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Myrtle Beach is the busy center of the Grand Strand, a long run of beaches along South Carolina's northern coast. It grew through the twentieth century into a classic family vacation town, known for wide sandy shores, oceanfront hotels, mini golf and a steady supply of entertainment, with quieter natural and cultural spots tucked along the edges.
The oceanfront Boardwalk and Promenade is the place to stroll, with the SkyWheel turning above it and the rides of Family Kingdom Amusement Park a short walk south. Broadway at the Beach bundles shops, restaurants and attractions around a lake. For a gentler pace, Myrtle Beach State Park preserves maritime forest and a fishing pier. South of town, Brookgreen Gardens displays a large collection of American sculpture among live oaks, and across the road Huntington Beach State Park adds birding, beach walks and Atalaya, the Moorish-style winter home built by the sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband. Murrells Inlet's MarshWalk lines up seafood spots over the water, while Barefoot Landing and North Myrtle Beach's Cherry Grove area offer shopping and a more relaxed shoreline.
This is an easy choice for families and groups who want variety close at hand. Summer is crowded and humid; shoulder seasons are cheaper, and golfers find dozens of courses year-round.
WiserMap travel guideMyrtle Beach South Carolina Boardwalk and Brookgreen GardensPlan a Myrtle Beach trip: the oceanfront boardwalk, SkyWheel, Brookgreen Gardens, Atalaya, Murrells Inlet MarshWalk, seafood, seasons and practical tips.Read the guide
A 1.2-mile oceanfront boardwalk downtown running from the 14th Avenue Pier to the 2nd Avenue Pier, past shops, arcades, bars and restaurants, with a quieter wooden section through the dunes. The beach alongside is wide and busy in summer. Visit in the evening for the lively atmosphere.
A 187-foot observation wheel on the boardwalk, opened in 2011, with enclosed climate-controlled gondolas that make three turns for views along the coast. At night it is lit with a colorful LED light show. Rides take about 10 to 15 minutes. Go at sunset for the best views, and expect lines on summer evenings.
A seaside amusement park downtown with about 30 rides, including the Swamp Fox, a wooden roller coaster from 1966, plus a water park across the street. Admission is free, and you pay for ride tickets or a wristband. It is a good choice for families with younger children, and it is open seasonally, so check the dates.
An aquarium at Broadway at the Beach with a moving walkway through Dangerous Reef, an underwater tunnel with sharks, sea turtles and rays, plus a ray touch pool, penguins and mermaid shows. It is a good rainy day option for families. Buy tickets online, and plan about two hours for the visit.
A large shopping and entertainment complex around a lake, with shops, restaurants, nightclubs, a movie theater, Ripley's Aquarium, WonderWorks and other attractions. Summer evenings bring free fireworks shows over the lake. Parking is free but crowded in high season, so arrive early for dinner.
A waterfront shopping and dining village in North Myrtle Beach along the Intracoastal Waterway, with more than 100 shops and restaurants, boardwalks and the Alabama Theatre for live shows. Free summer events are held. It is a relaxed alternative to Broadway at the Beach, with plenty of free parking.
One of South Carolina's first state parks, opened in 1936, with a mile of quiet beach, a fishing pier, a campground and a nature trail through one of the last stands of maritime forest on the Grand Strand. A small nature center offers programs. An entrance fee is charged, and it is a calm escape from the busy beaches.
A state park south of Murrells Inlet with three miles of undeveloped beach, salt marsh boardwalks where alligators and birds are often seen, and Atalaya, the Moorish-style winter home of sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband Archer. The house is open for self-guided tours. Bring binoculars.
A large sculpture garden and nature preserve founded in 1931 by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington across from Huntington Beach State Park, with more than 2,000 American figurative sculptures in gardens shaded by live oaks. It also has a zoo of native animals and boat tours of old rice fields. Tickets are valid for several days.
A half-mile wooden boardwalk along the salt marsh in Murrells Inlet, south of Myrtle Beach, lined with seafood restaurants and bars with outdoor decks and live music. It is a great place for fresh seafood and sunset views, and herons and egrets feed in the marsh. Boat tours and fishing charters leave nearby.
A long-running theater in Myrtle Beach, known for its variety show of country, pop, rock, gospel and comedy performed by a large cast, plus seasonal Christmas shows and themed productions. It has been a fixture of the Grand Strand's live show scene since 1986. Book tickets ahead in summer and for holiday shows.
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South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
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