At 10 years old, Kelly Richards was initially skeptical when his family moved cross-country from Arkansas to coastal South Carolina. But it didn’t take him long to see the light. “I got hooked on the beach, then surfing, then girls,” Richards laughs.
In 1981, Richards joined Village Surf Shoppe’s surfing team, and in 1988, he bought it from its original owner. Today, as Richards handcrafts custom surf boards from the shop’s Garden City Beach location, he sees plenty of vacationers navigating all that Myrtle Beach has to offer. “I think 90 percent of people come to Myrtle, shop on Broadway, and hang out on the beach,” he says. “But if they don’t experience the water, I think they’re missing one of the best parts.”
Stop by Village Surf Shoppe — one of the longest running surf shops in the country — to rent a board, book a lesson, or shop for apparel. Photography courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach
While there are lots of benefits to a private lesson, Richards loves the energy in a surf camp. “It seems like a group of people push each other, and they have more fun,” he says. “No matter what your age and ability is, a reputable surf camp can put you on the right board. Almost everybody who does our surf camp leaves actually surfing.”
In addition to riding the waves, the breadth of activities and attractions found in Myrtle Beach lets vacationers customize an itinerary suited to their appetite for adventure, whether they’d rather laze the day away on the beach, stroll through a century-old garden, or dive into the ocean’s cool, refreshing waves. Read on for eight must-do experiences you’ll only find here.
No trip to Huntington Beach State Park is complete without a visit to the iconic Atalaya Castle. Photography courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach
Framed by palms, the mysterious Atalaya (“Watchtower,” in Spanish) Castle gives visitors a peek into the lives of industrialist Archer Huntington and his wife, Anna, a renowned sculptor. The Moorish-style mansion was built as their winter house, complete with 30 rooms, a dreamy Spanish courtyard, and a view of the ocean. Originally constructed by local labor between 1931 and 1933, the U.S. Air Corps later employed it as barracks during World War II.
With empty rooms and corridors, Atalaya Castle is a shell of its former glory, but it remains an architecturally rich vessel for Huntington Beach State Park’s history. After you explore the rooms (be sure to grab a map that illustrates how the Huntingtons used each space), take a walk along the .3-mile Kerrigan nature trail, learn about local wildlife at the education center, and spend a few hours swimming at one of the park’s two beaches.
Follow the boardwalk through the Cypress Swamp Aviary at Brookgreen Gardens. Photography courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach
Just down the road from Huntington Beach State Park, Brookgreen Gardens is an ideal day trip pairing. Home to Anna Huntington’s sculpture collection, Brookgreen was the country’s first public sculpture garden and remains every bit as impressive today.
Three indoor galleries and a network of botanical gardens display more than 2,000 works by 430 artists. Don’t miss the centerpiece: a path lined with live oaks planted in the early 1700s.
Order a plate of Angry Clams — linguine with local Bulls Bay clams, red-pepper-infused lemon butter sauce, and parmesan — at Hook & Barrel. Photography courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach
South Carolina Chef Ambassador Darren Smith describes his perfect meal: raw oysters and shrimp paired with a crisp white wine and triggerfish or local snapper for the entrée. “I would rather eat seafood than any other food — especially in the summertime,” he says.
Smith, who owns two successful Conway restaurants, including Rivertown Bistro, makes a point to visit Myrtle Beach restaurants where the chefs serve seafood sourced from the coastal waters. “Look at the menu; you can tell. Ask: ‘Are you using fresh fish? Where’s the grouper from?’” he suggests. “Support the local restaurants going out of their way to buy from local fishermen, whether they’re here or along the East Coast, just like you would buy produce from local farmers.”
Two of his Myrtle Beach favorites are Hook & Barrel — you can’t go wrong with the grilled fresh catch, served with pineapple coconut rice and asparagus — and Wicked Tuna, a Murrells Inlet waterfront restaurant with its own fishing boats. “And at Fire and Smoke, Chef Tyler Rice is passionate about his food; you can taste it when you eat there.”
Climb into one of the SkyWheel’s gondolas and take in panoramic views of Myrtle Beach at all times of day. Photography courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach
If you’ve seen a postcard of Myrtle Beach, then you’ve also seen the iconic SkyWheel, a 200-foot observation wheel with 42 glass-enclosed gondolas. Grab a handful of friends (each gondola accommodates six riders) and ride to the top for a birds-eye view of the beach.
Typical hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., but on the Sunrise Flight, you can wake up with the sun as it rises over the ocean. Sit back and relax during a 30-minute ride, which includes a complimentary coffee and pastry.
Whether they’re the on-stage talent or revelers dancing the night away, everybody loves the nightlife at Phillip Bates’ Hot Fish Club in Murrells Inlet. “It’s just fun,” Bates says. “We get all ages and all kinds of music.”
In the summer, five- to seven-piece bands entertain vacationers and locals bouncing between the indoor and outdoor bars. “A lot of our bands tell me this is their favorite place to play because they’re so well-received,” Bates says.
Farther north, the Landing at The Boathouse, a restaurant and brewery on Fantasy Harbour Boulevard, has hosted live musicians for 20 years. Local and regional artists take to the Kona Big Wave indoor stage and the Nutrl Waterway Stage outside.
Live music also rings out from restaurants and bars on North Myrtle’s Main Street. Throughout the summer, the Music on Main concert series transforms the street into a block party every Thursday night, starting at 7 p.m.
Known as the Grand Strand’s “family beach,” Surfside Beach offers amenities and plenty of space for all ages to have a safe and fun day of sandy play. Photography courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach
Surfside Beach is the annual home base for many multigenerational vacationers who appreciate its oceanfront accommodations and close proximity to public parks. Not only has it earned a designation as an autism-friendly travel destination, but its waters are also patrolled by lifeguards and the beach is easily accessible.
After a day boogie-boarding and building sandcastles, complete your family dream day with a round of mini golf and a sweet treat or coffee pick-me-up from Benjamin’s Bakery.
Built in the 1950s, Cherry Grove Pier is a landmark spot to watch surfers at the northern end of Myrtle Beach. Photography courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach
If you’re more of a spectator when it comes to water sports, Cherry Grove Pier gives you a front-row seat to the surfers — and a chance to try your hand at fishing. Open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., the pier’s tackle shop has everything you need to get started, from rods and reels to refreshing popsicles.
Cruise through Murrells Inlet’s marshland aboard The Explorer pontoon boat. Photography courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach
To see what Richards describes as “one of the prettiest sunsets in the world,” bookend the latter half of your day with a sunset cruise through Murrells Inlet. Taking off from the MarshWalk, you’ll glide through the saltwater marsh estuary.
“Myrtle Beach is not just the beach — it’s the inlets and the rivers, too,” Richards says. From one side of the boat, you see the restaurants and bars that line the boardwalk, and on the other side, you see the inlet. As your boat navigates the channels in the saltwater marsh, look for kayakers paddling in the dusky light, great blue herons wading through marsh grasses, and — if you’re lucky — Atlantic bottlenose dolphins surfacing in the water.
Ready to see it for yourself? Click here to start planning your own Myrtle Beach itinerary and get ready to head to the beach.
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