Extend your summer in Myrtle Beach
Thanks to warm temperatures lingering through October, summer in Myrtle Beach doesn’t end when the calendar flips to September. While other places experience a quick shift to fall weather, visitors to this South Carolina hot spot can still easily take a dip in the water, explore the outdoors or attend one of the many fall festivals held along the 60 miles of shoreline.
With hundreds of attractions still open through fall, there’s no shortage of things to do here. When it’s time to refuel, seafood is conveniently always in season too. Read on for our tips on how to extend your summer in Myrtle Beach this year.
Go on outdoor adventures
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It’s easy to continue the summer vibes when the beach bars are still open, the theater shows still have performances and live music can be found at all hours. Myrtle Beach’s casual, relaxed feel remains, helped along by pleasant daytime temperatures in the high 70s to the low 80s through October.
The water remains warm as well, with an average of 75 degrees, so watersports are still on the vacation menu. Go kayaking along the Grand Strand in locations like the Waccamaw River, the Heritage Shores Nature Preserve and the Intracoastal Waterway.
Accessible on land only by horseback or by sea via kayak, North Myrtle Beach's Waties Island is one of the last undeveloped barrier islands in South Carolina. Here you might catch a glimpse of bald eagles, blue herons, marsh hens, osprey and ducks in the fall.
With two state parks in the area, Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, birdwatching and fishing. Huntington is home to Atalaya Castle, a Moorish-style National Historic Landmark consisting of 30 rooms, a courtyard and a 40-foot-tall water tower. Philanthropist Archer Huntington built the castle in the early 1930s as a winter refuge for his tuberculosis-stricken artist wife, Anna Hyatt. Today, guests can stroll the public sculpture garden Archer built to display Anna’s work on part of the estate.
Chow down at foodie fests
You’ll find more than 2,000 restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining in Myrtle Beach, so there’s no question your appetite will be satiated. While land-based cuisine can easily be found here, seafood gets a starring role since fresh catches come in daily.
Head to the free I Love Seafood Fest (Sept. 13–14) at the Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion, where complimentary lobster rolls will be given out and plenty of seafood vendor booths will sell additional dishes. For even more crustacean goodness, head to Little River on the northern end of the Grand Strand; this historic village and fishing community will hold its 19th annual Little River ShrimpFest on Oct. 12–13. The festival serves up not only shrimp of all kinds, but also renowned crab cakes sandwiches, mahi-mahi and more.
Meat lovers also have plenty of events to attend, such as the World Championship Chili-Cook Off, part of the Beach 'n Chili Fest (Sept. 27–29) at the Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place. Participants can eat or compete (register in advance) at this three-day event that also includes live music and a car show. On Oct. 19, dig into chicken bog, a local classic dish at the Loris Bog-Off Festival, a cooking contest for amateur chefs. While they cook, attendees can buy this pilaf dish loaded up with chicken and sausage at one of the 200-plus vendors as well as watch local bands and fireworks.
Attend events for all
There’s more than sand and sun when it comes to entertainment in Myrtle Beach, particularly when there are a variety of fall festivals to attend. If you visit the inland town of Aynor as summer turns to fall, you can catch a local claim to fame: the Aynor Harvest Hoedown Festival, celebrating 44 years this Sept. 21. Expect music, pony rides and vendors galore (this is another great place to try chicken bog).
At the previously mentioned Atalaya Castle, the three-day Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival (Sept. 27–29) will return for its 49th year. The fest features more than 100 artists and their works, while local musicians take the stage in the courtyard. Of course, it’s not a festival in Myrtle Beach without seafood, barbecue and other local cuisine for patrons to indulge in.
The local mini-golf scene is so full of options that it’s often called the "Mini Golf Capital of the World"—complete with more than 30 courses and an annual U.S. ProMiniGolf Association Masters Tournament. Show up at the Hawaiian Rumble course between Oct. 8–12 to see who wins the $25,000 cash prize. If you're feeling inspired, you can practice your own swing while exploring the Myrtle Beach Mini Golf Trail.
Listen to regional and local jazz artists at the 8th annual Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival (Oct. 18–20). The event is for all ages and lawn chairs are encouraged to make it an all-day outing.
Dive into Southern culture
The land on which Brookgreen Gardens now sits used to be part of four separate plantations, but today is an award-winning National Historic Landmark that spans 9,000 acres in nearby Murrells Inlet, a fishing village 10 miles from the downtown bustle. Guests are invited to walk around the grounds themselves or to join a tour, admiring the sculptures—many done by Anna Hyatt—along the way. Admission tickets are good for seven consecutive days and give you access to the gardens, the Lowcountry Zoo, the Lowcountry Center and Trail and the Enchanted Storybook Forest.
Mostly owned by the Nature Conservancy but also by a handful of families who are direct descendants of enslaved Africans who once worked the plantations there, Sandy Island is considered one of the largest undeveloped freshwater islands on the East Coast. (It’s also home to South Carolina's only public school bus boat, yes, you read that right, a public school bus that is actually a boat.) This secluded community is so private that Tours De Sandy Island is the only way to see the schoolhouse, the villages and Mt. Rena cemetery, if you don’t personally know a resident.
Head to the Horry County Museum for a broader sense of the history of the region. Located in the 1905 Burroughs School, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, this free museum showcases old farming tools, household items and clothing as well as photographs. The museum opened the L.W. Paul Living History Farm in 2009 on 17 acres to recreate life on a one-horse family farm from 1900-1955. Free guided tours of the farm are available.
For a modern-day lesson, break out your dancing shoes. In South Carolina, “shag” is the official state dance. Done with a partner, it essentially entails mirroring each other's movements, with a lot of stepping forward and backward while switching your weight from one side to the other. If you’re interested in learning it, head to Fat Harold’s Beach Club, where you can take a beginner’s course on the fun and fancy footwork and twirls.