When you’re planning your Grand Strand vacation, it can be hard to choose the right spot for your home base. And it’s no wonder why; the Myrtle Beach area is made up of more than 14 different communities spanning 60 miles of gorgeous shoreline, each with its own vibe and character. To help you streamline your choices, we’re covering four of our favorite areas in this guide to the communities of the South Grand Strand. Take a closer look at these unique places, and picture yourself at the beach!
Surfside Beach
Welcome to Surfside Beach, where the motto “The Family Beach” is more than a slogan; it’s a way of life, both for the 5,000 locals who call it home and the folks who visit each year. Offering two pristine miles of coastline, which are meticulously cleaned and outfitted with lifeguards, it’s a place you can let your little ones run free and explore. Despite its small size, there are 36 beach access points, making it a breeze to get to the shore. In addition to the beach, the community is home to seven parks, and its 800-foot pier, which was damaged in 2016 by Hurricane Matthew, is slated to reopen later this year, bringing a ton of new attractions to the area.
As for the top things to do in Surfside Beach, you can look forward to thrilling jet ski adventures or height-defying parasailing, as well as beach classics like swimming, fishing, kayaking, and boating. For some retail therapy, Hudson’s Surfside Flea Market offers the largest and oldest open-air flea market in the area and is full of unique finds that will make the perfect souvenir to commemorate your Grand Strand vacation. With tons of delicious restaurants serving up fresh-catch seafood and local favorites, you’ll have the best of everything you need in a beach vacation when you stay. If you’re looking for the perfect vacation rental in Surfside Beach, check out our available properties!
Garden City Beach
Located just south of Surfside Beach, Garden City Beach is a family-friendly community full of fun activities and beautiful landscapes, making it a fantastic choice for your Grand Strand vacation. Boasting the unique feature of having both inlet and Atlantic Ocean access, Garden City Beach is a prime spot for those interested in crabbing, fishing, boating, or other water sports. When you visit, be sure to check out the 668-foot pier for prime fishing opportunities during the day and excellent live music at night.
Other attractions in Garden City include the arcade, the creek walk, a bustling marina, delicious restaurants, and tons of community events like the Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade that guarantee fun for everyone during your stay. For the best in Garden City vacation rentals, be sure to check out Sea Star Realty’s properties.
Murrells Inlet
Known as the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina,” Murrells Inlet is a historic fishing village famous for its MarshWalk as well as Brookgreen Gardens, a 9,100-acre sculpture garden and zoo that blends art, nature, and history into one unique attraction. Outside of these primary highlights, if you’re a foodie visiting the Grand Strand, this is the community for you. From fine dining to casual bites, the restaurant scene in Murrell’s Inlet is one of the best in the Myrtle Beach Area. From clams and oysters to crabs and seasonal fish, you can enjoy all your favorite seafood dishes when you visit. And, of course, it’s all freshly caught and locally sourced, guaranteeing the highest quality eats in the region.
Nature lovers will enjoy visiting Huntington Beach State Park for crowd-free shores and the best birding in all of South Carolina. With tons to do on land or water, Murrells Inlet is your laid-back haven in the Grand Strand. If this sounds like your kind of beach vacation, check out our vacation rentals near Murrells Inlet, and let us make your vacation dreams come true!
Litchfield Beach
A short drive south of Murrell’s Inlet, Litchfield Beach offers a little bit of everything you could want in a coastal getaway. And, while it’s not the most famous beach in the Grand Strand, it is one of America’s best, according to a 2020 TripAdvisor poll that ranked it in the Top 10 beaches in the country. Top activities in Litchfield Beach center around recreation, be that in the form of surfing and swimming or in sporting activities like tennis and golf. You’ll also find excellent shopping and dining so your days can be as full or relaxing as you choose. Conveniently located just over an inlet from world-famous Pawley’s Island, you’re close to it all in this charming Grand Strand Community. At Sea Star Realty, we have beautiful vacation rentals in Litchfield Beach, perfect for your next vacation. Check them out and start packing your bags.
The Perfect Spot for You in the Grand Strand
Choosing the perfect spot along the Grand Strand means finding a place that feels like it was made just for you. Whether it's the family-friendly shores of Surfside Beach, the quaint charm of Garden City, the vibrant life of Murrells Inlet, or the serene beauty of Litchfield Beach, each community is its own unique piece of coastal paradise. Our guide to the communities of the Grand Strand is designed to help you navigate these choices with ease.
And when you're ready to turn those daydreams into reality, Sea Star Realty is here to help. With a handpicked selection of properties in each of these captivating communities of the Grand Strand, we're dedicated to finding you the perfect home base for your adventures. Book directly with Sea Star Realty and discover the best of the Grand Strand, tailored just for you. Your ideal beach vacation awaits – let's make it unforgettable.