We are coming to you live from the sweltering heat of the South, specifically Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Today, we are going to hit the Myrtle Beach boardwalk hard. It was going to be intense. If you are wondering if this destination lives up to its reputation, we are here to explore the shops, the oddities, and even a story about a piece of the city that decided to leave.
Just as you might question about google flights before booking a trip, you need to understand the unique atmosphere of this coastal hub. Is it trashy, or is it just misunderstood? Let’s look at the evidence found right on the boardwalk and in the Atlantic Ocean itself.
The Boardwalk Experience: Fidget Spinners and Fake Equipment
When you step onto the strip, the first thing you notice is the merchandise. It is like 90% of Myrtle Beach’s shops sell fidget spinners and fake equipment. This sets the tone immediately.
We are here with my friend Danny to see what is really going on. The commercial landscape is a mix of the expected and the bizarre. You have your standard beachwear, but then things take a turn. Apparently, in addition to selling beachwear, they also sell deadly weapons. You can find knives, swords, and nunchucks that can add to your collection.
The Arcade Scene
No trip to a boardwalk is complete without the games, but the prizes here are specific. We found a pretty old-school arcade right here.
- The Claw Machines: We found a Five Nights at Freddy’s ball machine and the Pokemon machine. Your Pokemons are in this machine.
- The High-End Prizes: You can actually win a drone. A Yeti cooler? I bet I could get enough tickets for that. And then an Atari—that is actually what I want right there.
- The Mystery: This machine actually has purses. What if they got money in them? You know, they really is that it? Because I don’t know much about purses.
We also encountered a claw machine with a clear pop to it. If you look down, it actually probably improves your aiming ability. But sometimes, you just suck. Hey, you got a ticket? Maybe we can get that drone. With one ticket and 25 more, we can get a whistle.
The Shock Factor: Bizarre Finds
As we walked further, the sights became increasingly surreal. This is truly a first, and I am shocked.
The Unexplainable
- Confederate Jesus: I mean, I don’t know what to think about Confederate Jesus. Come on Danny, let’s pick out a hairbrush t-shirt.
- The Zombie Zone: Look, they even have crab batter. But what heck is this? Beware of zombies. Zombie Zone. What is this, like zombie paraphernalia? Oh look, there is an animatronic zombie slowly rotating in the window.
- The “Edibles”: What are CBD edibles? Is that like a drug thing? Oh yeah, this I have multi drug. Oh my god, there are humans in there. It is mortifying.
We also found the super creepy fortune-telling lady. Look at her. And then there is Ziggy the clown. The clown talks to you; let’s find out about that. What is in my clown egg? Oh, tiny photos. That is an interesting one. And there is a drunk baby with a gun. I don’t know, what do you think, Danny? Is that the most awesome shot glass ever?
The View from Above
To escape the chaos, we headed up. The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel. All right, inside the wonderfully air-conditioned SkyWheel, feel that cold air blowing. You are at the tippy top of Myrtle Beach in the moment.
So there are the tides coming in, and these people are trying to lose their stuff really quick. Poor tiny human. You can actually see from up here on top of this giant Ferris wheel a smaller Ferris wheel over there. There is also some sort of wooden roller coaster.
Down below, you can see a hipster coffee house. That is a little on the nose. It is a stark contrast to the rest of the strip. While you are up there, you might hear noises and wonder about the sirens of Memphis, but here, it is just the sound of the ocean and the boardwalk.
A Gallivanting Trash Can: A Tale of the Atlantic
Now, we have a really cool story for you today. It involves weather and a gallivanting trash can. While some might ask “Is Myrtle Beach trashy?” in a metaphorical sense, we have a literal story about trash containers.
A little piece of the Carolinas has ended up in Ireland. We know about it because Keith here wrote a letter to the City of Myrtle Beach informing them. He wanted to share some images of a blue trash barrel that has washed up on our local beach on the west coast of Ireland.
The Discovery
We spotted the stickers and thought it would make a good news story. We agree, Keith. Amazing to think it traveled with the tides all the way across the Atlantic. It traveled over 5,500 kilometers, which, if I am doing the math correctly, is 3,500 miles. And I think that is assuming it took a straight line, which I doubt it was a straight line.
Keith’s email arrived at the City of Myrtle Beach, and they wrote back to Keith saying thanks for the email and photos.
The City’s Response
We’re going to look at the photos in just a moment. That is an amazing voyage for a trash barrel, although we prefer it stayed put on our own beach rather than gallivanting all around the world via the Gulf Stream.
I don’t think it is possible to tell when it went missing, but it probably was during a windstorm or other storm event, which we’ve had numerous of along the coast. We typically remove trash cans from the beach before a hurricane, but this one apparently had a mind of its own.
The Logistics of the Journey
Let’s look real fast at that Gulf Stream. You can see how the Gulf Stream, the currents in the Atlantic Ocean, come right up the East Coast and then they go out across the Atlantic Ocean. Frankly, it is kind of amazing it hit any land and didn’t just keep on going.
It looks like it took that fork towards the British Isles and it worked out pretty nicely. I mean for us here and for the trash can. What you’re about to see here looks like it had some passengers. That does look like that has some sea life attached to it.
Analyzing the Evidence
Here are the photos that Keith shared with the City of Myrtle Beach, presumably to children here maybe with Keith’s family. A part of the discovery of this recycling can.
I like the bottom picture the best because, although I don’t want to feel bad for it, it just kind of looks all out there on its lonesome. I like the landscape in the back. It really gives me the perspective that Keith and his family here were just walking along the beach when they went, “What’s that?”
Then you can see in the other two top photos they got a little bit closer to check it out. I thought that was really cool. There is treasure hunting, and then there is finding a recycle bin from South Carolina. That is pretty cool.
A Modern Message in a Bottle
It kind of harkens back to the old way that we used to do things, everything being by boat. This is like the big version of a message in a bottle. Maybe the police reunited they could do like a sequel song to “Message in a Bottle”—something like “Message in a Recyclable Bin.” Update it for like Windows 95 or something like that.
Myrtle Beach: The Inventory vs. The Voyage
| The Boardwalk Inventory | The Atlantic Voyage |
| Fidget Spinners & Fake Equipment | Blue Trash Barrel |
| Deadly Weapons (Knives, Swords) | Sea Life Passengers |
| Creepy Fortune Telling Lady | 3,500 Miles Traveled |
| Confederate Jesus | West Coast of Ireland |
| Drunk Baby with a Gun | The Gulf Stream |
| Zombie Paraphernalia | Windstorm Event |
| CBD Edibles | Keith and his Family |
Whether you are there for the hipster coffee house or to see a trash can with a mind of its own, Myrtle Beach offers an experience you won’t forget. It is intense, it is sweltering, and it is definitely one of a kind.
Conclusion: Wayward Bound
We’ve already had at least one city employee volunteer to come fetch it. I also volunteer to come fetch it. Thanks again for sharing. Please recycle our wayward bound traveling can and come see us next time you’re on this side of the pond.
We are glad that this barrel is no longer in the water, that it has been found, that Keith took pictures and shared them with us.
So, is Myrtle Beach trashy? Between the drunk babies with guns in the gift shops, the Confederate merchandise, and the literal trash cans that travel 3,500 miles to Ireland, it certainly has a unique character. Before you book your next flight to see it for yourself, maybe read a flight review to ensure your travel plans are as smooth as the Gulf Stream.