Families sneak in a beach day after a rainy Memorial Day weekend in Myrtle Beach, SC

Even with the ocean yards away, the beach smelled like sunscreen on Memorial Day at the 16th Avenue South beach access in Myrtle Beach. After a weekend of wet weather and dangerous ocean conditions, tourists and locals alike took to the beaches for the unofficial start of summer.

Despite the red flags flying at lifeguard towers in south Myrtle Beach, swimmers ventured into the choppy water and parasailers flew in the distance.

Kristie Ludlum and Chris Perry drove “four hours and two minutes” from North Carolina with their kids, who left the surf only to drop off a choice shell. The family loves the attractions in Myrtle Beach – they came down four or five times last summer.

“We would have been out on the beach a lot more if the weather would have been cooperative,” said Ludlum. An avid fisherman, Perry added, “I didn’t even bring fishing poles this weekend.”

With the rainy weather, the family tried indoor activities, like the Palmetto State Armory and the Hollywood Wax Museum.

Nearby, two toddlers were happily digging in the sand with blue and yellow shovels. Their parents, Terrance and Shamonia Vick, said the little ones thought the ocean was too cold but they loved the sand.

The Vicks travel to Myrtle Beach from near Rocky Mount, North Carolina, about once a year. The family chose this weekend to coincide with Atlantic Beach Bike Week.

“We just wanted to come to see the bikes,” Shamonia said. “But we didn’t see too many of those.”

While they planned on going to the beach more often, the family brought their toddlers to their resort’s indoor pool and attractions like WonderWorks and Dave and Buster’s.