South Carolina Archives - Laughing Lindsay

Myrtle Beach Restaurants Guide

March 25, 2026 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Back in April 2025, my mom and I visited South Carolina for a few days. During that time, we ate at several great places. So, I thought I would list them in a Myrtle Beach Restaurants Guide!

Myrtle Beach Restaurants Guide

Myrtle Beach has a plethora of great dining options! We spent 3 nights here and I feel like there were several other places we could try if we ever go back. Plus, I don’t think a single option disappointed us. Everything was good! So, here are the places we dined at in April 2025 and would highly recommend you try when you visit!

Sea Captain’s House

For our first meal in Myrtle Beach, I booked us a reservation at Sea Captain’s House. This was a wonderful way to kick-start our trip here. We got a table beside a window with a breathtaking view of the ocean! In fact, the image for this post (seen above) was taken at this restaurant! It was such a unique experience (for me) to enjoy some fresh seafood while looking out at the ocean. I will always think of this restaurant when I remember this trip.

The meal started with a bowl of tasty hushpuppies! Then, came our mains. My mom ordered the Filet of Flounder with a baked potato. I believe she really enjoyed each of those items. I got the Crab Cakes with asparagus! Again, it was so nice to enjoy fresh seafood while looking out at the ocean. We split a slice of key lime pie for dessert and ate every last piece of it. This was a great way to kick off a trip to the beach! Plus, we were able to walk out the back of the restaurant and right onto the beach!

Pro tip: Book a reservation ahead of time. This is a popular place to eat. Also, it is a nice restaurant. So, dress up a little.

Blueberry’s Grill

For our first breakfast in the area, we selected Blueberry’s Gr i ll. Technically, we ate at the one located in North Myrtle Beach prior to doing some shopping (see my guide to shopping in Myrtle Beach) at Barefoot Landing. However, there’s another one located in Myrtle Beach proper as well.

If you visit here, you must try the blueberry hushpuppies! They are slightly sweet and very good. For my meal, I went with the Blueberry Ricotta Waffle. This is the ultimate breakfast for any blueberry fan. From the blueberry batter to the blueberry-flavored syrup and served with fresh berries. It’s so good! My mom got the Cinnamon Roll French Toast! She’s not as big of a blueberry fan, so this was a nice sweet treat for her. Plus, who doesn’t want to try French Toast made out of a cinnamon roll?

Captain George’s

For our second night’s dinner, we elected to try one of the huge seafood buffets! We loved the ambiance of this place. It was so cool to see the boats over top of the buffet lines! It added something to the experience. We were pleased with the wide selection of items on the buffet. I loved being able to try so many different types of seafood without fearing that I was wasting an entree choice on it. I even tried Rockefeller oysters for the first time! It was fun to try snow crab legs for the first time as well. My mom and I had fun trying to open them. All of the seafood was plentiful and good. It was a little pricey, but then again buffets with seafood are. It was definitely a splurge to eat here. However, we thought it was worth the money spent.

Johnny D’s Waffles

The one breakfast location I knew I had to try on this trip was Johnny D’s Waffles! Named best waffles in South Carolina by Food Network Magazine and run by an award winning chef, this restaurant was high on my priority list. I’m happy to report that the Red Velvet Waffle lived up to the hype. It wasn’t overly sweet and had nuance to the flavors. I find myself thinking about this waffle from time to time since it was so good. My mom enjoyed her Coconut Banana Waffle French Toast too. We left this restaurant feeling happy and full.

Donald’s Pancake House

Our last meal in Myrtle Beach was at Donald’s Pancake House. This little eatery had friendly staff and good food. I enjoyed their German Chocolate pancakes featuring South Carolina pecans! It had a great combination of flavors that meshed well. Plus, it felt good to know that I was eating something local with pecans coming from that state. My mom ordered Donald’s Breakfast special with 2 regular pancakes, 2 eggs, and bacon. She seemed really happy with her meal as well. It was a nice, sweet way to end our time in Myrtle Beach.

Bonus – See a Dinner Show

One last dining recommendation I can make is to enjoy a dinner show! We tried Medieval Times for my mom’s first time! You can see my Medieval Times Myrtle Beach Dinner Show Review to read my full review of the experience. The show was most enjoyable. Although, the food was the least interesting food we had on this trip. So, I guess it depends if you want award winning food/fresh seafood OR a fun dining experience.

Myrtle Beach Restaurants

While this is not an exhaustive list of the many dining establishments in Myrtle Beach, it is a look at all of the tasty food we enjoyed while visiting. So, where do you like to eat on a trip to the beach? Did I miss your favorite?

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?

24 Hours in Charleston South Carolina Guide

September 17, 2025 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Back in April, my mom and I spent 24 hours in Charleston, South Carolina! So, I thought I would outline what we did in case someone else in wondering what they can do with a short amount of time in the Holy City.

24 Hours in Charleston

As I mentioned in my Indigo Inn review, we added a night in Charleston on to our trip to Myrtle Beach. It was also our first time visiting. So, we looked at lots of different activities and restaurants before deciding what to do and where to go. We ended up picking the things that were of the most interest to us and tried to stay in a hotel near where the stuff we wanted to do was located.

Charleston Tea Garden

We began our visit to the city by going to the Charleston Tea Garden. I’ve already written a whole Charleston Tea Garden Guide detailing our experience there. However, suffice it to say that we enjoyed it and found it to be fun and educational. I will say it’s ideal for folks with a car as it’s not really located in Charleston proper. Also, you need to devote time to getting there and back.

Charleston Carriage Ride

After checking into our hotel, we headed over to Old South Carriage Co. for a carriage tour of the historic area. We booked this carriage ride online ahead of time to ensure we didn’t miss it if they sold out. I don’t know if it makes a difference or not, but they did place us in the front of the carriage ride. There are several companies in the same area offering a carriage ride and they have divided up the city into areas so that the carriages aren’t all in the same area. So, you can repeat the carriage ride and potentially see something new each time.

It was so nice to sit down and learn about this historic area. Everyone was free to ask questions as we went too. So, it’s truly a unique experience that I highly recommend. It was also the perfect way to begin our stay here as it gave us the lay of the land.

Rainbow Row

Rainbow Row refers to a block of houses that are brightly colored. It’s often featured on merchandise or other images of the city. We rode over to see them, just to be able to say we saw them. I took a few pictures and then we headed back up the road. It’s not necessarily a must-see experience, but it is nice to say you’ve been there.

Foodie Paradise

We had a difficult time deciding where to eat because there’s a plethora of options! Virtually every corner has a highly rated restaurant. We ended up eating at Hyman’s Seafood for dinner. Lots of famous folks have eaten here over the years and their picture is up on the wall to prove it! I enjoyed my lobster and shrimp roll.

Charleston City Market

The Charleston City Market is a historic landmark. First established in the 1790s and stretching for four city blocks, it’s a must visit. There are countless vendors to visit and you can easily spend hours here. We started our morning here and I got Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit for breakfast. Then, we did some shopping before heading home. I think it was the perfect way to end our quick trip to Charleston.

24 Hours in Charleston

Charleston is a place that I’ve been wanting to visit for a while. So, I’m happy I was finally able to see what the hype is all about. It’s a relaxing place with lots of good food. It’s a city I hope I can return to someday. Have you ever visited?

Charleston Indigo Inn Review

July 30, 2025 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Back in April, my mom and I stayed a night at the Charleston Indigo Inn. I didn’t see too many reviews of the hotel prior to our stay, so I thought I would post one.

Charleston Indigo Inn

After staying three nights in Myrtle Beach, my mom and I made our way over to Charleston for the first time. Having never visited before, we weren’t sure what to expect from the Holy City. However, I was pretty sure we wanted to stay in a central location in the historical district. That’s what lead me to the Indigo Inn.

Traditional Two Queens Room

For this trip, we booked a traditional two queens room for a rate of $286/night. The mattresses were pretty comfortable, although the bed frame was pretty high off the ground. As such, it was a touch difficult for my 5′ 2-3″ mom to get in and out of. It was doable, but she had to stretch.

The other issue with the room was the tiny bathroom. As in, you had to back up against the toilet in order to shut the bathroom door. Basically, if you have mobility difficulties, this may not be the room for you.

The Location

I will say, this was the ideal location for our one night stay. It was walking distance to everything! I intend to do another post at a later date on spending 24 hours in Charleston. However, we were within a short walk to a historical carriage ride, several good restaurants, and the Charleston City Market.

The Amenities

The Indigo Inn has a couple of added perks for staying there. For starters, they serve cheese and wine in the lobby in the evening. They also serve a nightcap of milk and cookies. Unfortunately, we had a busy schedule and missed both of those offerings. My mom grabbed a bottle of juice at the continental breakfast the next morning. I would say the breakfast was somewhat minimal. I wanted to try Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, so I didn’t grab anything from the hotel. However, I think it’s really nice they offer these extras to guests.

Indigo Inn Pros

Location – This was my top reason for staying here. It was central to everything we wanted to do. We were able to park our car and just walk around the city.
Peaceful – This inn was peaceful and a welcome break from the bustle of Myrtle Beach.
More affordable – Charleston can be an expensive place to visit. This was one of the more affordable places we found.
Complimentary snacks – It’s nice they offer afternoon cheese and wine with nightcap milk and cookies. The breakfast is enough to get you out the door and on your way.

Cons

Small bathroom – The bathroom and shower were really small. Also, there wasn’t any body wash.
Tall beds – These wouldn’t be ideal for shorter/older/younger folks.
No free parking – Although, I think this can be an issue in Charleston in general. There’s convenient on-site parking, but they charge you $25/night.

Is the Charleston Indigo Inn worth it?

I think the Indigo Inn is a great choice for a visit to Charleston! It’s the perfect location for exploring the city by foot. Plus, it has comfortable beds and tranquil vibes. Have you ever stayed here?

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.