First off, Garden City is a great compromise for a beach vacation. We love being close to Myrtle for the attractions, but Garden City is just a bit more off the beaten path and just a smidge less crowded. The pier is one of our favorite attractions while we're there. The best part is that you can enjoy the entire attraction without spending a dime, or find some postcards and soveniors to hang onto and take home. The pier is totally low-tech fun, but a place for some great family memories.
This is a great place to bring the kids fishing. If you don't have a rod, you can rent them here. Even if you don't catch anything, the local fishermen love to show off their catch and give you advice on how to fish. The kids had as much fun running to see what other people caught as they had trying to fish themselves. Beware- you do have to walk through an arcade to get to the tackle shop!