Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Beach Report

The shoreline runs for miles, so a short walk usually buys you a quieter stretch even in summer. The oceanfront core around the boardwalk and promenade is classic seaside Myrtle — shops, arcades, and late-night energy — best explored on foot in the cooler morning and evening hours.

For more dune line and fewer umbrellas, head to Myrtle Beach State Park on the south end or Huntington Beach State Park farther down the coast toward Murrells Inlet, both with trails, birding, and a calmer feel than the resort core.

Surf Report

Myrtle Beach is built for mellow sessions: waist- to chest-high peelers on long-period tropical swell and windswell peaks that reward a fish or funboard. On the right hurricane or nor’easter track the Grand Strand can light up with surprisingly punchy walls, but those days are the exception. Fall is prime time, spring and early summer bring playful warm sessions, and winter means quiet beaches and the occasional solid nor’easter.

Crews spread out around the piers and sandbars. The 2nd Avenue Pier can serve up punchier peaks when swell and tide line up, the Springmaid stretch has long had a loyal local crew, and Cherry Grove on the north end can get surprisingly good on the right combo. Dawn patrol is usually the call for cleaner faces and lighter wind.

Bring a longboard, midlength, or groveler most days and a step-up only for solid hurricane swell. Check current local rules on where surfing is allowed seasonally, and give the fishing lines near the piers plenty of room.

Fishing Report

The piers along the Grand Strand are shared territory — anglers work them from early morning, so surfers are expected to keep their distance from the lines.

Just south of town, Murrells Inlet is a working seafood waterfront with tidal creeks and marsh, and the backwaters around it are where ospreys hunt at dusk.

Other Activities

Ride the SkyWheel for a cotton-candy sunset, then trade the strip for Brookgreen Gardens — sculpture, live oaks, and tidal creeks worth a slow half-day.

Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park offer dunes, trails, and birding, and the flatter side streets near the beach are made for cruising by bike past pastel motels and vintage signs.

Bar Recommendations

The Murrells Inlet MarshWalk is the area’s best evening out. Dead Dog Saloon has live music and a patio overlooking the marsh, and Wahoo’s Fish House books local bands on its waterfront deck. Time your arrival for sunset.

Downtown, The Bowery is a historic honky-tonk with live country music and cold beer seven nights a week. It’s a classic Myrtle Beach night that has nothing to do with the resort strip.

Restaurant Recommendations

Hot Fish Club on the MarshWalk is widely billed as the oldest restaurant in the area. It’s a seafood house with live music, known for its blue crab dip and steam pots. Next door, Wahoo’s Fish House serves fresh-caught South Carolina seafood, from fried shrimp to shrimp and grits.

Also along Business 17 in Murrells Inlet, Costa Coastal Kitchen + Bar puts a coastal spin on Italian with crab cakes and pan-seared scallops. J. Peters Grill is a local favorite for fried flounder and the honey-butter croissants that open every meal.

Coffee Recommendations

Fresh Brewed Coffee House on Broadway Street downtown draws more locals than visitors, with live music, art shows, and open mic nights. Croissants Bistro & Bakery at the Grande Dunes roasts its own coffee daily and is a solid sit-down breakfast.

Heading south, Benjamin’s Bakery Cafe & Coffee Roaster in Surfside Beach has been baking its well-loved bagels for more than 20 years. On the MarshWalk, Brown Fox Coffee Co. is a grab-and-go window with locally roasted coffee and marsh views.

Where to Stay

Oceanfront high-rises put you on the sand with resort amenities and sunrise views, while properties on the quieter south end, near Myrtle Beach State Park and Surfside Beach, feel more relaxed.

The north end and Cherry Grove offer condos and rentals with a slower pace and easier parking, and Murrells Inlet or Pawleys Island are the move if you want more marsh and less noise.