Hotel at a Glance: Grande Shores Ocean Resort

The only thing standing between the Grande Shores Ocean Resort and Myrtle Beach's soft sand is the resort's pool complex, where you can watch the waves crash in while relaxing in the hot tubs.

• Enjoy a grande burger at the onsite Shoreline Café.
• Room with a view from your hotel’s private balcony, you'll be able to watch the waves
• Custom golf packages can be arranged by the staff. There are plenty of courses nearby, including Grande Dunes and MBN King's North.
• Head to the boardwalk, about 5 miles away, where you can ride the SkyWheel, eat seafood, and shop.
• Notable accolade: TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
• Make a splash in the hotel’s indoor pool

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Sandy Beaches, Fresh Seafood, and Classic Amusement-Park Rides

Myrtle Beach is at the tip of South Carolina's Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of white, sandy beaches along the Atlantic seaboard that draws surfers, fishers, and kayakers. The town's Cherry Grove Pier bustles with activity during the fishing season, and you can rent a rod nearby to take your place alongside veteran anglers. Nearby restaurants serve up fresh, cooked-to-order seafood including crab and shrimp.

About a half-hour southwest of Myrtle Beach is Myrtle Beach proper, which USA Today named one of the best family vacation spots in the United States. That was in part because of its wooden boardwalk, which stretches for more than 1 mile and buzzes with carnival games and amusement-park rides. Hop into one of the SkyWheel's glass-floored gondolas, surrounded by more than a million LED lights, for a panoramic view of the city.