Travel to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Episode 904

Hear about travel to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jo Clark from Have Glass, Will Travel about her hometown.

Why should someone go to Myrtle Beach?

Jo says, “Myrtle Beach is on the Grand Strand as we call it. It’s on the coast of South Carolina and we are in the midst of 60 miles of gorgeous beach. Nice and wide. No rocks. I mean you can walk for miles and miles. It’s just the perfect place. We have great weather. We have everything. we have history, we have music, and of course the beach.”

Jo sent us this itinerary:

Your Week in Myrtle Beach

Many hotels and resorts provide breakfast, so I’ll assume you can find your first meal of the day (although I can’t help but mention a few of my favorite spots). Other meals will have recommendations. Eat up! After all, you are on vacation.

Suppose the recommendations depend upon a specific event that happens only on a particular day(s). In that case, some days will need to be swapped around. If there is a day of bad weather, skip to the bottom for the Rainy Day Itinerary.

My article on Visit Myrtle Beach details many of these activities, so visit their page. They also post money-saving coupons, so take advantage of them and also check the Groupon.com website. And if you aren’t using Groupon, why not?

Day 1 – Myrtle Beach

MORNING: After a long drive or flight, a morning session of Beach Yoga with Hope will stretch you out to enjoy the rest of your vacation. Garden City classes are on Tuesdays & Thursdays and some Saturdays. Or on North Litchfield Beach with Sharon on Saturday or Sunday morning. Or you may want to stroll along a Boardwalk and have a late breakfast. TIP: Bring a towel and wear a swimsuit with yoga shorts so you can enjoy a dip after class.

AFTERNOON:  Lunch at 80-year-old The Bowery. Try a Duffy Dog, and peruse all the photos on the walls. The Country Music legends Alabama got its big break in The Bowery after working as the house band and waiting tables (including me!) between sets for over six years. Ride the Skywheel for those breathtaking sky-high views, go boating with Crazy Sister Fishing & Cruises, or paddle a kayak down the river with the friendly folks at Black River Outdoors.

EVENING:  Stroll, shop, nibble, and sip your way along the Boardwalk in Myrtle Beach or the Marshwalk in Murrells Inlet.

Day 2 (Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) – Myrtle Beach

MORNING:  take a 2-hour Trolley Tour with Kathryn. These Myrtle Beach History Tours are different – choices vary by day and include tours for history buffs to dive deep into Myrtle Beach’s beginnings and experience during the Second World War:  U-boat threats off the coast, the arrival of German POWs,  the Beach’s first golf course and the birthplace of Sports Illustrated; and the Historic Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum. You may also choose to learn about the history of movies and music in Myrtle Beach. On another day, it is all about the ghosts and pirates who ravaged the coastline. You meet the Trolley in front of the movie theater at The Market Common.

AFTERNOON:  Lunch at Travinia, across the street from your Trolley drop-off, and they have an ample lunch menu

Spend the afternoon on the Beach at Myrtle Beach State Park, visit the park’s fishing pier, and take a walk on Springmaid Pier.

EVENING: Dinner at Cackalacky Seafood Company (while waiting for your dinner, go out back and check out the murals on the building). Don’t skip the Hush Puppies or the Key Lime Pie.

Family Kingdom is right across the street if you plan to do the amusement park rides OR

GTS Theatre has four different shows during the week, so check out more than one!

Day 3 – South End, Myrtle Beach & Murrells Inlet

MORNING:  War Bird Park at the entrance to The Market Common-Enjoy visiting after daylight when it is just you and the squirrels.

Huntington Beach State Park opens very early, so see the birds and alligators along the causeway. Drive straight in across it without slowing down. Parking is on the opposite end. Then, walk back and gawk to your heart’s content. Then, go back to the car and go to the right to visit Atalaya Castle and to the left to see the Nature Center.

AFTERNOON:  Brookgreen Gardens will be open by now, so go south on Highway 17 about ¼ mile, and spend the rest of the day here. Tasty lunches, boat tours, a zoo, stunning sculptures, and fantastic blooms everywhere. Your ticket will be valid for seven days, so plan a return.

EVENING:  Murrells Inlet Marshwalkfor the late evening. The restaurants are all delicious (or they don’t last!), so pick one. Stay and enjoy the live music and boats coming in, or take a Sunset Cruise.

Day 4 – Georgetown

MORNING:  Walking tour with Paige at Old Georgetown Walking Tours. You will be walking the streets where Francis Marion and other patriots walked.

AFTERNOON:  Lunch on the water at the Corner Tavern (again, trust me and order the Lamb burger with a side of Thai Brussels (Fried Brussels sprouts with sweet chili sauce, green onions, garlic, cilantro, and toasted almonds—you’re going to love it!) and the daily specialty drink—Hibiscus Margarita if you’re lucky!)

Hop on Capt. Rod’s boat to Shell Island for an afternoon of fun. With good timing, you can enjoy the island and get a sunset on the cruise back into town.

EVENING:  Dinner at Low Country Cantina (as they say, put some South in your Mouth) or on a Wednesday, 1/2 price sushi at Rollin’ Local. If there is a live play at The Strand, go! The local theatre group, Swamp Fox Players, is professional and unique. Be sure to hit Sweeties across the street from the Theater and pick up a bag of pralines. For the uninitiated, pralines are a Southern piece of deliciousness involving pecans and lots of brown sugar and butter. Pure Heaven!

Day 5 – Myrtle Beach

MORNING:  Tanger Outlet Mall on 501 toward Conway and in walking distance, Wheels of Yesteryear – 98 classic and muscle cars to admire, many in original condition. These two are a perfect pairing (like red wine and chocolate) for the shopper and anti-shopper in your group.

AFTERNOON:  Lunch at Jerusalem Mediterranean Restaurant and then an afternoon of miniature golf at Myrtle Beach Family Golf (they have four different course styles: pirate, jungle, dinosaurs, and safari… putt-putt away!)

EVENING:  Dine early on the water. Have dinner at Pier 14, over the water, or at the Sea Captain’s House, oceanfront in Myrtle Beach.  Then, attend the Carolina Opry for one of the best shows at the Beach.

Day 6 – Conway

MORNING:  Arrive early, walk the streets, and enjoy the murals before shops open. Don’t miss the historic churches and cemeteries. There’s a lot of history in those cemeteries! Then head to the Horry County Museum (check out the fish tank in the lobby featured in an Animal Planet episode). The museum opened its doors in 1981 to educate the public on the history, pre-history, and natural history of Horry County. In 2014, the museum moved into the renovated 1905 Burroughs School (on the National Register of Historic Places.) Next, drive to the L. W. Paul Living History Farm to learn about mid-20th-century farm living. Plan at least an hour on a farm visit.

AFTERNOON:  Have lunch at Big D’s BBQ Trough (go hungry, trust me!) Then, back into town, kayak or pontoon tour the Waccamaw River and Swamp with Waccamaw Outfitters, leaving from the dock in Conway. Or you can stroll along the river at Riverfront Park and enjoy the rest of your day.

EVENING:  Dine early; you’ll probably only want drinks and appetizers. Whitaker’s has excellent choices and seasonal specialty drinks that you will enjoy. Attend a performance at the local Theater, home to the Theater of the Republic players, if you can. If there isn’t a play that night, enjoy walking the streets after the lights come on. Or head back to Myrtle Beach to attend a Pelican game. The Pelicans are a Minor League Baseball team in Myrtle Beach and the Single-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

Day 7 – North Myrtle Beach (Saturday, Wednesday, or Thursday)

MORNING:  Walk on the Beach and maybe visit the Apache Pier, the longest wooden pier on the East Coast. Enjoy your day on the Grand Strand.

AFTERNOON:  Lunch and an afternoon of music and wine on Wednesday or Saturday –La Belle Amie Vineyard (try the slushies!). Save $$ by booking online tickets.

EVENING:  Thurs: Free Concert—Music on Main (but you need to take a chair), eat at the oceanfront Spanish Galleon and have a picnic table, or eat at Hoskins a few blocks up the street, or stop in at Wine Therapy for a wide selection of wine (50% off 4-6 pm) and have a charcuterie board for dinner.

Sat:  Clark’s Chophouse (no relation) marina view and great food

Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre

MB Bonus Day

(I warned you there was too much to do for seven days! I could keep you busy for a month)

Play Day – Check these sites and see who has a live play or musical performance tonight. We are blessed with two theater groups so you may attend a play at Conway’s Theatre of the Republic or Georgetown’s Swamp Fox Players at the Strand. There is also a murder mystery dinner theater, Riga-Tony’s Dinner Show, the Long Bay Symphony concert, or Carolina Master Chorale performance, the remarkable all-volunteer Pawleys Island Concert Band, the Saltwater Chamber Orchestra, and the Coastal Carolina University Ensembles. There are also weekly events at the Horry County Museum’s McCown Auditorium, sometimes musical concerts and sometimes historical lectures. And every June, Horry and Georgetown County is home to the sounds of Muzika! Performances by faculty and students of Varna International.

Surfside Beach Bonus Day (Sunday or Monday)

MORNING:  Take a walk on the Surfside Beach Pier and watch the anglers pulling in fish. Look along the water’s edge for shells and shark teeth.

AFTERNOON:  Lunch at Neal & Pam’s. Wander the shops in town, and have some ice cream.

EVENING: 

Sun: Free concert in Surfside Memorial Park at 5 pm.

You can eat before or after the concert since it is over by 7 pm.

Mon:  Free Hula Show on the sand by the pier at 7 pm.

Park and put your chairs out on the beach near the pier (you’ll see where) at about 5 pm to be ready for the Hula Show. Then walk along the street and pick a spot for dinner, or eat after the show. It is over at 8 pm.

MB Rainy Day – Alternative Options

You will notice that shopping and movies aren’t on this list. Every tourist in Myrtle Beach will do one of those two things when it rains. You’ll be smarter than that—you’ll do something different!

• Charlie’s Place
• Chapin Museum
• Wheels of Yesteryear
• Ripley’s Crazy Golf (an indoor mini-golf course)
• Ripley’s Aquarium
• Jerusalem Mediterranean Restaurant
• Travinia’s Italian Restaurant (happy hour and live music if you catch it on the right night)
• Surfside Charlie’s for happy hour and dinner and live music
• Carolina Opry
• Alabama Theatre

There are more than thirty places to practice your mini-golf swing (and almost 100 golf courses!) in Myrtle Beach. Most are open 10 am – 11 pm during the height of tourist season May – August, but check before you finalize your plan for the day. Try out these this if you’re a Putt-Putt Junkie:

Red Dragon Cove

Myrtle Beach Family Golf (they have four different course styles:  pirate, jungle, dinosaurs, and safari)

ADDITIONAL MYRTLE BEACH TOUR OPTIONS

• Segway tour around Huntington Beach State Park. You’ll see native birds and alligators, and the Moorish-style castle, Atalaya,
• Brookgreen Gardens has a host of tours, from self-guided to pontoons down the river to lectures about rice cultivation.
• Kayaks on the river
• Horseback riding on the Beach
• Dolphin hunts
• Riverboat Paddlewheeler Tour on the Intercoastal Waterway, with lunch or dinner
• Trolley tours for history buffs. One includes a stop at Charlie’s Place, where blacks and whites came together before it was legal, to create popular music and dance to the music of the Beach (quickly dubbed “beach music”) that still endures. It is here that the state dance, the Shag, was born.
• Old Georgetown Walking Tours along the historic streets of the town

Of course, the Beach also offers retail therapy at Barefoot Landing, Tanger Outlet Mall, Market Commons, Broadway at the Beach, Wine Tastings, and countless malls and shops.

What should you see?

• Brookgreen Gardens – The Huntingtons bought four plantations and built a fantastic sculpture garden and a winter home where Anna Hyatt Huntington sculpted into her 90s. Don’t miss the zoo, filled with native animals, or the walk-through aviary.
• Huntington Beach State Park and Atalaya! (Part of the four plantations mentioned above)
• Murrells Inlet MarshWalk offers excellent views, food, drinks, and music. You can walk the boardwalk and enjoy the music from several spots. When you hear the music you like, stop for a while.
• Hobcaw Barony is a 16,000-acre privately-owned research reserve where presidents visited and Churchill recuperated.
• Apache Pier – the longest on the East Coast
• The Aquarium –
• Kayak – outfitters are available in North Myrtle, Myrtle, Murrells Inlet, Georgetown, and Conway. Just Google and go.

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Show Notes

Have Glass, Will Travel
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Visit Myrtle Beach
Brookgreen Gardens
Huntington Beach State Park
Georgetown, SC
Old Georgetown SC Walking Tours
Francis Marion
Eve’s Caribbean Soul Food
Myrtle Beach Trolley Tours
Beach Music
Georgetown SC Events Calendar
Music on Main Concert Series
Cakalacky Fish Company
Family Kingdom Amusement Park
SkyWheel Myrtle Beach
Surfside Beach Hula and Fire Dancer Show
The Pelican Inn
Lee’s Inlet Apothecary
Inlet Crab House and Raw Bar
Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
What Is Pluff Mud And Why Does It Smell?
Myrtle Beach Folklore and Historic Families Trolley Tour 2024
Four Trolley Tours Cover Myrtle Beach’s History Year-Round
Warbird Park, Myrtle Beach
Hobcaw Barony
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Bowery
The Alabama Theatre
The Carolina Opry Theater
Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre
GTS Theatre
Wheels of Yesteryear Vintage Auto Museum
Waccamaw River Tours
Captain Rod’s
Low Country Boat Tour
Coastal Expeditions
Apache Pier
Pier 14 – Ocean Front Dining
Sea Captains House Oceanfront Dining
Myrtle Beach’s 5 Oldest Courses
Surfside Beach
Recipes Travel Culture Magazine

Community

Hello Chris,

Thank you for your amazing podcast. You probably don’t remember me, but I was your guest many years ago to talk about Pamplona, and shortly after my wife talked about Xi’an.

During this time, we have kept using your podcast as a guide for many of our travels, including a couple of trips to Hawaii (Big Island and Oahu). Last month, we visited the Canary Islands (Tenerife and La Palma), and your three podcasts about them were extremely helpful.

One thing that we missed was more information about the island of La Palma. The hosts barely mentioned it, and it is truly stunning, probably the most beautiful of all the islands (even as acknowledged by the Canarians). It is a perfect blend of all the landscapes in the archipelago and has beautiful towns with buildings as old as the Renaissance. It also has a brand new volcano (2 years old) and one of the top three astronomical observatories in the world, with the largest optical telescope to date. As a matter of fact, the night sky of La Palma was the first one in the world to be protected by UNESCO.

If you ever have a chance to visit the island, take it. We spent three days there and will certainly be going back. What was originally intended as a side trip, totally became the highlight and stole the thunder from Tenerife.

Kind regards,
Vincente

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beach photo by Jamie Garvin from Pixabay