Ocean Lakes and other MB campgrounds
Good morning! We are headed to Myrtle Beach for 4th of July and have been able to get a last minute reservation at Ocean Lakes, but after doing some research and reading TONS of reviews, I am a little...
Forum Discussion
It is grossly unrealistic to judge anything about the Myrtle Beach area based on Memorial Day, or almost any weekend in May for the reasons explained before. May is "Motorcycle Rally Month" in MB and the Harley Rally has over 300,000 bikers here and the weekend of Memorial Day can see as many as 200,000 young people, many on motorcycles, "invade" the area. July 4th holiday time is also a huge holiday period when families from everywhere come. Ocean Lakes is the largest of the "big 3" oceanfront CGs and it is incredibly crowded and very, very busy over that time. There are many 'out of control' fools on golf carts and the facilities are heavily taxed. Your children are very young and will have to be constantly monitored for their safety. The beach is huge but always very crowded in nice weather. It will be possible to just play on the beach and early morning may see some running their dogs there (can't do it after 9AM I believe). As for fishing, your husband will need a salt-water fishing license - check it out here: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/regs/saltwaterregs.html
Honestly, the sites will be very tight together and you will get to know your neighbors!! Ocean Lakes has everything you will want for you and your children to do together. The pool is awesome, as is the lazy river. It will be very crowded, however. It will not, IMHO, be the place to be laid back and relaxing. There will be 'free-lance' (as in illegal!) fireworks on the beach every night you are there, sometimes going very late. There is a bar at Myrtle Beach Resort, north and next to Ocean Lakes that often has outdoor live music until after midnight. It is not heard in all parts of the CG. Traffic throughout the CG will be significantly greater than had you kept your ressies for Huntington Beach - a much, much, much smaller CG with larger sites but none of the amenities you have at Ocean Lakes. HB also has quite a walk to the beach - even though it is an 'oceanfront' campground. None of the sites can see the ocean and significant dunes and a thick brush separate the CG from the water. It's a walk even from he closest sites for sure. We camp there often and love it, but not as a 'beach front' campground! You will be much more crowded in Ocean Lakes, and it will be much, much louder and busier than HB, but it may be wonderful for your family. Have a great trip. If you have any other questions, please feel free to PM. DH and I have two small grandsons, 3 and 4, and take them to the campgrounds in the area often.
Honestly, the sites will be very tight together and you will get to know your neighbors!! Ocean Lakes has everything you will want for you and your children to do together. The pool is awesome, as is the lazy river. It will be very crowded, however. It will not, IMHO, be the place to be laid back and relaxing. There will be 'free-lance' (as in illegal!) fireworks on the beach every night you are there, sometimes going very late. There is a bar at Myrtle Beach Resort, north and next to Ocean Lakes that often has outdoor live music until after midnight. It is not heard in all parts of the CG. Traffic throughout the CG will be significantly greater than had you kept your ressies for Huntington Beach - a much, much, much smaller CG with larger sites but none of the amenities you have at Ocean Lakes. HB also has quite a walk to the beach - even though it is an 'oceanfront' campground. None of the sites can see the ocean and significant dunes and a thick brush separate the CG from the water. It's a walk even from he closest sites for sure. We camp there often and love it, but not as a 'beach front' campground! You will be much more crowded in Ocean Lakes, and it will be much, much louder and busier than HB, but it may be wonderful for your family. Have a great trip. If you have any other questions, please feel free to PM. DH and I have two small grandsons, 3 and 4, and take them to the campgrounds in the area often.
