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One thing my family loves to do is plan cheap trips! The best time to hit the beach on a budget is Spring/Fall. We decided to check out Myrtle Beach. With so much to see and do it is no wonder, we had such a fantastic spring Myrtle Beach vacation!
Skip to What You Want
- How to Plan an Amazing Spring Myrtle Beach Vacation
- Captain’s Quarters Resort Overview
- A Display of Patriotism During Our Roadtrip to Captain’s Quarters
- First Impressions of Captain’s Quarters – Myrtle Beach, S.C.
- Amazing Spring Myrtle Beach Vacation at Captain’s Quarters – (Vacation Summary)
- WeWHPH’s List of Things You Must Do at Myrtle Beach!
How to Plan an Amazing Spring Myrtle Beach Vacation
1. Use a Mapping Tool
The first thing we do is look at Google Maps to see how far away our destination is. Luckily for us, Myrtle Beach was only 6 and a half hours away from home.
2. Youtube the Destination
Next, if we have never been to the destination, we YouTube it to get ideas of what to do. This is my favorite part aside from actually experiencing it.
I love getting other families’ perspectives. You get great ideas of where to go, and what to do.
We found out that there is a ton to do in Myrtle Beach.
3. Create an Itinerary
Usually, when it is our first visit to a location, we don’t plan too much. We try to take it all in and explore all that we can.
4. Get Motivated and Excited
Once we get familiar with an area/destination, then we start planning in greater detail. We pulled up one YouTube video that gave us an aerial view by drone.
It got the whole family excited to check this beach out.
5. Things to Consider When Booking a Hotel
Once the destination is chosen, and we’ve done a bit of research on what to do, we book our hotel. This can be tricky if you are not familiar with the area.
Safe Location
We have a four-year-old daughter, so we want to be sure we are in a pleasant and safe environment.
Price vs. Value
Look for the low price and best value that is close to the boardwalk.
Captain’s Quarters Resort Overview
We finally settled on a place called Captain’s Quarters Resort.
Captain’s Quarters Resort Main Aquatic Attractions:
- Multiple pools (indoor/outdoor)
- Indoor lazy river Various whirlpools
- Island pool
- Outdoor Bar/Snack Area
- Infant-to-Small Children pirate area called Shipwreck Lagoon
Since we were planning our trip for the beginning of April, we wanted to be sure our daughter could swim indoors if the weather were too cold.
Other Captain’s Quarters Resort Attractions:
Captains Quarters Resort also has a bowling alley, and a breakfast buffet restaurant called Vista 9.
The resort wasn’t right on the main boardwalk but didn’t seem like too far of a walk. We booked – checking in on Thursday, April 5th and checking out on Sunday, April 8th.
Our planning gave us three days to check out the area and see what Myrtle Beach had to offer.
A Display of Patriotism During Our Roadtrip to Captain’s Quarters
We packed up and headed out around 10:00 am. (That put us in Myrtle Beach around 5 pm which was perfect as check-in was after 4:00 pm.) Our drive was nice.
On our way to the beach, while driving on highway 95 in North Carolina, we saw the most fantastic display of American Spirit for a fallen soldier.
For miles, on every overpass, we saw Fire Trucks, EMT, and law enforcement showing their patriotic spirit.
Also, along the sides of the highway itself were gathering spectators and news crews paying homage. It was a beautiful sight to behold and renewed my faith in this amazing country.
First Impressions of Captain’s Quarters – Myrtle Beach, S.C.
We finally arrived at our destination, Captains Quarters Resort and checked in. We were on the 6th floor of the resort.
When you got off the elevator on the 6th floor, our room was right in front of us.
This building was fascinating as we stayed in the updated addition to the original which yielded a view of the ocean from our doorway to our balcony.
We were positioned on the corner, so we were able to see the ocean and also a large part of Myrtle Beach including one of the piers and Amusement Park.
We were in an efficiency style room which included…
- Kitchen
- Oven
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Cupboards w/ dishes
- Living room
- Couch
- Desk
- Table/chairs
- Pull-out bed in the wall
- Bedroom
- Separate from the main area
- Two beds
- Bathroom and Vanity Room
- Balcony w/ Ocean View
So, if you are on a budget, stock up the fridge to make meals before you head out. The local Walmart was only about 10 -15 minutes away!
Amazing Spring Myrtle Beach Vacation at Captain’s Quarters:
Day 1
Once we got all settled in it was about 6:00 PM. We decided to head to the beautiful beach.
It was in the lower 60’s and beautiful out. There were people all over the beach, but we could tell it probably gets a whole lot busier in the summer.
We had a lovely walk along the beach with the waves crashing at our feet.
The family and I walked all the way up to one of the piers. We took some excellent photos and decided to walk the street back to see what we could find.
On our way back, we saw an awesome amusement park and water park. Family Kindom Amusement park opens to the public in March.
The waterslide park aka, Splashes Water Park opens in May.
It was a little chilly for us as the sun was going down, but people were on the water rides in the Family Kindom Amusement Park and looked like they were having a blast!
What We Saw During Our Myrtle Beach Vacation: Day 1
Friendly’s at Myrtle Beach!!!
We saw Friendly’s, which my husband and I loved as we used to have one in our small town of Alliance, Ohio until it closed down. [We did not stop here but regret not doing so as we miss those Reese’s Sundae’s.]
Souvenirs Shops on North Ocean Blvd | Myrtle Beach, S.C.
We stopped into a couple of souvenir shops to see what they had before heading back to our room.
Swimming at Captain’s Quarters Resort – Myrtle Beach
Bella wanted nothing more than to swim in the pool at Captain’s Quarters Resort. We ran to our room quickly to change and grab our wristbands that the resort requires you to wear when going to the pools, bowling alley, and restaurants.
We jumped into the indoor lazy river first of course.
The air was chilly in April, as they had windows open, but the water was heated and warm. We played in the lazy river for a bit and then headed to the indoor pool.
It was pretty busy there, but our daughter had a blast.
When we got out, we were freezing from the cold air coming in through the windows.
We hurried back to our room for the night.
Loco Gecko for Dinner
We decided to order some chili fries from the resort restaurant Loco Gecko for an evening snack as all that walking and swimming made us all hungry.
It was about 10:00 pm and our daughter was done for the night and crashed on the couch watching cartoons.
My husband and I decided to sit out on the balcony for a while to listen to the waves and get some peace.
We could hear the waves crashing, but what I loved about our little spot on the corner, we could see the hustle and bustle of the main street.
It was all lit up, and we could look at the planes taking off and landing at the Airport. We hung out there for a while before heading to bed ending our first night at Myrtle Beach.
Day 2
Day two we were up and ready to go early. We got dressed, grabbed some breakfast from Captain’s Quarters Resort Buffet and decided to walk the street side for a bit to see what we could get into.
Walking the North Ocean Boulevard
We walked North Ocean Boulevard street, Northbound, for a while walking again past the Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Splashes water park, souvenir shops, and restaurants.
Beach Path From Second Avenue Pier to the Boardwalk
We were able to see an impressive walkway overlooking the beach, so we decided to continue our walk with an ocean view. This walkway was, and we started our journey at the second avenue pier.
The beach path was winding with palm trees outlining the walkway.
We could have walked it for hours.
It was not busy at all, passing a few people here and there.
There were great photo opportunities along the way. There were informational posts along the way with tidbits of history.
For example, one post talked about Hurricane Hazel that hit Myrtle Beach in 1954.
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
Our winding palm tree-lined path finally led us to the main Myrtle Beach boardwalk. It was lined with all sorts of different flags.
We could see a giant Ferris wheel in the distance. There were lots of shops and places to stop for a bite to eat or a cold drink… or three!
Lunch With a View – Oceanfront Bar and Grill | Myrtle Beach, S.C.
We decided to stop at Oceanfront Bar and Grill.
They had the best cheese fries and the biggest burgers I’ve ever seen.
I would recommend coming hungry!
We decided to eat in the sun outside at a picnic table overlooking the ocean. It was so peaceful and again not too many people around, so it was very relaxing.
RipTydz Photo Opportunity
We stopped at a neat little place called RipTydz and took some cool pictures on large lawn chairs that also had Myrtle Beach on them.
Great photo opportunity!
I Love Sugar High – A Great Spot for Tasty Treats
Walking back, we again took the street view to see what we could find. They had a cool place called I Love Sugar.
When you stepped inside it was all things candy!
Anything you can think of, and they most likely have it.
If you have a sweet tooth, I would recommend checking this place out.
It’s a child’s dream! Or an adult that still acts like a child!
We walked into a souvenir shop called Lazy Parrot- Coastal Lifestyle. They had charming gifts if you were looking for anything beachy!
We walked past Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze and had to check it out.
Our four-year-old daughter was kind of scared at first, but it was pretty fun.
We also got discounted tickets to Ripley’s Aquarium.
The Aquarium is about 15 minutes away from the main beach, so we decided to check it out on our way home.
They also had Ripley’s Haunted Adventure Laser Strike, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and Ripley’s Moving Theater 5D. We did not check these out this trip but will be coming back soon to check out.
We headed back to our room to find we were sunburnt and exhausted.
My daughter was safe as I always cover her with sunscreen, but assumed since it wasn’t scorching, my husband and I would be ok.
I was wrong if you’re going to be in the sun – always wear sunscreen.
Especially if you are Irish and pale skinned like me! 🙂
We headed back to our room for a little afternoon nap.
When we woke, we decided to head to the bowling alley to play a game. It was our daughter’s first time bowling.
When you book a room at Captain’s Quarters, you get one free game of bowling.
You have to pay for shoes which were $4.00 each.
We got a lane with bumper guards so our four-year-old daughter could play and not get gutters each time.
They had very light bowling balls for the little ones, and also a cute dinosaur that they could put the bowling ball on that would slide down so their shots would go down the lane fast.
Our daughter had the best time ever.
There was loud music playing, and she was dancing the night away. She had such a good time.
She beat her Dad for her first game! Not bad at all baby girl! 🙂
There is also a very nice bar inside the bowling alley and some arcade games. After our fun bowling adventure, we headed back to our room. We ordered some pizza, and my husband and I had some drinks to end day two!
Day 3
Day three was going to be a rainy day. The rain wasn’t supposed to hit until the afternoon, so we made sure to hit the beach.
It was in the upper 60’s lower 70’s so it was nice and warm. We got our swimsuits on, but the ocean was freezing. Our family just put our feet in it and played in the sand.
Our duration out there was about two hours. It was gorgeous and relaxing. We even found a jellyfish.
We then headed back to Shipwreck Lagoon at our resort and let our daughter play for a while. She loved it! There is a big pirate ship that the kids can run thru.
The water is 1 foot deep. There are also a few buckets that fill with water and drop on your head. We all got soaked!
I dried off in one of the resorts amazing sitting hammocks. Sitting, relaxing and looking at the beautiful ocean.
Loco Geckos | Enjoying a Street-Side Lunch
After our fun morning and early afternoon playing in the water, we decided to get some lunch. We went to the resort restaurant Loco Geckos.
We ordered the best Nachos for the table.
They were huge.
Again, we ordered some burgers and fries, and couldn’t finish our meal. They pile it on your plate in Myrtle Beach. The food was fantastic. We decided to eat outside again.
As we were finishing up, we saw the rain clouds heading in.
We got out of there just in time as it started pouring down rain. All of that food and rain made us all very tired; we ended up taking a good long nap.
When we woke up, it was still raining.
We were not going to be doing anything outside for the rest of the night. So we decided to head to the car and see what we could find.
Hollywood Wax Museum | 21st Avenue North
We drove past the Hollywood Wax Museum. It looked awe-inspiring from the outside. We did not check it out on this trip but will be checking it out in the future.
Pirates Voyage | North Kings Highway
Myrtle Beach also has a relaxed dinner and show theater called Pirates Voyage. We will be checking this out during our next trip as well. We googled it and looked like people like it and have a great time.
Myrtle Beach Mall | North Kings Highway
We decided to check out the Myrtle Beach Mall. We walked around for something to do on this rainy day. They have a huge Bass Pro Shop at their local mall. It was nice looking around here.
After walking around for a bit, we stopped at a bookstore at the mall for some frozen yogurt before heading back to our room for the night.
Please note – The best thing you can do when something does not go right on your trip, in this case, rain during a short beach trip, is find creative ways to make it fun! Don’t let anything ruin your trip.
We all work hard, so when it is time for you to relax with your family, don’t let anything get in the way. You can always make the best out of any situation!
Day 4… Check-Out Day
We got up early, packed and checked out of our room, and although we had to leave the resort, we were not quite ready to head home yet.
It was a beautiful sunny morning, so we decided to pay $5.00 to park near the main boardwalk to get in some more beach time before we headed home.
We headed into a couple of souvenir shops. I had started to collect magnets of all the places we have been and had to be sure to get my magnet before we left.
Lunch at Moe Moon’s Beach Grill and Chill
After that, we decided to get an early lunch. We stopped at a cool place right on the boardwalk called Moe Moon’s Beach Grill and Chill.
We had a beautiful ocean view.
The food was terrific. I wanted to try their fishbowl drinks but decided against it since we were leaving in a few hours. #DrinkResponsibly
We will be back to try it! I recommend their Philly cheesesteak – it was fantastic.
Pier 14 – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
After lunch, we headed to Pier 14 on the boardwalk. We paid $1.00 a person to walk the Pier. We got some awesome pictures on Pier 14 and some great pics of Myrtle beach from the back of the Pier.
There is also an affordable souvenir shop on the Pier to remember your Myrtle Beach vacation.
After the Pier, we had to head to the beach to get some shells for our daughter. We found some pretty good shells by Pier 14.
It looks like April is a good month and the shells are not picked over!
Ripley’s Aquarium Myrtle Beach
Rounding off our Myrtle Beach vacation, we said goodbye to the beach and headed back to our car.
We had one last stop to make – Ripley’s Aquarium. Besides the beautiful ocean, this was my favorite place on this trip!
It was amazing.
Click here for a full review of our visit to Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach with images.
Wrapping It Up…
Overall, this was a fantastic first visit to Myrtle Beach for us. There is so much to do here, and we will be going back.
A few more things we found but didn’t have time to do – Broadway At the Beach, Pavilion Park, is an excellent amusement park with over 20 rides for everyone in the family.
There is The Track at Myrtle Beach. Some attractions they have are Go-Karts, an Arcade, a Carousel, etc.
Myrtle Beach also hosts a thrilling boat ride called the Sea Screamer. They guarantee dolphin sightings.
Just some fresh ideas for your next Myrtle Beach getaway.
WeWHPH’s List of Things You Must Do at Myrtle Beach!
- Visit
- Photo Opportunities
- Pier 14
- Riptydz for a big chair photo
- Dine at
- Moe Moon’s Beach Grill and Chill
- Loko Gecko
Give Us Your Story!
Have you ever had an amazing spring Myrtle Beach vacation?
Please share with us your experiences, photos or amazing tips to assist others in getting the most value out of this trip.
Use the Comment’s section below.
We loved this trip to Myrtle Beach! If you have any places that you know of that we should visit in the future – let us know!