One of the many benefits of a Myrtle Beach vacation is that there’s no need to set the alarm clock. Sleeping in is part of the vacation experience — if the little ones will let you — so folks who have to wake up early the rest of the year get a reprieve during their trip to the beach. However, if you happen to be an early riser or want to witness one of the most beautiful scenes on the Grand Strand, you owe it to yourself to wake up in time to catch at least one sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean.
Every morning around 7 a.m. (and increasingly earlier as the summer months approach), the eastern sky hosts a celestial show that rivals any fireworks you will see during your Myrtle Beach vacation. Even before the sun appears over the horizon, the dark skies begin to host light splashes of color. Streaks of pink, orange and yellow paint the eastern sky before the star of the show (literally, in this case) peeks over the water and begins its ascent to signal a brand new day.
One word of warning for those who witness a Myrtle Beach sunrise: It can be addictive. Many longtime locals still venture to the coast each morning to get their daily fix, and some tourists decide to forgo the extra sleep to see the scene each day of their vacation. If this happens to you and your crew, you may want to move around to get a few different perspectives of this early morning ritual. Here are some of our guests’ favorite places to watch the sun rise, along with a few other nature scenes:
- Balcony: The most convenient place to catch sunrise is on your ocean-view balcony, so you can crawl out of bed and stay wrapped in your blanket for the show. High enough to offer a panoramic view, your balcony allows you to see the sky changing colors in a near 180-degree arc. Get up a few minutes early to make yourself a cup of coffee.
- Beach: This is the most popular way to watch sunrise, so you may spot a few fellow nature lovers sitting around on the beach to enjoy the show. The sound of the crashing waves and the feel of sand between your toes add to the experience. Once the sun emerges over the horizon, you can see a ray of sunlight that travels all the way over the ocean and directly to your feet.
- Boardwalk: It’s only a short walk to the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade, which is a great place to go for a morning stroll while the big orange ball makes its appearance. Lots of walkers and gawkers alike line the rails around Plyler Park and along the wooden walkway to have a front-row view of the spectacle.
- Boat: This one may be a bit trickier to arrange, but many full-day fishing charters depart for the Gulf Stream before sunrise. If you have time to get to Little River or Murrells Inlet to board one of these early morning fishing trips, you are in for a couple of treats — excellent fishing in the hottest honey hole on the East Coast and a brilliant sunrise on the sea.
- Full Moonrise: If you are not a morning person, you can still see a similar celestial miracle around sunset. Moonrise over the ocean takes place in the same spot as sunrise, just a few hours later. The trick is timing. The moon rises about an hour later each day, and the prettiest ones are full moons, which occur at the same time as sunset. The next full moon is April 22, but you can see it rise a few days before and after that date.
- Sunset: This one is a bit more predictable, but the key is finding a good place to see it. Although the sky changes color over the ocean to the east, the actual sunset is to the west. That requires finding a good place on the Intracoastal Waterway or Murrells Inlet where you have a clear western view. Try happy hour on the deck of the Gulfstream Café in Garden City Beach.
No matter where or when you decide to watch sunrise or sunset, be sure to spend your nights with us at Bay View Resort, you vacation home away from home.
