Thinking about a North Myrtle Beach getaway? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
North Myrtle Beach has a more local feel than its famous sibling to the south. It’s more than mini golf and the bright lights of Ocean Boulevard. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t just as much fun to be had.
Read on for our top North Myrtle Beach attractions.
1. Explore Barefoot Landing
A live entertainment extravaganza, Barefoot Landing relocates some of the fun and atmosphere of the Myrtle Beach area north along the Grand Strand. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway, visitors will find a collection of premier shopping, dining, and festivities.
Come in the morning, enjoy some retail therapy, and work up an appetite before stopping by the Flying Fish Market. Or arrive in the evening when the lights shine under the South Carolina sky, and the live music tunes flow from the House of Blues.
2. Visit The Beaches
The Grand Strand features 60 miles of pristine coastline and some of the best beaches along the east coast. A handful of them lie within the boundaries of North Myrtle Beach.
Some of our favorites include the ever-popular Cherry Grove. From the golden sands, the Cherry Grove Pier surges into the Atlantic Ocean, offering a prime fishing spot. At low tide, you may even wander out to Waties Island.
But at the heart of it all is the town’s namesake beach. The kids can crawl over the playgrounds; there are ice cream shacks, nice waves, and fun waterfront bike trails.
3. Go Horseback Riding
There’s nothing quite like slowly exploring the gorgeous South Carolina coastline on horseback. Add a splash of adventure to your North Myrtle Beach vacation with a horseback ride at Inlet Point Plantation.
The family-friendly activity is a locally-owned outfitter that will have you prepped to trot through pecan groves and splash through the shallow surf. You’ll feel at peace among the beautiful Waties Island scenery with your knowledgeable guides leading the way through 1,000 acres of diverse ecosystems where loggerhead turtles and bottlenose dolphins linger.
4. Kayak, SUP & Surf
As much as we’d love to, we can’t simply laze on the sand for the whole vacation. That’s where water sports comes in. Get up and moving with your choice of kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, or surfing.
The chill waters of Little River are a great place to learn how to SUP or dust off the cobwebs. Sea kayaks are a great way to explore the lengthy coastline, including Crescent Beach.
If you’re looking to hang ten, the Cherry Grove Pier creates some great year-round surf. New to the sport? Kokopelli Surf Camp has great lessons and rentals.
5. Live It Up On Main Street
Main Street runs through the center of North Myrtle Beach. Not only do our vacation rentals place you close to some excellent local boutiques and seafood dining but there’s always something going on along Main Street.
Music on Main takes over throughout the summer and into the early fall. Once a week, Main Street becomes the den of pedestrians wandering between live music acts, street performers, food trucks, and artisans.
This all flows into some of the best nightlife in town.
6. Dine on Seafood
Speaking of seafood, North Myrtle Beach knows only the freshest catch. Straight out of the Atlantic and prepped by talented chefs, those who love boil pots, crab legs, raw bars, and seafood steam kettles will be eating like kings and queens.
Being steps from the ocean, it is no surprise that NMB has a long list of excellent seafood restaurants. Thankfully, time and a sense of adventure have allowed us to get to know the bulk of them.
Some of our favorite North Myrtle Beach seafood restaurants include:
7. Catch a Sunrise
Vacation may be for catching up on some much-needed R&R, but if you are an early bird, you’ll be rewarded with one of our coastal town’s famous sunrises. Looking east, North Myrtle Beach has some magical sunrise spots that will kickstart your day in the most epic way.
Places such as Murrells Inlet offer serene nature that combines effortlessly with the glowing colors on the horizon. Heading to Cherry Grove Pier allows you to feel out on the ocean as the sun lights the world. Brookgreen Gardens tops it off with a mix of art, culture, and manicured landscapes as orange floods the sky.
8. Tee Off
The beaches along the Grand Strand and the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk may earn the bulk of travelers’ attention. However, for the golfers among us, North Myrtle Beach has a wonderful collection of courses.
These challenging, award-winning courses elevated their majestic surroundings. As you make your way through the front and back nines, you’ll be maneuvering alongside the salt marshes of the Intracoastal Waterway. Here, the good views help you move on from chunking your seven iron.
Our top North Myrtle Beach golf courses:
9. Take Dolphin Cruise
In the morning hours, bottlenose dolphins bob up to the surface before diving into the Atlantic. Their rollercoaster journeys are incredible to watch. In North Myrtle Beach, there are ample opportunities to get out on the water and see them up close.
Southern Shores Island & Dolphin Cruises offers an alternative to the regular cruise boat. You can trade that in for a relaxing 2-hour catamaran charter. Along the way, you’ll stop at unspoiled barrier islands where untouched sands await.
Traveling with young kids? Pirates Voyage is a fun alternative for the whole family.
10. Shark Wake Park
Sometimes, the dance between sunbathing and swimming needs to be spiced up! To add more adrenalin to your day on the water, pay a visit to Shark Wake Park. The North Myrtle Beach sports complex is a thrilling collection of floating obstacles, climbing towers, and slides. But that’s not all.
Once you’ve conquered the course, try your hand at wakeboarding, knee-boarding, water skiing, and more at their state-of-the-art wake park.
11. Experience The Alabama Theatre
Once you’ve ticked Barefoot Landing off the list, it’s likely you’ll have seen The Alabama Theatre. But it’s worth finding a few hours in your packed itinerary to enjoy a show.
The iconic local venue has been entertaining since 1993 with spectacular variety shows. Come and experience their all-star cast with comedy, live music & fun choreography. On their nights off, the show continues with amazing tribute acts.
If you can’t get enough, be sure to check out the Carolina Opry Theatre.
12. Wander Brookgreen Gardens
Although a little out of town, no trip to North Myrtle Beach would be complete without exploring the Brookgreen Gardens. It’s everything you would hope it would be. There are stunning gardens, awe-inspiring art, plenty of interesting history, and even the Low Country Zoo.
The 9,127-acre property on the Hammock Coast is a floral jewel. The botanical area features a mesmerizing Butterfly Garden, 250-year-old live oaks, and the Palmetto Garden.
The American Sculpture Garden is the most comprehensive garden of its kind in the country and stands alongside a trio of galleries. To complete the experience, discover native wildlife at the garden’s zoo!
Experience the Best of North Myrtle Beach
There is never a dull day in North Myrtle Beach. From catching the sunrise at Cherry Grove to dancing to the tunes at The Alabama Theatre, each day will be full of fun, family-friendly adventures.
Spring, summer, fall, or winter, there’s never a bad time to visit and enjoy our private luxury retreats.
