Sea Mist Oceanfront Resort

The bustling, family-friendly Sea Mist Oceanfront resort consists of over 20 buildings, and most of them are pretty dated both inside and out, though they are maintained. The large lobby is painted in tones of white, peach, and brown. Palm tree patterned carpet and four wicker armchairs add a little panache, but this is clearly just a space for doing business and moving on. The expansive resort is busy from morning into the night with the bulk of the activity (and noise) in the kids' areas: Wahoo Water Park, Castle in the Mist, and Wet Willie’s Wading Pool. Families are the main clientele here because of the location and the multitude of kid-friendly activities. With a few beachside bars, expect to see some couples as well. 

The Sea Mist Oceanfront Resort is located in South Myrtle Beach, occupying several street blocks in the surrounding area. The popular Family Kingdom Amusement Park is a three-minute drive or 15-minute walk from the resort. The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade is a six-minute drive or 30-minute walk. For those looking to do some shopping while in Myrtle Beach, the Coastal Grand Mall is an eight-minute drive, and has both indoor and outdoor shopping options. The chic Market Commons are a 10-minute drive away from the resort and have a movie theater, restaurants, and a few shops. The popular Tanger Outlets are in two locations: the Highway 501 Tanger Outlet is a 15-minute drive and the Highway 17 outlet location is a 25-minute drive. For shops, rides, live entertainment, and restaurants, the lively Broadway at the Beach is a 10-minute drive away from the Sea Mist, Known as the Golf Capital of the World, with around 100 golf courses, golf enthusiasts will appreciate the offerings at Myrtle Beach. Some of the more popular courses are Tidewater (a 40-minute drive in North Strand), Grande Dunes Golf Club in Conway (25-minute drive), and Pawley’s Plantation Golf and Country Club in South Strand (a 40-minute drive). There are also lots of mini-golf courses for kids along Kings Highway. For nature lovers, the Myrtle Beach State Park in the Grand Strand area is a 15-minute drive. It features camping, miles of hiking, and swimming. The Myrtle Beach International Airport is a 10-minute drive from the resort.

There are 781 rooms spread across 20 buildings and multiple streets. The Sandcastle, Driftwood, Oats, and Spray Rooms are all located on the oceanfront side of the resort, but only Sandcastle and Driftwood Rooms feature direct ocean views. Remaining rooms are located on the water park side, across South Ocean Boulevard, and are a four- to 10-minute walk from the beach. Villas, cottages, and the Family Village units are all located the farthest from the beach on Yaupon Drive.Rooms range in size from single room studios to larger three-room suites, with a few bungalows featuring five rooms. Decor tends to be simple, but beachy, with a blue color palette and seaside artwork throughout. The rooms can come with double, queen, or king-size beds. Kitchenettes are equipped with microwaves, mini-fridges or full fridges, and dishware. There are coffeemakers, but coffee is not provided. All rooms feature flat-screen TVs and high-power air-conditioning. Free Wi-Fi is limited to just some buildings, and the signal is spotty regardless. Some of the larger rooms come with washer and dryers. There are laundry facilities in most buildings.Bathrooms are spacious, and come with plenty of vanity space and toiletries. Many bathrooms feature shower/tub combos. Some guests have noted that rooms could use fresh paint and there have been some cleanliness issues. 

There are plenty of features at the Sea Mist Oceanfront Resort to keep most everyone in the family busy and happy. The massive resort has five restaurants and bars. Tena’s is open mornings for breakfast, while the adjacent Three Steps Down Grille and Tavern is open for a casual lunch and dinner with ample seating and a small bar section. Jason’s Cafe and Ice Cream Shop is a small corner shop serving coffee and ice cream. Pete and Polly’s Snack Shop is the small outdoor snack shop situated by the Wahoo Water Park. The Outdoor Barefoot Cabana is located in front of the Spray Building, and has an ocean view. Guests should note that the restaurants operate on seasonal hours during the off season. The bustling resort has a lively social scene with theme nights on offer throughout the week, including karaoke, magic night, and game night. The movie theater shows free movies on select nights throughout the week as well. Activities and movies are only offered during high season. Located below the lobby, there is a massive arcade with air hockey, skee ball, and old school arcade games. There’s also a trade-in counter where kids can trade-in the tickets they won for prizes. A massive playground, Castle in the Mist, is located adjacent to the Wahoo Water Park. The fenced-in playground features climbing and sliding activities. A moderately sized mini-golf course is located a four-minute walk from the main lobby. There is a small fee associated with the club and ball rentals. Oasis Fitness Center is small, but clean, and has a few modern LifeFitness cardio machines, weights, and flat-screen TVs. There are laundry facilities in some of the buildings which guests can use for a small fee. Gift shops sell tourist items and a few toiletries. Parking is free in the parking garage by the lobby and there are a few spaces close to the guest room buildings. Wi-Fi is free, though limited to only a few buildings and specific areas. It can be a bit spotty. 

The Sea Mist is situated directly on the beach and there’s an array of water sports on offer. Eleven pools (nine outdoor and two indoor) and five hot tubs (two are jumbo outdoor hot tubs) are scattered throughout the property_. _For the kids, Wet Willie’s Wading Pool near the beach features sprinklers, a slide, and spacious sun decks. The Wahoo Water Park is open every day during high season and limited hours during off season. The park has the distinction of being the largest on-site water park in Myrtle Beach and the one-acre park features a 760-foot lazy river and tubes, a three story high waterslide, and a few splash pools. Some room packages include the water park, but everyone who doesn't buy the package has to buy admission. Towels are not provided for any of the water amenities. Like all hotels in Myrtle Beach, umbrellas and chairs are rented through the city, though guests can bring their own.