Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - reflections

Tweet

Spent a couple days on my last trp in the area of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The drive down from the outer banks was interesting, and there was little to no traffic (not sure if that was because of COVID or what). We stayed at a nice ocean-front condo (rented by someone on AirBnB) that was right on the ocean, with great amenities, but really dated appearance and appliances and some "quirks". Also smelled like a building that people smoked in. Which, as a former smoker, I still don't enjoy being in. It had a nice patio though and was close to the pier, a lot of bars and restaurants, and a cute boardwalk. We spent a bit of time just walking around the boardwalk and piers, walking alongside the beach, getting bloody maries and cocktails at bars, eating a bunch, doing a small amount of souvineer shopping, and just bumming around. Myrtle Beach was also "out of tourist season" - just a smidge too cold to be swimming but in the mid-70's for a high, which felt great. Myrtle Beach was nice - food and drinks were surprisingly cheap - there were quite a few vagrants in arguments (etc) and panhandling on the boardwalk. I had also made the mistake in reading that Myrtle Beach had "higher than average" crime rates. Also, surrounding our condo was much seedier looking hotels (that advertised that they had a $30-$40 daily rate! So cheap, and they were ocean front! But who knows what they looked like inside). Our condo had a heated pool and a hot tub outside which we definitely used. What I DID notice in Myrtle Beach - is more vegetarian/vegan friendly than the other stops - also had a TON of jellyfish washed up on the shore. About every 4 feet on the beach was a dead jellyfish. (Later, I learned these were the kind called "cannonball jellyfish" - they have a distinct look, are popular in this area, and aren't as aggressive or toxic). I have to wonder if it's always like that (literally one hundred jelly fish on the shore in a mile or two). I would kind of fear swimming in the ocean, when weather permits, knowing there are all these jellyfish out there! A few cool areas I went to in the area of Myrtle Beach : Murrell's Inlet, and Waccamaw River. *Murrell's Inlet - if I would have had more time in the Myrtle Beach area, I would have definitely spent more time in this little town. Restaurants, a cute boardwalk, and more shopping than in Myrtle Beach - and felt safer. Felt more like a cuter, small fishing town. While we were there, we also took a fan boat/air boat ride on the nearby Waccamaw River which was a really cool thing to do. We didn't see any snakes or alligators (which I was secretly sad about). But it was cool to learn more about the area and take the boat ride around. Didn't do or see much else in Myrtle Beach, SC, but I would go again maybe "post-COVID". Seemed to maybe have more of a night life than other beach towns I have been to, and wasn't terribly priced. Those jellyfish though!! Have you been here, and if so, what was your impression?