One of the many perks to the beach and coastal region is our beautiful natural habitats and animals that reside in them. Alligators are indigenous to the Myrtle Beach area, and they typically live in our freshwater marshes and rivers, away from people. But, every so often, it is possible that an alligator might make its way to the ocean. We recently met with Mike Walker, Interpretive Ranger at Huntington Beach State Park, to discuss the reasons why alligators can make their way into the ocean. First, many alligators that end up in the ocean…

Happy Earth Day, friends! We are taking this day to appreciate the great outdoors and to realize the steps we can take to preserve it for generations to come. The Grand Strand encompasses 60 miles of coastline along with 14 communities, which means locals and visitors have the responsibility to steward our wide variety of natural resources. From marshlands to sandy beaches, there is a spot outside waiting for you to enjoy this Earth Day. Here are some insightful examples of how The Beach is working to protect and preserve the natural beauty!…

While the water may be a little too cold for some people right now, it is the perfect time to search for seashells and shark teeth in the sandy coastline. We have a few tricks up our sleeves for finding shark teeth and seashells that will be helpful in your next adventure to The Beach this spring. First, our easy tricks to find shark teeth. Most shark teeth are found in central Myrtle Beach anywhere between 50th Avenue North all the way down to 10th Avenue South, however, you can also find a few in Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island. Look for…

This past weekend, temperatures cooled some, making it perfect weather for a long walk. While a stroll on the beach will always top my list of favorite vacation activities, there are so many other wonderful places along the Grand Strand to explore on foot. We have put together a list of some of our favorite outdoor walking trails below: The Market Common Just a few blocks from the beach, The Market Common is a wealth of recreation, including walking, biking and fitness trails, as well as playgrounds. A fitness trail with workout equipment is…

I grew up in the North Myrtle Beach area, and yet it took me 31 years before I learned about Ingram Dunes—that is a well-kept secret! The kids and I went for a drive yesterday (a favorite pandemic pastime) despite the afternoon showers, and we ended up coming across Ingram Dunes. I have been meaning to figure out where they were exactly located since last fall, and yesterday ended up being a good day to do that. These magnificent dunes were formed over 80,000 years ago and comprise one of the most natural green spaces on the beach side of…

As the Myrtle Beach area continues to reopen to visitors, we want to make sure our travelers are doing every thing they can to visit responsibly. Fortunately, there are many ways to safely social distance while visiting our shores! Here is a round-up of some of our favorite ways to make the most of your Myrtle Beach vacation while staying healthy: 1. Spend time on the beach! The beach is one of the easiest places to social distance, and sunbathers can enjoy the benefit of fresh air and sunshine while doing so. Just be sure to place at least 6…

The beginning of May marks the start of loggerhead sea turtle nesting season here in South Carolina. From now until October, female turtles will make their way out of the ocean and to the dunes, where they dig a nest and lay their eggs. A loggerhead sea turtle will lay around 120 eggs that will then incubate for around two months, 55 to 60 days until they emerge to make their journey back to the ocean. Volunteer groups throughout the Grand Strand make a great effort to protect these turtles, their eggs, and babies throughout the turtle season.…

Around the beginning of May—sometimes earlier if we’re having a particularly warm spring—we start to see some cannonball jellyfish wash ashore on our daily beach walks. One of the questions I’m asked frequently online is whether there are jellyfish in Myrtle Beach, and of course, the answer is yes. But that shouldn’t cause too much concern or stop anyone from swimming. The jellyfish most commonly seen along our shoreline are cannonball jellyfish and this particular kind are not generally known for stinging humans. In fact, I’ve lived and swam…

This 10,000-acre sanctuary is just minutes from Myrtle Beach Just minutes from downtown Myrtle Beach is an outstanding nature preserve with a very unique habitat. I went there with my mountain bike after learning that it is home to the rare Venus Fly Trap plant. Indeed, Venus Fly Traps are only found in the Carolinas with a high concentration of them at the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve in Horry County. I found an entrance on International Drive, between the dense residential community of Carolina Forest and the town of Conway, South…

Hobcaw Barony, owned by The Belle W. Baruch Foundation is a sixteen-thousand-acre wildlife refuge research reserve and historic plantation that makes a great day trip for those looking to relax on the south end of the Grand Strand of the Myrtle Beach area. Discover a rich diversity of every common ecosystem found on the South Carolina coast - an unparalleled site for research in the environmental sciences. In addition, over 70 cultural sites on the plantation including cemeteries, slave cabins, and Baruch’s homes. See Hobcaw House, where…