Myrtle Beach Shows
Myrtle Beach is loaded with theaters showcasing everything from country music to Cirque du Soleil-style circus acts. Here's one of the most entertaining choices for a fun evening of live entertainment:Legends in Concert
Hwy. 17 in Surfside Beach, south of Myrtle Beach
843-238-STAR
It would probably cost a boatload of money to see Garth Brooks perform. And since he's permanently left the building, it would be impossible to see Elvis Presley croon. Legends in Concert offers the next best thing: "tribute" artists, otherwise known as impersonators, who look, sound, sing, and move like the real deal. It's an upbeat, if occasionally corny and kitschy show featuring a cavalcade of uncanny performances.
The night I attended, the Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis doppelgangers were especially dazzling. The guy inhabiting a young, adrenalized Jerry Lee positively rocked the joint. The Buddy Holly stand-in performed note-for-note renditions of 1950s hits and then stole the show with some off-script, wildly funny takes on Ed Sullivan and Richard Nixon, among others. "Elvis" is nearly always on the marquee (although he never entered the building when I visited) along with a roster of four alternating acts that rotates among other Legends in Concert theaters in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and other locations.
Myrtle Beach Dining
There is no shortage of restaurants in the vacation hotspot. You could head to one of the many chain establishments that have outposts here. But, I'd suggest sampling at least some of Myrtle Beach's local fare, which ranges from informal seafood joints to elegant, upscale restaurants. Here are a few of my favorites:Umi Pacific Grille
Hwy. 17 in The Galleria
843-497-6016
Located in a strip mall along Myrtle Beach's main drag, Umi Pacific Grille is fairly nondescript from the outside. Inside, however, the hushed lighting and ethereal setting set the stage for a truly memorable and enticing dining experience. The menu takes hints of Thai, Polynesian, and other Pacific Rim influences and offers an eclectic blend of adventurous fare.
Because it's in Myrtle Beach, there's plenty of seafood; but this seafood has unique twists. For example, instead of a traditional crab cake, Umi Pacific Grille serves its crab with roasted pineapple, kaffir beurre blanc, and a tart, spicy slaw. Yum! Meat lovers will find much to love as well at Umi Pacific Grille. The highlight of the menu (and, by far, the priciest item) is the Wagyu Kobe Prime Filet. The petite cut is drizzled with a delicate soy glaze and served with truffle noodles and tempura onions. This is fine dining at its finest.
Crabby Mike's
Hwy. 17 in Surfside Beach, south of Myrtle Beach
843-444-CRAB
First-time visitors to Myrtle Beach may be puzzled by the proliferation of restaurants advertising "Calabash Seafood." As the story goes, restaurants just over the border in Calabash, North Carolina, were renowned for their fried seafood. When restaurateurs imported the cooking style to the Myrtle Beach area, they dubbed it "Calabash." Today, the term still applies to fried seafood, but also more generically to large buffets featuring seafood. Among the biggest and best of the Calabash gorge-a-thons is Crabby Mike's.
The food isn't fancy, but there's plenty of it, and it's plenty tasty. Befitting its name, there are many items featuring crab, including mounds of crab legs. In addition to a number of fried seafood dishes, Crabby Mike's also offers broiled and steamed seafood items along with dozens of other choices (the restaurant says there are 120 in all), including chicken, beef, salads, and vegetables. Save room for the delicious hushpuppies served before the meal and the desserts available for after the meal.
Waterscapes at the Marina Inn at Grand Dunes
8121 Amalfi Place, Myrtle Beach (along the Intracoastal Waterway)
843-913-2845
Waterscapes focuses on ultra-fresh, in-season, local ingredients to inspire its menu. Since this is Myrtle Beach, that means plenty of seafood dishes as well as regional favorites such as Shrimp and Grits. In addition to the sumptuous entrees and appetizers, Waterscapes features a wonderful array of desserts and breads. Be sure to save room for the made-on-premises ice cream. And if you're fortunate enough to visit while local peaches are in season, you have to try the heavenly peach ice cream. The service is impeccable, but not overly intrusive. The view of the marina and Intracoastal Waterway is stunning.
Sea Captain's House
N. Ocean Boulevard, on the shore at Myrtle Beach
843-448-8082
Housed in a charming, weathered-shingled building that's more reminiscent of Cape Cod than the Grand Strand, the Sea Captain's House, which opened in 1962, is old Myrtle Beach at its best. Heavy on seafood dishes, the restaurant offers mostly traditional fare with some eccentric touches such as a fresh grouper in a potato crust with a sweet corn, vanilla, and mushroom sauce.
The portions are big, the prices are moderate, and the food is delicious. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Unfortunately, the Sea Captain's House does not accept reservations; expect long waits during the busy season.
Next page: More Myrtle Beach things to do- Myrtle Beach Mini-Golf and Other Things to See and Do
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
