Top 15 Things To Do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Framed by long stretches of sand and the wide, shallow sweep of the Intracoastal Waterway, Myrtle Beach invites sailors of all stripes—from first-time day-sailors chasing a sunset to experienced crews trimming for offshore runs. Expect easy access from multiple marinas, dependable summer breezes for afternoon sails, and a local scene that blends family-friendly cruises with sportfishing and regatta culture. This guide focuses on the on-the-water experience: what the sea and currents feel like here, where to launch, and how to plan a safe, memorable outing on the Grand Strand.

Myrtle Beach is a place made for looking — at wide Atlantic horizons, sculpted marshes, historic plantations, and neon-lit beachfront corridors. These sightseeing tours turn familiar postcard scenes into live stories: narrated trolley rides, salt-spray boat cruises, and garden walks that layer local history with coastal ecology.

Myrtle Beach’s long sandy shorelines and sheltered inlets create a front-row seat to bottlenose dolphin life. From family-friendly eco-cruises and kayak tours that skirt salt marsh edges to photography-focused small-boat trips at dawn, the town’s dolphin offerings are as varied as the animals themselves. This guide zeroes in on how to see, photograph, and responsibly share the water with dolphins—what to expect, when to go, and how to plan a trip that respects the animals and maximizes sightings.

Myrtle Beach is often thought of as a stretch of sun-drenched coastline and lively boardwalks, but its real draw for paddlers is a layered coastal landscape—protected inlets, winding tidal creeks, broad salt marshes, and quiet barrier islands that unwind beyond the surf. Kayaking here ranges from calm, wildlife-rich estuary tours to chop-handling open-coast paddles, making it a convenient and varied base for both first-time sit-on-top renters and seasoned sea kayakers seeking short excursions or half-day trips.

Myrtle Beach is where the slow, salty sweep of the Intracoastal meets the blue churn of the Atlantic — a place built for boating. From easy pontoon days on calm waterways to offshore runs for reef fishing and dolphin-filled sunset cruises, boat rentals unlock a layered coastal playground. This guide focuses on renting craft in the Myrtle Beach area: what kinds of boats to pick, where to go, when to plan your trip, and the local logistics that change a casual outing into a memorable adventure.

From dawn surf-line sightings of dolphins to night-time sea turtle patrols on quiet stretches of sand, Myrtle Beach is a low-lying coastal tapestry where marsh, ocean, and river meet. This guide focuses tightly on wildlife experiences—birding, marine life viewing, and coastal ecology—and gives practical advice for when to go, how to read tides and seasons, and what gear actually improves your chances of close-but-respectful encounters.

Myrtle Beach is best known for its boardwalk and surf, but its quieter ecosystems — tidal creeks, sprawling salt marshes, and barrier islands — host an eco-tourism scene that feels both intimate and essential. From sunrise birding cruises to kayak trips through mangled spartina and guided turtle patrols, eco tours here translate coastal science into memorable, low-impact adventures suited to families, photographers, and seasoned naturalists alike.

Long, forgiving beach breaks, a well-developed surf-support network, and an easy introduction to Atlantic swell make Myrtle Beach an inviting place to learn to surf and to chase consistent, fun waves. This guide focuses on where to catch those lines, when to go, and how to plan your sessions—whether you're paddling out for your first pop-up or timing the tide for a clean right at the inlet.

Myrtle Beach is a beach-town bicycle culture built on easy miles, salty breezes, and a mosaic of rental options—from classic cruisers to pedal-assist e-bikes and family tandems. Perfect for boardwalk spins, low-effort coastal excursions, and accessible sightseeing, bike rentals make the Grand Strand feel simultaneously leisurely and boundless.

Myrtle Beach may be famous for sun-soaked boardwalks, but its offshore landscape—an accessible scatter of purpose-sunk wrecks, reef balls, and natural hardbottoms—makes it a quietly compelling East Coast scuba destination. From easy shallow reef drifts to weekend boat trips targeting preserved wrecks, the dive culture here is approachable for certified divers and inviting for divers upgrading their skills.

Myrtle Beach is where the Atlantic thins into a playground of sandbars, marsh channels, and open-water runs—ideal terrain for guided jet ski tours that balance speed, scenery, and wildlife. Whether carving wakes along the Intracoastal Waterway, threading through tidal creeks, or launching onto glassy offshore runs, local operators tailor routes for everyone from nervous first-timers to riders chasing adrenaline. This guide distills the region’s best jet ski experiences—what to expect, how to plan, and how to pair a ride with fishing, paddleboarding, or an evening marsh cruise.

From parasails trailed behind leisure boats to low-and-slow helicopter loops over the Atlantic and seasonal balloon flights over the marshes, Myrtle Beach is a coast-first playground for airborne perspectives. This guide focuses on the region's air activities—how they feel, when they fly, what to pack, and how to combine a skyward outing with boating, wildlife watching, and coastal culture.