Myrtle Beach

Roughly 60 miles of sandy beach stretch along the South Carolina coast – the Grand Strand, with Myrtle Beach at its center, is one of the most popular beach destinations on the American East Coast. A vacation in Myrtle Beach means swimming in the Atlantic, mini golf, golf courses, shows, and seafood, but also quiet nature preserves and plantation gardens nearby.

From Pine Forest to Resort Town

Until the late 19th century, the coast was barely settled; lumber and turpentine companies made use of the pine forests. With the arrival of the railroad, a first beach hotel appeared around 1900, and the name comes from the wax myrtle that grows along the coast. After World War II, tourism boomed, and numerous motels, golf courses, and amusement parks sprang up. Myrtle Beach itself is a small city, but in summer its population multiplies. The shag, a partner dance set to beach music, originated here in the 1940s and is now the official state dance of South Carolina.

Things to See in Myrtle Beach

The Boardwalk, a promenade about 1.2 miles long, runs right along the beach; the SkyWheel, a giant Ferris wheel with views over the Atlantic, turns beside it. Broadway at the Beach is a large entertainment complex with shops, restaurants, and Ripley's Aquarium, where you walk through an underwater tunnel. Myrtle Beach State Park protects a stretch of unspoiled coastal forest and has a fishing pier. To the south in Murrells Inlet are the Brookgreen Gardens, a sculpture garden with a zoo on a former rice plantation. The city is also one of the golf capitals of the U.S., with numerous courses in the area.

Eating in Myrtle Beach

Seafood buffets with crab legs, shrimp, and oysters are a classic. Calabash-style seafood, lightly breaded and fried fish, comes from the town of the same name on the North Carolina border. Shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, and hush puppies also appear on many menus. In Murrells Inlet, seafood restaurants with patios line the MarshWalk, a wooden boardwalk over the salt marsh where live music plays in the evenings. Barefoot Landing to the north offers restaurants, shops, and shows on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Shows and Entertainment

In the evening, dinner shows and theaters beckon: the Carolina Opry offers music and comedy, Medieval Times serves up jousting tournaments with dinner, and the Alabama Theatre at Barefoot Landing stages variety shows. Mini golf courses with artificial volcanoes and pirate ships can be found on nearly every street corner – Myrtle Beach is considered one of the mini golf capitals of the world. In May, big motorcycle rallies fill the city with noise.

Getting Around Myrtle Beach and the Best Time to Visit

Myrtle Beach International Airport is only a few minutes from the beach and has numerous nonstop flights in summer. Buses run along the coast, but a rental car is more practical. The best times to visit are May, June, and September through October, when the water is warm but the beaches are less crowded. In high summer it is hot and busy, and hurricane season runs from June to November. Day trips lead to Charleston, about two hours south, or to Huntington Beach State Park with its alligators and birdlife.