Things to do in Myrtle Beach: A local photographer’s guide
The best things to do in Myrtle Beach start with the ocean and spread out from there. The list includes the oceanfront Boardwalk, Broadway at the Beach, the live oak gardens at Brookgreen, the marsh at Murrells Inlet and the wild shoreline at Huntington Beach State Park. I am a Myrtle Beach family photographer, and I spend most of my year on these beaches, boardwalks and marsh edges at sunrise and sunset. Because of that, this guide is organized the way I would explain the area to a friend planning a visit.
Use it as a planning page. Every section answers one question and names real places. Also, each one tells you when the light and the crowds are at their best.
What are the best things to do in Myrtle Beach?
Below are the ten stops that earn a spot on most itineraries, in the order I would visit them on a first trip.
- The beach and the oceanfront Boardwalk in Myrtle Beach
- Broadway at the Beach for shops, restaurants and attractions
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach on a rainy day
- Family Kingdom Amusement Park and the other ride parks
- Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet for live oaks, sculpture and winter lights
- Murrells Inlet MarshWalk for seafood at sunset
- Huntington Beach State Park for wide beaches, birds and Atalaya Castle
- Myrtle Beach State Park for a quieter beach with a fishing pier
- Pawleys Island for slow, old Lowcountry charm
- A dolphin cruise from Murrells Inlet or Little River
What is the best way to spend time on the beach in Myrtle Beach?
Go early or go late. The beach faces east, so sunrise brings soft pink light over the water, cool sand and almost no one around. Then the last hour before sunset brings warm light and thinner crowds after the midday rush. Meanwhile, midday is for the pool, lunch and indoor attractions.
Wide, flat sand makes Myrtle Beach easy for small children. For example, low tide opens a hard packed walking strip at the water line, and it is the best moment for kids to run. If you want to plan a photo session around the tides and the light, my guide to sunrise versus sunset family photos explains how each one looks.
What is there to do on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk?
The oceanfront Boardwalk and Promenade is the easiest first stop in Myrtle Beach. First, it runs along the sand with shops, snack stands, arcades, restaurants and an ocean view the whole way. Because the path is flat and stroller friendly, walk it in the evening when the lights come on and the heat drops.
In addition, Ocean Escape Boardwalk Oceanfront, a condo building, opened on the Boardwalk in February 2026.
Is Broadway at the Beach worth visiting?
Yes, especially for families and for rainy or hot afternoons. Broadway at the Beach is a large shopping, dining and attractions complex built around a lake. For example, the Slime Kitchen, a hands on slime making attraction, is open now.
However, more is on the way. Ole Smoky Distillery and Yee-Haw Brewing Co. brings a distillery, tasting rooms, a beer garden and tours to the complex. Also, the Cloak and Wand Potion Bar, Alice’s Haunted Little Bookshop, Duckmania and the toy store Imagination are slated for later in 2026. Finally, plans include a seafood restaurant called Big Fish on Lake Broadway. Opening dates move, so check each venue before you plan around it.
What are the best things to do with kids in Myrtle Beach?
Kids do best with one big attraction and one long beach block each day. These are the places families return to:
- Family Kingdom Amusement Park celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026 and added a new 100 foot single rail coaster and three other rides for the season.
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach is the easiest rainy day plan.
- Myrtle Waves Water Park handles the hottest summer afternoons.
- Alligator Adventure and WonderWorks keep curious kids busy.
- EdVenture at The Market Common is a children’s learning space in a walkable shopping district.
- Alley Oops, with bowling, arcade games and virtual reality, was announced for North Myrtle Beach for spring 2026.
The beach is the setting that matches how your kids actually play. Because of that, it makes the best backdrop for family photographs of the trip. Read five reasons to hire a family photographer for your beach vacation, then visit my Myrtle Beach family photographers page.
What is Myrtle Beach State Park like?
Myrtle Beach State Park is the natural alternative inside the city limits. Inside, the park has a long stretch of beach, a fishing pier, maritime forest trails and a nature center. As a result, it feels much quieter than the oceanfront hotel strip. It is one of my favorite places for relaxed family photographs because the dunes and trees give the beach a softer frame. More detail is on my Myrtle Beach State Park family photographers page.
What can you do in Murrells Inlet?
Murrells Inlet is the best place in the area to eat seafood beside the water and watch the sun go down over the marsh. The MarshWalk is a boardwalk lined with waterfront restaurants and live music, and it is the heart of the town. Also, dolphin cruises and boat tours leave from the inlet. Also, the town sits between two of the best outdoor places in the county, Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park.
Meanwhile, the marsh turns gold in the hour before sunset. As a result, the MarshWalk makes a good dinner plan after a morning on the beach. See my Murrells Inlet family photographers page for how I photograph there.
Is Brookgreen Gardens worth visiting?
Brookgreen Gardens is worth a half day, and it is the best outing in the area on a rainy day or in the cooler season. It sits at 1931 Brookgreen Drive in Murrells Inlet. Inside, the grounds combine a famous American sculpture collection with formal gardens and centuries old live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Also, a new welcome center and a $17 million conservatory opened there in early 2026, and a butterfly center is planned.
In addition, Brookgreen brings back Nights of a Thousand Candles this holiday season. The event runs on 21 select evenings from November 27, 2026 through January 3, 2027, from 4 to 9 p.m. For example, the evening features more than 2,700 hand lit candles, millions of lights, live holiday music and a nightly tree lighting in the Arboretum. Because dates sell out, buy early on the official Brookgreen website.
What makes Huntington Beach State Park special?
Huntington Beach State Park gives you about three miles of undeveloped beach, a freshwater lake with alligators and salt marsh. Also, more than 300 bird species have been recorded in the park. The park is at 16148 Ocean Highway in Murrells Inlet. In addition, Atalaya, the Moorish style winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, is a National Historic Landmark inside the park. Atalaya charges a small separate fee per person for visitors ages 6 and up.
For dog owners, the south end of the beach allows dogs on a leash no longer than six feet. However, dogs are not allowed on the north end or inside Atalaya. On busy weekends and holidays the park can close temporarily when parking fills, so the park suggests visiting outside 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For that reason, a sunrise or late afternoon visit works best and gives better light. My Huntington Beach State Park family photographers page covers it in more detail.
What is Pawleys Island known for?
Pawleys Island is known for its slow pace, its historic beach houses and its rope hammocks. Overall, it is the quiet end of the coast, a short drive south of Murrells Inlet. Also, it suits visitors who want an unhurried day with a long walk on the sand, local shops and lunch with a marsh view. Finally, it sits next to Litchfield Beach and Brookgreen Gardens, so the three combine into one easy day.
What are the best outdoor and water activities?
Dolphin cruises, watersports, fishing and golf are the activities visitors most often add to a beach week.
- Dolphin and boat tours leave from Murrells Inlet, Little River and the Waccamaw River, and morning cruises tend to be calmer.
- Watersports include jet skis, parasailing and boat rentals.
- Fishing works from the piers, the surf and charter boats.
- Golf is a major draw, and the Myrtle Beach Golf Trail groups many courses. The ONEFlight Myrtle Beach Classic, a PGA TOUR event at Dunes Golf and Beach Club, ran May 7 to 10 in 2026.
- Mini golf and Topgolf are easy evening plans for groups.
What is new in Myrtle Beach in 2026?
2026 added a long list of openings. These are the ones I would watch:
- Myrtle Beach International Airport expanded its A Concourse with six new gates.
- Carolina Opry Theater marks its 40th season, and Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show marks its 15th year with a new South Pacific Celebration.
- The Carolina Country Music Festival returned for its 11th year in early June.
- Pelicans Ballpark is finishing a $20 million renovation.
- The former Broadway Theater downtown is becoming a 300 seat performing arts center, in partnership with the City of Myrtle Beach and Coastal Carolina University.
- Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown is planned for downtown Myrtle Beach with a tiki bar, bowling lanes and arcade games.
- The PicklePort, with indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, is slated to open in fall 2026.
- A 28 acre surf resort is planned near Highway 17 and 21st Avenue North, with no opening date set.
Because dates shift on new projects, confirm hours and opening status on each venue’s own website before you go.
What are the best things to do in Myrtle Beach by season?
Spring
In spring, the weather is mild and uncrowded. For example, beach walks, open gardens and golf are all at their best.
Summer
In summer, the beach hits peak season, with water parks, amusement rides and long beach days. For that reason, plan around sunrise and the last two hours before sunset to avoid the heat.
Fall
In fall, the water stays warm while the crowds thin out. Then the light turns softer and more golden. It is one of the best times of year to photograph the beach.
Winter
In winter, the beach slows down and the action moves to Brookgreen’s holiday lights, theaters, shows and quiet walks on empty sand.
Where are the best places for photos in Myrtle Beach?
The best photo locations in the area are Huntington Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach State Park, the Murrells Inlet marsh, Brookgreen Gardens, Pawleys Island and the open beach at sunrise. In short, each gives a different look, from wide dunes and soft sand to marsh grass lit gold and live oak canopies.
- Sunrise on the open beach gives clean, quiet light with no crowds.
- Huntington Beach State Park offers dunes, a lake and a long empty shoreline.
- The Murrells Inlet marsh and docks give warm sunset color and a Lowcountry feel.
- Brookgreen Gardens offers live oak canopies and formal garden paths.
- Pawleys Island adds quiet beach houses and soft shoreline light.
For clothing, pack simple, solid colors in soft tones, and read my guide to what to wear for beach family photos. If you are expecting, my Myrtle Beach maternity photographers page shows how I approach it.
How do you plan three days in Myrtle Beach?
Three days covers the highlights without rushing, so this order keeps driving time low.
- Day 1: Sunrise on the beach, the Boardwalk, lunch, and Broadway at the Beach in the afternoon.
- Day 2: Morning at Huntington Beach State Park and Atalaya, afternoon at Brookgreen Gardens, and dinner on the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk at sunset.
- Day 3: Dolphin cruise in the morning, an unhurried lunch in Pawleys Island, and a golden hour beach session.
Frequently asked questions about things to do in Myrtle Beach
The beach itself is the main draw. Spend sunrise or the last hour before sunset on the sand, then add the Boardwalk, Broadway at the Beach and a day in Murrells Inlet to see the rest of the coast.
Ripley’s Aquarium, WonderWorks, Broadway at the Beach, theaters and shows and indoor mini golf are the usual rainy day plans. Check venue hours before you go.
Three days covers the beach, Broadway at the Beach, Murrells Inlet, Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park. A week gives you time for golf, water sports and a day trip.
It is Brookgreen’s holiday evening event with more than 2,700 hand lit candles, millions of lights, live music and a nightly tree lighting. In 2026 it runs on 21 select evenings from November 27 through January 3, from 4 to 9 p.m.
More questions about visiting Myrtle Beach
Yes. It offers about three miles of beach, a freshwater lake, marsh, more than 300 recorded bird species and Atalaya, a National Historic Landmark. Visit outside 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on busy days to avoid parking closures.
Sunrise and the last hour before sunset give the softest light. The beach faces east, so sunrise lights the water, and sunset glows across the marsh and dunes.
Yes. I photograph visiting families at the beach, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet and other local spots. Visit my Myrtle Beach family photographers page to see sessions and book.
Planning a trip and want photographs of it? Visit my Myrtle Beach family photographers page to see sessions and book.
Visiting and want family photos while you are here? Meet a Myrtle Beach family photographer who photographs visiting families.