Myrtle Beach Archives - Laughing Lindsay

Myrtle Beach Shopping Guide

February 11, 2026 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

When I was planning my trip to South Carolina last year, I wish I had encountered a Myrtle Beach Shopping Guide. So, I thought I would post my own.

Myrtle Beach Shopping Guide

If you enjoy shopping, then Myrtle Beach is an ideal travel destination. There are loads of little shops along the beach. However, there’s also two outlet malls and two different shopping/entertainment districts. Given the popularity of those four locations, I’m going to focus on highlighting their differences to help you narrow down where you might want to spend your money and time.

Tanger Myrtle Beach – Hwy 17

The first place I want to discuss is the outlet mall on Highway 17. It was our top priority for shopping because it has a Disney Outlet! We love to hit up Disney Outlets to get discount park merch. We also liked that it had a Vera Bradley outlet. Unfortunately, on our visit the Victoria’s Secret store here was a regular one, not an outlet store. Additionally, this outlet mall seemed a touch nicer than the next one.

Tanger Myrtle Beach – Hwy 501

After striking out at the VS at Hwy 17, we headed over to the one at 501. As of spring 2025, the Victoria’s Secret at this outlet mall was a real outlet store with lots of discounted merch. This mall has a lot of overlap with the above outlet mall. However, it felt like it was more spread out and there were more crosswalks where you had to watch out for traffic.

Barefoot Landing

Barefoot Landing is a shopping/entertainment district in North Myrtle Beach. During our first trip here, they were in the process of building it. So, it was nice to re-visit it and see it completed. It’s a nicely themed, classy place to do some shopping and relaxing. It’s nice to sit and look out at the water. I also recommend grabbing a bite to eat at Blueberry’s Grill! We really enjoyed our breakfast here one morning! We also grabbed a couple of ornaments to remember this trip by at the Christmas Mouse!

Broadway at the Beach

Broadway at the Beach is another shopping/entertainment district. However, it’s in Myrtle Beach proper. As such, it is definitely more family friendly. We started our day here by visiting the Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach. There’s also a Pavilion Park Fun Park that has lots of amusement rides for kids to enjoy. So, if you are looking for something to entertain the kids while you shop, this is a great option!

Where should you go shopping in Myrtle Beach?

While there are lots of other little shops you can visit in Myrtle Beach, I think these are the four main options. I hope I’ve given you enough information to help you decide which places you should visit on your vacation. Where do you like to shop in Myrtle Beach?

A Look Back at 2025

December 31, 2025 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Since it’s the last day of the year, I thought I’d post a look back at 2025!

A Look Back at 2025

Well, back in 2024, I said that I wasn’t sure where 2025 would take me. However, I hinted at a bucket list trip to kick off the new year. That trip was to New York City with my husband! From there on, the year was filled with several last minute trips. I don’t particularly care for last minute trips and prefer to be more intentional with my trips. However, that’s just how some years go! In 2025, I managed to take 9 trips! Granted, several of those were quick 24-48 hour weekend trips. Nonetheless, I felt like I traveled too much in the first half of the year (6 trips) and slowed way down in the second half (3 trips). I also got sick in October and that lasted until late November (Covid that turned into bronchitis). So, that also slowed me down. I’m currently looking to plan some trips in 2026, just trying to narrow down my options. Here’s a look at where I’ve been in 2025 though.

New York at Christmas

My 2025 started with a bang! My husband and I visited NYC in early January to experience it at Christmas! I finally got to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in person! I also go to see the Rockettes perform! It was a quick 48 hours trip, but it’s one I think about often. I hope I get to return to NYC at Christmastime again someday.

Dollywood by Myself

In March, I made a real last minute trip to Dollywood… by myself! You see, I’m not much of a driver. It tends to cause me a lot of stress. So, this was the first trip I’ve taken where I drove myself! I knew if I made a plan too far in advance, then I might chicken out. I booked my room a week or so out and then didn’t tell anyone except for my husband just in case I didn’t do it. Ha! I surprised my mom by sending her pictures of my room and she was absolutely shocked that I drove myself. It sounds crazy, but I am proud of the progress I’ve made to overcome my driving anxiety.

The Beach

The first trip my mom and I ever took after my dad died was to Myrtle Beach. That was in 2013. However, we hadn’t returned to the beach since then. When we were attempting to nail down a spring trip, I suggested returning to MB and my mom liked the idea. We ended up spending a few days in Myrtle and then a night in Charleston. It was a nice trip that I’m glad we took together.

Epic Universe

Yet another last minute trip happened at the beginning of May. I got to visit Epic Universe for park previews before its official opening! I can’t believe I got to experience a park before it officially opened to the public. It’s a real pinch me moment. It was so surreal and I’m glad I had the time and funds to make it happen.

Return to Tweetsie

The first theme park I ever visited was Tweetsie Railroad! I visited with my aunt and cousins as a child, but hadn’t returned. I kept talking about returning as an adult, but it wasn’t until May of this year that I finally did it. My husband and I took a real last minute weekend trip down to Boone, NC and visited this park. It was neat to re-create photos from my childhood and to see how things are going now. I hope I can return someday to experience its Halloween and Christmas events.

I Met Bob Gurr

In September, I took a whirlwind trip to California. While there, I got to meet former Disney Imagineer and Disney Legend, Bob Gurr! Talk about another pinch me moment. I still can’t believe that happened either. However, I am so thankful I was able to meet him and see his home. During that trip, I also got to eat at Tam O’Shanter, a Walt Disney favorite. Then, I went down to Anaheim to visit Disneyland for Halloween again. It was a tiring trip made worse by a flight diversion to Charlotte at the end. Anyways, I’m not sure I have it in me for another West Coast trip anytime soon.

Looking Ahead to 2026

I always like to give a little preview of what’s to come in the new year in these posts. However, as of this writing, I don’t have it figured out yet. Traveling has gotten much harder for my mom. She now requires lots of breaks and we will probably stick to driving distance trips. It’s all pretty new, so we are still figuring it out.

Although, I did renew my Dollywood pass for 2026 and upgraded to a Diamond pass for the first time! So, there should be at least 1 or 2 trips there next year.

Where do you plan on visiting in 2026? Where do you think I should go?

Homewood Suites Myrtle Beach Grand Mall Review

July 10, 2025 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Back in April, my mom and I spent several nights in South Carolina. Due to the weather, we decided to head down a day early and booked a single night at Homewood Suites Myrtle Beach Grand Mall last minute. This hotel had some good things and not so great things about it, so I thought I would review it.

Homewood Suites Myrtle Beach Grand Mall

We booked this hotel the day before we arrived as it was a last minute decision to head down early. We opted to save a little money by not staying directly on the beach since it was just for one night. We paid $278.30 (including taxes using a Hilton Honors discount) for a Saturday night in early April. We liked that it was located away from the hustle and bustle of the beach given that it was a Saturday night. However, it was relatively close to other points of interest.

This place smells nice when you first enter. It has a nice, beachy vibe as you would expect from a hotel at the beach.

Double Queen One Bedroom Suite

The nice thing about this hotel is that every room is a suite! We enjoyed the extra space found here. There was a kitchenette area and living room! The bedroom could be closed off from the front living room by closing the door. It was nice to have the extra space to spread out, even if it was only for one night. The TV did have limited channels, much to my mother’s dismay.

Unfortunately, the beds weren’t that comfortable. My mom had some back pain the next day and suspected it came from these mattresses. I felt ok, so I’m not sure if it was the mattresses or not. There’s also poor lighting in the bathroom itself, so the shower was a little dark for my liking.

Overall, the room was more than sufficient for a one night stay.

Pros

Quiet – This hotel was located next to a mall. So, it was much calmer than a hotel on the beach.
Spacious suite – We enjoyed the extra space here. It would have been nice to use the kitchenette had we stayed longer.
Nice accommodations – The hotel is themed subtly with beach vibes and feels relaxing.
Relatively affordable by beach standards – It wasn’t a cheap night, but it wasn’t overly expensive given some of the rates we saw for this night.

Cons

Beds not the most comfortable – As I stated above, my mom’s back hurt the next day. I don’t know if it was caused by the beds here or not, but her back stopped hurting after we stayed at the Courtyard Myrtle Beach Oceanfront.
Poor lighting in the bathroom – If you have vision issues, then a dark bathroom might be important to note.
Limited tv channels – We enjoy watching tv on vacation and had a bit of a hard time finding something to watch here.

Should you stay at the Homewood Suites Myrtle Beach Grand Mall?

I think many families would enjoy staying here. The extra space would be appreciated by most travel groups. The kitchenette would be useful for those on a budget or those who just prefer to cook their own meals. It’s also ideal for people who want to visit the area without dealing with the people/noise/traffic of being on the beach. If you have back troubles, then you might not like the mattresses here. Other than that, it’s a pretty good hotel.

Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach Review

June 4, 2025 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

While visiting South Carolina in April, my mom and I decided to visit Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach. So, I thought I would post a little review with some tips in case anyone is considering visiting.

Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

Years ago, my mom and I visited the aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN and enjoyed that experience. However, it was during Covid protocols still and we wanted to experience the aquarium during more normal times. So, when we visited Myrtle Beach back in April we decided to visit Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach. We ended up spending a few hours here and really liked it.

It was fun to wander around the aquarium and not know exactly what was around the corner. My favorites were the penguins and spotting a sea turtle in the Dangerous Reef! I also enjoyed watching the sloth sleep in their tree. I think that since these are live animals, you never know what you are going to see. So, it definitely makes it more interesting and increases repeatability.

Tips

Arrive early – We rope dropped the aquarium and had it pretty much to ourselves for the first half hour or so. It was nice to look at the penguins without a crowd.
Use a coupon – There are loads of coupons to be had for this place. There’s some online codes as well as physical coupons in booklets in Myrtle Beach. I highly recommend using one to save a few dollars.
Take your time – This aquarium had lots of benches and places to sit and take a break. My mom had a hard time getting around this trip, so the benches were perfect for us. She was able to sit and rest while I continued looking at things of interest.
Consider add on experiences – They have several add on options available from meeting animals to riding a boat. We didn’t participate in any of those things, but they look cool.
You can be snacky – We noticed a few snack carts around the aquarium selling various snacks. So, you don’t have to worry about getting hungry here. You can get a snack and continue enjoying the aquarium.
Consult the schedule – I love penguins, so I was tickled to be able to watch them feed the penguins during our visit. You can learn so much and see something new by watching them take care of the animals here.
Spend the day at Broadway at the Beach – My mom and I spent a little more time exploring Broadway at the Beach after leaving the aquarium. It has lots of stores and restaurants. Plus, there’s a carnival type area with rides. You can easily spend a day here. We also appreciated that it was close to our Courtyard Myrtle Beach Oceanfront hotel.

Should you visit Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach?

I think this is the perfect activity for animal/marine lovers. Plus, it’s a great way to spend a rainy day at the beach since it’s indoors. It can also be a great way to get out of the hot sun. Either way, I think people of all ages will enjoy visiting this location. Have you ever been?

Courtyard Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Review

May 28, 2025 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Back in April, I stayed two nights at the Courtyard Myrtle Beach Oceanfront hotel with my mom. I thought I would do a review of it in case anyone else is considering staying here.

Courtyard Myrtle Beach Oceanfront

This was only the second time I’ve visited the beach. My mom grew up going to the beach in New Jersey though. So, I thought it would be a great idea to book a beachside hotel for this trip. I have to say, it made for a unique experience that I wouldn’t mind repeating.

Standard Double Queen Guest Room

We booked a standard double queen guest room this trip. We chose the Discover Myrtle Beach package that came with free parking as there isn’t free parking at this hotel. In fact, the parking situation leaves something to be desired entirely. I think that the parking structure across the street with tiny spaces and an elevator that went out during our trip is probably the biggest drawback of this hotel.

Fortunately, the room was great. It was amazing to step into our room and immediately see the ocean! I loved having a balcony to sit and look out at the ocean. I’ve never been a beach person. However, sitting on the balcony and just looking out at the ocean made me understand people who are. It was very relaxing and beautiful. I loved watching the sunrise and set from the balcony. It was also cool to see how dark it was at night.

The room itself seemed recently refurbished. The only thing not in working order was the body wash holder in the shower. As you can see in my pictures, housekeeping just set the body wash in the basket on the wall. Everything else was pretty good in this room. The beds were more comfortable than the ones we slept in at a different hotel on this trip.

Really though, you are picking this hotel for the balcony and view.

Pros

Oceanfront view – Every room here has a balcony with a view of the ocean! I loved this and it makes me want to visit another beach lotion just to look out at the ocean.
Recently refurbished – The room was in mostly good working condition. I was happy with the number of plug ins as well.
Comfortable beds – We arrived here after staying one night at a different hotel in Myrtle Beach where we slept in hard beds. So, it was a noticeable difference how much more comfortable these beds were.
Good location – Yes, it’s on the beach. However, it was also reasonably close to everything we wanted to do in Myrtle Beach, like the Medieval Times dinner show.
Reasonable rates in advance – We booked this hotel a few months in advance. As such, we got a reasonable rate of $209/night! Granted, this was a Sunday and Monday night. However, we were happy with the rate considering it was on the ocean.

Cons

Parking – There’s a $20/day parking charge without the Discover Myrtle Beach package. This charge allows you to park in the parking structure across the street. Unfortunately, the parking garage is not as new as the hotel. It’s too small for modern vehicles. It was difficult to back up in this garage and to fit into the spaces. Additionally, the elevator went out during our stay without any explanation or apology from anyone. Walking up and down several stories with your stuff is not fun.
Limited TV channels – My mom enjoys watching tv before bed. Unfortunately, this hotel had a limited selection of channels for her to choose from. Not a deal breaker, but just something to keep in mind.
Check your bill – We booked the package that included parking. However, the final bill charged us for parking. So, we had to go down to the front desk to have it fixed. The front desk staff was friendly and helpful. Just pay attention to your bill.
Low chairs on balcony – The chairs on the balcony were a little difficult for my mom to get in and out of. It’s not a huge thing, just something to know.

Is the Courtyard Myrtle Beach Oceanfront hotel worth it?

While the parking situation is not ideal, I enjoyed the hotel and room itself. Maybe take a car instead of an SUV if you stay here so your car can fit the spaces better.