How to Do a Weekend in Myrtle Beach (Without the Kids)

In South Carolina, everyone knows Myrtle Beach as the perfect family destination with more than enough to keep little ones entertained, but what about the adults? As it turns out, there are plenty of activities for the older crowd to enjoy on their own. From laid-back spa treatments to challenging water sports and everything in between, here’s how to enjoy a weekend in Myrtle Beach that’s a little more grown up.

How to Do a Weekend in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Friday

Once you check into your hotel, take your time to settle in and enjoy your surroundings. If you’re staying at a large resort like the Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes, you’ll want some time to explore the hotel’s enormous pools or take a quick break in one of the pool-side hammocks.

When you finally feel settled, start your night with a little adventure to La Belle Amie Vineyard to enjoy the “Wine Down” every Friday until 4:30. You can head inside for a tasting or just relax in the yard with a glass to enjoy the live music and backyard comforts in this beautiful setting just north of Myrtle Beach. By now, any stress you might have felt before your weekend in Myrtle Beach should be totally dissipated, fully preparing you for the exciting two days ahead.

For dinner, head to one of the newest and most buzzed-about restaurants in town, Hook & Barrel, the first 100 percent sustainably sourced restaurant in Myrtle Beach. With a casual seaside ambience, complete with beautiful jellyfish chandeliers, this is a great place to experience fresh seafood. I recommend grabbing a seat at the bar and ordering the oyster stew, which you can watch them prepare right in front of you.

Saturday

This will be a big day, so stop in at Croissants Bistro and Bakery (there are two locations in town) to grab a quick breakfast before heading to North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex to get your adrenaline going bright and early. At Shark Wake Park, you can go wakeboarding in an environment that is not only perfect for beginners, but also tons of fun for more experienced wakeboarders. Unlike wakeboarding behind a boat, the park’s unique cable pulley system allows you to ride in a controlled environment to get a feel for the sport. Or, if you prefer, you can watch the pros showing off their tricks from the sideline bar. If water sports aren’t your thing but you’re still looking for some excitement, check out the Go Ape obstacle course right next door to the wake park.

After a morning of adrenaline, grab lunch for the road and drive about 45 minutes south to Murrells Inlet, a nearby gem that offers plenty of attractions far from Myrtle Beach’s main tourist hot spots. You can explore the lovely sculptures and majestic oak trees at Brookgreen Gardens or lie out on the sand at less-crowded Huntington Beach State Park. And when the sun starts to set, you can head to the MarshWalk, a strip of restaurants along the marsh that offers a lively nightlife scene on the weekend and a variety of cuisines to choose from. I recommend The Wicked Tuna for an elevated dining experience where you can look for pelicans nesting above the marshes.

Sunday

After an adventure-fueled Saturday, take a moment to relax by indulging in a spa treatment. If staying at the Marriott, the full-service Hibscus Spa offers a variety of treatments from massages to body scrubs, right downstairs from your hotel room. It opens early, so it’s easy to fit in a treatment before you need to check out.

Before ending your weekend in Myrtle Beach, make sure to head down to the main strip to squeeze in a ride on the SkyWheel and let the views of the Atlantic Ocean sink in before heading home.

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Jamie Ditaranto visited Myrtle Beach as a guest of Visit Myrtle Beach. Follow her on Twitter @jamieditaranto.