Stretching 60 miles along South Carolina’s Atlantic coast, the Grand Strand—centered on Myrtle Beach—is one of the East Coast’s most popular oceanfront vacation destinations. With wide sandy beaches, over 80 championship golf courses, and family-friendly boardwalk entertainment, Myrtle Beach delivers classic coastal vacations at a fraction of South Florida prices.
1. Choosing the Right Myrtle Beach Neighborhood
Compare oceanfront hotels and condo resorts across the Grand Strand on Booking.com or our Hotel Deals directory:
- South Ocean Boulevard & Boardwalk District: Close to the 1.2-mile Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, SkyWheel, and Family Kingdom Amusement Park. Properties like Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort offer direct beach access, a heated lazy river, and ocean-view balconies.
- North Myrtle Beach & Barefoot Landing: Quieter, wider beaches popular with multi-generational families and golfers, minutes from Barefoot Landing’s waterfront dining and Alabama Theatre.
- Murrells Inlet & Pawleys Island (South Strand): Known as the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina,” featuring marshwalk restaurants, Brookgreen Gardens, and Huntington Beach State Park.
2. 4-Day Myrtle Beach Coastal Itinerary
Day 1: Beachfront Check-In & Sunset on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
Arrive via Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)—just 10 minutes from Ocean Boulevard, with direct flights searchable on Kiwi.com. Settle into your oceanfront resort, walk out onto the sand, and ride the 187-foot SkyWheel at sunset.
Day 2: Morning Beach Day, Ripley’s Aquarium & Broadway at the Beach
Catch morning low tide for shell hunting and boogie boarding. In the late afternoon, head to Broadway at the Beach—a 350-acre entertainment complex surrounding Lake Broadway—for Ripley’s Aquarium, WonderWorks, and coastal seafood dining.
Day 3: Brookgreen Gardens & Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
Take a 25-minute scenic drive south to Brookgreen Gardens to stroll beneath centuries-old live oaks draped in Spanish moss and explore America’s largest outdoor sculpture garden. Afterward, enjoy fresh local catch and live acoustic music along the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk.
Day 4: Morning Tee Time or Dolphin Watch Cruise
Play 18 holes at one of Myrtle Beach’s signature golf courses (such as Caledonia Golf & Fish Club or Dunes Golf and Beach Club) or book a Little River dolphin-watching catamaran cruise before flying home.
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