Heading to Myrtle Beach? Check out my recommendations for a dozen places to see, restaurants to eat at, and things to do while vacationing at the popular South Carolina destination.
Last winter, my husband and I were feeling cooped up at home. We’re not big fans of winters in the northeast (hello seasonal affective disorder!) and the pandemic seriously limited things we could do indoors – not to mention that COVID-19 has made us uncomfortable with the idea of an outside babysitter, which equates to an absence of date nights.
So, we planned a few trips to lift our spirits and give us things to look forward to. First, we went on a road trip to Lake George, NY, and a few weeks later, we road tripped it much further to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Road tripping 12 hours each way was a bit of a risk with a 1-year old, but I planned lots of stops in (we even stopped overnight at my brother-in-law’s house in Virginia), brought a million things to do and snacks to eat in the car…and thankfully, it actually worked out well!
There are a lot of fun things to do in Myrtle Beach, and we spent most of our time outdoors despite it being chillier than we had hoped. Today’s post highlights spots to check out, restaurants to eat at, and areas to enjoy nature – so let’s get to it!
12 Things to Do in Myrtle Beach
1.) Spend a day at Brookgreen Gardens.
Perhaps the best day we had while vacationing in Myrtle Beach was visiting Brookgreen Gardens – a 9,100-acre property just south of Myrtle Beach that features a sculpture garden and wildlife preserve.
We spent hours roaming the property – enjoying the flowers and art, letting our toddler run free, and of course, checking out the animals. Brookgreen Gardens has ample room to have a picnic and enjoy being in nature.
Brookgreen Gardens’ wildlife preserve is dubbed their ‘lowcountry zoo’ because it houses native animals to the area. From owls and foxes to bald eagles and alligators, visitors get a good sense of the wildlife in South Carolina by walking through the zoo. If I lived near Brookgreen Gardens, my family would definitely be members there!
2.) Walk around Barefoot Landing.
Myrtle Beach is home to numerous outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment destinations, and one of them is Barefoot Landing. It’s located along Myrtle Beach’s Intracoastal Waterway, and houses over 40 stores, restaurants and attractions. And though we didn’t get to see it, Barefoot Landing often has live music. It’s a fun area to stroll around!
While you’re at Barefoot Landing…
3.) Shop at Shining Sol Candle Co.
One of the stores I loved in Barefoot Landing was Shining Sol Candle Co. The soy candle company is headquartered in Virginia, and opened its shop in Barefoot Landing in 2020. If you’re a candle lover as I am, you’ll enjoy checking out Shining Sol Candle Co. They have so many scents to choose from, and I had a hard time narrowing down my purchases!
4.) Eat at Taco Mundo Kitchen & Cantina.
Taco Mundo Kitchen & Cantina is a festive restaurant with tasty Mexican food, so if you’re in the mood for Mexican while in Myrtle Beach, be sure to check them out.
5.) Grab dinner at Mediterranean Bistro.
Sometimes the best food is found in unsuspecting places, and this is the case for Mediterranean Bistro. This hole in the wall joint is frequented by locals, and its menu includes quintessential Mediterranean food like gyros, tzatziki and spanakopita. We enjoyed our dinner there so much, we ordered takeout from there a few nights later!
6.) Enjoy the beach.
What’s a vacation in Myrtle Beach without actually spending time at the beach? After all, the city has 60 miles of beaches to check out, and many of the beaches are very easy to get to. Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is a popular attraction to visit. Check out this list of the top 10 beach accesses in Myrtle Beach for ideas.
7.) Get breakfast at Blueberry’s Grill.
If you’re looking for a yummy breakfast, brunch, or lunch while in Myrtle Beach, consider dining at Blueberry’s Grill. The eatery has two locations in Myrtle Beach, and serves items like beignets, sweet potato pancakes and salmon omelettes. I ordered the above pancakes and chai tea, and both hit the indulgent brunch spot!
8.) Visit Myrtle Beach State Park.
Offering over 300 acres of land to explore, Myrtle Beach State Park was the first state park in South Carolina to open in 1936. Whether you take a stroll through the forest, check out the fishing pier, or have a picnic on the beach, this park is a fun place to enjoy the outdoors in Myrtle Beach!
9.) Get an açaí bowl at Kindbelly Cafe.
Eating nutritious food helps me feel good from the inside out, and whenever I travel, I look for healthy eateries to check out. One of the health-conscious restaurants that I scoped out in Myrtle Beach before our trip was Kindbelly Cafe – a cute eatery blocks from the beach that focuses on wholesome, nourishing foods like salads, smoothies and wraps.
Cammie enjoying her very first apple juice
One morning during our stay in Myrtle Beach, I took my little one on an açaí bowl brunch date at Kindbelly, then we parked on Beach Drive and explored the beach.
10.) Shop at The Market Common.
Myrtle Beach’s Market Common has something for everyone – from clothing boutiques and southern living stores, to donut shops and sushi, to bowling and a movie theater. The area is also surrounded by a lake, athletic center and playground. Overall, there’s a lot to see and do!
When I visited Market Common, I did a bit of shopping and walking around, then took my daughter to get some energy out at the playground.
11.) Get your chocolate fix at The Uncommon Chocolatier.
One of my favorite shops in Market Common was The Uncommon Chocolatier. They’re a fun place to check out to satisfy chocolate cravings and pick up little gifts for loved ones. I nabbed some chocolate covered pretzels to give my mom, along with some fancy truffles that my husband and I enjoyed with wine from our hotel suite.
12.) Treat yourself at Kirk’s Ice Cream Parlor.
For dessert lovers visiting Myrtle Beach, Kirk’s Ice Cream Parlor is a family owned local spot that makes some delicious ice cream.
I’ve never been to Myrtle Beach but it looks like a great place to visit! Love the pics of your adorable little one!
Your little girl has gotten so big! I have not been to Myrtle Beach in years Looks a fun family getaway. Sign me up for one of the Acai bowls
There’s plenty here to make me book a trip now! It looks so beautiful and full of outdoors-y things to do!
Ah, this post is making me miss the South! I haven’t been to Myrtle in years, and it sounds like there are a lot of new stores/entertainment options that have popped up. We are actually heading down to SC in a couple weeks, although we’re heading to Folly Beach (Charleston). I can’t wait for Robbie to see the beach! Thanks for sharing this fun post…it looks like you guys all had a blast!