North Myrtle Beach
The city is a conglomeration of four communities--Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill--located along a nine-mile stretch of pristine beach. Each community has its own special charm and is known for its family friendly atmosphere, the kind of place where generations of vacationers return year after year.
From thrill rides to specialty shopping to live theater, there's plenty to do in North Myrtle Beach. The newly opened oceanfront amusement park on Ocean Drive, which will operate each summer, features classic carnival games and rides such as a Ferris wheel, a tilt-a-whirl, bumper cars and more. Also, take a ride on the world's largest inflatable waterslide, located right on the beach! Mini-golf courses abound, and a reptile park with alligators, snakes, lizards and tropical birds provides a dash of adventurous family fun.
North Myrtle Beach is also known for its outlet shops, malls, boutiques, specialty shops, sports superstores, flea markets and more; it's the perfect place for a shopping retreat.
And the fun doesn't end when the sun goes down. North Myrtle Beach is hopping with activities for all ages in the evening hours. Head to the theater, see a variety show, sing along with the band at a concert or hit a local dance club.
North Myrtle Beach sponsors numerous community events throughout the year. The Sounds of Summer Concert Series offers free concerts at the spacious McLean Park, while October's Endless Summer Festival celebrates the lingering warmth and cheer of the season. Parades flow down Main Street for Christmas and St. Patrick's Day.
The array of beaches, activities and attractions available in North Myrtle Beach give it a charming personality all its own.
NorthMyrtleBeachChamber.com
Atlantic Beach
Nestled within the city of North Myrtle Beach is a four-block community with a rich heritage. During the early 1930s in the midst of segregationist Jim Crow laws, enterprising African-Americans formed Atlantic Beach to carve out their own oceanfront community. Residents opened restaurants, hotels, shops, and nightclubs, building a bustling vacation destination that drew visitors from throughout the South to this area nicknamed the "Black Pearl."
Today, as a predominantly African-American community, Atlantic Beach continues its unique legacy with its own government, community events, and culture. Many residents are descendants of the Gullah-Geechee people, former slaves who inhabited the low-lying coastal areas from Wilmington, NC, to Jacksonville, FL. While the majority migrated and assimilated into mainstream cultures, the traditions of the Gullah-Geechee people are celebrated annually at an Atlantic Beach community festival.
With its history, cultural traditions and popular annual events, the city of Atlantic Beach brings a unique flavor to the Myrtle Beach area.
Myrtle Beach
From its humble beginnings as a stretch of shoreline dotted with cottages, Myrtle Beach has evolved as the centerpiece of a world-class vacation destination. For visitors wishing to maximize their options for sun, fun, and entertainment, Myrtle Beach is the perfect choice. The city's wide variety of family friendly attractions, live entertainment, cultural offerings and nightlife makes it the heart of the Grand Strand.
Whether visitors like their attraction exciting or earth-friendly, Myrtle Beach offers dozens of options for fun and discovery. Myrtle Beach has the classic oceanfront amusement park, where the roller coaster, Ferris wheel, and dozens of other rides combine thrills with a view of the deep blue sea. Race-car fans can take a spin on the speedway or ride go-cart, while the aquatic-minded will enjoy water parks with slides, wave pools, and fountains for the little ones.
Visit the aquarium for up-close views of sharks, fish, and turtles, or get even closer by touching rays and horseshoe crabs. Take an afternoon or evening to root for the home team at BB&T Coastal Field, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans' minor league ballpark, or check out the free concerts and fireworks at various locations throughout the summer.
In addition to the miles of golden sand and sparkling ocean, nature lovers will find many attractions for fun in the great outdoors. Numerous fishing piers allow anglers to commune with the ocean and its inhabitants, while Myrtle Beach State Park offers miles of unspoiled beachfront lined with sand dunes in addition to a maritime forest for camping, hiking, and biking.
All visitors will enjoy strolling along the new oceanfront boardwalk, located in downtown Myrtle Beach or dining al fresco at one of the many oceanfront restaurants. The 1.2 mile boardwalk offers spectacular ocean views and a serene environment reminiscent of yesteryear.
After dark, another side of Myrtle Beach comes alive as nightclubs and comedy clubs offer a variety of options for entertainment. From country and disco to oldies and dueling pianos, music and dancing make for high-energy action at dozens of Myrtle Beach hot spots. Live entertainment is also prominent on the Myrtle Beach menu of fun. Variety shows and concerts are available at multiple venues, while themed dinner shows offer interactive excitement for the whole family.
With its beautiful beaches and wide variety of fun, Myrtle Beach continually earns it reputation as the heart of the Grand Strand.
VisitMyrtleBeach.com
Surfside Beach
Located just south of the lights and action of Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach offers a winning combination of relaxation and excitement with an emphasis on family. Its tranquil beaches are set apart from the noise and crowds, yet its array of attractions offer high-energy entertainment or all ages.
Known as "the family beach," Surfside Beach's friendly atmosphere is apparent on many levels, from its shoreline to its public facilities to its attractions. Rather than being overshadowed by high-rises, its beaches are lined with rental homes, where generations of families have made their annual visit to a treasured tradition. The beaches are exquisitely maintained, swept daily, and patrolled by lifeguards and police. In recognition of the excellent condition of the shoreline, the national Clean Beaches Council recently awarded Surfside Beach with a Blue Wave designation for its eco-friendly, clean beaches--only one other beach in South Carolina has received such an honor.
The Surfside Pier offers additional ways for families to enjoy their time at the shore. Fishing and crabbing can be enjoyed by everyone, with a tackle shop and equipment rental on site, while non-anglers can stroll and chat with locals, find out what's biting or enjoy Sunday Serenades, a weekly summer concert series.
The town's family friendly atmosphere extends even beyond the ocean. Surfside Beach operates six public parks that include playgrounds, tennis courts, picnic areas, shuffleboard courts, and horseshoe and bocce ball facilities. All Children's Park offers equipment designed for physically challenged children, and Huckabee Recreation Complex offers a tot lot for children ages 5 and under. Surfside Beach boasts unique attractions that will be a hit for the whole family. Rainy day? Trade the boogie board for a pool stick and enjoy an afternoon of billiards or create a little friendly competition by blowing down the pins at the local bowling alley.
For an adrenaline rush with or without a side of water, check out Surfside's amusement park for waterslides, bumper boats, go-carts, mini golf, and more.
From sunrise to sunset, Surfside Beach offers an array of opportunities for families to come together and make lasting memories.
SurfsideBeach.org
Garden City Beach
Garden City Beach is located at a compelling intersection in the Myrtle Beach area, where ocean meets inlet and action meets leisure. Seeking the classic beach vacation? Garden City offers all the essential ingredients, and then some! Atlantic Avenue, the main drag into the city, is lined with beachwear stores, arcades, and restaurants. Step off the beach to grab a hot dog or shop for a shark's tooth necklace; in the mid-afternoon heat, cool off with an ice-cream cone on a deck overlooking the ocean.
Located in the heart of town, the Pier at Garden City is a destination all it own. Anglers cast lines and drop crab nets from this 668-ft walkway, and an on-site tackle shop with equipment rental makes it easy for visitors to get in on the fish-biting action. Voted "Best Fishing Pier" in a locals' poll, the pier has a cafe and hosts seasonal live evening entertainment. The adjacent beaches draw surfers from throughout the Myrtle Beach area to take advantage of the swells.
On the marsh side of Garden City Beach, seafood restaurants offer the best sunset views in the area, while prime fishing and crabbing spots include a creek walk and a marina. Whether it's watching the waterfowl, kayaking, crabbing, or just strolling the walkway, exploring the marsh is a beautiful and serene experience.
As generations of families know, Garden City Beach combines the best of both worlds: the allure of the ocean and the beauty of the marsh.
Murrells Inlet
In Murrells Inlet, lovers of nature will find her celebrated in many ways. Take a quiet kayak ride through the salt marsh to watch waterfowl diving in the pluff mud. Watch the shrimp boats haul in the day's catch, and enjoy the fruits of their labor an a waterfront deck. Stroll down a winding path through gardens accentuated with sculpture and verse.
Dubbed the "seafood capital of South Carolina," Murrells Inlet lives up to its reputation daily as dozens of fleets scour the tidal waters for shrimp, fish, oysters, and crab. Just hours later, these treasures are served to hungry visitors at local restaurants and sold at fresh seafood markets. For those interested in the thrill of the catch, charter fishing boats offer excursions to the inlet, off-shore or all the way to the Gulf Stream.
The celebration of nature continues at Murrells Inlet's Brookgreen Gardens, where every season is in full bloom year-round. This National Historic Landmark, founded in 1931 as the first public sculpture garden in the United States, showcases the beauty of indigenous flora and fauna and figurative American art. Upon entering the park, visitors notice the majestic sculpture Fighting Stallions, fashioned by founder Anna Hyatt Huntington. Inside, dozens of pathways wind through canopies of live oaks, past fountains flanked by magnolias and into gazebos that encourage quiet reflection. The children's garden features whimsical pieces and poetry displayed amid arches and pathways that create a magical area for young ones.
Among Murrells Inlet's more well-known nature lovers is the late Mickey Spillane, longtime resident, legendary author of crime novels, and creator of the iconic character Mike Hammer. Spillane and his wife lived in their waterfront Murrells Inlet home for more than two decades before his death in 2006.
The Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk is this fishing village's gem, offering waterfront dining and nightlife amid the natural beauty of the salt estuary. Eight restaurants offer a variety of dining options, each with a spectacular view.
Stroll along the boardwalk to feel the salty breeze, see the waterfowl wading in the marsh, and bask in the casual, carefree Lowcountry atmosphere. For a memorable meal, choose from the finest seafood, hand-cut steaks, or an oyster po'boy, while seated either indoors or outdoors on any of the restaurants' airy waterfront decks. After dinner, take a walk and watch the sun sink over the marsh as live music drifts through the air.Whether it's dinner with the family, a night out with the gang, or a romantic evening for two, the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk has the perfect dining experience in a beautiful setting.
Whether it's an up-close encounter with nature or just a stroll along the salt marsh, Murrells Inlet specializes in the great outdoors.
MurrellsInletSC.com
Litchfield
The sparsely populated shores of Litchfield Beach lure visitors with inviting breezes and limitless horizons. Here, the beachfront remains natural, lined with native vegetation rather than condos or hotels. Indulge in the serenity of the sea with a quiet walk down the beach, or hit the surf with the family, taking the sideshow of nearby pelicans diving for their lunch.
Recreational biking is a favorite pastime in Litchfield Beach. the beauty of the Lowcountry can be discovered in a whole new way on the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway, with its miles of paths along the ocean, through the marsh, and in the woods. On to wheels, riders experience the richness of the marsh air, smell the scent of magnolia, and feel the stirring of the salt breeze. On this one-of-a-kind trail, "Biking the Neck" brings riders closer to the essence of the Carolina Lowcountry.
The exclusivity of a visit to Litchfield Beach extends to its accommodations, where posh resorts ensure guests' every need is not only met, but exceeded. The breathtaking oceanfront view, plantation-style architecture, and spacious quarters allows visitor to luxuriate in the area's carefree atmosphere, whether that means enjoying he spa, the pool, the links, or simply the view.
Discriminating visitors have found their paradise--Litchfield Beach.
VisitGeorgetownCountySC.com
Pawleys Island
The area's image is appropriate, as Pawleys Island is one of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast. In the 1700s, rice plantation owners and their families would retreat to the island for the summer to escape the oppressive inland heat that they believed caused disease. A dozen of the plantation owners' houses, dating back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, remain on the island.
The phrase "arrogantly shabby" is rooted in a pervasive belief that newer ways aren't necessarily better. According to Josh Quigley, restaurant owner and resident of the Pawleys Island area for the past 14 years, "it means 'old school, and proud of it.'" Evidence of this belief can be seen through the beach houses that line the island. Family owned and passed down through the generations, many don't have the kinds of upgrades and renovations popular with newer builders.
Quigley explains th phrase "arrogantly shabby" through features that still exist in many of the beach homes. "It means window-unit air conditioners. It means seeing the ground between the floorboards beneath your feet. It's more what we grew up as thinking of beach houses; it wasn't about luxury--it was about being at the beach."
Though the majority of rental properties offer standard modern conveniences, many Pawleys Island residents and visitors prefer the beach atmosphere of yesteryear, when the ocean breeze and endless view of the water were more than enough to keep vacationers comfortable and happy.
TownOfPawleysIsland.com
copy taken from "The Official Myrtle Beach Area Visitors Guide"
photos by Sheri Dorwart
