Gronk’s Guide to the Beach
Rob and Chris Gronkowski, both previous NFL football players, grew up coming to Myrtle Beach on vacation with their family. They have a brand, IceShaker, that was conceptualized in 2013 but blew up in 2017 when the company was pitched on the famous show, Shark Tank. Visit Myrtle Beach hosted the brothers in July 2023 to help them create the videos and hold a “Beach Games” Olympic games between the two of them. You can watch the first episode of the brothers here. Now, VMB is holding an IceShaker competition where anyone can design an ‘Epic Beach Game’ competition and demonstrate it in a 60-second or less video. The winner will get a paid trip to the beach and a chance to meet the brothers.
The brothers have promoted their brand in various ways, one way through a video series where they feature places they went when they were little and vacationing in Myrtle Beach. They mention various places in the video series, and you can visit these same spots while in Myrtle Beach. Your trip can become a ‘Gronk’s Vacation’ as you navigate and try all the things that Chris and Rob did.
Click on the hyperlinks throughout the article to view Chris and Rob’s content.
Where to Stay
Crown Reef Resort: Crown Reef is where the brothers stayed every year growing up for spring break. They loved going to the lazy river and the resort's proximity to the beach. They reflect in their video series about the long days they had navigating back and forth between the beach and the pool. The resort is on South Ocean Boulevard, near the Springmaid Pier and Market Commons. Aside from just being a spot for accommodation, the resort also has a year-round waterpark, arcade, and on-site dining for guests, making it fun and accessible.
Elliott Beach Rentals: For those interested in entering the IceShaker game competition, the Sand Dollar in Cherry Grove is where the winner will be staying for three nights. This beach house is fully furnished and has games like Pacman, foosball, and billiards. Selected rooms also have a balcony overlooking the ocean and there’s an on-site pool and hot tub for lounging. Don’t miss the opportunity to stay at this beach house!
Things to Do
The Dunes Club: In one ‘Play Golf Myrtle Beach’ video, Rob and Chris can be seen with Charlie Rymer playing golf at The Dunes Club and Beach Resort. During their encounter, the Gronks and Rymer talk about their clubs, ways to hit, and memories of Myrtle when they were growing up. This is one of the top golf courses Myrtle Beach offers.
Jurassic Golf: Jurassic Golf, just one of Myrtle’s many miniature golf courses, is where the Gronk brothers played when they were kids. Located across from the Myrtle Beach Airport, Jurassic Golf has been around for decades. With every turn, you can find a different type of dinosaur with imprints of where the meteor hit the earth years ago. This course has been preserved and turned into a mini golf course for you to play, but you must stay on the green path. Jurassic Golf offers 18 holes, charging between $11 and $14 for a ticket.
Aloha Mini Golf: In the summer of 2023, the brothers made another trip to the beach, which is when they visited the mini golf course, Aloha. This location offers three courses for visitors, one inside and two that are outside. It’s $10 to play one, or $15 to play all three courses. Here you can experience tiki huts, palm trees, and water streams at every corner, and see the vintage train that sits on the site. The holes increase in difficulty as you play, with 18 in total, but they are all family-friendly so everyone can play.
Banana Boat (click here to see Rob and Chris talk about their experience): One of Rob’s favorite memories in Myrtle is riding the banana boat on the ocean. The banana boat gets its name because it quite literally is a huge, yellow float that holds at least 10 people. You sit in this float which is then pulled by a jet ski around the ocean. Rob described it as having to ‘hold on for dear life’, but that’s what makes it so fun. There are a few places in Myrtle Beach that offer this excursion, including Downwind Sails and New Wave Watersports.
Where to Eat
Kirk’s Ice Cream: (click to listen to what the Gronks love about Kirks!) Chris and Rob’s favorite dessert spot was Kirk’s Ice Cream. This parlor was voted in Yelp’s ‘Top 100 Ice Cream Shops’ in the United States for 2023. When the brothers would visit, their go-to was always the Turtle Sunday Split, so you could try their favorite or one of the other unique flavors from blackberry cheesecake to chunky monkey chocolate. The parlor is themed to resemble the mid-1900s with old photos, vintage arcade games, and fun furniture. There are two Kirk’s locations, both within a few miles from each other, but you can bet that they will be at maximum capacity come summer nights.
Dick’s Last Resort: To celebrate their grandmother’s birthday years ago, the entire Gronkowski family visited Dick’s Last Resort at Barefoot Landing. The waiters gave their grandmother a beautiful hat to wear throughout the dinner that said, ‘Grandma cut the cheese.’ After this night, it created memories and jokes throughout the Gronkowski household for the next three years. Dick’s is a restaurant where you not only get to enjoy food like barbeque trays, seafood, burgers, or a range of appetizers, but you get to have a little sarcastic banter with the staff. It’s a great spot for casual dining, and just like the Gronk brothers, could create memories that will live on for years.
Crave Italian: When the brothers came back to Myrtle Beach in 2023 to launch their Iceshaker competition and film their video series, one of the spots they ate at was Crave Italian. Located on North Kings Highway, this restaurant offers authentic Italian food and has both a lunch and dinner menu. Whether it's enjoying crisp arancini, devouring one of their brick oven pizzas, or indulging in a bowl of pasta scarpariello, they have it all. When visiting, reservations are recommended, and hours vary daily, so be sure to check the website before visiting.
