While North Myrtle Beach's more famous neighbor to the south draws the crowds and the chaos, North Myrtle Beach has quietly perfected the art of the coastal getaway. A nine mile magnificent stretch of South Carolina shoreline divided into four distinct, walkable neighborhoods, each with its own personality, its own rhythm, and its own reasons to linger. From the lively shores of Crescent Beach to the peaceful vibe of Cherry Grove, from the family fun of Windy Hill to the storied streets of Ocean Drive, a long weekend here feels less like a vacation and more like a love affair with a place you'll spend the rest of the year trying to get back to.
Not every member of the family or travel partner is a beach person, and in a town like North Myrtle Beach, where the shoreline is just the beginning, that's perfectly fine. While one half of your duo is content to plant an umbrella, slather on the sunscreen, and not move for four hours, the other can be kayaking through pristine waterways, learning the Shag in a historic dance hall, wine tasting at a local winery, browsing boutiques on Main Street, or catching a live show at a legendary theater. North Myrtle Beach is where two people (or more) with completely different vacation styles can spend a long weekend together and both come home happy.
There is only one sensible way to arrive in North Myrtle Beach, and that is hungry and pointed toward the ocean. Snooky's Oceanfront Restaurant makes the perfect first stop — a beachfront institution with the sound of the surf and the smell of salt air welcoming you before you've even looked at the menu.
After settling in at one any one of the many oceanfront condo options, the evening belongs to Crescent Beach, one of North Myrtle Beach's most beloved neighborhoods. Dinner at Bin 2004 is the move. A new, sophisticated wine bar and restaurant that offers an eclectic menu of influences from Spanish to Asian to Italian, more than 400 bottles of wine from renowned regions like Napa Valley, Italy, and France, and a chic, intimate ambiance.
The first full day opens with a stop at Boulineau's in Cherry Grove, a local institution that has been feeding beachgoers and coffee drinkers for generations. Fuel up for the weekend's first memorable experiences: an Island Adventure Eco Tour kayaking expedition to Waites Island. For two hours, paddle through one of South Carolina's last undeveloped barrier islands. Waites Island is a protected natural preserve with miles of untouched beach and the kind of quiet that libraries envy.
After working up an appetite on the water, Salty Brews in Cherry Grove provides the perfect post-kayak lunch stop, a casual, laid-back spot that captures exactly the energy the neighborhood is known for.
Of course, no visit to North Myrtle Beach is complete without spending serious time in Ocean Drive, the neighborhood that gave birth to one of American music and dance culture's most joyful traditions: the Shag. The official state dance of South Carolina, the Shag is a smooth, partner dance that developed along these very streets in the 1940s, and Ocean Drive has never stopped celebrating it.
An afternoon Shag dance lesson at the North Myrtle Beach Historical Museum, led by instructors Darrell Gaither and Lori Setzer, is another absolute highlight of the weekend. Don't worry if you've never danced a step in your life. The instructors are warm, patient, and genuinely infectious in their enthusiasm for keeping the tradition alive.
After the lesson, Main Street Ocean Drive is made for some serious shopping. Hope Taylor Boutique is a lovely stop for anyone looking to take a little piece of the local style home, and Melt Ice Cream, with its creative, housemade flavors, is non-negotiable. There's no shortage of t-shirt and souvenir shops to take home your little slice of the beach.
And the evening's Shag exploration can continue at the OD Pavilion, Fat Harold's, and the Shaggers Hall of Fame Museum, tucked inside the Ocean Drive Beach and Golf Resort. The Society of Stranders Spring Safari Shag Festival brings an added layer of energy to the neighborhood, with dancers of all ages and abilities filling the streets with music and movement.
For dinner, there's Hoskins, a 75-plus-year icon that has fed generations of North Myrtle Beach visitors, Flynn's Irish Pub or Crave Italian Bistro for something a little different. Take up a show for some after dinner entertainment at the Greg Rowles Legacy Theater, a gem of a performance venue with live entertainment that satisfies the most discerning critic.
Dino's House of Pancakes, the beloved Honey Barrel, or Souffles are all worthy contenders for breakfast fare before the morning's main event: a dolphin cruise departing from Little River, just a short drive from the beach. The cruises run ninety minutes to two hours, and watching bottlenose dolphins play in the wake of the boat is pretty spectacular.
Lunch at Boardwalk Billy's is the move. It's a lively, waterfront spot perfectly suited to a lazy Saturday afternoon before the afternoon takes a refined turn at Duplin Winery in the Windy Hill neighborhood. The winery, known for its sweet muscadine wines native to the Carolinas, offers tastings that are equal parts educational and fun.
As the day winds down, a meander through Barefoot Landing, the open-air shopping and dining complex that sits on the Intracoastal Waterway, is a great way to stretch the legs and explore. Dinner at Big Chill Island House, with its legendary sunset ritual, is the perfect final stop to the day. Arrive in time for the sun to drop below the horizon, and let the evening take care of itself.
And now that you've satisfied the non-beachgoer in your party with your busy schedule of activties, take a day for the beach. Get those beach chairs, coffee in hand, and plant your toes in the sand.
North Myrtle Beach also offers fishing, golfing, water sports and lots of other attractions along the 60-mile stretch of beach called The Grand Strand. Come for a long weekend. Before you leave, you will already be planning the next one. ExploreNorthMyrtleBeach / @explorenorthmyrtlebeach