When planning the perfect guys getaway, Myrtle Beach delivers an unbeatable combination of championship golf courses, craft breweries, legendary fishing charters, and nightlife that keeps the good times rolling long after sunset. This coastal playground offers everything from adrenaline-pumping adventures to laid-back beach experiences that create the ideal backdrop for strengthening friendships and making memories that last a lifetime.
What Do You Call Your "Guys Trips"?
- Stay oceanfront at Mar Vista Grande - Book spacious three and four-bedroom condos with private balconies, lazy river, and direct beach access just steps from Main Street's shops and restaurants.
- Challenge friends on 100+ championship golf courses - Play legendary tracks like Pine Lakes Country Club where Sports Illustrated was born, featuring rolling fairways and Scottish-themed design.
- Experience craft beer culture at New South Brewing - Sample award-winning local ales including the flagship Dirty Myrtle Double IPA while touring this microbrewery operating since 1998.
- Explore authentic music history at The Bowery - Drink cold beer where Alabama launched their career at this iconic honky-tonk that's entertained crowds since 1944.
- Take home premium cigars and bourbon memories - Visit The Cigar Shop's 800 square foot smoking lounge with extensive humidor and premium whiskey selection.
Updated for 2025: Myrtle Beach Guys Trip Essentials
Originally written in 2013, this guide has been refreshed with current information and today's best experiences for men seeking the ultimate Myrtle Beach getaway.
- Charter deep sea fishing with Little River captains - Battle king mackerel, cobia, and red snapper on half-day or full-day offshore charters with experienced captains running 30+ foot boats.
- Dominate at Topgolf Myrtle Beach - Compete in high-tech golf games with microchipped balls, cold beers, and climate-controlled hitting bays overlooking the coast.
- Rent Harley-Davidsons for coastal cruising - Tour the Grand Strand on iconic motorcycles with scenic routes through beach towns and backwoods highways from local dealerships.
- Book helicopter tours over the coastline - Get aerial views of the entire Grand Strand from professional pilots offering doors-on or doors-off flight experiences.
- Race go-karts at Broadway Grand Prix - Test your skills on seven different tracks including the high-speed Grand Prix Pro Track where drivers hit 20 mph on this quarter-mile course.
- Feast at Captain George's all-you-can-eat seafood buffet - Devour unlimited Alaskan snow crab legs, fresh oysters, and prime rib at this 70+ item buffet across from Broadway at the Beach.
- Experience live poker at Big M Casino - Play Texas Hold'em and Omaha on gambling cruise ships departing from Little River with full bars and dining.
- Master wakeboarding behind speedboats - Learn from certified instructors or show off skills on rental boats equipped with wakeboard towers and sound systems.
- Compete in TopTracer driving ranges - Use ball-tracking technology to play virtual courses while working on your swing at multiple locations along the beach.
- Sample bourbon and cigars at The Cigar Shop - Enjoy premium whiskeys paired with hand-rolled cigars at this South Myrtle Beach lounge featuring an 800 square foot smoking room and extensive humidor.
These experiences showcase Myrtle Beach's evolution into a premier destination for active, adventurous guys trips that go far beyond traditional beach activities.
Bob's Original Myrtle Beach Mancation Adventure
(originally written in 2012 but updated for 2025)
When someone says they are going to Myrtle Beach, I automatically think Golf. Wow, was I wrong. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has so much more to offer than I ever thought. Between paddle boarding, NASCAR, craft beer, sushi, steaks, and shooting lessons, Myrtle Beach is a great place for a mancation.
It is also certainly a lot more than just a great golf destination!
Our first stop was the Mar Vista Grande, located in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. With not just "views of the water" but views almost over the water, this was absolutely an awesome place to stay if your preference is luxury right on the beach.
I started my trip by attending the Monday after the Masters Celebrity Pro Am Scramble put together by Darius Rucker (Hootie and the Blowfish). Luckily we had a special VIP pass. Unfortunately, this is one of those "press only" things. Each team had a celebrity and a Pro. I spotted Alfonso Ribiero, Mike Golic, Jim McMahon (Bears!), and Hank Haney.
(The event continues annually each April at the Dye Club at Barefoot Resort and now offers general admission tickets to the public.)
During the event we had access to the clubhouse. I highly recommend trying to find VIP passes if you are ever lucky enough to go. In the clubhouse there was a full open bar and buffet spread. Free food and booze! How can you go wrong there? Not to mention, I have an affinity for golf - needless to say, this event was a dream come true!
The event was followed by the annual concert that takes place at the House of Blues. I say concert loosely. It was basically a giant jam session. If you have ever been to a golf scramble you know that one of the prerequisites is alcohol. I can only assume that all of the musical acts were hanging on by a thread. Drinking all day and golfing is exhausting. Having to entertain a packed house, after that has to be tough but everyone kept it going. The crowd was energized the entire night. I mentioned it was more of a jam session because people from different bands were mixing together and even Joey Fatone from N'sync came out to get in on the action. MAM was only the tip of the iceberg and a great start to my Myrtle Beach trip.
Tuesday we headed out to the Myrtle Beach Speedway to participate in the NASCAR Racing Experience. We got to choose between driving a car (if you knew how to drive manual) or ride shotgun. I choose to ride upfront. Getting in a racecar is definitely something that everyone should have a chance to do. They are coming to Joliet, IL this Summer, I encourage you to check it out.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Myrtle Beach Speedway permanently closed in August 2020 and was demolished in December 2021. The NASCAR Racing Experience described here is no longer available at this location.
For high-speed thrills today: Visit Broadway Grand Prix across from Broadway at the Beach, which offers go-kart racing on seven different tracks including the Grand Prix Pro Track where drivers reach 20 mph on a quarter-mile course with challenging turns and straightaways.
The NASCAR Racing Experience was followed by lunch at Pine Lakes Country Club, a tour of the New South Brewing, a ride on the Sky wheel, and drinks at the Bowery.
The food at Pine Lakes Country Club (nicknamed "The Granddaddy" as Myrtle Beach's first golf course from 1927) was great. Lunch is not just hot dogs and chips at the turn. Chowder, Ahi Tuna salads, and great sandwiches are sure to satisfy after a long day in the sun swinging the sticks. Pine Lakes is also the birth place of Sports Illustrated and we had a chance to view Issue #1!
New South Brewery really surprised me. Their beer was amazing and it started with their best seller White Ale. The White Ale really convinced me that there are better things than domestic. As we continued the tour the samples kept getting better and all the guys at the brewery were friendly and accommodating. Definitely a good stop if you are into microbreweries and have some down time during your stay. (The brewery continues operating since 1998 and now also features their award-winning Dirty Myrtle Double IPA.)
Next stop was the Sky wheel and the Bowery located on the boardwalk. This is a nice area to chill. The Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel provides stunning views of the coastline. The restaurants, gift shops, and bars line the boardwalk. This includes The Bowery. Bowery is a Myrtle Beach Staple since 1944. It is strictly a beer bar and is home to the legendary country band Alabama. There are not many of these institutions left. It is definitely a bar to hit near the boardwalk. You could smell the history when you walked in!
After a long night, we started Thursday early by going paddle boarding with the crew from Surf the Earth in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. I have to say, I wasn't very excited about paddle boarding when I received the itinerary for our trip. Boy was I wrong. Once we returned from our paddleboard adventure it was my favorite thing we did the whole trip. The whole experience was very relaxing and serene. We paddled out to a sandbar just outside the inlet, took a break and walked around before we headed back to our launch point. This could not have been more fun and the experience was added to by the staff at Surf the Earth. They knew all of our names, made you feel comfortable and could not have been more helpful teaching us how to paddle board. Check out their store front. It is a great little surf shop with things from sunglasses to board shorts. I am partial to these shops to begin with, but the customer service is over and above. I did go home with a new pair of sunglasses from Surf the Earth!
Our final activity as a group was a trip out to the Backwoods Quail Club. We were joined by Chad Weatherford. He is an outdoors expert and two time winner of the Field and Stream Total Outdoorsman Challenge. He took us out to the stations in the woods for target shooting. I thought to myself 'how cool is it that I am learning to shoot from Field and Stream's Total Outdoorsman Challenge winner, Chad Weatherford!' The property that the club is on was beautiful, and even with shotguns going off in the distance it was very relaxing.
If you get a chance to get to the Backwoods Quail Club or another club in your area please go. It is something you will not regret.
Now to the part everyone wants to know about. Food and lodging are always a deciding factor on choosing a mancation destination. The lodging was fantastic all week. We stayed at the Mar Vista Grande in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina near the the golf tournament. It is a resort style condo development. The rentals are high end and very homey. I am sure a lot of fun can be had in the two pools and the lazy river that sit on the property. The night we stayed at the Mar Vista Grande it was too cold to enjoy the pools. I do have to note, the staff were very nice and courteous.
The balance of the trip we stayed at the Inlet Sports Lodge in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. I will say it again. MURRELLS INLET or the low country. They do not like for people to think that they are still in Myrtle Beach. The rooms were beautiful and had a studio apartment feel. I do not know if the staff just enjoyed our company but they were the most helpful and entertaining part of the Lodge. No matter what time we came in they had a friendly word or would entertain our crazy antics. It was very peaceful here and had less of a tourist vibe. I really enjoyed that.
I was supposed to return home on Thursday, but due to the weather in Chicago, my flight was canceled. It was not all bad. I can think of plenty of worse places to get stuck for an extra day than Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The delay was dealt with very swiftly. Hampton Inn was gracious enough to give me lodging at the last minute. They really stepped up to the plate. If their regular customer service is as good as what they showed me, any guest who stays here is in for a treat.
As we were navigating our busy schedule we always made time for great dinners. We sat down for giant, wonderful meals at 21 Main, Bliss, and Gulfstream Café.
21 Main is a steakhouse and Sushi Bar. It is kind of tough to be great at two very different styles but Chef Lou Petrozza runner up on Hell's Kitchen pulls it off amazingly. Everything we had at dinner from the beef carpaccio to the sushi was amazing. Next time I am in Myrtle Beach this will be one of my first stops. (Chef Lou continues as executive chef at this North Myrtle Beach location.)
Night two was spent at Bliss which was attached to the Inlet Sports Lodge. What a restaurant! I did not think that another restaurant could come close to the quality that we had the night before at 21 Main but Bliss is definitely on the same level. We choose to go family-style. Everyone choose their own dish and we all passed around our entrees. I recommend this if you have enough people to make it worth it. (Bliss closed in 2016 and was replaced by Costa Coastal Kitchen and Bar, which now serves Italian and seafood fare at the same location.)
I am from Chicago and because of this I am kind of a food snob, but Myrtle Beach, South Carolina did not disappoint.
Overall, the time I spent in Myrtle Beach was amazing. It is not just a golf destination. It has so many other things to offer. I encourage you to visit - tell them Bob sent you!
Planning Your Myrtle Beach Guys Trip Today
From championship golf courses and legendary nightlife to fresh seafood and outdoor adventures, Myrtle Beach delivers an authentic coastal experience perfect for any guys getaway. Whether you're organizing a weekend with the guys to celebrate a milestone, planning a bachelor party, or simply seeking adventure with your closest buddies, the Grand Strand offers experiences that create lasting memories.
For South Carolina guys trips, consider booking accommodations and activities well in advance, especially during peak season (June-August) and major events like Monday After the Masters. The destination's convenient location makes it easily accessible by car from Charlotte, North Carolina (3 hours), Atlanta, Georgia (4 hours), and Charleston, South Carolina (2 hours), while Myrtle Beach International Airport offers direct flights from dozens of major cities nationwide. The combination of timeless attractions and modern amenities ensures every group finds their perfect balance of relaxation and adventure along this legendary stretch of coastline.
