Nothing screams vacation quite like neon lights on a boardwalk, all-you-can-eat seafood buffets, mini golf, and miles of sandy beaches. Welcome to Myrtle Beach! While there are endless options and activities to choose from, my guide is specifically for those who love Myrtle Beach’s retro and kitschy charm. Soak up the fun and sun with these classic weekend trip recs:
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Hit the Beach
First and foremost, you’ve got to hit the main attraction—the beach! The Grand Strand offers 60 miles of wide, family-friendly shoreline to walk, sunbathe, and swim. Pick the beach that’s right for you and cross your fingers for a good parking spot.
- Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Area: This mile-long promenade is lively and full of energy with gift shops, beachgoers, and street performers. As the sun sets, stroll along the Atlantic Ocean with the SkyWheel lighting up the background. On my last trip, I parked near the Bowery—a historic honky-tonk that had Alabama as its house band from 1973-1980.
- Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk: A more laid-back option, this colorful boardwalk offers scenic views of the salt marsh, waterfront dining, and live music. You’ll see pelicans and gulls, and maybe some oysters if you go at low tide.
- Myrtle Beach State Park & Huntington Beach State Park: For quieter beaches away from the bustle of the city, hit up the state parks. Both offer scenic trails and wildlife spotting opportunities. Admission to South Carolina State Parks is $8 per adult.
Play Mini Golf
With over 30 unique courses, Myrtle Beach is crowned the Mini Golf Capital of the World. Choose from maximalist landscapes of fiberglass dinosaurs, pirates, faux volcanoes and caves. My personal favorite is Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Goff (a great name!)—epic in both size and design.
Hours: 9am until late, every day
Cost: $12-14 per adult for your first round, $8 for a second round
Learn more about Myrtle Beach’s mini golf heritage from South Carolina historian Kathryn Hedgepath on this Atlas Obscura podcast episode.
Get Lost in the Gay Dolphin
Every good trip needs a souvenir and the granddaddy of souvenir shops is the Gay Dolphin Gift Cove. The oceanfront shop opened in 1946 and has undergone several incarnations and hurricanes. Today, it’s a four-story labyrinth that you can literally get lost in. There are dozens of specialty areas – one space is all things shells, another is shark teeth, another is Elvis Presley, another is Bigfoot. This is definitely the place to bring your found shark tooth and have it fashioned into an earring, or buy a Myrtle Beach shot glass.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 12 a.m., every day
Indulge in a Seafood Buffet
“All-you-can-eat seafood buffet” is a magical phrase that’s hard to resist. I subscribe to the foolish belief that you must “get your money’s worth” – eat at least one plate past the point of fullness and don’t skip dessert! My pick is The Pirate’s Table, where the vibe is casual and the crab legs keep coming. The waitstaff dress as pirates, the buffet stations are pirate ships, and there’s a live mermaid at the entrance.
Hours: 4 p.m. onwards, every day
Cost: $49.99 before tip
Visit a Haunted Graveyard
If you have any interest in ghosts, graves, or funerary art, stop by the All Saints’ Church Waccamaw Cemetery on Pawley’s Island. The cemetery is the burial site of Alice Flagg, who died of a broken heart and supposedly haunts the graveyard, looking for her love. Visitors leave trinkets and make wishes at her grave. Read more about it on the Southern Cemetery blog.
What’s Still on My List?
Myrtle Beach always has more to explore! Here’s what I’m planning for my next trip:
- Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum – 25+ pinball machines from the ‘70s to today
- Brookgreen Gardens – a sculpture garden, nature preserve, and small zoo
- Huntington Beach State Park – Atalaya Castle is on the grounds
- The Myrtle Beach Art Museum – an excellent free museum
- Pancake Houses – This is right behind mini golf as a hallmark of classic vacation destinations. A tourist town is always flush with pancake houses!
Where to Stay
I recently stayed at the Red Roof Inn. Our crew of four split a standard room with two double beds. When I book a place to stay, I’m undeterred by reviews that use descriptives like “old,” “musty,” or “low water pressure.” I just want a place that’s cheap, safe, and reasonably clean. The Red Roof Inn greatly exceeds my standards with thoroughly cleaned rooms and a location just two blocks to a quiet stretch of the beach. Book your room here.
If you have a slightly bigger budget, check out the Waikiki Village Motel. Its colorful retro rooms are recently renovated.
Many retro hotels and motels still dot Central Myrtle Beach. I would definitely look into staying at one of these in the future:
Bonus: If you’re into quirky architecture, drive by 1566 S. Waccamaw Drive in Murrells Inlet to see a spaceship house (aka my dream home)! Built in 1976 by Miami architect Peter Sander Klout, the house has survived hurricanes thanks to its unique design. It’s private property, but well-worth a drive-by. This would obviously be my top accommodation pick if it were an option!
Myrtle Beach feels like a bright, nostalgic time capsule brimming with kitschy charm. It prioritizes fun and isn’t shy about covering everything in giant sea creatures and bright lights. The city feels sweetly unchanged in many ways – and that’s exactly why people keep coming back.