35 Best Things To Do in Myrtle Beach SC [2026 Guide]

Looking for the best things to do in Myrtle Beach, SC? Whether you are visiting for the first time, relocating to the Grand Strand, or a full-time resident looking to explore your own backyard — here are 35 of the best experiences the Myrtle Beach area has to offer in 2026.

One of the things that surprises most people who move here is how much there is to do beyond the tourist strip. The Grand Strand is 60 miles of coastline with distinct communities each offering their own food scene, outdoor activities, cultural experiences, and hidden gems. This guide covers all of it.

Table of Contents

1. Beach and Water
2. Golf
3. Dining and Food Scene
4. Arts, Culture, and History
5. Outdoor Activities
6. Family Activities
7. Local Favorites and Hidden Gems

Beach and Water

1. Walk the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade The 1.2-mile Myrtle Beach Boardwalk stretching from 2nd Avenue Pier to 14th Avenue Pier is the heart of the beach experience in the city. The SkyWheel, restaurants, shops, and live entertainment make it lively year-round — but early morning walks before the tourist crowds arrive are a daily ritual for many full-time residents. Browse Myrtle Beach listings to live within minutes of it.

2. Experience the MarshWalk in Murrells Inlet The MarshWalk is a half-mile elevated boardwalk over the salt marsh in Murrells Inlet lined with some of the best seafood restaurants in South Carolina — Dead Dog Saloon, Wicked Tuna, Drunken Jack's, and more. Live music most evenings from spring through fall. This is not a tourist trap — it is a genuine destination that full-time residents return to constantly. Browse Murrells Inlet listings to live within minutes of it.

Thinking about living near the MarshWalk? See our guide to retiring to Myrtle Beach on the southern strand.

3. Spend a Day at Huntington Beach State Park Huntington Beach State Park between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island is consistently named one of the best state parks on the East Coast. Three miles of undeveloped Atlantic beach, a freshwater lagoon for birding and wildlife watching, a nature center, and Atalaya Castle make it one of the most complete outdoor destinations in South Carolina.

4. Explore Brookgreen Gardens Across the road from Huntington Beach State Park, Brookgreen Gardens is a National Historic Landmark featuring one of the largest collections of American figurative sculpture in the country set within 9,100 acres of former rice plantation grounds. The formal gardens, wildlife preserve, and rotating exhibitions make it a place residents return to in every season.

5. Kayak or Paddleboard the Intracoastal Waterway The Intracoastal Waterway runs the length of the Grand Strand and provides some of the most beautiful flat-water paddling on the East Coast. Multiple outfitters offer kayak and paddleboard rentals and guided tours through the salt marshes, creeks, and tidal waterways that define the Lowcountry landscape.

Golf

6. Play TPC of Myrtle Beach The TPC of Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet is the crown jewel of Grand Strand public golf — a Tom Fazio design that has hosted PGA Tour events and consistently ranks among the top public courses in the country. Browse Murrells Inlet listings to live near it.

7. Tee It Up at Caledonia Golf and Fish Club Caledonia Golf and Fish Club in Pawleys Island is the most beautiful golf course on the Grand Strand — arguably one of the most beautiful in the South. Built on a historic rice plantation with dramatic live oak canopies, it plays along the tidal creeks of the Lowcountry in a setting that feels completely unlike anything else on the strand. Browse Pawleys Island listings to live near it.

8. Experience Tidewater Golf Club Tidewater Golf Club in North Myrtle Beach offers dramatic views of Cherry Grove inlet and the Atlantic Ocean from multiple holes. The back nine features some of the most visually stunning golf holes in the Carolinas. Browse North Myrtle Beach listings for the surrounding community.

9. Play the Grande Dunes Resort Course The Grande Dunes Resort Course in Myrtle Beach proper is open to daily fee play and offers a genuine luxury golf experience within a master-planned Intracoastal Waterway community. Browse Myrtle Beach listings for homes within the Grande Dunes community.

10. Explore Legends Golf and Resort The Legends Golf and Resort features three distinct courses — Heathland, Moorland, and Parkland — each with a different design philosophy and playing character. One of the most popular multi-round golf destinations on the Grand Strand.

Dining and Food Scene

11. Dine on the MarshWalk Already mentioned for its setting — but worth emphasizing separately for the food. The collective dining experience along the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk — fresh local seafood, salt marsh views, live music — is unlike anything else on the East Coast. Make a reservation at Wicked Tuna for the freshest fish on the strand.

12. Explore Market Common Market Common in Myrtle Beach is the Grand Strand's most walkable dining and retail district. Croissants de France, the Library Restaurant, and a growing collection of independent restaurants and cafes make it the preferred neighborhood dining destination for full-time residents.

13. The Calabash Seafood Trail Calabash, NC — just across the state line from Little River — is the birthplace of Calabash-style seafood: lightly breaded, flash-fried shrimp, flounder, and oysters that have been a coastal tradition for generations. The stretch of seafood restaurants in Calabash and along the Little River waterfront represent some of the best casual seafood dining in the Carolinas. Browse Little River listings to live minutes away.

14. Visit the Croissants de France Bakery A genuine French bakery in Market Common that produces croissants, pastries, and baguettes that would hold their own in Paris. A beloved local institution and the kind of place that makes residents feel like they found a secret worth protecting.

15. Attend a Local Food Festival The Grand Strand hosts multiple food festivals year-round — the Loris Bog-Off Festival celebrating South Carolina chicken bog every October, the Myrtle Beach Food and Wine Festival, and multiple seafood festivals throughout the year along the southern strand. These events are beloved by full-time residents and give visitors a genuine taste of local culture beyond the resort corridor.

Arts, Culture, and History

16. Visit the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum Myrtle Beach's permanent art museum on the oceanfront offers rotating exhibitions, a permanent collection, and programs that make it a genuine cultural anchor for the community. Free admission.

17. Explore Historic Conway Conway's historic downtown along the Waccamaw River is one of the most authentic small-town commercial districts in coastal South Carolina. The Riverwalk, antique shops, local restaurants, and beautifully preserved early 20th century architecture make it a half-day destination that most Grand Strand visitors never find. Browse Conway listings to live here.

Conway is also one of the most affordable suburbs for buyers — see our full suburbs guide.

18. Tour Atalaya Castle Atalaya — the Moorish-influenced winter home built by Archer and Anna Huntington in the 1930s at Huntington Beach State Park — is one of the most unusual and fascinating historic structures in South Carolina. Free with park admission and guided tours available seasonally.

19. Visit Georgetown's Historic District Georgetown is South Carolina's third oldest city with a beautifully preserved antebellum downtown, a waterfront boardwalk along the Sampit River, and the Rice Museum documenting the Lowcountry's rice plantation history. Worth the drive from anywhere on the strand. Browse Georgetown listings to live in this underrated community.

20. Attend Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens Brookgreen Gardens hosts the Nights of a Thousand Candles holiday event in December — one of the most magical experiences in the state — where thousands of candles illuminate the gardens and sculpture collection on selected evenings. Tickets sell out months in advance. Buy them the moment they go on sale.

Outdoor Activities

21. Fish the Grand Strand Piers Apache Pier, the 2nd Avenue Pier, Garden City Pier, and Surfside Beach Pier offer accessible surf fishing year-round. Flounder, red drum, Spanish mackerel, and bluefish are common catches depending on season. No boat required. Browse Surfside Beach listings for waterfront communities near pier fishing.

22. Book an Offshore Fishing Charter Charter operations out of Little River Inlet, Murrells Inlet, and Myrtle Beach's waterfront offer offshore fishing charters targeting mahi-mahi, wahoo, king mackerel, and cobia spring through fall. A full-day offshore charter for four to six people runs $800 to $1,400 — one of the best ways to experience the Grand Strand's fishing heritage.

23. Bike the Grand Strand Greenway The growing network of multi-use paths and greenways connecting communities throughout Horry County is expanding steadily. The trails through Market Common and along the Intracoastal Waterway are particularly popular with cyclists and walkers year-round.

24. Bird Watch at Huntington Beach State Park The Grand Strand is a significant stopover on the Atlantic Flyway migration route. Huntington Beach State Park — with its freshwater lagoon, beach, and maritime forest — hosts remarkable bird diversity during spring and fall migration and is considered one of the top birding destinations in the Carolinas.

25. Kayak the Black River The Black River near Conway is one of the most beautiful paddling destinations in the South — a tannin-stained blackwater river flowing through ancient cypress swamps draped in Spanish moss. Multiple outfitters offer guided tours and rentals. An extraordinary Lowcountry experience within an hour of the beach. Browse Conway listings to live near it.

Family Activities

26. Broadway at the Beach Broadway at the Beach is the Grand Strand's largest entertainment complex — 350 acres with restaurants, retail, Ripley's Aquarium, miniature golf, a movie theater, and seasonal entertainment. A full day of family activity without ever leaving the complex.

27. Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach Located inside Broadway at the Beach, Ripley's Aquarium features a 330-foot underwater tunnel through a 750,000 gallon shark tank. One of the most popular family destinations on the Grand Strand year-round.

28. Myrtle Waves Water Park Myrtle Waves is the largest water park in South Carolina — open seasonally — with slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers covering 20 acres. A summer essential for families living on or visiting the Grand Strand.

29. Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament Medieval Times in Myrtle Beach offers a combination dinner show and jousting tournament that is legitimately entertaining for all ages. A Grand Strand institution that has been drawing families for decades.

30. Mini Golf — The Grand Strand Capital of the World Myrtle Beach has more mini golf courses per capita than anywhere in the United States — over 50 within the Grand Strand area. From elaborate pirate-themed courses to classic put-put, it is a rite of passage for every family visiting or living on the strand.

Wondering which of these communities is right for you? Read our guide to the best suburbs of Myrtle Beach.

Local Favorites and Hidden Gems

31. Watch a Pelicans Game at Pelicans Ballpark The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play a full home schedule at Pelicans Ballpark from April through September. Minor league baseball on a warm Carolina evening with families, cold beer, and affordable tickets is one of the best kept secrets of Grand Strand life.

32. The SOS Festival in North Myrtle Beach The Society of Stranders — the organization dedicated to the Carolina shag, South Carolina's official state dance — hosts two major festivals annually in North Myrtle Beach: the Spring Safari in April and the Fall Migration in September. These events draw tens of thousands of dancers and spectators and represent an authentic slice of Grand Strand cultural heritage. Browse North Myrtle Beach listings to live in the heart of it.

33. Sunset Cruise on the Intracoastal Waterway Multiple operators run sunset cruises along the Intracoastal Waterway year-round. The combination of the setting sun over the salt marsh, dolphin sightings, and a cold drink on the water is one of those experiences that makes full-time Grand Strand residents remember exactly why they moved here.

34. Explore the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge The Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge encompasses over 32,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forests, wetlands, and waterways along the Waccamaw River system north of Conway. Free to access and largely undiscovered by visitors, it offers hiking, wildlife observation, and a genuine wilderness experience minutes from one of the most developed coastal resort areas in the country.

35. Drive the Pawleys Island Causeway at Sunset The short causeway connecting Pawleys Island to the mainland — passing over the salt marsh with views of the creek, the marsh grass, and the live oaks — at sunset is one of those purely free experiences that Grand Strand residents treasure. It is five minutes from the road. It is worth stopping for every single time. Browse Pawleys Island listings to live near it permanently.

What is the most popular thing to do in Myrtle Beach?

The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade is the single most visited attraction in the area drawing millions of visitors annually. For full-time residents the MarshWalk in Murrells Inlet is the most beloved local dining and entertainment destination.

What are the best free things to do in Myrtle Beach?

The beach itself is free. The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is free to walk. The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum has free admission. The Conway Riverwalk is free. Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge is free to access. Watching the sunset from the Pawleys Island causeway is free and extraordinary.

What is there to do in Myrtle Beach besides the beach?

The Grand Strand offers world-class golf on over 80 courses, outstanding seafood dining along the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk, kayaking and fishing throughout the Intracoastal Waterway, Brookgreen Gardens, Huntington Beach State Park, historic Conway and Georgetown, minor league baseball, and the Broadway at the Beach entertainment complex — all within the 60-mile Grand Strand market.

Is Myrtle Beach worth living in?

For the right buyer absolutely. The combination of coastal lifestyle, South Carolina's tax advantages for retirees, affordable real estate relative to comparable coastal markets, mild winters, and a large welcoming community of people who have made the same move makes the Grand Strand one of the most genuinely compelling places to live on the East Coast. Our team has been helping buyers find the right community here since 2014. For the full financial picture read our cost of living in Myrtle Beach guide.

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For more on the Grand Strand lifestyle visit visithorrycounty.com.