Traveling to the beach in the winter on the Atlantic coast means low temperature ocean water and up-in-the-air weather. Laying on the beach and tanning in the sun may not happen in January. Kids wonder if they can splash in the water or build a sand castle, and the answer is I don’t know. We’ll see what the weather is like when we get there. In spite of these uncertainties, I enjoyed visiting Myrtle Beach in the winter. There is more room on the beach, less traffic on the road, and better accessibility to attractions. The key to visiting Myrtle Beach in the winter is all about planning.
Accommodations
During our most recent visit, we stayed at the oceanfront Crown Reef Resort and Waterpark. As a family of 6, this resort was a great choice for us. It is difficult to find affordable suite accommodations that will sleep 6 people. The suite that we stayed in would have slept up to 8!
The Crown Reef Resort has plenty of amenities for kids. The waterpark includes three water slides and a splash area, and there is an indoor pool, as well as an outdoor heated pool and lazy river. The resort also has a game room and several options for food and dining.
The Crown Reef Resort and Waterpark is certified by the Champion Autism Network, meaning that the management and staff of the resort has been trained on ways to give families an autism-friendly vacation experience.
Kitchenette with refrigerator, oven, and microwave for cooking meals
Waterpark
Heated pools
Oceanfront views
Game room
On site dining options
On site parking
Friendly and helpful staff
The back of the resort key card serves as a discount card for many local Myrtle Beach attractions.
See all of the properties available through Vacation Myrtle Beach here.
Weather
I can’t control the weather, but I can plan for it. About 7 days before our vacation, I research the weather. I do this first before planning any attractions. This allows me to see if the forecast is calling for any unusually warm days. These are always our beach days, and I like to plan around these. After penciling in the beach days, I can move on to planning the rest of our time.
Attractions
Our typical itinerary includes only one attraction per day. This allows for time to wander around town, play at the resort waterpark, shop, or walk the boardwalk. I do like some structure when we are on vacation, and I like to make sure that we have seen local sites, but packing a schedule too tightly doesn’t make anyone happy.
Ripley’s Aquarium at Myrtle Beach is a fun place for kids. Located in Broadway at the Beach, Ripley’s Aquarium offers several hours of educational entertainment for families. My daughter touched sting rays for the first time, and my son who is mesmerized by jellyfish was able to see an entire exhibit dedicated to his favorite ocean creature.
We caught a few of the shows at Ripley’s Aquarium, and the motorized walkway through the tunnel was fabulous!
