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Boardwalks, Boats & Hush Puppies: Where to Eat, Stay & Play in Myrtle Beach, SC
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items Some links on this list are affiliate links, so I may earn a commission. I remember going to Myrtle Beach as a kid. It's changed a lot since then, but it's still a great vacation spot. And there's so much more than the boardwalk: sixty miles of Grand...
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Sections
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Things to Do in Myrtle Beach
Gardens, State Parks & Murrells Inlet
Where to Eat in Myrtle Beach
Where to Stay in Myrtle Beach
Tours & Shows Worth Booking
Things to Do in Myrtle Beach
The classic Myrtle Beach stops: the oceanfront boardwalk, the SkyWheel, and the big shopping and entertainment districts. Great for families and first-timers.
The heart of Myrtle Beach. This oceanfront boardwalk runs about 1.2 miles between the 14th Avenue and 2nd Avenue piers, with shops, arcades, places to eat, and the SkyWheel along the way. Go early for a quiet walk or after dark when the lights come o...
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade
This 187-foot observation wheel sits right on the boardwalk, with enclosed gondolas, so it works in summer heat or on a breezy evening. The views up and down the coastline are worth it, especially around sunset.
SkyWheel Myrtle Beach
A big shopping, dining and entertainment district built around a lake, just off the beach. It's an easy place to spend an evening, and Ripley's Aquarium and a mix of restaurants, shops and attractions are all within walking distance.
Broadway at the Beach
Inside Broadway at the Beach, and a great pick for a rainy day or a break from the sun. The highlight is the long underwater tunnel with a moving walkway, where sharks and rays glide right over your head.
Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach
Up in North Myrtle Beach, right on the Intracoastal Waterway. Barefoot Landing has shops, restaurants and attractions along a boardwalk by the water, plus the Alabama Theatre for live shows. It's a nice change of pace from the busier oceanfront strip...
Barefoot Landing
Gardens, State Parks & Murrells Inlet
Head south of town for the quieter side of the Grand Strand: a sculpture garden, two state parks, a castle on the beach, and seafood along the marsh.
One of the most beautiful stops on the Grand Strand. Brookgreen is a huge sculpture garden on old rice plantation land, with hundreds of American sculptures set among live oaks and flower gardens, plus a Lowcountry zoo and creek boat tours. Plan on h...
Brookgreen Gardens
Right across the highway from Brookgreen, with a wide, uncrowded beach and some of the best birding on the coast. Watch for alligators along the causeway over the marsh. Atalaya, the Huntingtons' old winter home, is inside the park too.
Huntington Beach State Park
A Moorish-style winter home built in the 1930s by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, the same couple who founded Brookgreen Gardens. It's a National Historic Landmark sitting right behind the dunes, and one of the most unusual places to wander on the ...
Atalaya Castle
Murrells Inlet calls itself the Seafood Capital of South Carolina, and the MarshWalk is where to see why. It's a wooden boardwalk along the salt marsh lined with seafood restaurants and waterfront bars, many with live music. Come for dinner and stay ...
The Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk
A quieter stretch of sand just south of the busy part of town, with a fishing pier, picnic shelters, and a shady maritime forest trail. A great spot for a calmer beach day, and it's close to the hotels and Market Common.
Myrtle Beach State Park
Where to Eat in Myrtle Beach
From an oceanfront local legend to a meat-and-two-sides soul food spot, these are well-loved places to eat in and around Myrtle Beach.
A Myrtle Beach institution for decades, in an old beach house right on the ocean. Locals and visitors both love it for fresh seafood, daily specials, and big windows looking out over the water. It gets busy, so plan ahead.
Sea Captain's House
A modern seafood spot that focuses on sustainable seafood and fresh, local produce. Grab a seat at the bar to watch the kitchen at work. It's a nice pick for a date night or a dressier dinner out.
Hook & Barrel
Not fancy, and that's the point. Big Mike's is a meat-and-two-sides soul food spot tucked away from the tourist strip, with Southern comfort food that keeps people coming back. Go hungry.
Big Mike's Soul Food
For a special-occasion dinner. Aspen Grille is known for USDA Prime steaks and fresh Carolina seafood, served in a warm, grown-up setting away from the beach crowds.
Aspen Grille
You can't do Myrtle Beach without at least one seafood buffet, and Captain George's is one of the big names. Think crab legs, shrimp and hush puppies. Great for big families and big appetites.
Captain George's Seafood Restaurant
Where to Stay in Myrtle Beach
Oceanfront resorts for every kind of trip, from a spa resort to family-friendly hotels with water parks and lazy rivers.
An oceanfront resort in the upscale Grande Dunes area, with a full-service spa, resort pools facing the beach, and on-site dining. A good pick for a couples' trip or a more relaxing stay away from the busiest stretch of the strip.
Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes
An oceanfront resort at Kingston Resorts on the quieter north end of Myrtle Beach. Expect several pools, a lazy river, and a long stretch of beach right outside, with easy access to golf nearby.
Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort
A big oceanfront family resort with condo-style rooms, so there's room to spread out and cook a few meals. It's a solid pick for families who want ocean views and plenty of pool time.
Ocean Reef Resort
The one for families with kids. Dunes Village is oceanfront and has an indoor water park, so a rainy day doesn't ruin the trip. There are outdoor pools and a lazy river too.
Dunes Village Resort
An oceanfront hotel close to the action, with indoor and outdoor pools and rooms with ocean views. A good middle-of-the-road pick if you want to be near the boardwalk and attractions without paying resort prices.
Hotel BLUE
Tours & Shows Worth Booking
Dolphins, river wildlife, jet boats, and a couple of Myrtle Beach shows. These are well-reviewed and easy to book ahead.
A slower, quieter side of the Grand Strand. This boat tour heads into the blackwater Waccamaw River, past cypress swamps where you can look for alligators, turtles and wading birds. It has a 4.9-star rating from over 1,400 reviews on Viator.
Waccamaw River Nature and Wildlife Tour
A two-hour catamaran ride that's great for families. You head out looking for dolphins and stop at a barrier island to walk the beach and look for shells. It has a 4.7-star rating on Viator.
Catamaran Dolphin Cruise with a Barrier Island Stop
For the thrill-seekers in the group. This high-speed jet boat ride does spins and sharp turns out on the water, so plan on getting wet. It has a 4.8-star rating on Viator.
Jet Boat Ride on the Thrillseeker
A fun evening out with dinner, island dancing, and fire knife performers. It's one of the most-reviewed shows in Myrtle Beach on Viator, with a 4.6-star rating from over 2,500 reviews.
Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show
A Las Vegas-style magic show with illusions, dancers and comedy, right in Myrtle Beach. A good indoor night out for the whole family, with a 4.8-star rating from over 600 reviews on Viator.
Charles Bach Wonders Magic Show