Discover Myrtle Beach: Coast, Nature and Attractions

Myrtle Beach brings together coastal scenery, a promenade, art and rides. To plan your stay, you can first sort out which themes interest you most: coastal forest and beach, a promenade with views of the sea and beach, changing art exhibitions, or attractions with specific details about their size and history.

Coastal forest and beach at the State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park is set amid a coastal maritime forest and offers a 1-mile stretch of relatively undeveloped beach. The Sculptured Oak Nature Trail offers the opportunity to see one of the last remaining maritime forests on the northern coast of South Carolina. This means the park brings together two distinct nature experiences: the beach and the forest that the trail showcases. The relative lack of development refers to the beach; the trail, by contrast, focuses on the maritime forest itself. If both are important to you, you can consider the two offerings separately when planning your visit.

Promenade: distance, views and cycling hours

The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade is 1.2 miles long and runs from the 14th Avenue Pier to the 2nd Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach. The promenade offers views of the beach and sea. The 1.2-mile distance is the route between these two piers; it should not be confused with the stretch of beach at the State Park, which is one mile long. The two measurements can be compared for orientation, but they refer to different offerings: a promenade with named endpoints and a relatively undeveloped stretch of beach.

Bicycles are allowed on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk from May 1 through Labor Day, between 5:00 and 10:00 a.m. If you are planning a bike ride, this time window is important. Check the current regulations for the promenade before your trip. SkyWheel Myrtle Beach is also located on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade; it is 187 feet tall.

Rides, sea creatures and notable names

Family Kingdom has more than 32 exciting rides and has been providing family entertainment since 1966. A notable landmark at the park is the wooden roller coaster “Swamp Fox,” which has been considered a Myrtle Beach landmark since it opened in 1966. The year 1966 therefore has two different roles: it marks the beginning of family entertainment at Family Kingdom and the opening year of the roller coaster. This distinguishes the history of the park from that of the “Swamp Fox,” even though both details concern the same year.

At Dangerous Reef, a moving walkway offers close-up views of sharks, sawfish and a green sea turtle. Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach is located within the Broadway at the Beach shopping and dining complex. These two offerings have different focuses: Dangerous Reef highlights views of the sea creatures listed, while the second detail identifies the aquarium's location within the complex.

Art with changing exhibitions

The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum has 11 galleries, and its exhibitions change throughout the year. Works on display include paintings, textiles, sculptures, photographs, videos, ceramics, assemblages and collages. The media listed range from painting and photography to sculpture, textiles and ceramics, so the exhibition program is not limited to a single form. Because the exhibitions change, what you see during a visit may depend on when you go. If you are visiting for a particular exhibition, check in advance what will be on display during your visit.

Discover more destinations: Loris, Little River, Longs, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Nichols.

Go to the main travel overview: Horry.