Call it the great dilemma of staying at Long Bay Resort, but it’s a good one to have. On one hand, everything you need and more can be found on the resort property, from first-class accommodations and excellent amenities to on-site restaurants and bars, one could easily spend their entire vacation on the premises.
On the other hand, Long Bay resort happens to be located in one of the best neighborhoods on the Grand Strand for attractions, dining, golf, shopping and nightlife. So if you can drag yourself away from the rest and relaxation at the resort, you don’t have to travel very far to find some of the hottest spots in Myrtle Beach.
Located between the exclusive Ocean Forest and Dunes neighborhood on the north end of Myrtle Beach, Long Bay is close enough to all the action without having it in your face. So whether you kick back and unwind at the resort or venture out on the town, there’s plenty to do and see in and around Long Bay:
Attractions: Long Bay has a spacious oceanfront pool deck with indoor and outdoor pools and an indoor water park so there’s plenty to do in your back yard. But if you want to get out and see some of the more popular attractions in town, you have lots of options nearby. Myrtle Waves Waterpark and Broadway Grand Prix go-cart race track are only five miles away, as is the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. That includes the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, Family Kingdom amusement park and Splashes Waterpark. Just a couple of miles north are the Carolina Opry and Pirates Adventure.
Dining: Again, there’s great grub just steps away at Long Bay, like the on-site Oceanfront Bar & Grill and Martin’s, as well as River City Café just next door. But for a nice evening out for dinner, Long Bay guests are located on the southern end of Restaurant Row, where some of the best restaurants in town are lined up. Within walking distance of Long Bay on Kings Highway are the Flamingo Grill, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Fire & Smoke Gastropub, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s, Liberty Tap Room, Outback Steakhouse and Collector’s Café & Gallery, an award-winning, fine-dining eatery that also serves as an art museum. For a close and quick lunch, try Meathead Brothers Deli and Sam’s Corner, home of the best hot dogs on the beach.
Golf: Long Bay Resort is equidistance between the first two golf courses built in Myrtle Beach – Pine Lakes International Golf Club a few blocks to the south and The Dunes Club a few blocks to the north. It’s also near one of the most acclaimed new courses, the Grande Dunes, but Long Bay’s staff can help arrange your tee times to any of the 100 golf courses on the Grand Strand. For a shorter golf outing, Cane Patch Par-3 is just a couple of blocks away on Kings Highway, which is next door to Jungle Safari Mini-Golf for those who prefer a casual game of putt-putt.
Nightlife: Forget the loud crowds and music; this neighborhood is more about beach bars and casual hangouts. In addition to the on-site Oceanfront Bar & Grill, the surrounding beachfront is lined with tiki bars, including St. Clement’s Bar & Grill, the Banana Boat, Marco Polo’s and Mango’s. Farther inland, Hurricane Maggie’s is new local’s hangout with a late-night crowd. For a wilder night out, catch a cab to Celebrity Square at Broadway at the Beach, where rows of bars allow guests to stroll door to door for a pub-crawl adventure of dance clubs, live-music venues and daiquiri bars.
Shopping: Shop till you drop without leaving the neighborhood at some of the nearby strip malls and stand-alone shops. Several locally owned stores and boutiques are located at North Woods Plaza, and beachwear stores are on virtually every block. For a more hard-core shopping experience, Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing, Market Common, Myrtle Beach Mall and the Tanger Outlets are only a short drive from the resort.
(Posted: 12/4/14)