North Myrtle Beach - July 4th 2011

[ChuckW]

Going to be visiting family in N. Myrtle Beach for several days, with our boat in tow, during the July 4th break. Part of our annual trek south to FL for the summer.

We'll be in the Little River Neck area.

Looking for some ideas on;
1) Gunkholes and anchorages to beach at.
2) Dockside restaurants for dining
3) 4th Fireworks displays to hit up by boat

Any other local items of interst?

Thanks,

 

[Kendall]

Not sure about the fireworks but many people head over to the Little River Jetties for a nice tie up at Bird Island....one your port side heading out into the ocean. Many boats beach on this island and on the 4th it should be rocking!

I really liked lunch at the Grand Dunes Marina a few miles south of Little River. Just call them and let them know you just want to grab lunch and they will give you docking instructions. They also have a Ruth Chris steak house at this marina if you are there for dinner. You can also dock up at Barefoot landing and take in Greg Norman's steak house which I hear is fantastic.

I assume you will be putting in at the Hwy 9 bridge in Little River? If so watch the current at peak ebb and flood tides...not too bad though.

You have to make time to take the ICW south out of Myrtle beach's ditch into the Waccamaw River....beautiful.

So much to do in this area I never have enough time! :grin:

 

[ChuckW]

Thanks for the advice. Yes I'll be putting in at that ramp. My in-laws have a home on a waterway just off othe ICW around the corner from there with a private dock. First time there with boat, looking forward to it.

 

[Sweet Dreams]

Have a great time! Not very familar with the north end but sounds like Kendall had some great tips. Do know the Waccamaw though and agree it's worth the ride if you have time.

 

[Hellman Huddle]

There will be fireworks & boat parade in Murrell's Inlet on the 4th! I may be headed that way.

 

[ChuckW]

The weather was great all weekend. We were out Sat and Sun. Unfortunately Sun night upon returning I discovered an cooling problem in my bilge. So Mon the 4th was a bust. Spent the day cleaning the boat and getting it torn apart in aticipation of getting the parts I would need on Tuesday when things opened back up.

We explored Little River from Bird Island south to the Little River swing bridge. No pics to share, yeah I know. I had two boat loads (21 people) to cart around. Had to make two trips everytime we went somewhere so I got plenty of running up and down the river in. My sister and brother in-laws house is in a great spot near the swing bridge just off the ICW in a quiet inlet with a great dock in the back yard. Might have to visit them more often now! I did however meet up with the local marine patrol. Sun afternoon two big casino cruise ships came into the river and tied up at the wharfs about 2 miles down the river from the inlet. The marine patrol was there greeting boats as they came through, I guess to make their prescence known. After we passed the marine patrol the circled back around and asked us to hold steady and prepare for them to come along side. I guess seeing the out of state reg prompted them to "check us out" for a safety inspection. There were 4 adults and 4 kids aboard at the time. It was the easiest safety inspection I ever did have. Asked for registration, check. Asked for fire extinguishers, one halon and one hand held, check, stated, "I assume you have enough preservers on board for everyone?". To which a simple "Yes" was all he needed. Asked to hear our horn. That was it, have a nice day.

Tuesday, after I got my parts and the boat back in order had time to explore the river south of the swing bridge. Pretty desolate down there. Had a great sunset cruise with wine and cheese for the adults aboard. We stayed one day longer than planned, had fun and now head south.

Thanks for the all the tips everyone! We'll be back to explore some more. Until then cheers!

 

[Kendall]

Awesome! How far south did you go? I hope you made it out of the "ditch" that runs behind Myrtle Beach and on down towards the Waccamaw.

 

[ChuckW]

Not very, we didn't have much time, so I never got out of the ditch.

 

[Sweet Dreams]

The weather was great all weekend. We were out Sat and Sun. Unfortunately Sun night upon returning I discovered an cooling problem in my bilge. So Mon the 4th was a bust. Spent the day cleaning the boat and getting it torn apart in aticipation of getting the parts I would need on Tuesday when things opened back up.

We explored Little River from Bird Island south to the Little River swing bridge. No pics to share, yeah I know. I had two boat loads (21 people) to cart around. Had to make two trips everytime we went somewhere so I got plenty of running up and down the river in. My sister and brother in-laws house is in a great spot near the swing bridge just off the ICW in a quiet inlet with a great dock in the back yard. Might have to visit them more often now! I did however meet up with the local marine patrol. Sun afternoon two big casino cruise ships came into the river and tied up at the wharfs about 2 miles down the river from the inlet. The marine patrol was there greeting boats as they came through, I guess to make their prescence known. After we passed the marine patrol the circled back around and asked us to hold steady and prepare for them to come along side. I guess seeing the out of state reg prompted them to "check us out" for a safety inspection. There were 4 adults and 4 kids aboard at the time. It was the easiest safety inspection I ever did have. Asked for registration, check. Asked for fire extinguishers, one halon and one hand held, check, stated, "I assume you have enough preservers on board for everyone?". To which a simple "Yes" was all he needed. Asked to hear our horn. That was it, have a nice day.

Tuesday, after I got my parts and the boat back in order had time to explore the river south of the swing bridge. Pretty desolate down there. Had a great sunset cruise with wine and cheese for the adults aboard. We stayed one day longer than planned, had fun and now head south.

Thanks for the all the tips everyone! We'll be back to explore some more. Until then cheers!

Chuck, Give us a good heads up when you think you will haul back north and stop over at your sisters again and we will try to plan a rondevous with a few Carolina Boaters and anyone else in the NMB area! Have a great summer down south! Kes

 

[ChuckW]

Chuck, Give us a good heads up when you think you will haul back north and stop over at your sisters again and we will try to plan a rondevous with a few Carolina Boaters and anyone else in the NMB area! Have a great summer down south! Kes

Will do...sounds great!