Myrtle Beach

South Carolina's 96 km Grand Strand resort coast — boardwalk, SkyWheel, show theaters, Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park.

Myrtle Beach sits on the northeastern coast of South Carolina and is the heart of the Grand Strand resort area. The Grand Strand stretches about 96 km from Little River on the North Carolina line south to Georgetown, lined with an unbroken run of beaches, oceanfront hotels, golf courses and entertainment. It draws more than ten million visitors a year and is one of the most popular family beach destinations in the eastern United States. The climate is humid subtropical: May–Sep brings warm water and the peak beach season; Apr–May and Sep–Oct offer comfortable temperatures, fewer crowds and lower prices; Jun–Nov is Atlantic hurricane season, so keep an eye on forecasts; winters are mild, but most attractions scale back. The area divides into three sections: in central Myrtle Beach there's the boardwalk, the SkyWheel and Family Kingdom Amusement Park, with the Broadway at the Beach shopping and entertainment complex and Ripley's Aquarium a little inland; to the north, North Myrtle Beach has Barefoot Landing, Alligator Adventure, show theaters and Cherry Grove Pier; to the south are Myrtle Beach State Park, the MarshWalk at Murrells Inlet, Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park, and farther south still, Pawleys Island and the historic town of Georgetown. Getting there: Myrtle Beach International Airport is about 5 km from downtown, with direct flights from many U.S. cities. Attractions are spread out, so you'll basically need a car; US 17 is often congested in summer. Plan on 3–5 days. Note: summer UV and rip currents are strong, so swim at lifeguarded beaches; book shows, the aquarium and other popular attractions in advance during peak season.

Top sights

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk – A wooden boardwalk running about 2 kilometers along the beach, linking two fishing piers, with bars, souvenir shops, and amusement rides on…
Brookgreen Gardens – One of the largest outdoor sculpture gardens in the United States. Built on former rice plantations, it holds more than 2,000 American scul…
Huntington Beach State Park – A park preserving natural beaches and salt marshes where you can see alligators and birds. It is one of the best birdwatching spots in Sout…
Broadway at the Beach – A large shopping and entertainment district built around an artificial lake, with over a hundred shops, restaurants, an aquarium, and all k…
SkyWheel Myrtle Beach – A seaside observation wheel about 57 m tall beside the boardwalk. Its fully enclosed, air-conditioned gondolas offer views over the Atlanti…
Atalaya Castle – A Moorish-style winter residence built by the Huntingtons in the 1930s, with a square courtyard and a watchtower. It is a National Historic…
Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach – A large aquarium at Broadway at the Beach, with an underwater tunnel about 100 m long where sharks and rays swim overhead.
Murrells Inlet MarshWalk – A wooden boardwalk along a salt-marsh inlet, lined with a dozen or so seafood restaurants and bars, billed as the "Seafood Capital of South…
Barefoot Landing – An open-air shopping village on the intracoastal waterway in North Myrtle Beach, with a wooden boardwalk, lakeside restaurants and theatres.
Alligator Adventure – A reptile park beside Barefoot Landing, home to hundreds of alligators as well as crocodilians, monitor lizards and snakes. Daily feeding s…
Myrtle Beach State Park – South Carolina's first state park, preserving coastal woodland and quieter beaches, with a fishing pier and campground.
Family Kingdom Amusement Park – A classic seaside amusement park with the 1966 wooden roller coaster Swamp Fox and a waterpark by the ocean.
Pawleys Island – One of the East Coast's oldest resort islands, with laid-back old-style seaside cottages and hammocks, offering a quiet contrast to Myrtle…
Georgetown Historic District – South Carolina's third-oldest town, a port with historic shops along Front Street and a waterfront boardwalk, surrounded by former rice pla…
Carolina Opry – Myrtle Beach's best-known variety show theatre, staging a blend of country, pop and comedy for more than thirty years.
Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show – A pirate-themed dinner show created by Dolly Parton, staged around a giant pool and full-size pirate ships.
The Market Common – A walkable district built on a former air force base, with shops, restaurants, a cinema and lakeside parks, ideal for an evening stroll.
Cherry Grove Pier – A long fishing pier in North Myrtle Beach, where the two-level observation deck at the end is a great spot for watching dolphins and sunris…
Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum – A free art museum housed in an old seaside villa, showing works by artists from South Carolina and the wider Southeast.

Where to eat

Sea Captain’s House – A seaside seafood restaurant in a historic house, opened in 1962, with she-crab soup as its signature. It is a local le…
Mammy’s Kitchen – A Myrtle Beach institution since 1953, known for Southern country home-style cooking and a hearty breakfast buffet.
Big Mike’s Soul Food – A soul food spot recommended by locals, whose “meat and three” fried chicken plate was named to Southern Living’s favor…
River City Cafe (21st Avenue Original) – The original location of a local burger chain, opened in 1985, where you can toss peanut shells on the floor. It has re…