Myrtle Beach offers plenty of fun beach activities such as boating, surfing, fishing, scuba diving, kayaking, jet skiing, parasailing and windsurfing. The crystal blue waters provide a great playground for water sports. While staying at one of the excellent South Myrtle Beach rentals, take a chartered sailboat, a banana boat ride or a fun, dolphin watching tour.

Anglers have opportunities to catch big fish. Myrtle Beach has numerous quality fishing charters. You can also fish on a fun party boat. Near-shore fishing happens from the Little River Inlet out to about five miles offshore.

The deep sea fishing charters depart from the Cricket Cove marina and travel to deep sea/offshore fishing grounds such as floating weed lines, ledges and artificial and natural reefs. Bottom fishing opportunities happen all year long with peak seasons for larger fish from November through March.

Have a great time horseback riding along the sandy beach. Horseback riding is a great way to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Tourists report it’s a lot of fun. Some people ride horses along Murrells Inlet, south of Myrtle Beach.

Although Myrtle Beach is not a world-class surfing location, it does have a surf culture and occasionally some excellent waves. The creek mouth near the Holiday Inn has slightly better waves than the rest of the area.

If you want something fun to do while staying at one of the superb South Myrtle Beach vacation rentals, take a sailing charter. The adventurous types can rent and operate a sail boat or take sailing lessons. Some of the boats anchor at Bird Island for swimming, shell hunting and surfing. It’s a popular location.

There are plenty of fun beach activities within easy reach of South Myrtle Beach vacation rentals.

Chosen America’s #1 Best Beach in the 2011 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, North Myrtle Beach has been repeatedly recognized for its gorgeous beaches; but vacationers will also find plenty of fun things to do off the beach. Named a great family vacation destination and most affordable U.S. vacation by U.S. News & World Report, North Myrtle Beach has also won accolades as a top beach town and best boardwalk from National Geographic, Smarter Travel and Travel + Leisure.

When you’re not playing on the beach or relaxing in one of our delightful North Myrtle Beach vacation rentals, enjoy these top 5 North Myrtle Beach attractions:

• Go on a wildlife safari at T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station and get up close and personal with African wildlife. Kids will love the live performances and you’ll learn a lot about these amazing animals. You can even get your picture taken with a tiger!
• Alligator Adventure is one of the most popular attractions in North Myrtle Beach. Check out the King of Crocs and albino gators. Schedule your visit so you don’t miss the alligator feeding or exciting reptile show.
• Take the family for a game of miniature golf at Lost Treasure Miniature Golf. This fantasy mini golf course offers two challenging courses. Kids will love the train ride to your tee-off point.
• Go horseback riding at Inlet Point Plantation Stables. Great tour guides, great fun and great pictures. If you’re an experienced rider, sign up for an early morning beach ride. The views are breathtaking.
• Have a great meal, shop for souvenirs, watch the birds and ducks or take in a show at Barefoot Landing. Designed to resemble a fishing village, the Landing is the place to go for shopping, dining and entertainment.

Plan your North Myrtle Beach vacation now with iTrip.net!

This week iTrip is featuring its Almost Heaven vacation cottage, located in the popular Cherry Grove area of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. If you’ve been thinking about taking a North Myrtle Beach vacation with a large group of people this cottage is for you! The cottage, situated along the salt water marsh, is just a short walk from the pristine beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. You can actually do some fishing from the spacious deck. You can’t do that at most vacation cottages!

The four-bedroom two-bath, air-conditioned house accommodates 15 people. One of the bedrooms features a king-size bed, while the other bedrooms each have one full-bed and one twin-bed. The cottage also has two pull-out couches. It’s a great place for a family vacation of for a multiple-family vacation or even for a group of guys who love to fish and have fun at a beach.  The cottage also conveniently includes two showers down below for rinsing after a fun day at the beach. View more amenities for Almost Heaven.

The spacious cottage’s glassed in sun-room is a great place to have meals and relax. Enjoy beautiful sunsets from the upper deck. After cleaning your big fish on the lower deck’s fish cleaning station make a tasty fish dinner in the full-kitchen. The vacation rental also includes a TV and DVD for times when you feel like relaxing in the spacious living room.

North Myrtle Beach is a great place for water sports. If you enjoy golfing, play a round at the superb Tidewater Golf Club, known as the “Pebble Beach of the East,” it’s within easy reach of North Myrtle Beach vacation. The area also features other notable golf courses. Family entertainment and great restaurants are nearby.

View photos, pricing and availability for this amazing vacation cottage on iTrip.net!

When you need a beach break or an unusual cloud burst chases you indoors, spend a delightful afternoon shopping at one of Myrtle Beach’s two award-winning and very unique shopping complexes. Charlotte’s Best Magazine named Barefoot Landing the Most Beautiful Shopping Destination in the Carolinas and chose Broadway at the Beach the Top Tourist Destination in North and South Carolina. Both venues offer exciting entertainment, first-class restaurants and world-class shopping and are located just minutes from Myrtle Beach vacation rentals.

An immense entertainment and shopping village built around a beautiful 23-acre lagoon, Broadway at the Beach includes numerous hotels; restaurants such as Hard Rock Café, Planet Hollywood and the world’s first NASCAR Café; an IMAX theater; Ripley’s aquarium; The Palace theater; fantasy miniature golf; an arcade; NASCAR SpeedPark; a baseball stadium; a water park; an amusement park; exciting nightlife and, most importantly, more than 100 fabulous shops, specialty stores and eclectic boutiques. At Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach vacationers will find everything from designer fashions to souvenir gifts, home accessories to gourmet goodies – and everything in between. Always check BroadwayAtTheBeach.com for discounts and coupons before leaving your South Myrtle beach vacation rentals for a day of shopping

Built to resemble a quaint fishing village, Barefoot Landing in nearby North Myrtle Beach mixes nature with entertainment and shopping. Built on a 27-acre lake on the edge of the Intracoastal Waterway, Barefoot Landing was constructed over a marsh populated by turtles, herons and alligators, the first shopping complex to preserve the natural environment and integrate it with the human environment. Charming boardwalks connect more than 100 unique specialty shops and boutiques, delightful waterfront restaurants, and top-notch entertainment venues including the Alabama Theater and the House of Blues.

Find more iTrip vacation rentals at iTrip.net!

Part of the fun of vacationing is poking through the gift shops to find the perfect souvenir to remind you of your delightful Myrtle Beach, SC vacation. From one end of the Grand Strand to the other, you’ll find many shopping opportunities just minutes from your South Myrtle Beach vacation rentals. Start your search for the perfect souvenir with a stroll along the famous Myrtle Beach boardwalk.

Recently named one of the 10 best boardwalks in the U.S. by National Geographic magazine, the boardwalk is lined with cute souvenir shops, waterfront restaurants, family-friendly attractions and beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy the view as you stroll along the boardwalk poking in shops that catch your eye and sampling the boardwalk goodies along the way. You’ll definitely want to pick up some of Myrtle Beach’s famous saltwater taffy and homemade fudge, but as souvenirs they won’t last long!

Another excellent place to shop for unique souvenirs is Broadway on the Beach. An eclectic collection of upscale shopping, dining, nightlife and family entertainment venues, Broadway on the Beach is an enormous shopping/entertainment complex that offers something for everyone. Lovely lakeside promenades are lined with exciting shops. Parrot Heads will want to spend some time at Tiki Jim’s, a local favorite for humorous souvenir t-shirts and other unique gifts.

If you want more than a funny t-shirt or flip-flop key chain to remind you of your Myrtle Beach vacation, consider these 3 unique gifts you’ll find only in Myrtle Beach, SC:

1. Recall the warm sand beaches and soft ocean breezes of your favorite vacation spot every time you play Original Carolina Beach Music
2. A gold charm keeps your Myrtle Beach memories close
3. Recreate your favorite vacation meals with Best of the Best from South Carolina: Selected Recipes from South Carolina’s Favorite Cookbooks