When winter’s grip takes a firm hold up north, the “snowbirds” — travelers who head to warmer climes for extended periods during the year’s coldest days — head south. And among the top destinations for escaping the heavy snowfall and frigid temps of the northern regions is right here on our stretch of the Carolina coast, where a long list of the Grand Strand’s top attractions can be enjoyed with comparatively mild temperatures and relatively light off-season crowds.
Consider these five Myrtle Beach area activities that are perfect for snowbirds — and tons of fun no matter what time of year you visit:
Shopping: The opportunities to enjoy some retail therapy on the Grand Strand are quite plentiful (to say the least), and the overwhelming majority of the most popular shopping spots are accessible all year long. Among the great places to shop in the Myrtle Beach area are malls like Coastal Grand Mall and Myrtle Beach Mall; shopping/dining/entertainment complexes Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing and The Market Common; and retail outlets like Tanger Outlets’ two area locations — the Highway 501 outlet center and the Highway 17 outlet center.
SkyWheel Myrtle Beach: There aren’t many better views of the coastline to be found than the one that can be seen from this iconic, 187-foot-tall Ferris wheel in downtown Myrtle Beach — and riders can stay warm on the SkyWheel, too. Ready for passengers throughout the year, the attraction’s 42 glass-enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas provide a bird’s-eye view of not only the Atlantic Ocean, but also the Boardwalk and downtown Myrtle Beach. Learn more.
Walks on the beach: Sure, it may be far too chilly to hop in the water, but the winter months offer great opportunities for long strolls through the sand along the Myrtle Beach area oceanfront — and without any need to navigate your way around beach umbrellas, hop over spread-out towels or walk around beach-goers to avoid disturbing them. In fact, during winter visits, you’ll have over 60 miles of Grand Strand coastline nearly all to yourself for peaceful walks along the beach, beachcombing adventures, kite-flying outings, etc.
Delicious dining: On our 60-mile stretch of Carolina coastline, hungry visitors can find more than 1,700 restaurants that run the gamut from fresh-caught seafood to USDA Prime steaks and encompass popular international styles and flavors including American, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, French and more. No matter what kind of food your crew is craving (or how cold the weather is outside), you’re likely to find something in the Myrtle Beach area that’ll hit the spot — no matter what time of year you visit.
Ripley’s Aquarium Myrtle Beach: It may be frigid outside, but for lovers of marine life, this place is hot year-round. Featuring amazing attractions such as a 750,000-gallon shark tank, an Indo-Pacific coral reef filled with brightly colored tropical fish, and a hands-on multimedia playground where guests can learn about (and even touch) fascinating creatures such as horseshoe crabs and stingrays, Ripley’s Aquarium is sure to be a splash with your entire vacation crew.
Of course, the list of things for snowbirds to do and see on the Grand Strand is way longer thank five items long, even in the depths of winter. When you’re ready to heat up your winter, book an off-season stay at The Strand Resort on the Myrtle Beach oceanfront. With our wide range of fun amenities and comfortable and spacious accommodation options, we’ve got everything a snowbird needs to create some warm winter memories on the Carolina coast.
