Hotel at a Glance: Bay View Resort

The Bay View Resort is located right along the 1.2-mile Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade, putting guests in prime position for relaxing by the ocean or enjoying the fishing, food, and fun at the nearby Second Avenue Pier. Back at the resort, you can spread out in your spacious guest room or make a splash in the large indoor pool complex.

• In-room amenities: free WiFi, private balconies with views of the ocean or city, and kitchens (in suites and condos only)
• Movie marathon: You’ll have access to free unlimited DVD rentals during your stay.
• Water features: The resort’s indoor pool features a hot tub and a lazy river and there’s also an outdoor splash deck.
• Onsite pick-me-up: Stop by the resort’s Starbucks for an extra shot of fuel.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Sandy Beaches, Golf Courses, and Classic Amusement-Park Rides

Myrtle Beach is the crown jewel of South Carolina’s Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of white-sand beaches along the Atlantic seaboard that draws surfers, fishers, and kayakers. The city was named one of the best vacation spots in the United States for a family by USA Today, in part because of its wooden boardwalk, which stretches for more than a mile and buzzes with carnival games and amusement-park rides. Hop into the SkyWheel Ferris wheel’s gondolas, surrounded by more than a million LED lights, for a panoramic view of the city below.

Less than 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach, the tiny fishing village of Murrells Inlet provides a tranquil contrast to the boardwalk’s hustle and bustle. At Brookgreen Gardens, more than 2,000 sculptures stand amid sprawling floral gardens and massive, moss-covered oak trees that have been around for centuries. Murrells Inlet is also home to the Tom Fazio–designed TPC Myrtle Beach golf course, 1 of nearly 100 courses in the area that helped Myrtle Beach earn its title as the seaside golf capital of the world.