The Grand Strand stretches nearly 60 miles along the South Carolina coast, and most visitors only ever see the mile or two right around the boardwalk. Staying oceanfront at Patricia Grand Resort puts you close to that energy, but also within easy reach of the quieter stretches most tourists miss.
Huntington Beach State Park, about 20 minutes south, is 2,500 acres of undeveloped shoreline, and one of the last places on the Strand that still feels wild. Bring a beach chair and plan to stay a while — the birdwatching alone (herons, pelicans, the occasional bald eagle) is worth the drive.
Just across the road, Brookgreen Gardens pairs 9,100 acres of sculpture gardens with a wildlife preserve, and it’s an easy half-day trip when you want a break from sand between your toes. The Atalaya castle ruins, built in the 1930s, are a favorite quiet corner most first-time visitors never find.
North Myrtle Beach, about 25 minutes up the coast, has its own personality — Barefoot Landing’s boardwalk shopping village feels more small-town than the main strip, especially at sunset when the string lights come on and the crowds thin out.
And Murrells Inlet, just south, is worth the short drive for its famous “MarshWalk” — a boardwalk over the salt marsh lined with seafood restaurants, best visited right around sunset.
Myrtle Beach rewards the visitors who venture a little further than the boardwalk. Use your stay at Salty Paw as a home base and give yourself permission to explore. Check availability and start mapping out your trip.
