Myrtle Beach Travel Guide: Beaches, History, Music, and More

Discovering Myrtle Beach

• 🏖️ Myrtle Beach is located on the Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of wide, sandy beaches on the coast of South Carolina, perfect for long walks.
• ☀️ The area boasts great weather year-round, with mild winters and warm summers, making it an ideal destination.

Historical and Cultural Insights

• 🌾 The region was historically a rice plantation area, and visitors can explore rice trunks (water gates) at Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park to understand this history.
• 🏛️ Georgetown, a nearby historic town, offers walking tours showcasing over a hundred early 1800s buildings and Revolutionary War history, including tales of Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox.
• 🎭 The Alabama Theater and other venues offer diverse nightlife, from music shows to magic performances, showcasing local talent.

Entertainment and Activities

• 🎶 Beach music, a fusion of black music popular in the 50s, has strong roots in Myrtle Beach and is often featured in free summer concerts.
• 🎬 Trolley tours, led by guides like Catherine Hedgepath, explore local filming locations for movies like "Don't Make Waves" and "The Shag" and delve into the area's movie and music history.
• 🎢 The Family Kingdom amusement park features the historic wooden roller coaster, the Swamp Fox, and other rides, located across from the seafood restaurant Kakalaki.
• 🌊 Water activities abound, including kayaking, dolphin-watching tours, and exploring the Intercoastal Waterway or Black River with guides.
• ⛳ Myrtle Beach is also known as the mini golf capital of the country, with numerous courses, and boasts over 90 traditional golf courses, including Pine Lakes Country Club, the birthplace of Sports Illustrated.

Culinary and Accommodation Recommendations

• 🦐 Seafood is a highlight, with many restaurants sourcing fresh catches daily. Kakalaki in North Myrtle Beach is a popular spot for fresh seafood and has a historical mural.
• 🦀 She crab soup and shrimp and grits are local specialties, with Inlet Crab House recommended for the former and shrimp and grits available for any meal.
• 🏨 Accommodation ranges from resorts and hotels to charming mom-and-pop motels and historic inns like the Pelican Inn on Pawleys Island or the remodeled Brookwood Inn in Murrells Inlet.

Unique Local Experiences

• 🏞️ Brookgreen Gardens features Anna Hyatt Huntington's sculptures and botanical gardens, while Huntington Beach State Park offers natural beauty and wildlife viewing.
• 🪕 The Marshwalk in Murrells Inlet provides a scenic boardwalk with restaurants, bars, and live music, offering views of the marsh and boats.
• ✈️ The Warbirds Museum and Park commemorate the area's World War II history, including the use of German POWs for labor.
• 🏖️ Surfside Beach, known as the "family beach," offers a more laid-back atmosphere with piers and beach yoga, contrasting with the busier high-rise areas.
• ⚾ Catching a Myrtle Beach Pelicans baseball game is a fun local experience, often featuring a mascot appearance.