Typical waves in the summer are around the knee-high mark, making it a great size for relaxed surfing or even body boarding. During the summer months, you can expect lighter winds early in the morning, and shifting winds later around noon to a more southeasterly direction. They winds can be anywhere from 10-20 knots.

The prime time to catch some surfing here in Myrtle Beach is the later summer months, into the fall. You especially won’t be disappointed if the year’s hurricane season was fairly active. In these seasons, the waves are often way over your head!

Many people often ask why the waves here in Myrtle Beach aren’t as impressive as some other areas, but looking at a map will give you the answer. You’ll find that Myrtle Beach is actually an island, separated from the continental shelf slightly. This makes our seascape more of a bay type area. The waves become more powerful the closer the seashore is to the continental shelf.

If you are learning to surf, Myrtle Beach is a perfect place! And while you can catch some great waves here, if you want more action with more difficulty, head down to Folly Beach in Charleston and see the difference. It’s just a short drive from Myrtle Beach, and you could enjoy the history and other attractions of that area and still get back to your condo in short order. The seashore in Charleston is not a bay area like Myrtle Beach, so the waves tend to be bigger there.

We might not ever be Hawaii or Fiji when it comes to being a big surfing destination, but Myrtle Beach does offer lots of fun for those wanting a laid back and fun surfing experience! Bring your kids, a board, some fins, and come get your surf on here in America’s favorite beach! If you need more info about the wave action here in Myrtle Beach, check out www.swellinfo.com.

Whenever possible, skip the cash and carry your debit card instead. Our society has pretty much been revolving around debit bankcards for a long time now, so this is by far the safest way to go. Banks are offering more ways than ever to protect against I.D. fraud and theft, so educate yourself on the steps to take should anything happen to your card. Also, there are ATM machines virtually everywhere now, so you can always withdraw some cash when needed. Keep in mind, however, that there are usually small charges for using ATM machines that do not belong to your home bank. These charges generally range from $1.50 to $3.00.

There’s always the old standby of travelers checks! They still spend like cash money and they are safe because they require two signatures—one when you get them dispensed to you and another matching signature at the time of purchase. Your bank can issue travelers checks free of charge in most cases.

Finally, if you do carry cash around, don’t carry a lot of it at one time. Keep it in a plastic bag inside your shoe if you’re not wearing flip-flops, or you can get a money belt so the cash is on your person at all times, rather than a pocketbook that can be left sitting around. There are people who prey on unsuspecting tourists, so don’t let it happen to you! Best advice here is to carry as little cash as possible and keep your debit and credit cards close to your body. Know what to do in the case of theft and remember that the sooner you report it, the more likely you will be to recover a stolen credit card.

Myrtle Beach is known for being a safe destination, but like any other tourist destination, there are plenty of people out there who will jump at the chance to steal your hard earned money, so don’t give them any opportunity. Follow these simple steps and enjoy your Myrtle Beach vacation!

Money Saving Tips

1.Look for oceanview, rather than oceanfront. Believe it or not, those few extra feet can mean drastic savings! Many off-ocean rentals still give you great views of the ocean, so you’re not really sacrificing anything, other than a few extra feet to walk to the beach. If you have young kids, a house is a better option due to the space and comfort. It also ensures that they are not in the direct path of the beach without your supervision. Go in together with family or friends and renting a beach house can save you some serious dough!
2.Try to book as early as possible to avoid peak-season rates. This is common sense that applies to about anything tourist related. The earlier you book your condo or house, the better deal you will get. If you are really flexible, you can also save lots of money by booking at the very last minute. The owners are anxious to get their units rented and will cut prices in order to not have it sit empty. Of course, this only works if you can jump in the car and go at the spur of the moment.
3.Make sure you choose a place that has a kitchen and washer/dryer. Doing laundry can get costly, so it’s best to get a unit where you can do this as you go. You will also save a lot by eating in rather than dining out in restaurants all the time!

These are just a few great ways to save on your Myrtle Beach vacation. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to take a family vacation! Why not save money early and then have extra to enjoy the attractions Myrtle Beach has to offer—you’ll be glad you did.

In the Myrtle Beach area:

Broadway At The Beach will be once again hosting their famous firework extravaganza over Lake Broadway in the middle of the complex. There is ample parking and tons to do, along with shopping and plenty of restaurants. The fireworks will start at 10pm.

On Wed, July 3rd, come to TicketReturn.com Field and enjoy the Myrtle Beach Pelicans baseball game and the fireworks display after the game. The Pelican ball field has lots of kid-friendly activities and a playground, as well as VIP rooms.

Surfside Beach Celebration. Surfside Beach does it right each year with live music and entertainment on the main stage at Surfside Drive and Ocean Blvd. from 6-10pm, followed by a spectacular fireworks show! Bring a lawn chair and a picnic and come celebrate Independence Day with us!

Murrells Inlet. This year’s 4th of July Boat Parade in Murrells Inlet will be the 30th annual parade of its kind and has become a favorite among Myrtle Beach locals and tourists alike. The festivities will take place at the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk and Veterans Pier, starting with the boat parade at 5pm at Garden City Point. Catch the fireworks at Veterans Pier beginning at 10pm.

North Myrtle Beach. Barefoot Landing will once again host the fireworks show at North Myrtle Beach. It will begin around 10:15pm over the Barefoot Landing lake. If you’re in the Cherry Grove area, their fireworks will begin around 9:00, or as soon as it gets dark. It will happen at the Cherry Grove Pier at 3500 North Ocean Blvd.

As you can see, there’s tons to do in Myrtle Beach on the 4th of July, so come out and celebrate our nation’s birthday with all of us here in Myrtle Beach, SC!! We have the best country in the world and so much to celebrate!

1.The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. Did you know that National Geographic has named our Boardwalk the #3 boardwalk in the nation? Just one of the reasons to enjoy the all new boardwalk. There’s plenty of music, concerts, restaurants, and treats for everyone. Or maybe you just want a romantic stroll with your sweetie….it’s great for that too!
2.Myrtle Waves. One of the East Coast’s largest water parks is right here in the heart of Myrtle Beach! You won’t run out of ways to stay cool or satisfy your desire for crazy thrill rides—Myrtle Waves has it all. Steep drops and dark tunnels or maybe just a lazy river ride is all you need….
3.Family Kingdom Amusement Park. This is a fixture here in Myrtle Beach! It’s been around for awhile and most of us here have a soft spot for the fun times as kids or adults riding all the rides. It’s located right by the ocean so your views from the rides are spectacular. If you’ve got kids, this is a great place because you can buy tickets per ride, rather than paying an enormous price to get in the park.
4.Broadway At The Beach. This is one of the gems of our town, and we locals enjoy it as much as the tourists do! Broadway At The Beach is a huge complex for all kinds of shopping, entertainment, movies, mini-golf, and even night life. And don’t forget the Pavilion Nostalgia Park, where you can ride some fo your favorite rides from the former Pavilion Park. Top off your night of fun with fireworks from Lake Broadway during the summer!
5.Pirates Voyage. This is quickly becoming a favorite among our tourist friends. A dinner theater which is in the theme of pirates, gets everyone involved and puts on a great show. Lots of water, food and fun for everyone!
6.Legends In Concert. The premier impersonation show! Catch your favorite stars in this fantastic show with some of the nation’s most talented singers and dancers.
7.Carolina Opry. The Carolina Opry has been around for more than 25 years and is still breaking records and setting standards as the south’s grandest variety show. A must-see show full of every genre of music, dancing and comedy.
8.Gay Dolphin Gift Cove. The Gay Dolphin has been around for several decades and is a landmark in Myrtle Beach. Located right on the ocean, it’s the nation’s largest gift shop with more than 70,000 items in their inventory. If you can’t find a souvenier to take home here, then something’s wrong with you!
9.The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel. The SkyWheel is our newest and most amazing attraction that has not only added beauty to our skyline, it has also given you a way to get the most spectacular views of Myrtle Beach! Take a ride in an air conditioned gondola and take in the views in this huge ferris wheel, much like the London Eye in London, England.
10. WonderWorks. Learn about all things scientific in this wacky upside down musem! Your kids will love it and so will you. It’s the perfect way to spend a rainy day here at the beach.

As you can see, Myrtle Beach has tons to offer, so grab your sunscreen, sense of adventure and a hearty appetite and come have a blast in the place that is the second most visited destination in the entire country!