Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach sits at the heart of what locals call the Grand Strand, a 60-mile arc of South Carolina coastline. The city carries a split personality. The northern stretch near Ocean Drive is where The Shag was born — South Carolina's official state dance, a six-count footwork pattern that evolved in the beach clubs here in the 1940s.

Beach Music is the soundtrack to that whole world. It's not country, not Top 40, but this specific Carolinas-born genre mixing R&B, Soul, and Pop from the '50s and '60s that locals take seriously. Then there's the Gullah/Geechee culture woven through the broader region.

It's a centuries-old African-descended culture whose language, called Sea Island Creole English, combines African structure with English. You'll spot Gullah influence at Brookgreen Gardens and in the sweetgrass basket weavers along the roadside. The city also holds a legitimate claim to being called "The Golf Capital of the World" with over 100 courses in the area.

Alongside all that, Guy Fieri opened Downtown Flavortown in 2026 at the Myrtle Beach Mall — a 50,000-square-foot destination mixing comfort food with bowling and arcade games. Myrtle Beach is loud, commercial, and unapologetically fun. And it knows it.

Say 'yes ma'am' and 'yes sir' in response to adults — this is not optional politeness here, it's just how people talk, and skipping it reads as rude even to younger locals.. No alcohol on the beach or boardwalk within city limits. Zero exceptions.

Violations are misdemeanors with up to a $500 fine and 30 days in jail.. Always check the beach flag system before swimming. Double red means the water is closed entirely.

A blue or purple flag means dangerous marine life like jellyfish.. Golf carts are a legitimate mode of transportation in residential neighborhoods. Don't be surprised to see families cruising Kings Highway in one..

The Shag is a real dance that real locals actually do — especially at SOS (Society of Stranders) events. It's treated with genuine reverence.. Fill in any holes you dig on the beach before you leave — it's actually a city ordinance, not just courtesy..

Tipping culture is strong here, but watch your bill carefully. Some beachfront restaurants auto-add gratuity and then leave the tip line blank to encourage double-tipping. Check before signing..

Locals call North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach two different places with two different vibes. Getting that wrong in conversation is a quick giveaway that you're a tourist.

Myrtle Beach's crime statistics look much worse than reality because they're calculated against the permanent population of roughly 35,000 residents, not the 14 to 20 million annual visitors. That math makes any tourist-heavy city look terrifying. That said, real risks exist and are worth knowing.

The Ocean Boulevard late-night scene has the highest concentration of issues. If you're not there for that scene, simply stay away from it after midnight. North Myrtle Beach is statistically safer than central Myrtle Beach.

Watch for specific tourist scams: some beachfront restaurants auto-add gratuity and leave the tip line blank, hoping for a double tip — check your bill line by line. Fake parking attendants in high-vis vests sometimes appear at busy events, charging cash for lots that are actually free. Don't buy beach chairs or umbrellas from random people on the sand.

On the beach itself, rip currents are the main hazard. If you get caught in one, swim parallel to shore — not toward it. Three EMS crews are on the beach seven days a week during peak season. Check beach flags before entering the water. No alcohol is allowed on city beaches or the boardwalk, and glass containers are prohibited. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November — if a watch or warning comes, don't ride it out as a tourist. Leave.

Car is the only realistic way to get around properly. The Grand Strand stretches 60 miles, and while the beachfront strip is walkable, getting anywhere else requires wheels. Parking meters run year-round along Ocean Boulevard between 29th Avenue South and 31st Avenue North — budget for that.

Coast RTA is the public bus system, running 10 fixed routes across Horry and Georgetown counties, seven days a week, 362 days a year. As of March 2026, the system is adding three new buses and working to bring wait times down from 75 minutes to 60 minutes. Two new routes are also being added, including a direct connection from Conway and Coastal Carolina University to Myrtle Beach International Airport. The entertainment shuttles that used to run in summers along the strip have been shut down indefinitely — ridership fell from 70,000 per season to about 9,000, mostly because tourists weren't using them.

Uber and Lyft operate throughout the area. A cross-town trip can run around $50 during peak hours. Taxis include City Cab (843-251-5959) and Myrtle Beach Diamond Taxi (843-448-2886). Golf carts are a genuine neighborhood transportation option in residential communities.

Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) is the main gateway for flights. Car rentals are right at baggage claim. Harrelson Boulevard provides a direct road connection from US-17 to the airport.