Sixty miles of coastline, warm water from May through October, and more things to do than any single trip can hold. Guests who stay at Kailani House quickly figure out that the Grand Strand doesn’t ask much of you except to show up and decide what kind of day you want.
A quiet morning on an uncrowded beach, a kayak on the Intracoastal, a sunset from the end of the pier — all of it is right outside the door. What follows is a deep dive into the best outdoor activities the Myrtle Beach area has to offer, built from years of local knowledge and guest recommendations. Pick what fits your crew and build your trip from there.
Beach Options
Not all Grand Strand beaches are the same, and each one offers a different type of experience that can make a big difference in your trip.
Garden City Beach local favorite · the pier is the centerpiece
Wide, sandy, and genuinely laid-back, it draws families who want a real beach day without the mega-resort chaos. The famous Garden City Pier juts hundreds of feet out into the Atlantic for fishing, views, and classic boardwalk energy. Grab a daily fishing permit at the bait shop, rent a rod if you don’t have one, and enjoy the ride. Sunrise from the pier is one of the best free experiences the whole area offers.
Surfside Beach the “Family Beach”
One of the first certified autism-friendly communities in the country, and the whole vibe reflects that commitment to being clean, welcoming, and thoughtfully maintained. The pier area has been recently rebuilt and upgraded, and there’s a compact town center nearby with casual restaurants and beach shops all within easy walking distance.
Murrells Inlet & Cherry Grove off the beaten path
For something truly quiet, the ocean beaches flanking the mouth of Murrells Inlet are a hidden gem most visitors never find. They’re far quieter than the main Myrtle Beach strips and offer a dramatic coastal experience where open marsh wetlands meet the Atlantic — kayaking is especially popular here and in North Myrtle Beach. Cherry Grove is another great beach area known for easy access. Bring a camera, because the views are spectacular.
State Parks Worth a Full Day
Huntington Beach State Park 2,500 acres · birdwatcher’s paradise
Widely considered one of the best-preserved stretches of coastline on the entire East Coast. Hundreds of bird species are recorded throughout the year. Walk the causeway over the marsh and keep your eyes open for alligators, herons, and shorebirds, or follow over 10 miles of hiking and biking trails through the surrounding landscape. The historic Moorish-style castle, Atalaya, sits right on the property and is open for tours during certain seasons. The beach itself is unspoiled and gorgeous.
Myrtle Beach State Park ~300 acres · the quieter alternative
The quieter alternative for people who want nature trails, great shelling, and a long fishing pier without the commercial bustle nearby. Maritime forest trails wind through the park, giving you a completely different texture than the open beach experience. A great place to breathe and explore.
Kailani House — Murrells Inlet, SC
Everything in this guide is within easy reach of Kailani House. Situated in Murrells Inlet, it’s the ideal home base for exploring the Grand Strand without the noise and congestion of the main Myrtle Beach strip — great beaches, great food, great golf, and a place to come back to at the end of the day that actually feels like a vacation.
Check AvailabilityBrookgreen Gardens: Art, Nature, and History All at Once
Brookgreen Gardens is a genuine one-of-a-kind destination where visitors can discover art, gardens, and history in one visit. It holds the largest collection of American figurative sculpture in the world, set across an expansive botanical garden built on the grounds of historic rice plantations. There’s also a small zoo and a series of Lowcountry history exhibits where visitors can learn about local wildlife while the whole region’s story is put into context.
Spring and fall are the best times to visit, when the weather is mild, the crowds thin out, and the seasonal plantings are at their peak. A guided boat tour is worth adding to your visit if one is available during your stay, with views of the river and other wildlife if tours are running.
The Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
The Murrells Inlet MarshWalk is a half-mile boardwalk winding along a natural saltwater estuary, meandering beside salt marshes and tidal flats — one of the most atmospheric spots on the entire Grand Strand. Murrells Inlet bills itself as the Seafood Capital of South Carolina, and the waterfront restaurants lining the walk back that claim up with fresh local catches and expansive marsh views, plus easy access to paddle nearby or join water-based outdoor adventures.
The MarshWalk really comes alive in the evening. As the sun drops below the horizon, the light reflecting off the water turns golden, live music drifts across the open-air decks, and the whole place buzzes with the kind of easy energy that makes a vacation feel like a vacation. Come for the sunset — there are plenty of reasons to stay a while.
Fishing, Paddling, and Getting on the Water
The Grand Strand is genuinely set up for water lovers of all kinds. Beyond the piers at Garden City Beach, Surfside Beach, and Myrtle Beach State Park, there are well-equipped marinas throughout the area where you can rent a kayak or canoe, book a charter fishing trip, or launch your own boat onto the Intracoastal Waterway — with jet skiing, parasailing, and paddleboarding also easy to find.
Public docks and landings are plentiful, making it easy to cast from shore or by boat without a lot of planning. The Intracoastal Waterway is especially popular for kayaking, offering calm, sheltered paddling with beautiful marsh scenery on both sides, while the Waccamaw River is ideal for kayaking and fishing.
Biking the Coast
This is an underrated way to experience the area. The Waccamaw Neck Bikeway is a 13.5-mile cycling route. If you want a different kind of biking adventure, head to Horry County Bike and Run Park, which is highly rated for mountain biking and trail running — the Hulk Trail is a popular option there. The coastal terrain is flat, and the region has established bike lanes and scenic paths connecting beaches, state parks, restaurants, and the MarshWalk. Bringing bikes from home is worth the effort if you can manage it: you skip parking headaches, cover more ground, and see the landscape at a pace that actually lets it sink in.
Golfing With Almost 100 Courses
Myrtle Beach backs up its reputation as the Golf Capital of the World. The greater Grand Strand area has close to 100 courses, ranging from designs by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Robert Trent Jones to fun, scenic layouts perfect for a casual round. Water hazards, ocean views, and meticulously maintained greens are the norm here. Visit Myrtle Beach Golf has a solid overview of options if you want to start planning rounds before you arrive.
Beyond the Beach: Entertainment Districts
Broadway at the Beach the biggest entertainment complex
Built around a central lake with attractions, dining, nightlife, and shopping spread across a large walkable campus. Ripley’s Aquarium is the anchor draw for families with kids, and WonderWorks offers that upside-down science-center experience that tends to surprise both children and adults. The whole area transitions into a lively bar and restaurant scene after dark.
Barefoot Landing North Myrtle Beach · relaxed and scenic
Sits along the Intracoastal Waterway with a very different feel from Broadway at the Beach — more relaxed and scenic, with a walkable boardwalk lined with unique shops and restaurants overlooking the water. The Alabama Theatre and the House of Blues both call Barefoot Landing home, making it one of the best spots on the Strand for live entertainment. Sunset views over the waterway are a legitimate highlight.
The Market Common walkable neighborhood · former air force base
Built on the grounds of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base and reimagined as a walkable neighborhood with tree-lined streets, open green spaces, and a mix of boutique shops and restaurants. It hosts seasonal festivals and outdoor movie nights throughout the year. If you want an afternoon that feels a little less beach-town and a little more city neighborhood, this is the spot.
Insider Tips from the Locals
A few things that make a difference. Get to Garden City Beach early in the morning — before the crowds arrive, the beach is calm, the light is soft, and the shelling is at its best, with unbroken shells everywhere in those early hours. If you want Brookgreen Gardens without the heat and the crowds, aim for a weekday in spring or fall, when the sculptures look stunning in soft light with seasonal blooms surrounding them. And the MarshWalk peaks in the early evening — arrive around sunset, grab a spot on one of the open-air decks, and let the night unfold from there.
Book Your Stay at Kailani House
The Myrtle Beach area is a great place to discover the outdoors — you can spend a week here and still feel like you’ve only scratched the surface. Whether you’re after a high-energy beach day at the pier, a quiet morning birdwatching at Huntington Beach State Park, or a sunset seafood dinner on the MarshWalk, it’s all within easy reach of Kailani House.
Reserve Your StayFrequently Asked Questions
What is the best beach near Myrtle Beach for families?
Garden City Beach and Surfside Beach are the strongest family picks. Garden City is wide, laid-back, and centered on its classic fishing pier; Surfside earns its “Family Beach” nickname as one of the first certified autism-friendly communities in the country. Both are calmer than the main Myrtle Beach strip.
What outdoor activities are there besides the beach?
Plenty. Kayaking and paddleboarding on the Intracoastal Waterway and the Waccamaw River, hiking and birdwatching at Huntington Beach and Myrtle Beach State Parks, cycling the 13.5-mile Waccamaw Neck Bikeway or mountain biking at Horry County Bike and Run Park, charter and pier fishing up and down the coast, and close to 100 golf courses across the Grand Strand.
Is Brookgreen Gardens worth visiting?
Yes. It combines the largest collection of American figurative sculpture in the world with an expansive botanical garden, a small zoo, and Lowcountry history exhibits — all in one visit. Spring and fall are best for mild weather and peak seasonal plantings, and a guided boat tour is worth adding if one is running during your stay.
When is the best time to visit Myrtle Beach for outdoor activities?
The water is warm from May through October, but spring and fall bring the most comfortable temperatures and the thinnest crowds for parks, gardens, and biking. Summer is peak beach season — go early in the day to beat the heat and the crowds.
Where should I stay to be close to everything?
Murrells Inlet is the ideal home base. It puts you near the quietest beaches, the MarshWalk, Huntington Beach State Park, Brookgreen Gardens, and the Grand Strand’s best golf, all without the congestion of the main Myrtle Beach strip. Kailani House sits right in the middle of it.