Myrtle Beach
Around Myrtle Beach
Photo: The ed17 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · South Carolina · 413k people
Myrtle Beach
Locals say The Grand Strand · “Grand Strand”, “The Beach”
Myrtle Beach · Conway · North Myrtle Beach
Salt air, sea breeze, and endless summer days.
Coastal tealBronzeDeep ocean blue
Welcome to the Grand Strand! Whether you're here for the beach, the golf, or the seafood, you'll find plenty to keep you busy. Get ready for some southern hospitality and a whole lot of fun.
Clubs for Myrtle Beach
No clubs for Myrtle Beach yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Myrtle Beach. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Myrtle Beach. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Myrtle Beach Boardwalk 1.2-mile oceanfront promenade with shops, eateries, and the SkyWheel.
- SkyWheel 187-foot Ferris wheel offering panoramic views of the coast.
- Broadway at the Beach Sprawling entertainment complex with restaurants, nightlife, and attractions.
- Myrtle Beach State Park Protected beach, maritime forest, and a fishing pier.
- TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark Home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans minor league baseball team.
- Coastal Carolina University Public university campus in Conway with a growing sports presence.
- Outdoors Surfing
- Outdoors Kayaking in the salt marshes
- With kids Ride the SkyWheel
- With kids Explore Broadway at the Beach
- Evenings Live music on the boardwalk
- Evenings Shag dancing at beach bars
- Locals love Beach bars
- Locals love Golf courses
Through the year
- Carolina Country Music Fest June Multi-day country music festival on the beachfront in June.
- Myrtle Beach Bike Week May One of the largest motorcycle rallies on the East Coast, with rides and events in May.
- Myrtle Beach Marathon February Flat, fast course along the oceanfront in February.
- Myrtle Beach Seafood Festival October Annual seafood celebration on the boardwalk in October.
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans baseball April–September Minor league baseball games at TicketReturn.com Field from April to September.
Subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall offer mild temperatures and fewer crowds.
Talk like a local
- “The Grand Strand”
- The local name for the 60-mile stretch of beaches from Little River to Georgetown.
- “Shag”
- A dance style popular in the area, especially at beach bars.
- “Calabash”
- A style of fried seafood, named after the nearby town of Calabash, NC.
- “The Beach”
- Shorthand for Myrtle Beach, as in 'heading to the beach'.
Getaways
- Murrells Inlet Seafood restaurants, marsh walks, and the famous inlet boardwalk.
- Wilmington Historic riverfront, USS North Carolina, and nearby beaches.
- Charleston Historic downtown, carriage rides, and renowned Lowcountry cuisine.
- Florence Shopping, the Florence Civic Center, and a quick stop on I-95.
Local flavour
Teams
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans Carolina League
- Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Sun Belt Conference
Eat and drink
- Calabash-style fried seafood Lightly breaded and fried, named after nearby Calabash, NC
- She-crab soup A Lowcountry classic, often served in local seafood restaurants
- Hushpuppies Cornmeal fritters, a staple with fried seafood
- Sweet tea Southern staple, ubiquitous in the region
- Lowcountry boil A one-pot dish with shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes
Where people go
- Beach The main attraction, miles of sandy shoreline
- Boardwalk The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, with shops, restaurants, and the SkyWheel
- Fishing piers Piers like the Apache Pier and Cherry Grove Pier
- Golf courses Over 80 golf courses, earning the area the nickname 'Golf Capital'
- Mini golf Hundreds of themed mini golf courses, a family staple
- Seafood shacks Casual, often family-run restaurants serving fresh catches
- Amusement parks Family Kingdom and other beachfront attractions
- Marinas Boat docks and charter fishing operations
Heritage and traditions
The Grand Strand is proud of its laid-back beach culture, the shag dance, and a deep-rooted Southern hospitality, all set along sixty miles of sandy shoreline.
This time of year in Myrtle Beach
- Fall Migration October Shag dance weekend in October.
- Fall Migration October Another shag dance weekend, a tradition for beach music lovers.
Say it like a local: “plumb tuckered” — to be tired or worn out
Festivals
- Conway Riverfest September An arts and music festival along the Waccamaw River in historic Conway.
- Little River Blue Crab Festival May A celebration of the blue crab with food, music, and crafts.
- Spring Safari April A weekend of shag dancing and beach music hosted by the Society of Stranders.
- Fall Migration October Another shag dance weekend, a tradition for beach music lovers.
Landmarks with a story
- Conway Historic District Antebellum homes and buildings that showcase the area's history.
- Horry County Museum Exhibits on local history, from Native American times to the present.
- Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum Preserves African American history and education in the area.
Food traditions
- Oyster roasts A fall and winter tradition where locals gather to roast oysters over open flames.
- Shrimp and grits A Lowcountry breakfast staple, often served with a rich gravy.
- Chicken bog A rice and chicken dish from the Pee Dee region, a hearty local favorite.
Music and arts
- Shag dance and beach music scene Rooted in the local beach culture, with clubs and events dedicated to this regional dance.
- Local art galleries and studios Found in Conway's historic district, showcasing regional artists.
A little history
- 1730s European settlers arrived
- 1888 The Burroughs and Collins Company began developing the area for tourism
- 1949 The name 'Grand Strand' was coined by a local newspaper
- 1950s The area boomed as a vacation destination with motels and attractions
Rivalries
- Coastal Carolina vs. Appalachian State Sun Belt football rivalry with passionate fan bases.
- Myrtle Beach vs. North Myrtle Beach Friendly argument over which beach has better waves and nightlife.
- Pelicans vs. Fayetteville Woodpeckers Carolina League baseball rivalry.
- Outdoors Crabbing for blue crabs
- Outdoors Going on a shrimp boat excursion
- With kids Visit the Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum
- With kids Take a dolphin-watching cruise
The local dialect is a coastal Southern accent, with a relaxed drawl and phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to.'
Only here
- The shag is the official state dance of South Carolina.
- The Grand Strand is a 60-mile stretch of beach, a unique coastal feature.
- The area is a hub for beach music, a genre that originated in the Carolinas.
New here? A few tips
- Summer heat and humidity are intense, so stay hydrated and use sunscreen.
- Traffic on Highway 17 can be heavy during tourist season, especially on weekends.
- Try the local seafood, especially she-crab soup and Calabash-style fried fish.
- Learn to shag dance – it's a local tradition and a fun way to meet people.
- Be aware of hurricane season from June to November and have a plan.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Part of Myrtle Beach area
Nearby
Every areaMurrells InletSouth CarolinaSalt air, marsh grass, and a plate of shrimpDillonSouth CarolinaWhere the Pee Dee flows through tobacco towns and open skiesWhitevilleNorth CarolinaWhere the pines meet the rivers and the sweet tea never runs out.FlorenceSouth CarolinaWhere the Pee Dee flows and the South feels like homeLumbertonNorth CarolinaRiver town roots and Lumbee prideWilmingtonNorth CarolinaWhere the river meets the sea, and every day feels like a slow Southern postcard.LaurinburgNorth CarolinaWhere the Scottish highlands meet southern hospitality.SumterSouth CarolinaWhere Southern spirit takes flight
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.