Barefoot Landing North Myrtle Beach, A Full Guide

Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach is an open-air complex for shopping, dining, and shows. It sits on the water and holds more than 100 shops and restaurants. You will also find the Alabama Theatre, House of Blues, and Alligator Adventure. It sits about ten minutes south of Mar Vista Grande.
What Is There at Barefoot Landing?
Barefoot Landing, at 4898 Highway 17 South, is the area’s signature shopping and entertainment complex, built around a 27-acre lake on the Intracoastal Waterway. It packs more than 100 shops, a row of waterfront restaurants, live-music and variety theaters, and Alligator Adventure into one walkable boardwalk about ten minutes south of the building. Here is how to make the most of a visit.
Shopping the Boardwalk and Tanger Outlets
The boardwalk loops around the lake with a mix of name brands, coastal boutiques, candy and fudge shops, and souvenir stores, so it is easy to spend a couple of hours just wandering. The setting over the water makes browsing pleasant even when you are not buying much. If you are after deeper discounts, the nearby Tanger Outlets centers add brand-name outlet shopping a short drive away.
Waterfront Dining Over the Lake
Barefoot Landing is a dining destination in its own right. Greg Norman’s Australian Grille serves upscale steaks and seafood with sunset views over the water, Flying Fish Public Market and Grill pairs a raw bar with a seafood market, and Tidewater Grill is known for rooftop crab cakes. Joe’s Crab Shack and Umberto’s round out the casual and Italian ends. Timing dinner for sunset over the lake is the move.
Alabama Theatre, House of Blues, and Alligator Adventure
The entertainment anchors set Barefoot Landing apart. The Alabama Theatre stages a long-running variety show, and the House of Blues hosts concerts plus a popular Sunday Gospel Brunch. Alligator Adventure, billed as a reptile park, is home to more than 800 alligators along with snakes, tortoises, and exotic birds, which makes it a hit with kids. The Barefoot Carousel and the Barefoot Queen riverboat add to the mix.
A Half-Day Plan from Mar Vista Grande
From the building it is about ten minutes south on Highway 17, so Barefoot Landing makes an easy half-day. Arrive in the late afternoon when it cools off, browse the shops, let the kids see the gators, then settle in for a waterfront dinner as the sun drops over the lake. Cap it with a show or, on a summer Monday, the SummerFest fireworks. The north myrtle beach restaurants guide and the family activities guide help you plan, and the blue haven oceanfront condo page shows your base.
Barefoot Landing: Common Questions
Where is Barefoot Landing and how far is it?
Barefoot Landing is at 4898 Highway 17 South, about ten minutes south of Mar Vista Grande by car, on the Intracoastal Waterway.
What is there to do at Barefoot Landing?
More than 100 shops, waterfront restaurants, the Alabama Theatre and House of Blues, Alligator Adventure, the Barefoot Carousel, and the Barefoot Queen riverboat.
Where should we eat there?
Greg Norman’s Australian Grille for upscale dining, Flying Fish and Tidewater Grill for seafood, and Joe’s Crab Shack for a casual, kid-friendly meal.
What shows can we see?
The Alabama Theatre runs a variety show, and the House of Blues hosts concerts and a Sunday Gospel Brunch. Both are walkable within the complex.
Is it good for kids?
Very. Alligator Adventure houses more than 800 alligators, and LuLu’s Beach Arcade and Ropes Course and the Barefoot Carousel keep younger visitors busy.
Are there fireworks?
In summer, SummerFest fireworks light up the lake on Monday nights. It is a free way to end an evening at Barefoot Landing.