Myrtle Beach has been busy this off-season. The popular summer getaway destination welcomed a record-breaking number of visitors in 2022. Now, the city is gearing up for an even busier summer this year. With a freshly revitalized urban district, new visitor attractions, and exciting restaurant openings, Myrtle Beach is ready to welcome even more visitors in 2023.
Why People Love Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is a popular spot for all types of travelers. It’s not often you can find a place that caters to spring breakers, retirees, golfers, and families all at the same time. Couples visit for a romantic getaway and long walks on the beach. Families come for a range of affordable accommodations and a plethora of activities, while golfers have 90 courses to choose from. Beach bums can surf, swim, or lounge the day away on the area’s extensive beaches. Myrtle Beach really offers something for everyone.
With expectations for another record-breaking year ahead, Myrtle Beach is putting its best foot forward with these 6 new reasons to visit this year.
Revitalized Downtown
The heart of downtown Myrtle Beach is undergoing a major upgrade. City planners are working on jazzing up the area with new developments in the Arts and Innovation District. By making the area more walkable and sustainable, residents and tourists will be able to enjoy Myrtle Beach’s vibrant arts scene more easily. New stores and restaurants are on the way, as well as the restoration of the Broadway Theatre into a 300-person venue for the arts, although the theatre is not expected to open until 2024.
Surfside Beach Is Back
After suffering the near-total loss of its iconic pier in 2016 due to Hurricane Matthew, the town of Surfside Beach is finally rebuilding. This is not the first time the pier has been rebuilt. It was originally constructed in the 1950s and has been destroyed three other times.
Officials hope that the new pier, which will be stronger and safer than the last, will be able to withstand any future storms. Due to be completed in the next few months, the pier will be home to a new restaurant operated by the Surf Diner, Atlantic Restaurant Group. There are also three additional commercial spaces that will be leased out to other businesses.
Sloths, Illusions, And A Murder Mystery
One of the most popular Myrtle Beach activities for families is Ripley’s Aquarium. This fascinating underwater world allows visitors to come face-to-face with thousands of creatures. The aquarium features sea turtles, jellyfish, sharks, and everyone’s favorite – the penguins.
This spring, the aquarium will venture above the sea with the opening of Sloth Valley. The new sloth habitat will feature two-toed sloths. Sloth Valley will educate visitors on the slow-moving creatures and their threatened natural habitat. Other new Ripley’s attractions headed to Myrtle Beach include crazy golf (complete with zip-lining holes), an illusion lab, and a murder-mystery-themed Haunted Adventure.
More Fun For Everyone
Options for family fun in Myrtle Beach are endless and continue to grow each year. This spring, Stars and Strikes entertainment center will open a new $9 million, 52,500 square-foot facility chock full of fun activities. The most exciting element of the new Stars and Strikes attraction is augmented reality bowling. 24 interactive bowling lanes add a new high-tech element to a traditional sport by incorporating AR into the lanes.
Stars and Strikes will also have a massive arcade and a multi-story laser tag arena for added fun. Visitors looking for a different type of entertainment can even test out their axe-throwing skills or belly up to the sports bar for food and drinks.
Lumpia, Palabok, And Halo-Halo
Myrtle Beach is home to some amazing restaurants, and the new Kainan Filipino Eatery is no exception. This authentic and down-to-earth restaurant opened last year in Conway and serves up traditional Filipino dishes. For anyone who has never eaten Filipino food, it is a must-try. Popular dishes include lumpia – hand-rolled pork spring rolls, palabok – a noodle dish with shrimp, egg, and special sauce, and halo-halo – the popular Filipino dessert that is the perfect end to a day at the beach.
Sandwiches As Big As Your Face
Another new restaurant to put on your must-eat list is Don’s Deli, also in Conway. This family-run deli serves up massive mouth-watering New York-style sandwiches. Customers can’t get enough of “The Don” – a double-decker turkey, ham, and pastrami sandwich perfect for packing up for a beach picnic.
