There’s something about waking up to the sound of crashing waves that instantly resets your soul. That’s exactly what we experienced during our two-night escape at Grande Shores Ocean Resort in Myrtle Beach — an easy, breezy getaway just a few hours from Raleigh.
Craig and I snuck away for a much-needed beach break in partnership with Grande Shores Ocean Resort and absolutely loved our peaceful stay, doing not much else but soaking up the beauty of the resort and its unbeatable beachfront location.
Whether you’re craving a family beach weekend, a couple’s escape, or a stress-free friend cation (we met a group of ladies who’ve been friends since 8th grade enjoying a reunion together), Grande Shores delivers oceanfront comfort — without the hefty price tag or the crowded chaos of central Myrtle Beach or other North Carolina hotspots. Here are the things we loved about it…
The proximity to Raleigh
What are the biggest draws of the Grande Shores Resort? The drive. You can hit the road from Raleigh after work and be relaxing on the beach by sunset. Or, like us, leave with your morning coffee and arrive by lunchtime.
Located on the quieter north end residential section of Myrtle Beach, the three-star Grande Shores Ocean Resort is less than a 3-hour drive just across the border in South Carolina.
Staying outside of the center of Myrtle Beach in the northern end gives you all the beauty and fun of a coastal getaway — without the congestion and noise. It’s a more relaxed, laid-back version of the East Coast’s famous beach town, but within close proximity!
The laid-back oceanfront lifestyle
Let’s be real — a beach trip should be all about the views. From our penthouse-level suite, the uninterrupted ocean views stole the show.
Our oceanfront balcony became our favorite place to be. We started each morning sipping coffee and watching the world wake up: couples slow dancing on the beach, the beach crew setting up umbrellas, birds gliding effortlessly across the water, and a hawk hovering right outside our balcony.
Coffee always comes first
Evenings were equally dreamy. With a glass of wine in hand, we watched families in the outdoor pools below, saw friends chatting in the hot tubs, and admired the moon reflecting on the ocean waves.
Hot tub with a view!
And yes, we slept with the balcony door open so the ocean could sing us to sleep. The best kind of white noise you can ask for. If you can, upgrade to an oceanfront room. The views are worth every penny, and surprisingly affordable for a beachfront resort.
Suite life and in-room amenities
Instead of a hotel room, you can upgrade to a room suite or condo, which gives you all the comforts from home but with the luxury of hotel amenities. We stayed in a 1-bedroom oceanfront condo, which came with:
- A cozy living room right by the balcony
- Two queen beds tucked at the back
- A fully-equipped kitchen with an oven, refrigerator, and microwave, plus all cooking utensils
- One good-sized bathroom
- A murphy bed in the living area for extra guests
- Cable TV with unlimited DVD rentals
- Free wi-fi
You can easily sleep up to six people here, despite being a one-bedroom condo, which makes it a great option for family stays or friend groups. Plus, nearby grocery stores like Publix, Food Lion, and Fresh Market make it easy to stock up on essentials — or that perfect bottle of wine.
On our first night, we grabbed takeaway from Thai E San, a local Thai restaurant owned by a Bangkok native (as former Bangkok residents, we can vouch for its authenticity) and enjoyed a cozy balcony dinner with unbeatable views. Be sure to check out the current deals and rates available for your stay at Grande Shores Ocean Resort.
Other room options at Grande Shores Resort, Myrtle Beach
If the sound of our penthouse oceanfront condo has you dreaming of your own stay — but you’re traveling with a bigger crew — good news!
The resort offers up to three-bedroom oceanfront condos (complete with a sleeper sofa) and, best feature alert: a private oceanfront wrap-around balcony. We were honestly a little jealous when we saw it!
There are also deluxe three-bedroom condos located throughout the resort, including on the pool level, many with stunning ocean views. You can sleep up to 10 people in the 3-bedroom condos. For smaller groups, the resort also offers one and two-bedroom suites with similar layouts and views.
And if you’re after something simpler, the resort has smaller hotel-style efficiencies featuring fully equipped kitchenettes, or just a coffee maker and mini fridge, with some offering ocean views as well.
Sunrise goals
Our favorite beach tradition is to watch the sunrise over the ocean. And Grande Shores Resort on Myrtle Beach delivers some stunners. Just steps from your room, the sand becomes the perfect front-row seat.
Don’t miss the 30-minute show before the sun peeks up, the soft pastels, the calm quiet, and the promise of a new day. On our second morning, we stayed in to watch from our elevated balcony, coffee in hand. Even with clouds, it was beautiful and dramatic — and deeply peaceful.
Beach time bliss
On this trip, we kept things simple: relax, read, and swim. We walked to the nearest beach 350 steps away, popped up our Sun Ninja shade tent, cracked open my book, Surrender by Bono (so good), and let the hours slip by.
The water was surprisingly warm for late May — no flinching needed, even for a cold-sensitive swimmer like me. Bonus: there’s a lifeguard station directly out front, and you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas for a daily fee. Reserve early, they do get busy in summer.
Our Sun Ninja shade tent
Morning and evening beach walks are a must or watch the sunset from the ocean front lawn. While there are high-rises, there are also stretches of forest and charming beach homes to admire.
Resort amenities: pools, lazy rivers and more
The resort offers everything you need to unwind beyond the top-rated beach. Here are some on-site amenities at Grande Shores that we loved:
Pool decks and hot tubs
My favorite moment was sitting in the rooftop hot tub on the 7th floor, gazing out where the sky met the sea — it felt like we were on a cruise ship. Evenings are a popular time for the hot tub, so time your visit or be ready to share. (You’re only supposed to soak for 15 minutes anyway, right?)
Soak up the sun!
There’s also another outdoor pool on the 7th floor deck and four more hot tubs with ocean views. And don’t skip the lazy rivers — even the adults were loving it. Peaceful, relaxing, and surprisingly meditative.
On the ground floor, there’s another small pool and lazy river with tubes for kids. Both pool areas come with plenty of lounge chairs, and the water temperature was perfect, refreshing but never too cold.
Fun in the sun!
Ocean Breeze Pool Bar & Grill
While we missed the daily opening by a week, by the time you roll in with your suitcases, this poolside bar and grill will be ready to bring you tropical cocktails to suit your stunning Atlantic Ocean views. Ocean Breeze will also serve light snacks and lunch!
The Garden Terrace
Between the pool deck and the beach, the grassy garden terrace is a quiet oasis with palm trees, blooming flowers, and relaxing lounge chairs.
Perfect spot for an afternoon drink
Grab a drink from the pool bar or Shoreline Cafe’s happy hour ($5 wines and well drinks in plastic cups—cheers) and settle in for a moment of Zen with an ocean view and breeze.
Dining at Shoreline Café
Shoreline cafe
If you love breakfast sausages, don’t sleep through the highly rated breakfast at Shoreline Café. Made in-house, the breakfast option was honestly one of the best we’ve had in a United States hotel. It was the kind of breakfast that you could actually look forward to having!
There’s also a small garden patio for outdoor dining, and the restaurant stays open for lunch and dinner, offering a relaxed option if you don’t feel like heading out. Add French toast, bacon, eggs, potatoes, and you’ve got a satisfying start to the day—all at a very reasonable price.
We enjoyed sitting outside
We did not eat at Shoreline for dinner, but we saw plenty of other guests enjoying what looked like yummy well-portioned meals! Another reason Raleighites will love this oceanfront resort in Myrtle Beach: Happy hour!
Since we miss out on traditional happy hours in North Carolina, it’s a treat to enjoy one here — and it lasts a generous three hours. Head to the Shoreline Café from 4–7 p.m. for discounted drinks. Sip them inside the café or take your plastic cup to the pool or garden terrace and toast the sunset with a view.
Summer Kid’s Activities
If you’re visiting Myrtle Beach with kids, the good news is you don’t have to be on duty 24/7. Let Grande Shores Resort help out with their fun-filled summer kids’ activity program.
From June 10th through Labor Day, little ones can enjoy a full lineup of hands-on, high-energy activities including shark tooth hunts, sandcastle competitions, beach games, crafts, and more. It’s a great way for them to stay entertained—while you take a well-deserved break.
Caters to children
Indoor pool for kids
Speaking of children, one thing we like about the Grande Shores Resort is it caters to children. Aside from the kids’ clubs, indoor pools with slides and lazy rivers, it also offers extra beds and cribs for 0-2 years, subject to availability.
Mobile App Convenience + Text Alerts = a seamless stay
An impressive part of our stay at Grande Shores Resort was how easy everything felt. This was thanks in large part to their mobile app and helpful text messaging service. Before we even arrived, we were able to complete the entire check-in process on our phones, skipping the front desk and heading straight to our room.
The app is super intuitive and gives you everything you need for your stay right at your fingertips; including maps, amenities, activity schedules, and even your virtual room key, which can be shared with everyone in your party.
Just be sure to swing by the front desk to pick up your free parking pass! There is a parking garage with accessible parking spaces, as well as free public parking out front.
But what really stood out was the text servicing. Throughout our stay, we received friendly, timely text messages with helpful updates. We were alerted to daily resort happenings, received a 10% off voucher for food at Shoreline Café, and even got a link to easily check-out online—no front desk stop needed.
Stress free vacation!
It’s little touches like these that elevate a vacation, giving you more time to relax and less time worrying about logistics. Tech done right!
Craving a bite with a view? Head to Barefoot Beach Kitchen
Beachfront Kitchen & Bar
Feeling peckish and want to stretch your legs? Just a short 10-minute beach stroll south of the resort is Beachfront Kitchen & Bar, a casual outdoor spot with views of the ocean and a menu full of crowd-pleasers — think tacos, burgers, chicken wings, and the BBQ nachos we devoured (highly recommended).
With its laid-back, coastal vibe and beachfront seating, it’s the perfect place to refuel without straying too far from your sandy retreat.
Fitness Center
We didn’t use this as we’re on vacation, but if you want to work out on your trip there is a small fitness center on the 6th floor, open from 6:00am-10:00pm. It has a multifunctional cable-driven weight machine, two stationary bikes, two treadmills, and a stair-stepper machine.
Enjoy A Nautical Feast at The Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood
Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood
For a dinner experience that’s just as much about the atmosphere as the food, we couldn’t resist checking out The Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood Buffet a Myrtle Beach icon since 1986. It’s one of those places you have to try at least once, especially if you love seafood or a good dose of quirky charm.
With over 170 items on the buffet, it’s a smorgasbord of options—from crab legs, shrimp, oysters, and hush puppies to carved meats, salads, and a wall of desserts. It’s impossible to leave hungry. There are plenty of options for gluten free eaters as well, but those who aren’t well love the bar dedicated to calabash style i.e fried seafood.
All-you-can-eat seafood!
But what really sets it apart is the setting. The entire restaurant feels like a floating museum-meets-pirate ship. There are giant model boats, nautical artifacts, pirate statues, and ship parts everywhere you look. We spent just as much time taking it all in as we did filling our plates. It’s kitschy in the best way, and perfect for families or anyone who loves a bit of over-the-top vacation fun.
Nearby attractions and things to do
If you’re in the mood to explore, you’ve got plenty of popular landmarks and things to do in Myrtle Beach nearby. The following activities are our top recommendations:
- Barefoot Landing – Shopping, dining, and waterfront entertainment
- Broadway at the Beach – South Carolina’s largest entertainment complex (WonderWorks, escape rooms, racing, restaurants)
- Pirates Voyage Dinner Show – Fun for families with stunts and a full meal (our girls loved this on a previous visit!)
- The Carolina Opry – Music, dancing, and local performances
- Bike rides along Ocean Boulevard
- Mini golf – Myrtle Beach is the mini golf capital of the world!
- Alabama Theatre, which has high-energy stage shows with dazzling visuals and unforgettable performances.
- Or play a round of real golf. This area has over 80 golf courses across a 60-mile stretch of South Carolina coast called the Grand Strand. Pines Lakes Country Club is just down the road. Speak to the in-house Gold Department who can hook you up with golfing deals.
- Nature trails or a quick trip to North Myrtle Beach.
- Kayaking. We’ve previously enjoyed kayaking in Huntington State Park and along the Waccamaw River.
- Here are more ideas on things to do in Myrtle Beach.
And don’t forget, you’ll receive a coupon packet at check-in for discounts on many of these local attractions.
FAQs about staying at Grande Shores Ocean Resort
Who is Grande Shores Resort perfect for?
Grande Shores Resort is perfect for families, as it offers spacious rooms that cater to families with all ages of children, kid-friendly pools, kids activities, and a beach steps away. It also caters to couples who will enjoy the sunsets, strolls, beach reading, and wine on the balcony, as well as groups of friends, as it offers plenty of space, affordable fun, and relaxing hangouts.
Why will Raleigh locals love it?
This isn’t just another beach resort; it’s an easy opportunity for coastal relaxation. With oceanfront rooms, great amenities, and an unbeatable location, Grande Shores Resort is close enough to make a spontaneous weekend trip a reality. No flights, no stress — just fresh ocean air and a chance to reset. You can be there in a few hours, and a stay here won’t break the bank!
Ready to plan your stay?
Check the current rates and availability at Grande Shores Ocean Resort and give yourself the ocean escape you deserve. I know we look forward to returning to Myrtle Beach for another getaway from Raleigh soon. Have you been to Mrtle Beach? Share any questions or comments below!
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