively atmosphere, and solid seafood at honest prices. Live music most evenings.

$$$
Drunken Jack’s
Waterfront Seafood · MarshWalk

A Murrells Inlet classic with a beautiful deck over the inlet. Fresh local seafood, strong cocktails, and sunsets that justify the drive.

Lowcountry boil, any fresh fish special

04

Golf on the Grand Strand

Over 90 championship courses within 30 minutes. This is why serious golfers plan entire trips around Myrtle Beach.

Courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, and Pete Dye are all within easy reach of Sand Dollar. Two have earned Golf Digest’s Top 100 in the US.

CourseDistanceHighlightsLevel
Myrtlewood Golf Club10 minTwo championship 18-hole courses. Closest option to Sand Dollar.All levels
Myrtle Beach National Golf Club15 minThree award-winning courses designed by Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.Intermediate+
Arcadian Shores Golf Club15 minRecently renovated. Designed by Gene Hamm — one of the most attractive public settings on the Strand.All levels
Grande Dunes Golf Club20 minUpscale resort-style course with stunning Intracoastal Waterway views.Advanced
TPC Myrtle Beach25 minA Pete Dye design that hosted the Senior PGA Tour. One of the most prestigious layouts in the Carolinas.Advanced
TopGolf Myrtle Beach10 minMulti-level driving bay experience — great for mixed groups and non-golfers. Food and drinks included.Any skill

05

Nature & Hidden Gems

Beyond the Boardwalk — the quieter, wilder side of the Grand Strand that most visitors never find.

Most visitors stay on the main strip and miss what makes this coast genuinely special. These spots reward anyone willing to drive 20–30 minutes south.

01

Huntington Beach State Park

Consistently ranked one of the best state parks on the East Coast. Three miles of pristine, uncrowded shoreline backed by salt marshes teeming with herons, egrets, loggerhead sea turtles, and the occasional alligator. One of the top birding destinations on the entire Atlantic Seaboard.

02

Atalaya Castle

Inside Huntington Beach State Park — a 1930s Moorish-style castle built by sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington. Over 30 rooms, stone corridors, iron-barred windows, and courtyards that feel transplanted from another continent. Free with park entry.

03

Murrells Inlet MarshWalk

A half-mile boardwalk along the saltwater marshes, lined with the best seafood restaurants on the Grand Strand. Come for dinner, stay to watch the sunset over the inlet. Dolphins frequently spotted at dusk.

04

Brookgreen Gardens

One of the most remarkable outdoor spaces in the country — 9,000 acres of sculpture gardens, wildlife preserve, and native plant collections. Holds the largest collection of American figurative sculpture in the world.

05

Garden City Pier & Beach

Ten miles south, Garden City has a quieter, residential beach feel. The pier has live music, fishing, and arcade games. Far less crowded than central Myrtle Beach.

06

Black Flag Forge

A working blacksmith shop that doubles as a hands-on experience. Watch real metalwork up close and see molten steel hammered into shape. Surprisingly great for kids and adults alike.


06

When to Visit

Myrtle Beach is a year-round destination — here’s what each season offers.

🌿 Spring (March–May)

Locals’ favorite season. Temperatures in the 60s–70s°F, ocean starts warming, crowds manageable, and prices lower than summer. Golf is at its best — courses in perfect shape and tee times easy to get.

☀️ Summer (June–August)

Peak season. Ocean temperatures reach the low 80s°F, all attractions operating full hours, the Boardwalk at its most electric. Expect crowds and higher prices. Book Sand Dollar well in advance for July and August.

🍂 Fall (September–October)

The sweet spot. Ocean still warm, temperatures in the 70s°F, summer crowds gone, prices drop. The Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival is a September highlight. Ideal for golf and nature exploration.

❄️ Winter (November–February)

Mild winters — 50s–60s°F compared to most of the East Coast. Crowds minimal, restaurant waits disappear, prices at their lowest. Golf is excellent value.

Local events worth planning around: Myrtle Beach Marathon (February) · Carolina Country Music Fest (June) · Beach Boogie & BBQ (July) · Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival (September) · Myrtle Beach Bike Week (Spring & Fall)

Ready to experience
Myrtle Beach yourself?

Sand Dollar sleeps 16, has two living rooms, ocean views from every floor, and Family Kingdom next door. Check availability for your dates.

Check Availability at Sand Dollar →