Visitors and locals enjoy the calm atmosphere of North Myrtle Beach.
Although people often mistake the two areas as one, Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach are actually two entirely separate cities in South Carolina. And while the city of Myrtle Beach might be more popular for vacationers by offering a wide array of activities, including its famous Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Pier, North Myrtle Beach, with a population of 19,000 (about half of Myrtle Beach) offers a much calmer atmosphere that’s conducive to a more peaceful vacation.
With a pristine stretch of oceanfront, marshes and the Intracoastal Waterway, North Myrtle Beach offers endless options to relax or play on the water. The destination has nine miles of spacious beaches including Cherry Grove, Crescent Beach, Ocean Drive and Windy Hill. Beyond beaching it, five can’t-miss experiences on the water in North Myrtle Beach include:
Visitors can tour the island via paddleboarding.
* Surf & SUP
Locals and visitors alike enjoy surfing and stand up paddleboarding (SUP) to glide along North Myrtle Beach. Kokopelli Surf Camp, a local favorite outfitter, provides lessons along with guided tours. Visitors can take a tour of the salt marshes and islands by paddleboard or rent equipment for a custom adventure. Professional surfers teach surf classes and ensure a low student-to-teacher ratio so each student gets personal attention.
* Kayaking
Kayak along Waites Island, a 1,000 acre undeveloped barrier island located at the northernmost point of South Carolina. Waites Island can only be reached by land on horseback, small boat, kayak or paddle board from marshes of Cherry Grove. Great Escapes Kayak Expeditions has a dedicated tour for adventurers wanting to explore Waites Island. The three-hour excursion is led by an expert guide. Glass Bottom Kayak Tours also offers a kayaking experience at Waites Island that allows participants to see the waters around the island from a unique perspective.
* Scenic Boat Cruises
Barefoot Queen Riverboat Cruises offer family-friendly scenic lunch and dinner cruises on an authentic wooden riverboat along the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway featuring onboard entertainment and narration. Visitors also enjoy the Dolphin Adventure Sunset Cruise through the inland waterways out to the Atlantic Ocean on a large two-deck vessel, where cruisers will watch the shrimp boat fleet work their nets and observe dolphins in their natural habitat as the sun sets.
People often opt for surf fishing right from the beach.
* Fishing
With ample waterways, North Myrtle Beach is ideal for offshore, inshore, surf, pier and deep sea fishing. Cherry Grove Pier jets out over the water and is the home of world record-setting catches, including a 98-pound tarpon. A full bait and tackle shop is stocked with supplies and staffed with an experienced team. Deep-sea fishing in North Myrtle offers all kinds of possibilities. The best times of day for deep-sea fishing are early mornings or late afternoons and charters including Hurricane Fleet and Voyager Deep Sea Fishing take intrepid tourists out daily led by seasoned crews. Inshore fishing along the Intracoastal Waterway is also popular year-round with usually calmer waters. Charter companies like Captain Smiley Fishing Charters have captains who know how to navigate these waters and where to find the best Spanish mackerel, flounder and redfish. Those seeking to have their toes in the sand while reeling in a catch opt for surf fishing right from the beach. Fish have nocturnal feeding habits, so the best time to surf fish is before dawn until mid-morning or two hours before sunset.
* Shark Wake Park
Shark Wake Park is South Carolina’s first full-size cable watersports park within the North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex and showcases one of the largest floating obstacle courses on the East Coast. Water-lovers will enjoy a place to make waves with wakeboarding, knee boarding and water skiing, not to mention floating obstacle course with slides, climbing towers and more.
Beach Cove Resort offers easy beach access.
ACCOMMODATIONS
North Myrtle Beach offers a wide selection of vacation accommodations ideal for traveling parties of all sizes showcasing views of the ocean, marshes, marinas, waterway or fairway. Travelers may choose from small intimate hotels to sprawling vacation resorts with bountiful family-friendly amenities. Those seeking a more private experience may opt for a wide selection of vacation rentals ranging from condos and townhomes to large vacation homes.
SeaBlue Restaurant and Wine Bar features contemporary American cuisine.
STANDOUT RESTAURANTS
- Midtown Bistro packs a big punch of Italian inspired cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. Chef and owner Jeff Martini has created a restaurant where “simple food and simple prices” are the standard. Not only is he the owner and chef, he is also a seasoned local fisherman and his fresh weekly catches become specials for the week, while they last. While the specials are not advertised on the website or menu, the restaurant’s Facebook page will post them and reservations are encouraged.
- One of the Grand Strand’s most popular restaurants since 1999, Greg Norman Australian Grille serves up mouthwatering dishes and an award winning wine menu – all on the waterfront in an upscale, family-friendly setting that will leave you feeling like you’re sitting in one of Sydney’s finest harborside restaurants.
- SeaBlue Restaurant and Wine Bar works daily to bring the freshest product and superior service to every table. Featuring Contemporary American cuisine rooted in classic French cooking technique, SeaBlue prides itself on being as farm to table as possible, resourcing from only the best purveyors and local day boat fisherman. They are a small family dedicated to an intimate culinary adventure, a playground for lovers of wine and fine cuisine. This is a favorite for local and visiting wine enthusiasts.
- Boardwalk Billy’s is located on the Doc Holidays Marina overlooking the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway. Known for its quintessential raw bar and sushi, Boardwalk Billy’s is a casual, family-friendly restaurant with a view that can’t be beat. Sit inside in the cozy dining room or outside on the spacious deck. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with daily happy hour food & drink specials and live entertainment. When the owner first started the dream of Boardwalk Billy’s in North Myrtle Beach, his mission was to establish “a fun, upbeat restaurant on the water whose first goal every day is to provide great, friendly service with great, affordable food.” A local favorite is oysters by the bucket.
- Hoskins Restaurant is an experience within itself. An area legend, it has been a Main Street staple since 1948. Family owned and operated since it first opened its doors over 70 years ago, Hoskins serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. While they are known for their seafood, diners crave their daily specials, salad bar and desserts, especially their ever-changing home made cream pies. First time diners are encouraged not to be intimidated by the long line as it moves quickly and is worth the wait, a culinary tradition to dine at this local and visitor favorite.
- Other hot spots for food and dining: Melt on Main Street, Duplin Winery, Crooked Hammock Brewery.
The destination has nine miles of spacious beaches.