Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand Sights

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1. Brookgreen Gardens

One of the Grand Strand's most magnificent hidden treasures, the 9,100-acre Brookgreen Gardens is the oldest and largest sculpture garden in the United States, with more than 550 examples of figurative American sculpture by such artists as Frederic Remington and Daniel Chester French. Each sculpture is carefully set within garden rooms and outdoor galleries graced by sprawling live oak trees, colorful flowers, and peaceful ponds. The gardens are lush and full in spring and summer, and in winter splashes of color from winter-blooming shrubs are set off against the stark surroundings. The property was purchased as a winter home for industrialist Archer Huntington and his wife, Anna Hyatt Huntington, in 1929, but they quickly decided to open it to the public as a sculpture garden and wildlife sanctuary. You'll find a Lowcountry zoo (including native red wolves, introduced in 2021), an aviary, a cypress swamp, nature trails, an education center, and a butterfly house. Summer concerts under the stars and the garden's breathtaking Night of a Thousand Candles during the Christmas season are Brookgreen traditions. The gardens are just beyond The Fighting Stallions, the Anna Hyatt Huntington sculpture alongside U.S. Route 17.

2. Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum

You're greeted by a giant octopus constructed of recovered plastic trash at this hidden gem in a 1920s beach cottage on the southern cusp of Ocean Boulevard. The museum has a permanent collection of surf-, coastal-, and wildlife-themed works, plus an ever-changing eclectic array of sculptures and paintings that will open your eyes to the art community that thrives on the Grand Strand.

3. Hampton Plantation State Historic Site

The true star of Archibald Rutledge's home (he was the poet laureate of South Carolina for 39 years until his death in 1973) may not be his 18th-century plantation house but the centuries-old Washington Oak in the yard, a now-massive tree saved by the first president. The mansion's exterior has been restored; cutaway sections in the finely crafted interior show the changes made through the centuries. There are walking trails and picnic areas on the grounds. You can also learn more about the slaves that toiled on the plantation, as well as freed people who made their homes in the area after empancipation.

4. Huntington Beach State Park

This 2,500-acre former estate of Archer and Anna Huntington lies east of U.S. Route 17, across from Brookgreen Gardens. The park's focal point is Atalaya (circa 1933), their Moorish-style 30-room home. New in 2021 is a $1.2 million nature center, with live native animals, including an aquarium with rays and horseshoe crabs. There are nature trails, ample areas for biking (including a bicycle path from Huntington Beach to Litchfield Beach), fishing, picnic areas, bird-watching expeditions, a playground, concessions, and a campground.

5. Myrtle Beach State Park

Take a short hike through a forest canopy of pine, magnolia, and live oak, and escape the traffic of Highway 17 while discovering what Myrtle Beach looked like before all the neon. This state-protected parcel of land has a mile-long beach, 350 campsites, picnic pavilions, hiking trails, a fishing pier, an ice cream shop, and playgrounds. There are year-round family or children's activities offered through the park, like crabbing and nature programs, and lifeguards at the north section of the beach. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free with $8 admission to park); showers; toilets.

6. Pawleys Island

Over 3 miles of tranquil and natural beach run along the shoreline of Pawleys Island. The surrounding architecture consists only of beach cottages and low-lying resorts, so it's a peaceful retreat. Lack of crowds allows for bicycling on packed sand, shelling, or napping on a hammock. Note that there aren't any lifeguards. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking. Amenities: parking (limited; on side streets).

7. Alligator Adventure

Interactive reptile shows, including an alligator-feeding demonstration, are the main attractions at this wildlife park. Boardwalks lead through marshes and swamps on the 15-acre property, where you'll see wildlife of the wetlands, including a pair of rare white albino alligators, the largest known crocodile in captivity, giant Galápagos tortoises, river otters, and all manner of reptiles, including boas, pythons, and anacondas. Unusual plants and exotic birds, as well as mountain lions and spotted hyenas, are also in residence.

8. Broadway Grand Prix Family Race Park

This go-kart race park features seven different tracks, including one indoor slick track. The 26-acre facility also has bumper cars, kids' rides, an arcade, and miniature golf.

9. Cherry Grove Oceanfront Park

Between two high-rises in the relatively quiet community of Cherry Grove, this small oceanfront park with pretty, budding landscaping has amenities for families, like a shaded gazebo, bench swings, and a ramp to the sand for strollers. Best for: solitude; sunrise; swimming; walking. Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets.

10. Conway

For a break from the beach, or as a pleasant way to spend a cool or cloudy day, take a 15-mile day trip inland to the historic town of Conway. A huge source for lumber in the 1870s, the town is now an eclectic hub for art studios and the arts (take a glassblowing class at Conway Glass!), antiques stores, and a growing number of foodie hot spots, including the celebrated Rivertown Bistro. Conway's Riverwalk, along the Waccamaw River, offers a peaceful respite for walkers, joggers, and bikers. If you're charmed and want to stay the night, the elegant Cypress Inn is a luxurious respite worlds away from the busy attractions of the Grand Strand.

11. Conway Glass

Admire their work in the studio or get a lesson in glassblowing from resident glass artists Ed and Barbara Streeter at Conway Glass, which has been operating here since 1986.

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14. Family Kingdom

Dominated by a giant white wooden roller coaster called the Swamp Fox, Family Kingdom amusement park is quite an experience, and it's right on the ocean. There are thrill rides, children's rides, a log flume, a go-kart track, an old-fashioned carousel, and the Slingshot Drop Zone, which rockets riders straight down a 110-foot tower. It's a bit like going to a state fair that runs all summer long. Bring your bathing suit and cross the street for more fun at Splashes Oceanfront Water Park. Operating hours can vary, so check online before visiting, especially on Saturday when the parks are sometimes rented by groups. Money-saving bundled tickets and multiday passes are readily available.

15. Garden City Beach

Horry County's southernmost beachfront is backed by a causeway that crosses creeks and tributaries feeding into Murrells Inlet. The coastline is a curious collection of a few high-rise hotels, older condo buildings, and cute, stilted beach houses. Beachfront disappears at high tide farther south—so much so that it slaps up against the pilings and sea wall. The Garden City Pier is a must for fishing (free), strolling, playing arcade games, or dancing to live music at the partially covered bar perched at the very end. Other beach activities include kayaking, Jet Skiing, kiteboarding, parasailing, banana-boat rides, and boogie boarding. Best for: sunrise; surfing; swimming; walking. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (sometimes); parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports.

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18. Heritage Shores Nature Preserve

This 7-acre park offers an easy escape into nature, via a series of raised wooden walkways through the marsh that runs a few streets behind the beach cottages and high-rise hotels lining the ocean. A small parking lot allows visitors to park and explore the preserve on foot. Common sights include ibis, herons, and kingfishers. The park is free to the public and open daily 7 am to 8:30 pm.

19. Hobcaw Barony Visitors Center

This historic landmark was once the vast estate of the late Wall Street financier Bernard M. Baruch. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill came here to confer with him. A small interpretive center has exhibits on coastal ecology and history, with special emphasis on the Baruch family. There are aquariums, touch tanks, video presentations, and guided two-hour tours of the 16,000-acre wildlife refuge.

20. Hollywood Wax Museum

Grab props off the wall and pose with your favorite stars—from Harrison Ford to Rhianna, Audrey Hepburn to Snoop Dogg—at this expansive exhibit that's all about the photo op. Downstairs, there's the surprisingly difficult Hannah's Maze of Mirrors and a scream-inducing zombie haunted house, Outbreak.