Four Things to Do in Myrtle Beach - That Aren't the Beach

July 22, 2021

Four Things to Do in Myrtle Beach - That Aren't the Beach

Myrtle Beach is known as a beach destination. With over 60 miles of beach, the Grand Strand, as its known, attracts millions of visitors each year to enjoy those miles of sand. Also known as a family destination, there are choices to be made at what else to do - miniature golf courses, go kart tracks, the Skywheel and Ripley's Aquarium along with two outdoor entertainment plazas, Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing.

Visit Atalaya Castle

In 1931 construction was began on a winter home near the Atlantic Ocean by New York City residents, Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington.Archer was a famed Philanthropist and scholar of Hispanic Studies and Anna was one of the most prominent sculptors of the 20th century. (In fact, Anna created the first public monument to be displayed in New York City by a female in 1915 with her Joan of Arc on Riverside Drive) Anna was suffering from tuberculosis and doctors said to move somewhere warm. Named after the famed castle in Spain, and meaning watchtower, Atalaya was built using local laborers to give jobs during the Depression and using no plans except the ones in Archer Huntington's head.

This Moorish style house is dominated by a square tower which housed a 3000 gallon water tank. There are 30 rooms including a studio and outdoor studio where Anna sculpted and animal pens that housed live animals that she used as models.

Atalaya was last used as a residence in 1947. Today it is sits in Huntington Beach State Park. A visit to the park can include a tour of Atalaya and enjoyment of the park's beach, salt marsh or maritime forest. Or attend the famed Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival, held in September, which features over 100 artisans with food and live music.

See the Sculptures at Brookgreen Gardens

In 1931 Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington founded Brookgreen Gardens. A designated National Historic Landmark, Brookgreen is some 9,000 acres of gardens and American sculpture - it contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of American figurative sculpture in the United States. A ticket to visit Brookgreen includes admission to all galleries and gardens, the Low Country Zoo, and exhibits in the Low Country History Center.

A very popular event - so popular it sells out every year - is A Night of 1000 Candles. Held every Thursday thru Sunday for the month of December, Brookgreen comes alive with 2,800 hand lit candles. There are also carolers, holiday music and wine, hot chocolate or cider available. But get your tickets early - it's always a sell out - and arrive early - traffic can be miles long waiting to get in!

Watch a Live Show

Besides live music at bars, breweries and restaurants, Myrtle Beach has two show venues with various productions. Alabama Theatre, owned by the Grand Ole Opry, hosts One - The Show which includes country, gospel, pop, rock and comedy. On nights off the theatre is used for shows from Eagles tribute bands to Motown shows to current chart toppers.

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The Carolina Opry theater has two hit shows occurring nightly - the Opry show which features a variety of music, the America's Got Talent cloggers, All That! and The Voice's Delvin Choice and Time Warp, with music that's the best of the 60's, 70's and 80's.

Enjoy Some Seafood at Murrells Inlet

Murrells Inlet is a small town south of Myrtle Beach proper. It's known for its Marshwalk, a 1/2 mile wooden boardwalk along a natural saltwater estuary. Fresh seafood and low country cuisine are served at several water front restaurants. If you'd like to make an evening of it, you could even hop from seafood joint to seafood joint and have a progressive dinner. Some have live music and Happy Hour specials and you can even pick up a kayaking tour, rent a jet ski, hop aboard a sightseeing cruise or a Brew Boat from here.

On my most recent visit, I ate lunch at Creek Ratz on a nice outdoor patio with marsh views. (Some other restaurants include: Dead Dog Saloon, Wicked Tuna (a specialist in sushi), Wahoo's Fish House and Drunken Jack's) Then I took a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk and even saw the famous goats - the owners of Drunken Jack's have put the goats on an island in the marsh to help keep the underbrush down.