Carolinas, Georgia & South Trips (Lonely Planet, 1st Edition) - Alex Leviton [87]
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SEASIDE SHOPPING
The Grand Strand is a major outlet shopping destination - some visitors never even set foot on the beach. Barefoot Landing, in North Myrtle Beach, has shops, restaurants, clubs and more surrounding an artificial lake. Tanger Outlets has discount branches of higher-end shops like BCBC, Banana Republic and Ralph Lauren. Coastal Grand Mall is home to traditional names like Gap and Sunglass Hut, plus the 14-screen Cinemark Theater. Broadway at the Beach includes a NASCAR theme park and a dozen nightclubs.
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Finish your trip with a morning jaunt to blushingly beautiful Georgetown, another 15 minutes further south. South Carolina’s third-oldest town was a thriving port long before America was a country. Now faded into a pleasantly sleepy old age, Georgetown makes a nice stop for lunch and a stroll through the gardenia-scented lanes. Drive along streets shaded by massive oaks, gawking at colonnaded mansions once owned by area merchants and indigo planters. The rainbow-colored 19th-century storefronts of Front St, overlooking the bay, practically beg you to take their picture.
Emily Matchar
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TRIP INFORMATION
GETTING THERE
From Wilmington, NC, take Hwy 17 south towards Myrtle Beach. After about 40 miles, turn left at Thomasboro Rd, then right at Beach Dr into Calabash.
DO
Brookgreen Gardens
This subtropical paradise is a garden, a sculpture museum, a zoo and a nature center in one. 843-235-6000; www.brookgreen.org; 1931 Brookgreen Dr, Murrells Inlet; adult/child $12/5; 9:30am-5pm
Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede
This dinner show involves live buffalo, trained ostriches and buckets of sequins. 800-433-4401; www.dixiestampede.com; 8901-B Hwy 17 N, Myrtle Beach; adult/child $40/20; 6pm & 8pm;
Dragon’s Lair Fantasy Golf
Putt through a fake castle at this medieval-themed course, part of the massive Broadway at the Beach mall. 843-913-9301; www.broadwayatthebeach.com; 1325 Celebrity Cir, Myrtle Beach; adult/child $7.50/7; 10am-11pm
Family Kingdom
Do a surf n’ turf afternoon at this two-in-one amusement and water park. 843-626-3447; www.family-kingdom.com; 300 S Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach; admission $32.35; hrs vary, amusement park open late in summer
Fat Harold’s Beach Club
Dance the shag with graying beach bunnies to groovy 1950s “beach music.” 843-249-5779; www.fatharolds.com; 212 Main St, North Myrtle Beach; 4pm-2am
Myrtle Beach Water Sports
Rent a jet ski, take a dolphin tour or go parasailing with this multi-location outfitter. 843-497-8848; www.myrtlebeachwatersports.com; 5835 Dick Pond Rd, Myrtle Beach; parasailing $60
EAT & DRINK
Dead Dog Saloon
Sip something bright pink and rum-filled or lie in the hammock of this rambling waterfront bar and grill, a favorite with bikers. 843-651-0664; www.deaddogsaloon.com; 4079 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet; mains $7-22; 11am-11pm, bar open later
Russell’s Seafood Grill
A mellow crowd of regulars down oysters on the porch of this family-run seafood joint, across from the inlet. 843-651-0553; 4700 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet; mains $19-28; 4-10pm Mon-Sat
Seafood Hut
Wash down platters of fried shrimp, oysters and scallops with sweet tea at this loveably dumpy local favorite. 910-579-6723; 1125 River Rd, Calabash, NC; mains $5-12; 11am-9pm Tue-Sun
SLEEP
Landmark Resort
This vaguely Caribbean-themed behemoth has “the South’s largest indoor pool complex.” 800-845-0658; www.landmarkresort.com; 1501 S Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach; r from $99
Pawleys Island Realty
Book anything from a double-wide trailer to a multistory oceanfront “cottage.” Some units have one-week minimum in high season. 843-237-4257; www.pawleysislandrealty.com; per night/week from $200/1000
USEFUL WEBSITES
www.discoversouthcarolina.com
www.myrtlebeach.com
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LINK YOUR TRIP www.lonelyplanet.com/trip-planner
TRIP
8 Southeastern Beach Getaways
15 Pirates of the Outer Banks
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Return to beginning of chapter
TRIP 25
South Carolina Upcountry