There are endless things to do in the area, not the least of which is just to spend the day at the beach! But there are loads of things to do year round on the Grand Strand. I am sure you will discover many of your own gems but if you need some help planning your adventure, here are a few of our favorite things. We would love to hear about any of your discoveries! Contact the business directly for current hours and pricing.
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Public Beaches
The beaches are the obvious draw to the area. The Garden City Pier is basically a dividing line (not exactly but close) between Horry (north) and Georgetown (south) Counties and the rules are slightly different. So do your research before you go!
Horry County Beaches
https://www.horrycounty.org/About-Our-Beaches
Georgetown County Beaches
http://www.georgetowncountysc.org/236/Beach-Information
Pawley’s Island Beaches
Nice change of pace if you want a different feel, usually much less crowded but parking can be limited: https://www.townofpawleysisland.com/beach-access-parking/
The Pier at Garden City is 668 ft. long with a rain shelter at the end. The pier is consistently voted “Best Fishing Pier” and is known for its karaoke and free-spirited live entertainment. The pier is also family-oriented with fun and games for all ages. It’s the happening place any time of the year to enjoy the ocean breeze and relax along the Atlantic. Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fishing $9.50 for ages 13 or older, $4.75 for age 12 or younger. There is no charge to walk on the pier to enjoy the view. Check their Facebook page for current prices, hours, live music schedules, etc.
Chair and Umbrella Rentals | Beach Services Ltd
Take the hassle out of lugging beach equipment with you, Beach Services Ltd. provides chair and umbrella services in Surfside Beach, Garden City Beach, and Georgetown County along S Waccamaw Dr. The standard rental package offers two chairs and one umbrella, which are set up before 9:00 a.m. and are promptly picked up at 4:00 p.m. in the evening daily. They also offer beach wheelchair, beach games and bike rentals.
To reserve chair and umbrella rentals, please contact 843-602-8004 the day before you arrive. They do not take reservations more than a day in advance due to weather restrictions.
4042 Highway 17 Business, Murrells Inlet; Phone: (843) 357-7777
Treat yourself to a breath-taking sunset cruise of the Inlet (really, it’s AMAZING!), take an exciting Banana Boat ride, go Parasailing over the Atlantic Ocean, or book a Dolphin Watching boat tour. If you rent kayaks or paddle boards here you can launch directly in the inlet. These guys are a pleasure to work with and will help you create some awesome memories!
Waccamaw Neck Bikeway
https://www.sctrails.net/trails/trail/waccamaw-neck-bikeway-bike-the-neck
The Waccamaw Neck Bikeway is a flat paved path that runs alongside US 17 from Murrells Inlet to Sandy Island Road near Huntington Beach State Park. You can ride or walk from Murrells Inlet to Pawleys Island by using sections of the completed trail and roads with Share the Road signs. There are 6 miles of continuous trail and two sections of approximately 4 miles that is used by cyclists and walkers to exercise and enjoy the outdoors.
Eventually, the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway will stretch 27 miles from the Horry/Georgetown county line in Murrells Inlet to the bridge connecting Georgetown to Waccamaw Neck.
Directions:
In Murrell’s Inlet the trail follows US 17 Business South. The best public parking areas include: ~ Morse Park Landing in Murrells Inlet but you have to ride in the bike lane for a bit to get to the good part ~Oyster Landing Drive (our favorite spot) but parking is limited and you cannot leave your car there late or it will get locked in AND the oyster shell recycling smells; but if you ride to the end of Oyster Landing Drive you will find additional parking, spectacular views, and a great spot to launch your kayak in the inlet. ~ Huntington Beach State Park (admission fee to the park is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 6 to 15)
Brookgreen Gardens
1931 Brookgreen Drive, Murrells Inlet
Part botanical garden and part low country zoo, Brookgreen Gardens is a unique melding of art, nature, and history. It’s a great way to spend the day exploring and enjoying the beauty of coastal gardens and wildlife. In summer they have a Summer Music Festival featuring evening concerts on Wednesdays through Saturdays June through August
www.brookgreen.org
Murrells Inlet Marshwalk
4025 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet
The MarshWalk, located in the heart of the historic fishing village of Murrells Inlet is a ½ mile wooden boardwalk along a natural saltwater estuary. The MarshWalk proudly boasts the most spectacular waterfront dining along the Grand Strand, set against one of nature’s most beautiful stage shows. Savory Lowcountry cuisine is bountiful here; so are fresh seafood, the finest steaks, and a range of mouthwatering delicacies prepared by award-winning chefs.
As warm salt-air breezes drift across the water and the marsh grasses dance, great white herons, blue herons, pelicans and more plunder through the pluff mud in search of the water’s treasures. Along this waterfront, boardwalk days are filled with adventure, nights accented with swaying Palmettos and dancing, together with the ocean’s greatest treasure – fresh seafood! Sunsets arrive in true golden splendor just in time to highlight the boats returning for the evening.
Enjoy waterfront dining, live music nightly, water sports, charter fishing, sightseeing tours, kayaking, shopping and seasonal local events – all along on the MarshWalk.
Huntington Beach State Park
https://southcarolinaparks.com/huntington-beach
16148 Ocean Highway; Murrells Inlet; Phone: (843) 237-4440
Located in Murrell Inlet, Huntington Beach State Park features over 2500 acres. Enjoy 3 miles of pristine beach for swimming, running, fishing or just relaxing. The park’s beach and wetlands are inhabited by sea turtles, alligators and rich birdlife. The Sandpiper Pond Nature Trail has a viewing deck on a pond that attracts egrets and herons. In fact, over 300 species of birds have been spotted within the park. The Kerrigan Nature Trail includes a boardwalk over a lagoon. Atalaya, a vast 1930s Moorish-style castle, was the home of the Huntingtons, who once owned the land is a National Historic Landmark.
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Village Surf Shoppe
https://villagesurfshoppe.com/
500 Atlantic Ave, Garden City Beach; Phone: (843) 651-6396
The longest running surf shop in the Myrtle Beach area and one of the oldest in the country. Eric Eason started Village Surf Shoppe In 1969. Today Kelly Richards and Brian Campbell are carrying the torch. Fun place to browse and shop but they also provide surf lessons and rentals. Great local shop to support!
Garden City Pavilion Arcade & GiGi’s Grill
https://www.facebook.com/Garden-City-Pavilion-Arcade-GiGis-Grill-112375332119522/
Garden City Pavilion Arcade has been providing fun for kids of all ages since 1969. Located on the main drag next to the original Sam’s Corner, and just a stone’s throw from the Garden City Pier, the Pavilion Arcade is a two-level structure with all of the familiar, more recent games on the bottom – Skee ball, Whack-a-Mole, Big Bass, Guitar Hero, Deal-or-No-Deal, racing simulators, a shootout saloon, and other games of chance and skill – and classic arcade games like Pac Man, pinball, and the old-timey baseball games upstairs.
The Hammock Shops Village at Pawleys Island
103 Atlantic Ave, Murrells Inlet; Phone: (843) 651-2770
10880 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island; Phone: (843) 350-2220
Spend time browsing everything from fashionable clothing and shoes to handcrafted collectibles and jewelry, coastal inspired treasures, wine, gifts, candy, specialty art, gourmet kitchen items and more in over 25 shops and restaurants; or, simply enjoy sipping wine on the deck or watching the art of rope hammock weaving and sweetgrass basket making being demonstrated each day.
Broadway at the Beach
1325 Celebrity Circle; Myrtle Beach; Phone: (843) 444-3200
Year after year, Broadway at the Beach remains to be one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Myrtle Beach area. While definitely touristy, it’s a fun place to enjoy some shopping, dining, and lots of family fun.
Family Kingdom
300 South Ocean Boulevard; Myrtle Beach; Phone: (843) 626-3447
There’s just a special place in the hearts of families everywhere for that old-time warm, friendly amusement park by the sea. Family Kingdom features more than 38 thrilling rides—including the famous Swamp Fox wooden roller coaster.
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Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach Pelicans | MiLB.com
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a Minor League Baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the Single-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The Pelicans compete in the Carolina League. Home games are played at Pelicans Ballpark, which opened in 1999 and seats up to 6,599 people.
Horry County Museum and L.W. Paul Living History Farm
805 Main Street; Conway, SC • (843) 915-5320
Free. The Horry County Museum focuses on the history, pre-history, and natural history of Horry County, S.C., and educates the public about these subjects through exhibits, outreach programs, and events. In 2009, the Museum opened the L. W. Paul Living History Farm. The Farm is a recreation of life on a one horse family farm between the years of 1900-1955. Visitors to the farm can experience what life was like in a farm community during those years and attend quarterly events at the Farm. In 2014, the Museum moved into the renovated 1905 Burroughs School. The school is on the National Register of Historic Places. The move includes increased exhibits, a freshwater aquarium featured on Animal Planet’s hit reality show “Tanked”, and a 600 seat auditorium that hosts public presentations and programs.
South Carolina Hall Of Fame
www.theofficialschalloffame.com
2101 North Oak Street, Myrtle Beach • (843) 626-7444
Free. The purpose of the South Carolina Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor both contemporary and past citizens who have made outstanding contributions to South Carolina’s heritage and progress. There are many interesting people that have come from South Carolina including eight of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and a Nobel prize winner. John C. Calhoun, Andrew Jackson, and Apollo astronaut Charles M. Duke. Modern inductees include Darius Rucker, multi-Platinum recording artist and Dr. Leo Twiggs, artist, educator and museum director.
Myrtle Beach Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard; Myrtle Beach • (843) 238.2510
Free except for special exhibits and events. The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is the Grand Strand’s only art museum. Since 1997, it has stood as a beacon of culture for residents who visit from Horry and Georgetown counties, as well as for thousands of visitors from throughout our state, country and world. Just steps away from the beach, the Art Museum nestles beneath live oaks while serenely overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Housed in a vintage beach cottage that once was a vacation home for the families of two Carolina textile magnates, the Art Museum is a nonprofit institution and has proudly been admission free since 2003.
