Blue skies, white sand and sparkling water—just being in Myrtle Beach, S.C., gives visitors a peaceful, calm feeling. That relaxing beach vibe is a major part of the area’s reputation as a wellness destination. Along with healthy dining options, outdoor activities and stress-reduction workshops, it’s easy to see why every attendee can be their best in this South Carolina beach community.
At the Spa
When it comes to wellness, nothing gives more immediate results than a spa treatment. Once those knots and kinks are worked out of muscles and relaxation flows in, attendees can focus on other mindful activities. The Awakening Spa at Anderson Ocean Beach Club, an Oceana Resorts property features a varied massage menu, including deep-tissue massage, aromatherapy massage with essential oils and hot-stone massage to sooth aching joints.
The Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes offers massages along with soothing paraffin treatments, body scrubs, mani/pedis and a steam room to open those pores. Another option, the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort features the Royale Day Spa, with everything from body scrubs to deep-tissue or Swedish massages on the spa menu.
At the Cinzia Spa, mindfulness is found in the spa ritual itself; each ritual on the spa menu involves the senses, from the scent of orange blossoms, a glass of wine and a rejuvenating reflexology session in the spa’s signature ritual to the Fijian ritual, which lavishes the body in a coconut milk bath followed by a coconut cream scrub and full body and scalp massage. The Cinzia Spa not only offers group events; planners can rent out the entire spa for an afternoon of pampering for attendees.
After a renewing spa treatment, groups can learn how to keep that calm through the ancient practice of yoga, available at several studios around town, including Shanti Yoga, Yoga in Common and The Yoga Room. Planners can check with individual studios for workshops in meditation, the energy-transfer practice of Reiki, and other stress reduction techniques.
Often, meetings are filled with carb- and fat-laden meals, but planners can take advantage of Myrtle Beach’s dining scene for lunches and dinners that won’t weigh attendees down.
The Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel, headquarters property for the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, offers healthy catered cuisine such as its Locally Sourced Dinner Table or Brunch Table with market-fresh produce.
Clean Eatz provides simple food such as wraps, salads and snacks. Kind Belly offers up vegan and paleo menus, all organic and GMO-free, from smoothies to salads, wraps and soups. Bay Naturals is the area’s top health-food store and kitchen, where attendees can grab a quick meal. For something exotic, try Redi-et Ethiopian Cuisine, with conventional and vegan menus.
Healthy Teambuilding
Teambuilding activities held outdoors not only increase the efficiency of work groups, but also instill each participant with new confidence. Myrtle Beach has several teambuilding options, according to Susan Phillips, director of marketing for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB.
“We have Radical Ropes, WonderWorks, Broadway Grand Prix, the new Rockin’ Jump Trampoline Park, and T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation, which is also spiritual in a unique way,” she says.
The T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station, located in North Myrtle Beach, is a living-tiger exhibit free to the public. The world’s rarest tigers play and live in the habitat, including royal white Bengal tigers and the extremely rare golden tabby tiger. The station is a conservationist outreach and fundraising effort, and small groups can arrange for a photo encounter at the station.
Ziplines and rope courses are available at Radical Ropes and WonderWorks, or groups can delve into some innocent fun with go-kart racing at Broadway Grand Prix. Planners can also set up dodgeball tournaments at the new Rockin’ Jump Trampoline Park.
Another opportunity to see the beauty of the wild is with a dolphin tour. With 60 miles of coastline, there are plenty of chances to watch these graceful creatures, and several cruise lines cater to dolphin-watchers. Express Watersports and Myrtle Beach Dolphin Cruises offer group rates, and Voyager Deep Sea Fishing and Dolphin Cruises features a sunset cruise.
The staff at the Myrtle Beach CVB can assist planners in arranging a host of healthy events, from beginning meditation workshops to healthy cooking classes. Whether events are held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center or off-site, they have a wide range of resources to make any meeting better.
