Wr it t en
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K ar en
Fl e t c h er
an d
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Har er
Summer
Surival
Guide 2014
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From the best beaches to sunbathe to the top spots for a waterfront libation—we have you covered! The Grand Strand boasts the ideal coastal living experience by offering easy access to the beach, the waterway and the marshy landscape of the inlet. Myrtle Beach has 48 parks and public beaches and 650 acres of recreation areas! The population jumps from 30,000 to more than 350,000 in the summer months, which might make you want to steal away to some of these lesser-known parks and beach accesses or join the vacation crowd and escape the daily grind. Whether you already have your favorite spot on the water or you need a new getaway, keep this list handy for new activities and places to visit!
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Take A Long Walk
Dive In!
Great Places to Bring the
Strap on your shoes or take off your flip-flops and head out for a sandy adventure.
Want an alternative to the salt spray of the ocean? Cool off throughout the summer by slipping down a slide, diving into a pool or running through a fountain!
Kids!
Waterparks ❶ Myrtle Beach
{Myrtle Waves}. 3000 10th Avenue Ext. North, (843) 9188725. Day passes available for $25–$30, children ages 2 and under are free.
❷ Surfside Beach
{Wild Water & W heels}. 910 U.S. 17 Business, (843) 238-3787. Water Park Day passes $18–$30. Friday night admission ( June 13–August 22) between $10–$20.
❶
❸ Myrtle Beach
98 Grand Strand
AMU S EME N T K I N GDOM
BEA C H
R I DE S HOR S E
❶
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Watch the kids run through the water and try not to run in after them as you unleash your inner child.
❻ Myrtle Beach
THE
Horseback riding on the beach is only allowed between November and the end of February, but if any body of water will do, you can ride trails around a farm lake in Conway during the summer months. ❶ {Horseback Riding of Myrtle Beach} Open 7 days a week. Reserve a horse and enjoy the scenery by horseback. (843) 997-1876; myrtlebeachhorserides.com.
❻
❷
AT
Ride Horses
Bonus
MB
»
Year-Round
BROADWAY
»
Fountains D I RE C T I O N A L
»Start at Cherry Grove Pier and head
South. ❷ Garden City Beach Begin at the beach at Atlantic Avenue, walk south on Waccamaw Drive toward Murrells Inlet to “the Point.” ❸ Pawleys Island On the island, start at South Inlet and explore till the sand meets the water. Check the tides first! You’ll want to go at low tide.
Need to get out of the sun? Myrtle Beach offers two public indoor pools. ❹ {Pepper Geddings Recreation Center}. $5 for adults, $3 for 55 and older. 3205 Oak St. (843) 918-2280. ❺ {Canal Street Recreation Center}. $5 for adults, $3 for 55 and older. 901 Canal St., (843) 918-1465.
A N THO N Y MA L O N E , D I S P L AY S , I N C .
❶ North Myrtle Beach
{Family Kingdom Amusement Park}. 300 S. Ocean Blvd., (843) 626-3447. Water Park Day passes $18–$25.
Public Pools
F AM I L Y
K URT
K O N RAD
PAR K
❸
{Broadway at the Beach}. 1325 Celebrity Circle. (800) 386-4662.
WEB
Experience It: BONUS See video of the Family Kingdom waterpark: familykingdomfun.com
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Shady Adventures
❹ Huntington Beach
{Vereen Memorial Park & Gardens}. Intersection of U.S. 17 and S.C 179. This local gem offers hiking trails and wooden boardwalks that extend across salt marshes and small islands, as well as a gazebo that overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway.
State Park
❼ Conway
{Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area}, part of the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge. Jackson Bluff Road in Conway, (843) 527-8069. Take a self-guided tour and bring your camera. Enjoy the coastal river ecosystem, migratory birds and various plants and animals as you become one with nature on the trails.
S I TE S L A N D
❼
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❶
THE
Located in historic Conway. Enjoy the blackwater river while you wander past rustic wooden buildings, a playground, the marina and The Cypress Inn. You’ll also appreciate a wide variety of trees and plants.
F ROM
❻ Conway River Walk
S C REE N S HOT S
Walk the nature trails that wind through the oceanfront maritime forest. Take a seat on the benches or stop to discover the pond hidden along the trail. Open daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m. $5 adults, $3.25 seniors age 65 and older, $3 children ages 6–15, free for children 5 and younger.
( 4 ) ,
State Park
❸ ❷
❸
I MAGE S
❸ Myrtle Beach
C AM
{McLean Park}. Between First and Third avenues south and two blocks west of Ocean Boulevard you can enjoy a 10-acre park with a two-acre lake. Spend some time in the meditation garden or sit for a while in the gazebo.
{Brookgreen Gardens}. 1931 Brookgreen Garden Drive, (843) 235-3000. Stroll through this public garden and join a guided tour or meander about on your own, visit the zoo on site or take a pontoon boat tour. Take in the beauty of the majestic oaks and world-renowned sculptures throughout the gardens. Open daily from 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. $14 for adults 13–64, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $7 for children 4–12, free for children 3 and under when accompanied by an adult.
O N
Beach
❺ Murrells Inlet
U S F W S
❷ North Myrtle
Walk through Atalaya Castle and the shady paths of the park. Open daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m. $5 adult, $3.25 S.C. seniors, $3 youth ages 6–15, free for children 5 and younger.
❹
❶ Little River
»Bird Island Reserve.
Between Little River Inlet and Sunset Beach. ❷ Springmaid Resort check out the roofs! ❸ Huntington Beach State Park
»
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S I M S
❶ Little River
The Grand Strand is paradise for bird watchers. Here are some of our favorite spots.
What happens in Myrtle Beach might not stay in Myrtle Beach with many cameras catching your fun in the sun! ❶ {14th Avenue Pier} www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/ about/web-cam/ ❷ {EarthCam} Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. www.earthcam.com/usa/ southcarolina/myrtlebeach/ ❸ {North Myrtle Beach} Cherry Grove Pier. This cam pans from the ocean view to the pier. www.northmyrtle beachchamber.com/index.php?s rc=gendocs&ref=Webcam&cat egory=Main ❹ {Broadway at the Beach} www.broadwayatthebeach.com/ camera2.aspx
HU N N I C UTT
Trips
When you need to take a break from the fun-in-the-sun on the beach, get out and explore these made-in-theshade locations.
J A S O N
Great Day
Watch Seabirds Nest
Land on a Cam
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❷
Sunbathe
Hunt for Shells, Sharks’ Teeth and More The best time to find shells
With more than 60 miles of golden beaches, there is plenty of room to spread out your beach blanket and get a sun-kissed Carolina tan.
and other treasure is after a big storm comes through the area. Otherwise, take advantage of the hours right before and after low tide (you can catch the lowest tide around the full and new moons).
With SPF
❶ {The Golden Mile}, the
stretch of residential beaches that runs from around 31st Avenue North to around 52nd Avenue North in Myrtle Beach.
❹
With Teenagers ❷ {Myrtle Beach}
With Tattoos
&
❸ {The beach in front} of the
❶ Huntington Beach State Park.
Start on one end of the beach and ride or follow the 26-mile bike path the state park offers. ❷ Waccamaw Neck Bikeway. Runs from Murrells Inlet to Sandy Island Road near Huntington Beach State Park. ❸ Pawleys Loop. Starts at Pawleys Island Nature Park at the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and the North Causeway in Pawleys Island.
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❸
S C
RE S ORT GO L F
Bike
O F
C URR I E
102 Grand Strand
F ABBR I
beach on the jetty and fish or lay out and listen to the ocean waves lap the sand.
RYA N
Island. Claim a section of
A N D
❷ North Pawleys
BEA C H
Offers miles of wide, quiet, sandy beaches.
L I T C HF I E L D
❶ Litchfield Beach.
❷
S C DEPARTME N T O F PAR K S , RE C REAT I O N & TOUR I S M
J OH N
J ODY
Grab your beach chair and head to one of these locations off the beaten path for a peaceful afternoon.
❶
DEPARTME N T
N Z I E MA C K E
❶
PAR K S ,
RE C REAT I O N
Bowery, Ninth Avenue North in Myrtle Beach.
Hide Out
SCOOP
TOUR I S M
Along the Boardwalk & Promenade from Second Avenue Pier to 14th Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach.
Inside
» dollars. ❷ »Pawleys Island for starfish and sea urchins. ❸ »Cherry Grove for sharks’ teeth. ❹ »Garden City Beach for shells after ❶ Huntington State Park for sand
❶
a storm.
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ME L
S M I TH
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❶ SkyWheel Myrtle Beach
WEB BONUS
Ride a 187-foot-tall Ferris wheel with fully enclosed air-conditioned gondolas for a view like none-other. $13 age 12 and up; $9 ages 3-11. 1110 N. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach. (843) 839-9200.
Cool Summer Camps for Kids
Children 6–16 years old can attend day, week and overnight camps where they will enjoy the thrill of swimming with sharks and rays, explore marine life in the open ocean, learn to SCUBA dive and visit local parks and more! ❸ Myrtle Beach State Park Summer Programs, (843) 2380874, myrtlebeachsp.com Offering interactive and fun nature programs in June, July and August. You can learn about sea turtles, catch crabs off the pier, get
Myrtle Beach
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S TATE
PAR K
❸
BEA C H
Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum, (843) 238-2510, myrtlebeachartmuseum.org Offering two sessions in June and two sessions in July, camps for ages 5–7 and 8–12 will explore the Ansel Adams exhibit at the museum. Ages 5–7 will explore black-and-white art through photographs, charcoal and scratch-art and ages 8–12 will make their own pin-hole cameras to use and develop pictures in their own darkroom. ❷ Ripley’s Aquarium Marine Camps, (800) 734-8888, ext. 3226, http://www.ripleyaquariums.com
MYRT L E
❶ Summer Kids Art Workshops,
❶
wet while catching fish, touch a snake, patrol for sea turtles, earn a patch and much more!
Conway
❹ Coastal Youth Theatre,
Theatre of the Republic, (843) 488-0821, theatreoftherepublic.com Hosting a 3-week camp for ages 6 and up. It starts July 7 and runs Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. ❺ Coastal Carolina University, (843) 349-2767 or (843) 349-5003, www.coastal.edu/ summercamps/camps.html Coastal Carolina Kids Camp offered at the Litchfield Education Center and the Myrtle Beach Education Center for ages 6–12 years of age June 9–August 8. Choose from a variety of art, music, dance, science, drama and adventure classes. Summer Arts Academies
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»
❷ The Gulf Stream Café
Voted “best restaurant with a view” and one of the best places to watch the sunset. 1536 S. Waccamaw Dr., Garden City. (843) 651-8808. are offered for ages 7 through 12 from June 7–27. Academies include a music academy, a performing arts academy and a visual arts academy.
❼ MU S EUM
Take a moment to enjoy the visual wonder of the coastline at one of these spots.
Experience the SkyWheel: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=OgMGhJn517M
MAR I T I ME
Great Place for a Great View
Murrells Inlet
SC
PHOTOGRAPH S ( 2 )
Bucket List
❻ Camp Brookgreen at
Brookgreen Gardens, (843) 235-6000, brookgreen.org Weeklong sessions include storytelling, arts and crafts, native animal interactive programs, and a boat ride along freshwater creeks and rivers.
Georgetown ❼ The South Carolina
Maritime Museum Youth Sailing Program Summer Camp, Georgetown. The SC Maritime Museum, 729 Front St., Georgetown. scmaritimemuseum.org, (843)
520-0111 or email sail@sc-mm.org This half-day summer sailing camp is for ages 8–14. Eightperson sessions are offered in June and July, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.–noon or from 2–5 p.m. Campers will receive a US Sailing’s “Learn Sailing Right! Beginner Sailing” course book, a skills log book and a T-shirt. Young sailors will learn how to sail Optimist Prams, a small, stable sailboat designed especially for teaching young people to sail.
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Let Your Dog Roam Free(ish)
Catch a Surf Contest
Local Favorite
As a general rule of thumb, dogs must be on a leash that is seven feet or shorter at all times while accompanying you to the beach, and owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs. Here are a few specific rules to keep in mind when you choose where to enjoy the water with Fido.
Watch surfers make the most out of the Grand Strand waves at these events!
»
❶ Garden City
Picnic & Play Beach Games with Family Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner outdoors on a picnic table or spread a blanket out on the sand. Take advantage of the public playgrounds near the beach in these areas or bring your own bocce ball set for a little family competition on the sand. ❶ North Myrtle Beach—City Park on the Atlantic Ocean. 101 S. Ocean Blvd. Easy access to the giant waterslide on the beach (operates Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day) ❷ Myrtle Beach—Myrtle Beach State Park. 4401 S. Kings Highway, (843) 238-5325 ❸ Myrtle Beach—5000 block in Myrtle Beach, where Porcher Drive and North Ocean Boulevard meet near 54th Avenue North ❹ Murrells Inlet—Huntington Beach State Park. 16148 Ocean Hwy, (843) 237-4440
Beaches
❶ North Myrtle Beach No dogs are allowed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May 15 through September 15.
❷ Myrtle Beach
»
MYRT L E
No dogs are allowed between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May 15 through September 15. No dogs are allowed on the beach or Ocean Boulevard between 21st Avenue North and 13th Avenue South between March 1 and September 30.
❸ Myrtle Beach State Park
❻ Myrtle Beach
{North-End Barc Parc} at Grand Strand YMCA. 5000 Claire Chapin Epps Dr., (843) 918-2390. Bring your pooch for some fencedin dog park off-leash fun. There are separate small-dog and large-dog areas and drinking fountains.
❼ Myrtle Beach
106 Grand Strand
❽ North Myrtle Beach {Waggin’ Tails Dog Park} at The North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex, 150 Citizens Circle, Little River,(843) 2813800. Open daily from 6:30 a.m. to sundown. Choose from the large- or small-dog areas and let Fido play off-leash.
❾ Surfside Beach
Bark Park. {Pine Drive}
next to the library. Open sunrise to sunset daily. Closed for cleaning Wednesdays from 10 a.m.–noon.
Scope Out Six Packs and Bikini Babes Find “spring breakers” all summer long.
❶ Myrtle Beach
Between 34th Avenue North and 52nd Avenue North in Myrtle Beach.
❷ Myrtle Beach
Hotel Blue Beachfront Resort. 705 S. Ocean Blvd.
F OU N DAT I O N
for residents and $30 for nonresidents. Call (843) 913-6111 for more information.) Owners must have one leash per dog at all times, up to two dogs per person.
MEMOR I A L
Dog Parks
Dogs must have current rabies vaccinations and wear current Town of Surfside Beach license tags (tags can be purchased at the Surfside Town Hall for $10
DA N I E L S
Dogs are allowed year-round on the south end of the beach but must remain on a leash no longer than six feet. They are not allowed in buildings or from the north end beach access parking lot to the jetty.
{Barc Parc Myrtle Beach}. Mallard Lake Drive and Cactus Street in Market Common. There are separate small and large fencedin dog parks where Fido can roam free. Open sunrise to sunset.
GUY
State Park
❶
V I S I TMYRT L EBEA C H . C OM
❺ Huntington Beach
C I TY
❹ Surfside Beach
No dogs are allowed from May 15 through September 15.
❸
O F
No dogs are allowed on the beach from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 15 through September 15.
Village Herndon/Lebel Memorial Surf Off. June 7 & 8. (843) 651-6396. ❷ Myrtle Beach Native Sons Salt Games. June 14 & 15. (843) 448-0585. ❸ Surfside Beach Guy Daniels Surf-Off in Surfside Beach. Mid-August. (843) 655-1434, surfoff.com.
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Camp
These locations offer oceanfront, lakeside or shaded campsites plus their own water amenities.
Tie One on at a Waterfront Bar Relax and enjoy live, local music while sipping your favorite beverage.
❸
C AMPGROU N D
Water Lovers
Before you head out to catch a wave this summer, know where you are going and when you can be there. Each beach has its own set of rules. Generally, surfing is prohibited 150–300 feet away from piers depending on the beach.
Surf
Check out the surf reports to maximize the smaller wave action in this coastal area.
❶ Seventh & Eighth avenues north and 27th
Avenue South in North Myrtle Beach. ❷ Springmaid Pier and Garden City Pier area. ❸ Myrtle Beach State Park, south end.
Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)
BY
PHOTOGRAPHY GUY I N L ET
F AM I L Y
❷
»
Buck Hall, Francis Marion National Forest. Offer camping right on the Intracoastal Waterway. www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/scnfs/ recarea/?recid=47291. (843) 928-3368.
( M I DD L E ) ,
L A K E S L A K EWOOD
C AMP I N G
Looking for a campsite where you can get away from it all? ❸ Georgetown
HOUDE
O C EA N
RE S ORT
{Lakewood Camping Resort}. Chosen by the National Association of RV Parks as “Park of the Year” and has a waterpark with a lazy river and indoor and outdoor pools. lakewoodcampground. com. (877) 525-3966 or (843) 238-5161.
❶
DA V I D
»
❷ Myrtle Beach
great spot to people watch, and watch the waves, too. 2002 N. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach, (843) 916-9111. ❷ {The Boathouse}. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway, 201 Fantasy Harbor Blvd. (843) 903-2628; boathousemb.com. ❸ {Murrells Inlet MarshWalk}. Choose from any of the eight fabulous restaurants. (843) 497-3450, 3979–4123 U.S. 17 Business South. ❹ {Banditos Restaurant and cantina}. Just north of SkyWheel on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. (843) 808-9800, 1410 N. Ocean Blvd., www. banditosmyrtlebeach.com.
8 Great Spots For
Grab your board or rent one and enjoy this watersport in areas with calmer waters. ❹ Murrells Inlet ❺ Wacccamaw River ❻ North end of North Myrtle Beach
Kiteboarding
Take a lesson or find some shallow water to try this watersport. Growing popularity has found this sport a home in the following areas. See our feature on kiteboarding, starting on page 110. ❼ Myrtle Beach 34th Avenue North ❽ North Myrtle Beach Cherry Grove
( TOP ) ,
{Ocean Lakes Family Campground}. Was a National Association of RV Parks “Park of the Year” and has an indoor and outdoor pool with a splash zone for kids. oceanlakes.com. (843) 238-5636.
S MA L L I N
»
❶ Myrtle Beach
S C OTT
❶
( BOTTOM )
❶ {Bummz Beach Café}. A
Kiteboard, Stand Up Paddle or Surf
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❸ Experience Surfing and Kiteboarding: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=k9ynPk3xEqI
WEB BONUS
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