Grand Strand Summer Guide 2024

June 2024
Written By: 
Paul Grimshaw
Photographs by: 
Paul Grimshaw

Whether beckoned by quiet, nostalgia-filled balmy summer days spent on the beach, channeling vacations from your youth, or celebrating exciting new adventures with family and friends, most of us crave a Grand Strand summer; it’s why many of us call the region “home” and why around 20-million visitors come each year. We’ve assembled a sampling of ideas, old and new, to enhance your summer enjoyment. From our many parks, museums, beaches, piers, attractions, watersports activities, nightlife, theatrical performances, and more, there are plenty of ways to relax or ignite your passion for an adrenaline-fueled summer of fun. Enjoy!

Life's A Beach

In annual polls nearly all visitors say “the beach” is their number one reason for visiting the 60-miles of beautiful shoreline called the Grand Strand. Wide, safe, beautiful sandy beaches, interesting inlets and swashes teeming with seabirds and sea life, make living and visiting here a summertime must... >>READ MORE

Wet, Wild, Fun! Waterparks

For the young (and young at heart) our area water parks offer hours of family-friendly fun in the sun. Myrtle Waves, located on U.S. 17 Bypass in Myrtle Beach, may be the best known and largest with its popular ten-story-tall Turbo Twisters and all new for 2024 Wild Water Race mat slider attraction... >>READ MORE

Sweet Sounds!

The Grand Strand flaunts an impressive concentration of live music for its size. Whether it’s solo performers or six and seven-piece bands (some featuring brass sections), the diversity spans every genre imaginable, from beach music and trop rock, to rock ‘n’ roll, reggae, R&B, country, yacht rock, bluegrass, jazz, and even a burgeoning alt-indie scene.... >>READ MORE

Park It!

Hike, Picnic, Camp – outdoor enthusiasts revel in the possibilities... >>READ MORE

Not So Trivial Pursuits!

Though Myrtle Beach is less than 100 years old (it was incorporated in 1938 and didn’t become a city until 1957), the Grand Strand is filled with fascinating and important history dating back to the prehistoric era when indigenous peoples roamed and settled the lands... >>READ MORE

High Art in the Lowcountry

For those who prefer classical and orchestral pop, the Long Bay Symphony presents a diverse program of music year-round at various venues, both indoor and outdoor... >>READ MORE

Play ball!

As sports tourism grows, the Grand Strand continues to offer a plethora of recreational activities for visitors and locals... >>READ MORE

Attractions and Amusements

From mild to wild, the Grand Strand’s amusement parks, standalone rides, pirate adventures, Medieval jousting, and more, provide endless entertainment for the thrill seeker, or the just-brave-enough crowd... >>READ MORE

The Limelight

Theaters of all sizes dot the Grand Strand, including the iconic 2,000-plus-seat Carolina Opry and Alabama Theatres with their long-running variety stage shows and the all-new Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre in North Myrtle Beach... >>READ MORE

Fore!

Known as the “seaside golf capital of the world,” the Grand Strand continues to attract millions of golfers each year to its roughly 90 courses, more than half of them rated 4 to 5 Star (according to Golf Digest magazine)... >>READ MORE