I had the pleasure of being hosted for a media visit. All opinions are my own.
The Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina is a gorgeous stretch of 60 miles of coastline. It’s the perfect place to seek a little R&R and get away from it all. During the months of September and October, the area boasts affordability combined with summer-like temperatures. I had the pleasure of experiencing Myrtle Beach as a wellness vacation destination. Here are the highlights of my trip.
Take a Wellness Vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC
Yoga on the beach
What’s a wellness vacation without a bit of yoga? I started one of my mornings with a yoga practice on the beach. Dawn Yager, owner of Shanti Yoga led us in a relaxing and strength building session. Shanti Yoga is the longest running yoga studio on the Grand Strand of Myrtle Beach. Check out the studio website for a schedule of classes. Free beach yoga sessions are held on Saturdays through the end of October.
Take in a bit of history in Conway
Take in the history of the area by joining Conway Downtown Alive for a educational walking tour through Conway. Part of the Myrtle Beach metro area, Conway is one of the oldest towns in South Carolina. It was originally a riverside village established at Kingston in 1733. Today, the quaint town is definitely worth a visit as a way to sooth your soul with a little step back in time. I especially fell in love with the moss covered oak trees and historic homes. Our guide shared a few fun ghost stories too.
Try a surfing lesson
The best way to see Myrtle Beach is from the ocean. What better way to get your feet wet than by “hanging 10?” The guys at Jack’s Surf Lessons are more than happy to get you started. Lessons start on the beach until you get the hang of “popping up.” Then it’s time to hit the waves! This fun sport may get you hooked in no time.
Stroll through a sculpture garden
Don’t miss a stop at Brookgreen Gardens. It’s a highlight of any trip to the Myrtle Beach area. On the site of a former rice plantation, Brookgreen Gardens is home to a zoo, wildlife preserve, walking paths, pontoon boat tours, and sculpture garden. Home to the largest collection of American figurative sculpture in the world, art lovers like me can wander for hours. There are 550 works on display by 300 of the most famous American sculptors, both past and present. Find a spot and meditate for a while.
Taste some local wine
As long as you sip and enjoy in moderation, I recommend adding a visit to La Belle Amie Vineyard to your wellness vacation. Home to “Twisted Sister” wines, Owner Vicki will happily tell you the history of her vineyard. In fact, the tradition of family wine making was past down from her ancestors in France. The vineyard specializes in sweeter wines made from muscadine grapes. Two of the grape vines on the property are over 100 years old. Vicki also obtains grapes from other regions to product dryer wines as well.
Take a hike
Huntington Beach State Park is home to a variety of landscapes. Visitors can stroll 3 miles of pristine coastline beach. The nature trails and boardwalks beg for exploration where you can observe birds (over 300 species), alligators, crabs, and more in their natural surroundings. There are also campgrounds, an education center, and “Atalaya,” the former winter home to American sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington.
Spoil yourself at the spa
No wellness vacation is complete without a trip to a spa. I checked out The Cinzia Spa at North Beach Plantation. The 17,000 square foot facility offers a variety of services including massages, body treaments, facials, nail services and more. After a luxurious manicure/pedicure service with tropical scented scrubs and lotions, I took a dip in the private jacuzzi garden. Can they come build one in my backyard?
Eating healthy is easy
Ok, finding junk food is easy too, but with so many offerings of fresh seafood and produce, eating healthy has never been so delicious. I had the pleasure of enjoying amazing meals at these Myrtle Beach gems.
Wicked Tuna – Located on beautiful Murrells Inlet, the restaurant is obsessed with fresh fish. It’s especially famous for artistic sushi rolls. Don’t worry, there are choices for land lovers too! My splurge was a pomegranate martini.
Aspen Grille – Owner and chef, Curry Martin spent time working in France and Napa Valley before returning home to open his own restaurant. The fried green tomatoes topped with lump crab meat are to die for!
Croissants Bakery and Bistro – here’s where you want to come for a treat in addition to a meal. Complete with an award-winning bakery, they serve breakfast, brunch and lunch. Try the seasonal fruit and spinach salad and take home some macaroons or key lime pie for later!
Where to Stay
We stayed at in the oceanfront towers at North Beach Plantation Resort. Our accommodations were a luxury 4 bedroom condo. It comes with a spacious, fully equipped kitchen, a glass enclosed shower and whirlpool tub in the master bathroom, and a huge balcony with spectacular ocean views. There are other condos with 1,2 and 3 bedrooms as well. I liked that this North Beach resort is away from the busy main boardwalk area in central Myrtle Beach. There are also cottages within the resort and a spectacular 5,500 square foot penthouse in the bridge between the towers.
I highly recommend Myrtle Beach as a wonderful choice for a wellness vacation. Have you ever been to the area? What makes the perfect wellness vacation for you?
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Loved the idea of wellness vacation. Routine becomes so monotonous. BADLY ! IN NEED OF VACATION!
I would love to go on a Wellness Vacation and Myrtle Beach would be the perfect place. Thanks for the suggestion. I hope I get a chance to have a much needed R&R soon.
Haven’t been to Myrtle Beach in ages. I think the last time I was there was one spring break when I was in college, and that was (XX) years ago. LOL. It would be nice to have a chance to visit again. Looks like there are more fun activities to do there now than before.
A wellness vacation sounds absolutely amazing! Looks like a great way to recharge sans kids. Oh, and to have those macarons to myself — heaven!
I LOVE Myrtle Beach! It’s gorgeous there – and perfect for a family trip! I love your pictures too, they’re beautiful! Definitely a place everyone should visit!
I would love to visit Myrtle Beach! It looks so relaxing! Honestly, I’d love to take a wellness vacation anywhere, even down the street, lol. I just need a few days to myself to recharge!
Such a beautiful place. We haven’t been in Myrtle beach but it is in our bucket list to visit someday.
Oh this is great! I’m just a couple of hours of Myrtle Beach. Will definitely have to check out these places.
A wellness vacation sounds fantastic! Myrtle Beach looks so beautiful. I’m sure you had a great relaxing time.
We loved Brookgreen Gardens. It was so peaceful and there was so much to see.
This looks like a great get away. Right now, a wellness vacation would be anywhere I go alone.
This is one of my favorite places to go. South Carolina in general is such a beautiful place.
We have friends who go to Myrtle Beach all the time and totally enjoy spending time there. Something we have not done but may someday.
What a gorgeous area. I’ve always wanted to go to Myrtle Beach. I’m a big fan of being by the water.
Myrtle Beach looks like a really refreshing place for a vacation. The place is just scenic and its always calming to be by the sea.
I could certainly use a wellness vacation to Myrtle Beach right about now! I haven’t been there in years. I’m sure it is just as relaxing as it was then.
I just returned from spending a week at Myrtle Beach. We’ve been vacationing there for over 25 years. We love visiting and I always feel refreshed at the end of my vacay. I go back for a week in October.
That vacation sounds amazing and relaxing all the same time. My husband and I could use something like this to get us back on track.
A wellness vacation sounds amazing. This is my mom’s favorite beach and I can’t believe I still haven’t been there yet.
I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it is. I’ll definitely be back with the rest of my family.
I have always wanted to go to Myrtle Beach. I am actually considering a trip there sometime next year with my dad.
That sounds like a great idea!