Crown Reef Beach Resort & Waterpark

The beautiful thing about living in Myrtle Beach is that we get to call this little slice of heaven home year-round. Many only experience what we see and do for a few days’ visit, or maybe a week, each year if they’re lucky. Which is why we decided, for this issue’s Getaways feature, to instead staycation right where we are. 

For those of you who can’t afford to get away over spring break – because of a limited budget or limited time off – here is a handful of Myrtle Beach resorts we recommend that offer indoor water parks and a ton of family fun this time of year around here, where it may not have completely thawed out from the winter weather.

Book a day or two close to home for memories to look back on down the road!

Crown Reef Beach Resort & Waterpark
2913 South Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach
Located on the southernmost cusp of the boulevard in Myrtle Beach, the oceanfront Crown Reef is royalty, when it comes to indoor water parks on a resort’s property. (I mean, it’s in the actual name of the hotel.) The award-winning water park soars about 40 feet above the ground and twists into 600 feet in slide length – and can be enclosed over the winter and early spring months. There’s something here for all ages, heights, and adrenaline levels: the Twister Body Slide that slips and turns down a 302-foot-long slide gushing 800 gallons of water per minute, the Explosion Tube Slide that winds down 278 feet with you on-board and holding tight onto a single or double tube, and an 8-foot-tall Kidz Twister Slide for tots under 48 inches tall, which empties into Salty’s Splash House that features giant dump buckets and a Silly Sub to crawl through. Mom and Dad will appreciate relaxing in the heated indoor pool and hot tubs. 

More indoor amenities await within the Town Center Dining, Entertainment and Fun Zone, which includes the onsite Loco Gecko Beach Shak Restaurant, the Game On! arcade, a coffee bar, and more. Suites and two-bedroom oceanfront condos accommodate families with refreshing surroundings. Crown Reef also offers a four-bedroom penthouse complete with all the upgrades, if you want to “staycay” with another family. Book now at Crownreef.com.

Dunes Village Resort
5200 North Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach
Built in 2006, this landmark 14-story oceanfront resort is situated on the quieter, more residential north end of Myrtle Beach, which leads to less crowded beach time and, inside, erupts into splashes of fun in the Dunes’ indoor water park. Two parks, two towers, and the 30,000-square-foot water park is heated and fully enclosed November 22 through April 30, with multiple slides that twist and turn at different speeds, including a “humpy bumpy” waterslide. Kiddos will love the Kids Zone, where they can play in the shallow pool surrounded by spitting elephant fountains, huge waterfall buckets, a water-spouting submarine, colorful pipes, and a waterfall mushroom. The water park fun continues to meander through the indoor lazy river, indoor pool, and three whirlpools. Once you’ve all worked up an appetite, dry off and take a seat at the onsite Admirals Room, Captain’s Café, or the Perk’s Up Coffee Shop serving Starbucks. 

Accommodations range from one- to four-bedroom suites, and we think you should go big (or go home) by booking the three- or four-bedroom oceanfront condo with another family (or two) for a true spring break feel. Condo highlights include panoramic views of the ocean from the wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows, private bedrooms, Jacuzzi tub, spacious living area, full kitchen, and washer/dryer. Book now at Dunesvillage.com.

Homewood Suites by Hilton 
Myrtle Beach Oceanfront
520 North Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach
You’re in for a treat with a stay at this refurbished Homewood Suites that was rebranded from its former life as South Bay Inn & Suites in Myrtle Beach in 2018.

The rooms are sleek, clean, and modern, and we recommend booking the two-bedroom oceanfront suite that provides plenty of space for your home away from home. Suites feature one king and two queen beds, a refreshing, comfy living area with a sofa bed, two TVs, dining table (that could double as office desk space), and a fully equipped and stocked kitchen.

Just downstairs, you can spend the day at the resort’s indoor water park that boasts an expansive water park with playful twisting slides, a lazy river, indoor pool, splash pad, and ample lounge chair seating for relaxing on the pool deck.

Wake up to free breakfast! And when you’re ready to refuel later, hit the cool onsite restaurant, Coconut Charlie’s Beach Bar & Grill, order some seafood or tacos, sip on a cocktail, and stare out at the ocean. Or explore the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, just steps away from the resort’s back door, where there’s a lineup of bars and restaurants, the Second Avenue Pier, arcades, entertainment, and the must-see SkyWheel. Book now at Hilton.com/en/hotels/myrsbhw-homewood-suites-myrtle-beach-oceanfront.

The Breakers Resort
2104 North Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach
The Breakers is another longstanding Grand Strand resort that began ongoing rounds of renovations in 2019 to its multiple towers on the boulevard in the heart of Myrtle Beach. Demolitions, facelifts, and additions include the razing of the Pirates Cove building, the rising of the ultramodern 26-floor Marriott Springhill Suites/Courtyard, and adding amenities, like a new oceanfront pool deck, a lounge area with fire pits, modern business and fitness centers, breakfast and outdoor dining, a bistro, and – even more exciting – The Cove indoor water park, featuring five fast-paced slides.

The kids in tow (OK, grownups, too) will love the Torpedo Shoot, the twin Riptide Racer slides, and the Twisted Typhoon. More indoor water amenities to be enjoyed year-round include indoor pools, hot tubs, and a lazy river for pure relaxation. 

When you’re ready for a bite or a drink, The Breakers also offers a bounty of dining options, such as the onsite Starbucks café, the completely renovated Rusty Reel restaurant now located in the lobby level of the Palms Tower, Papa’s for a hearty breakfast buffet in the morning, and, right across the street, the popular Strong Waters Craft Cocktails & Kitchen for unique Southern dinner dishes, handcrafted cocktails, and an ambiance created to unwind.

And, lastly, The Breakers provides suites and one- through four-bedroom condos for any size family staycation that’s blocks away from the beach’s hub of entertainment options. 
Book now at Breakers.com. 

Landmark Resort
1501 South Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach
Following the trend in town of major resort makeovers is the Landmark, which houses everything from rooms to beach homes on its property, and an all-new H2OASIS water park on steroids. While it’s not completely indoors, we couldn’t help but recommend the thrilling possibilities this newest water park playground in Myrtle Beach offers on a warmer spring day, as it opened in mid-March 2023 for the season through the end of October. 

Located across the street from the Landmark, the $3 million new water park build features 9,800 square feet from 40 feet above ground, including three giant slides, a lion-themed, four-foot-tall kids’ slide, and a water splash landing area for the wee ones. 

Water amenities that are completely enclosed on the property are a heated indoor pool with a vaulted ceiling and centerpiece dolphin fountain, a massive indoor lazy river, five indoor whirlpools, and indoor kiddie pool and lazy river.