myrtle beach area | northern grand stRand | southern grand stRand | beyond the beach
South Carolina beach getaway
A rrayed along 60 miles of shoreline—rightly known as the Grand Strand—Myrtle Beach doesn’t ask you to commit to one kind of getaway. While you could happily spend all your time there chilling on the golden sands, mixing it up is just as tempting. Whether that means golfing, boating, fishing, food touring, boardwalk strolling, brewery-hopping, concert-going, horseback riding or even time-traveling, Greater Myrtle Beach obliges with 14 distinct communities that offer all of the above. And that’s just for starters.
So whether you’re traveling with the family, your significant other or solo, set your sights on this easy-to-reach stretch of the South Carolina coast. It’s less than a day’s drive from much of the Eastern U.S. and a quick direct flight from even more airports.
Little River
One of the oldest settlements along the coast, Little River is best known these days for all things seafood, as your first glance at the waterfront will help you understand. You’ll spot shrimpers, fishermen and charters that can take you on anything from party-boat fishing trips close to shore to daylong angling excursions in the deep Gulf Stream waters. (Check out Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, for one.) Perhaps unsurprisingly, there’s a signature seafood celebration here: the World Famous Blue Crab Festival (May 17–18), when the waterfront transforms into an all-you-can-eat extravaganza of not just the namesake crustacean, but also plenty of other local specialties. Stop and have a bite at Crab Catchers while you're in the area.
North Myrtle Beach
The community that surrounds Atlantic Beach is worth checking out for the live entertainment options alone. North Myrtle Beach is home to—naming just a few—Barefoot Landing, a complex of restaurants, bars and music venues (some all-in-one) along the Intracoastal Waterway; the Barefoot Queen (noticing a theme?), a riverboat that pairs entertainment with lunch and dinner cruises along that same waterway; Crooked Hammock, a neighboring brewery with live events that include comedy shows; and the House of Blues, home to gospel brunches, murder mystery dinners and more. The newest entertainment venue to open here is the Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre, where the namesake local country music legend will be a frequent performer, among many other musicians.
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Conway & Aynor
A couple of artsy enclaves sit farther inland. First is Conway, where the Theatre of the Republic has sat at the heart of downtown’s Main Street for more than half a century. Shows there are perfectly paired with dinner at Rivertown Bistro and a stroll along the Conway Riverwalk. For bonus culture (and steps), walk the local stretch of the Myrtle Beach Arts & Gallery Trail with stops to admire the F.G. Burroughs Steamboat Mural and Teal Alley. Keep following the trail, and you’ll hit Aynor, where a famed train mural nods to the area’s tobacco history. The sandwich shop across the street is home to not only the famous eponymous Ned Burger, but also a mural-sized homage to the meal.
Myrtle Beach is often heralded as the Golf Capital of the World and starts fans young with more than 30 mini-golf courses in the area. If you like your game old-school—in more ways than one—consider the ancient mythology-themed Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Golf, a longtime local crowd-pleaser with ocean views. If your family's brand of ancient history looks more like 10-million-year-old dinosaurs, check out Jurassic Golf, one of four themed mini-golf courses by Myrtle Beach Family Golf (with well-priced passes that include all four). But there’s also a new offering you literally can’t miss: the eye-popping Ripley’s Crazy Golf, a three-story, neon-lit fun house that blends mini-golf with zip lining, pinball and other amusements. For a different kind of indoor facility when you’re feeling more serious about golf, try Topgolf Myrtle Beach, with its high-tech hitting bays and self-scoring balls. Combine mini-golf with the real thing at the Tiger Woods–backed PopStroke, which has two 18-hole putting courses that look like actual golf courses (think fairways, sand traps and unique holes).
If you fly in, you’ll be passing through Myrtle Beach International Airport, which is undergoing a $90 million renovation to add six new gates (for a total of 18). These and a few other renovations should be completed by the end of this year. There’s so much to do in this part of town, you’ll want to allow for plenty of local exploration before you move on to other communities along the Grand Strand. Of course, you may well have plans to stick around for a bit, if you’re pegging your trip to a big upcoming event, like the Carolina Country Music Fest, (June 5–8) with Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and Rascal Flatts as headliners.
Murrells Inlet
A walkable (and boatable) historic fishing village set along a saltwater estuary, Murrells Inlet is filled with as many culinary riches as gorgeous views, arguably best seen on a Murrells Inlet Salt Water Marsh Eco Tour. You can also get some amazing underwater views while scuba diving in the area with Express Watersports.
While you could certainly taste your way through the area on your own, an excellent alternative is Carolina Food Tours’ offering at Murrells Inlet MarshWalk. You’ll learn some local lore—which ranges from hush puppy history to the pirates who plied these waters—in addition to trying curated culinary offerings. Regardless of whether you book a tour, consider Inlet Prohibition Company for adult beverages or a Children’s Pirate Adventure for kid-appropriate fun.
Garden City Beach
Another family-friendly hub with a signature pier, Garden City Beach is a must for those who love fishing and crabbing, because this is where an inlet meets the ocean to teeming effect. Riding the local waves is another popular pursuit, as you’ll discover at the Village Surf Shoppe, the oldest in Myrtle Beach. Refuel at Sam’s Corner, a local favorite for beach hot dogs with all the fixin's.
Surfside Beach
Not just incredibly family-friendly, Surfside Beach is also an Autism-friendly family travel destination with attractions such as All Children’s Park, a picnic and play area accessible to everyone. The star attraction is the fishing pier, a new iteration of which opened last spring. Stretching to either side is beautiful oceanfront, much of it accessible to wheelchair travelers, and lined with cute houses, restaurants and hotels. Family favorites on the food scene include Chimichanga Llama for Latin-inspired food, Pizza Hyena for gorgeously wood-fired pies and Neal & Pam’s for burgers served up with—alternately—karaoke, trivia, live bands and big games on the big screen.
World Famous Blue Crab Festival
Northern Grand Strand
Beyond the beach
Myrtle Beach area
Southern Grand Strand
Kingston Park Shoo-Fly mural
Plan your trip
Wahoo's Fish House in Murrells Inlet
Big Mike's Soul Food in Myrtle Beach
Get on the water with Downwind Sails Watersports
Garden City
Crooked Hammock Brewery
SkyWheel Myrtle Beach
Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Golf
Garden City Beach
Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
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Little River Blue Crab Festival
Myrtle Beach Arts Trail in Conway
Downwind Sails Watersports
Brookgreen Gardens
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Loris
An old railroad town, Loris has made a name for itself in foodie circles. This tiny community is home to the Lowcountry dish called chicken bog, and though you’ll have to wait until October to attend the annual Loris Bog-Off Festival, you can try the rice-chicken-sausage-and-spice extravaganza for lunch on any given Thursday at the beloved Shorty’s Grill. Or try a twist on the classic at Ritchie’s General Store & Eatery: chicken bog egg rolls. Either way, walk off lunch along the lovely, leafy trails of the Loris Nature Park.
Loris Bog-Off Festival
Socastee & Carolina Forest
Just west of the Myrtle Beach International Airport, historic Socastee is home to a rare swing bridge that dates to 1935 and still pivots over the Intracoastal Waterway on schedule. To get out into the local waters, book with Waccamaw River Tours or Island Adventure Watersports—and to immerse yourself in local history, food and fun, visit during the Socastee Heritage Festival each April. If you make it to the festival, don’t fill up too much; you’ll want to leave room for the famed burgers at River City Cafe. And fear not: You can walk everything off by doing laps around the Tanger Outlets in Carolina Forest, a shopping hot spot only a few minutes away.
Socastee Waterway
Then again, Myrtle Beach is famous for all kinds of shows, such as The Carolina Opry Theater's music, comedy and dance revue or the Charles Bach Wonders Theatre's magic, comedy and hypnosis. Ripley's Illusion Lab Myrtle Beach—home to optical, photographic and interactive mind-benders—adds a whole new dimension to the brand’s offerings in town, which include Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium down the street and Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, a short drive away.
If you’ve got any wannabe sleuths in your party, take them back to the 1930s with Riga Tony’s Murder Mystery Dinner Show, where you’ll dine on Italian food during the mobster-themed event. Feel transported to the Pacific Islands with Polynesian Fire Productions, full of live Polynesian music and dance performances as well as a Samoan fire knife show.
For refueling between activities, Myrtle Beach appeals to every possible palate. Head to the National House of Pancakes, a local staple since 1973 for a breakfast fix. Angus Steakhouse and Seafood hand-cuts its meat, offering both surf and turf options. The Hangout pairs live music with party fare (nachos, wings and all the good fried stuff). RipTydz Oceanfront Grille & Rooftop Bar is the largest local oceanfront grill and rooftop bar (think blackened shrimp and beer). For local brew fans, favorites along the Myrtle Beach Beer Trail include Grand Strand Brewing Company and Tidal Creek Brewhouse, both kid- and pet-friendly, plus skilled at making small-batch beers. Black Drum Brewing showcases distilleries and breweries from both Carolinas on its drink menu. Veteran-owned Voodoo Brewing Co. celebrates 20 years of craft beer and upscale pub food this year.
Pawleys Island
At the southern end of the Grand Strand, Pawleys Island is a historic resort community where a dozen residences still date to the 1700s and 1800s, and life has emphatically resisted a 21st-century pace. As if to underscore the point, one of the best-known and most-beloved stops is Pawleys Island's Hammock Shops Village, where you’ll find not only the original local rope hammocks, but also hammock weaving demonstrations, daily wine tastings, and shops filled with candy, kitchenware and crafts. For proper meals, head to Bistro 217, the Chive Blossom Restaurant and Bar and Caledonia's Grillroom at the famed Caledonia Golf & Fish Club.
The BLOX Building (left); The Black Diamond (right)
Photo credit: Daniel Rasmussen
The Hammock Shops Village
Litchfield Beach
Home to soft sand, gorgeous golf courses and the 26-mile Waccamaw Neck Bikeway, Litchfield Beach exudes a lovely leisureliness. This is also the perfect home base from which to explore the area between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island where you’ll find Brookgreen Gardens—a private retreat turned artistic and botanical dreamscape, complete with a live oak allée—and Huntington Beach State Park, a rare combination of stunning wilderness and historic landmarks. This June–August, catch "Summer Light: Art By Night" at the gardens, but you should always check the calendar to see what’s on. Plan for a meal at the Old Kitchen by the live oaks or Austin's Harvest Restaurant by the Rainey Galleries.
Brookgreen Gardens (left and right)
Regardless of when you visit, a good first outing is to the SkyWheel Myrtle Beach, not only for the old-timey boardwalk fun of it (though the SkyWheel itself is modern and recently refurbished), but also for the overview of the area you’ll get from 200 feet up. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, check the schedule to see if there’s a sunrise flight on the calendar, then watch the legendary lighting-up of the Atlantic—paired with pastries and coffee—from on high.
Atlantic Beach
One of a handful of historic Black-owned beach towns in the nation, Atlantic Beach is a four-block municipality carved out of North Myrtle Beach. Worth visiting any time to check out the colorful wooden beach houses, the gorgeous stretch of local shoreline will take on an especially fascinating and festive air in early summer. The new Gullah Geechee Festival is returning for a third year on Aug. 29–31, when music, food and crafts will help tell the amazing story of the Southeastern coastal communities that descended from enslaved plantation workers—and managed to preserve African spiritual, artistic, culinary and linguistic traditions against all odds.
Gullah Geechee Festival
Family fun is big here. If, for example, you like bowling together, why not take your outing to the next level someplace that also offers axe-throwing and arcade games (Stars and Strikes), or pool (810 Entertainment). If go-karting is your thing, try Broadway Grand Prix, and if that ocean is calling your name, head to Downwind Sails Watersports, now in its 47th season of getting out on the water. Offerings include parasailing, banana boats, stand-up paddling, kayaking and sailboat rides. Young mariners will want you to book another iconic Myrtle Beach experience: the Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, set aboard a full-size ship in an indoor lagoon.
Ripley's Crazy Golf
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club
Downwind Sails Watersports (left); Broadway Grand Prix (right)
The Hangout
Voodoo Brewing Co.
National House of Pancakes
RipTydz Oceanfront Grille & Rooftop Bar
Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre
Barefoot Queen
Surfside Beach Fishing Pier (left); Chimichanga Llama (right)
What’s new?
Myrtle Beach hotels tend to be destinations in themselves and the latest additions understood the assignment. Less than 10 miles from the airport, The Ellie Beach Resort, part of the Tapestry by Hilton collection, sprawls over 30 acres. Guests can enjoy six pools, three waterslides, beach access, oceanfront rooms and on-site dining. Just steps from the Boardwalk, SkyWheel and Broadway at the Beach, visitors can spend some time floating down the lazy river at voco The Shelby - Myrtle Beach, sip a poolside cocktail at the Tiki Bar or use direct access to the beach.
What's new?
Since the 1990s, the public has been able to stroll the Conway Riverwalk along the Waccamaw River. This past February, construction was finally completed on the third expansion, which starts near Bonfire Taqueria, a barbecue joint, and stretches the walk another 1.2 miles. The Riverwalk now meets Main Street in downtown Conway via a curved sidewalk at Fourth Avenue. Conveniently, Palmetto Taps, a new self-serve craft brew spot, is on that same street, so you can reward yourself for all that exercise.
Conway Riverwalk
What's new?
Pickleball fans have a new court in town thanks to Litchfield Pickleball. Founded by a pickleball-playing couple from Pawleys Island, the facility is open to all ages and levels. (Locals and visitors are invited to play, you just have to sign up for a Court Reserve account.) There are seven uncovered courts and four covered ones. In addition to play time, guests can also book a pro or schedule a clinic. The courts are open from dawn to dusk (i.e., 16 hours each day)—plenty of time to get practice in.
The Oceanfront Litchfield Inn already beckoned visitors thanks to being steps from the shore, but now its new restaurant, Tide to Table, also lures hungry daytime passersby. With floor-to-ceiling windows basically bringing the beach to your table, dine on selections like Carolina caviar and oysters, she-crab bisque or bluefin tuna poke.
Pickleball
What's new?
Harking back to college days where people lingered in grassy spots on campus, The Quad beer garden opened last December with similar vibes. The family-friendly spot comprises a 6,000-square-foot farmhouse with a 2,500-square-foot covered porch and huge grassy yard in front for lawn games. A rotating number of food trucks are parked in the back lot, and people are invited to grab food and then hang out. There’s a full bar with craft beer on tap (and in cans), as well as a game room, live music and 20 large screens for watching sports.
The BLOX Building (left); The Black Diamond (right)
Photo credit: Daniel Rasmussen
The Quad Beer Garden
The Ellie Beach Resort
Serenity by Tilair
What's new?
Sunset lovers, listen up. Barefoot Landing’s latest addition, Big Chill Island House, offers spectacular views from its perch along the Intracoastal Waterway. There’s even an evening Sunset Celebration. Its three bars and live music also pair well with margaritas and menu items like the Island House lobster roll and chicken peanut mango salad.
Be transported from the beach into a glitzy cosmopolitan city by entering Bin 2004, an upscale wine and tapas restaurant located on Highway 17 South. Choose from more than 400 bottles of wine from Napa Valley, Italy and France while dining on small bites of Spanish, Italian, Asian and American cuisine. Or focus on the impressive cheese list, nobody will judge.
Golfluent
What's new?
No matter the weather (or the gators), you can golf in Myrtle Beach thanks to indoor and virtual golf experiences. Little River’s Golfluent features five state-of-the art golf simulators for golfers of all ages and levels. It’s the third in a series of indoor facilities that have opened in the past few months, with Mashie Golf Institute in Myrtle Beach and Performance Indoor Golf in Pawleys Island being the others.
What's new?
Set upon a 75-acre estate, Barn View Winery offers visitors a chance to indulge in fine European-style wine in the woods. (Groups can even hire the winery’s Lincoln Continental stretch limo so nobody is the designated driver.) Sample the various wines—moscato, chardonnay, pinot gris, white merlot, cabernet sauvignon, dry rose and merlot—which are all Barn View Winery private labels created by a winemaker in North Carolina. (The grapes come from Washington state, the Finger Lakes region and the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina.) The winery is open Wednesday–Saturday with live music on the weekends.
Barn View Winery
What's new?
Let’s face it: there can never be enough mini-golf options in this town and that's a good thing. You can see Mulligan’s Lagoon from a distance on Highway 17 South thanks to the yellow propellor plane on its 36-hole course. Tiki torches, beachy obstacles and winding waterfalls entertain along the way. There’s an indoor arcade here as well.
Redline Simcade offers an indoor state-of-the-art racing simulator complete with wraparound screens, high-end pedals and force-feedback steering so you can really immerse yourself and feel like you’re actually driving. Book an appointment (lasting one to four hours) in advance; Redline Simcade is open Tuesday–Sunday.
Redline Simcade
What's new?
While pickles have been around for thousands of years, Garden City Beach is home to a relatively new establishment. Located on the pool deck at The Royal Garden Resort, The Salty Pickle pays homage to the briny superstar. Try a pickle taco, a pickle dog, a pickled pizza, a dill-pickled grilled cheese, a pickled salad, or, well, you get the picture. There are non-pickle menu items as well, but when in Rome, get the pickle.
Sample the cuke-focused menu at The Salty Pickle
What's new?
Sloppy Jose’s Cantina and Seafood Grill is the latest addition to The MarshWalk and the third offering of aforementioned local favorite, Neal & Pam’s. (The second eatery being Neal’s Creekhouse.) Focusing on Mexican, Caribbean, Latin and fresh seafood, menu items will include ceviche, steaks and small plates.
While the exact opening date has yet to be announced at time of publish, the space will retain its existing pirate ship playground. The entrepreneurs are also revamping the adjacent building into a dessert sweet spot called Little Burros Churros.
MarshWalk
What's new?
If you’re bringing the whole crew along, a beach rental might be the lodging you’re after. Luckily, Atlantic Beach is home to several deluxe ones that you might want to move into. Serenity by Tilair sleeps 16 people in its seven bedrooms and features a state-of-the-art kitchen, pool table, game room and a private courtyard with a pool, hot tub and shower. Bailey’s Lighthouse, a four-story, eight-bedroom home, not only has incredible Atlantic views, but also two refrigerators, a double oven, a game room and a theater room. Three-story Divine By The Beach accommodates up to 14 adults with its six bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, an outdoor saltwater pool, an elevator, a spa and a cinema-style theater room.
What's new?
Cruise down the Intracoastal Waterway with Tiki Tours of Myrtle Beach. These 18-passenger catamarans with thatched roofs have a bar running down the center, so everyone can have a seat. Bring your own booze for a relaxing sunset ride on the Friki Tiki Jr. Don’t worry if your battery is low—there are USB charging stations aboard.
Whether you're fueling up for a day on the water or discussing it over coffee the next day, Zeytin in the Carolina Forest area is a new eatery. Meaning “olive” in Turkish, Zeytin offers a Mediterranean take on breakfast food all day, serving dishes like egg and sujuk (a type of sausage), Turkish delight, a halloumi cheese plate and traditional menemen. Originally opened just for breakfast and lunch, Zeytin has since expanded its menu to dinner as well.
Polynesian Fire Luau
Riga Tony's Murder Mystery Dinner Show
Big Chill Island House (left and right)
Tiki Tours of Myrtle Beach (left); Zeytin (right)
South Carolina beach getaway
is everything
This
myrtle
beach
area
northern
grand
stRand
southern grand
stRand
beyond
the
beach
What’s new?
Myrtle Beach hotels tend to be destinations in themselves and the latest additions understood the assignment. Less than 10 miles from the airport, The Ellie Beach Resort, part of the Tapestry by Hilton collection, sprawls over 30 acres. Guests can enjoy six pools, three waterslides, beach access, oceanfront rooms and on-site dining. Just steps from the Boardwalk, SkyWheel and Broadway at the Beach, visitors can spend some time floating down the lazy river at voco The Shelby - Myrtle Beach, sip a poolside cocktail at the Tiki Bar or use direct access to the beach.
Atlantic Beach
One of a handful of historic Black-owned beach towns in the nation, Atlantic Beach is a four-block municipality carved out of North Myrtle Beach. Worth visiting any time to check out the colorful wooden beach houses, the gorgeous stretch of local shoreline will take on an especially fascinating and festive air in early summer. The new Gullah Geechee Festival is returning for a third year on Aug. 29–31, when music, food and crafts will help tell the amazing story of the Southeastern coastal communities that descended from enslaved plantation workers—and managed to preserve African spiritual, artistic, culinary and linguistic traditions against all odds.
What's new?
If you’re bringing the whole crew along, a beach rental might be the lodging you’re after. Luckily, Atlantic Beach is home to several deluxe ones that you might want to move into. Serenity by Tilair sleeps 16 people in its seven bedrooms and features a state-of-the-art kitchen, pool table, game room and a private courtyard with a pool, hot tub and shower. Bailey’s Lighthouse, a four-story, eight-bedroom home, not only has incredible Atlantic views, but also two refrigerators, a double oven, a game room and a theater room. Three-story Divine By The Beach accommodates up to 14 adults with its six bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, an outdoor saltwater pool, an elevator, a spa and a cinema-style theater room.
North Myrtle Beach
The community that surrounds Atlantic Beach is worth checking out for the live entertainment options alone. North Myrtle Beach is home to—naming just a few—Barefoot Landing, a complex of restaurants, bars and music venues (some all-in-one) along the Intracoastal Waterway; the Barefoot Queen (noticing a theme?), a riverboat that pairs entertainment with lunch and dinner cruises along that same waterway; Crooked Hammock, a neighboring brewery with live events that include comedy shows; and the House of Blues, home to gospel brunches, murder mystery dinners and more. The newest entertainment venue to open here is the Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre, where the namesake local country music legend will be a frequent performer, among many other musicians.
What's new?
Sunset lovers, listen up. Barefoot Landing’s latest addition, Big Chill Island House, offers spectacular views from its perch along the Intracoastal Waterway. There’s even an evening Sunset Celebration. Its three bars and live music also pair well with margaritas and menu items like the Island House lobster roll and chicken peanut mango salad.
Be transported from the beach into a glitzy cosmopolitan city by entering Bin 2004, an upscale wine and tapas restaurant located on Highway 17 South. Choose from more than 400 bottles of wine from Napa Valley, Italy and France while dining on small bites of Spanish, Italian, Asian and American cuisine. Or focus on the impressive cheese list, nobody will judge.
Little River
One of the oldest settlements along the coast, Little River is best known these days for all things seafood, as your first glance at the waterfront will help you understand. You’ll spot shrimpers, fishermen and charters that can take you on anything from party-boat fishing trips close to shore to daylong angling excursions in the deep Gulf Stream waters. (Check out Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, for one.) Perhaps unsurprisingly, there’s a signature seafood celebration here: the World Famous Blue Crab Festival (May 17–18), when the waterfront transforms into an all-you-can-eat extravaganza of not just the namesake crustacean, but also plenty of other local specialties. Stop and have a bite at Crab Catchers while you're in the area.
What's new?
No matter the weather (or the gators), you can golf in Myrtle Beach thanks to indoor and virtual golf experiences. Little River’s Golfluent features five state-of-the art golf simulators for golfers of all ages and levels. It’s the third in a series of indoor facilities that have opened in the past few months, with Mashie Golf Institute in Myrtle Beach and Performance Indoor Golf in Pawleys Island being the others.
Loris
An old railroad town, Loris has made a name for itself in foodie circles. This tiny community is home to the Lowcountry dish called chicken bog, and though you’ll have to wait until October to attend the annual Loris Bog-Off Festival, you can try the rice-chicken-sausage-and-spice extravaganza for lunch on any given Thursday at the beloved Shorty’s Grill. Or try a twist on the classic at Ritchie’s General Store & Eatery: chicken bog egg rolls. Either way, walk off lunch along the lovely, leafy trails of the Loris Nature Park.
What's new?
Set upon a 75-acre estate, Barn View Winery offers visitors a chance to indulge in fine European-style wine in the woods. (Groups can even hire the winery’s Lincoln Continental stretch limo so nobody is the designated driver.) Sample the various wines—moscato, chardonnay, pinot gris, white merlot, cabernet sauvignon, dry rose and merlot—which are all Barn View Winery private labels created by a winemaker in North Carolina. (The grapes come from Washington state, the Finger Lakes region and the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina.) The winery is open Wednesday–Saturday with live music on the weekends.
Surfside Beach
Not just incredibly family-friendly, Surfside Beach is also an Autism-friendly family travel destination with attractions such as All Children’s Park, a picnic and play area accessible to everyone. The star attraction is the fishing pier, a new iteration of which opened last spring. Stretching to either side is beautiful oceanfront, much of it accessible to wheelchair travelers, and lined with cute houses, restaurants and hotels. Family favorites on the food scene include Chimichanga Llama for Latin-inspired food, Pizza Hyena for gorgeously wood-fired pies and Neal & Pam’s for burgers served up with—alternately—karaoke, trivia, live bands and big games on the big screen.
What's new?
Let’s face it: there can never be enough mini-golf options in this town and that's a good thing. You can see Mulligan’s Lagoon from a distance on Highway 17 South thanks to the yellow propellor plane on its 36-hole course. Tiki torches, beachy obstacles and winding waterfalls entertain along the way. There’s an indoor arcade here as well.
Redline Simcade offers an indoor state-of-the-art racing simulator complete with wraparound screens, high-end pedals and force-feedback steering so you can really immerse yourself and feel like you’re actually driving. Book an appointment (lasting one to four hours) in advance; Redline Simcade is open Tuesday–Sunday.
Garden City Beach
Another family-friendly hub with a signature pier, Garden City Beach is a must for those who love fishing and crabbing, because this is where an inlet meets the ocean to teeming effect. Riding the local waves is another popular pursuit, as you’ll discover at the Village Surf Shoppe, the oldest in Myrtle Beach. Refuel at Sam’s Corner, a local favorite for beach hot dogs with all the fixin's.
What's new?
While pickles have been around for thousands of years, Garden City Beach is home to a relatively new establishment. Located on the pool deck at The Royal Garden Resort, The Salty Pickle pays homage to the briny superstar. Try a pickle taco, a pickle dog, a pickled pizza, a dill-pickled grilled cheese, a pickled salad, or, well, you get the picture. There are non-pickle menu items as well, but when in Rome, get the pickle.
Murrells Inlet
A walkable (and boatable) historic fishing village set along a saltwater estuary, Murrells Inlet is filled with as many culinary riches as gorgeous views, arguably best seen on a Murrells Inlet Salt Water Marsh Eco Tour. You can also get some amazing underwater views while scuba diving in the area with Express Watersports.
While you could certainly taste your way through the area on your own, an excellent alternative is Carolina Food Tours’ offering at Murrells Inlet MarshWalk. You’ll learn some local lore—which ranges from hush puppy history to the pirates who plied these waters—in addition to trying curated culinary offerings. Regardless of whether you book a tour, consider Inlet Prohibition Company for adult beverages or a Children’s Pirate Adventure for kid-appropriate fun.
What's new?
Sloppy Jose’s Cantina and Seafood Grill is the latest addition to The MarshWalk and the third offering of aforementioned local favorite, Neal & Pam’s. (The second eatery being Neal’s Creekhouse.) Focusing on Mexican, Caribbean, Latin and fresh seafood, menu items will include ceviche, steaks and small plates.
While the exact opening date has yet to be announced at time of publish, the space will retain its existing pirate ship playground. The entrepreneurs are also revamping the adjacent building into a dessert sweet spot called Little Burros Churros.
Litchfield Beach
Home to soft sand, gorgeous golf courses and the 26-mile Waccamaw Neck Bikeway, Litchfield Beach exudes a lovely leisureliness. This is also the perfect home base from which to explore the area between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island where you’ll find Brookgreen Gardens—a private retreat turned artistic and botanical dreamscape, complete with a live oak allée—and Huntington Beach State Park, a rare combination of stunning wilderness and historic landmarks. This June–August, catch "Summer Light: Art By Night" at the gardens, but you should always check the calendar to see what’s on. Plan for a meal at the Old Kitchen by the live oaks or Austin's Harvest Restaurant by the Rainey Galleries.
What's new?
Pickleball fans have a new court in town thanks to Litchfield Pickleball. Founded by a pickleball-playing couple from Pawleys Island, the facility is open to all ages and levels. (Locals and visitors are invited to play, you just have to sign up for a Court Reserve account.) There are seven uncovered courts and four covered ones. In addition to play time, guests can also book a pro or schedule a clinic. The courts are open from dawn to dusk (i.e., 16 hours each day)—plenty of time to get practice in.
The Oceanfront Litchfield Inn already beckoned visitors thanks to being steps from the shore, but now its new restaurant, Tide to Table, also lures hungry daytime passersby. With floor-to-ceiling windows basically bringing the beach to your table, dine on selections like Carolina caviar and oysters, she-crab bisque or bluefin tuna poke.
Pawleys Island
At the southern end of the Grand Strand, Pawleys Island is a historic resort community where a dozen residences still date to the 1700s and 1800s, and life has emphatically resisted a 21st-century pace. As if to underscore the point, one of the best-known and most-beloved stops is Pawleys Island's Hammock Shops Village, where you’ll find not only the original local rope hammocks, but also hammock weaving demonstrations, daily wine tastings, and shops filled with candy, kitchenware and crafts. For proper meals, head to Bistro 217, the Chive Blossom Restaurant and Bar and Caledonia's Grillroom at the famed Caledonia Golf & Fish Club.
What's new?
Harking back to college days where people lingered in grassy spots on campus, The Quad beer garden opened last December with similar vibes. The family-friendly spot comprises a 6,000-square-foot farmhouse with a 2,500-square-foot covered porch and huge grassy yard in front for lawn games. A rotating number of food trucks are parked in the back lot, and people are invited to grab food and then hang out. There’s a full bar with craft beer on tap (and in cans), as well as a game room, live music and 20 large screens for watching sports.
Socastee & Carolina Forest
Just west of the Myrtle Beach International Airport, historic Socastee is home to a rare swing bridge that dates to 1935 and still pivots over the Intracoastal Waterway on schedule. To get out into the local waters, book with Waccamaw River Tours or Island Adventure Watersports—and to immerse yourself in local history, food and fun, visit during the Socastee Heritage Festival each April. If you make it to the festival, don’t fill up too much; you’ll want to leave room for the famed burgers at River City Cafe. And fear not: You can walk everything off by doing laps around the Tanger Outlets in Carolina Forest, a shopping hot spot only a few minutes away.
What's new?
Cruise down the Intracoastal Waterway with Tiki Tours of Myrtle Beach. These 18-passenger catamarans with thatched roofs have a bar running down the center, so everyone can have a seat. Bring your own booze for a relaxing sunset ride on the Friki Tiki Jr. Don’t worry if your battery is low—there are USB charging stations aboard.
Whether you're fueling up for a day on the water or discussing it over coffee the next day, Zeytin in the Carolina Forest area is a new eatery. Meaning “olive” in Turkish, Zeytin offers a Mediterranean take on breakfast food all day, serving dishes like egg and sujuk (a type of sausage), Turkish delight, a halloumi cheese plate and traditional menemen. Originally opened just for breakfast and lunch, Zeytin has since expanded its menu to dinner as well.
Conway & Aynor
A couple of artsy enclaves sit farther inland. First is Conway, where the Theatre of the Republic has sat at the heart of downtown’s Main Street for more than half a century. Shows there are perfectly paired with dinner at Rivertown Bistro and a stroll along the Conway Riverwalk. For bonus culture (and steps), walk the local stretch of the Myrtle Beach Arts & Gallery Trail with stops to admire the F.G. Burroughs Steamboat Mural and Teal Alley. Keep following the trail, and you’ll hit Aynor, where a famed train mural nods to the area’s tobacco history. The sandwich shop across the street is home to not only the famous eponymous Ned Burger, but also a mural-sized homage to the meal.
What's new?
Since the 1990s, the public has been able to stroll the Conway Riverwalk along the Waccamaw River. This past February, construction was finally completed on the third expansion, which starts near Bonfire Taqueria, a barbecue joint, and stretches the walk another 1.2 miles. The Riverwalk now meets Main Street in downtown Conway via a curved sidewalk at Fourth Avenue. Conveniently, Palmetto Taps, a new self-serve craft brew spot, is on that same street, so you can reward yourself for all that exercise.