Your Guide to Things to Do North Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach has a lot to do all year. You can spend mornings on the public beach. Then head to Barefoot Landing for shopping, dining, and live shows. Golf, mini golf, and watersports fill the days, and rainy-day spots keep the fun going. There are things to do here for every age.
What Is There to Do Near Ocean Drive?
Plenty, and much of it sits within a few minutes of 603 South Ocean Boulevard. The beach is right out front, Barefoot Landing and its shows are about ten minutes south on Highway 17, and the Grand Strand’s golf courses fan out from there. Cherry Grove Pier, mini golf, and Alligator Adventure round out an easy week. Here is how the area breaks down.
Beach Days and Cherry Grove Pier
The Ocean Drive beach is the main event, and it is steps from the building. Walk north and you reach the Cherry Grove section, where Cherry Grove Pier draws anglers and crabbers and the tidal marsh behind it is good for kayaking and birding. The sand here is wide at low tide and easy for long walks. For a quieter stretch, head up toward Cherry Grove early; for people-watching, stay near Ocean Drive.
Barefoot Landing: Shops, Shows, and Gators
Barefoot Landing, at 4898 Highway 17 South, is the area’s center for shopping and entertainment, built around a 27-acre lake on the Intracoastal Waterway. You can browse the boardwalk shops, watch the alligators and exotic animals at Alligator Adventure, ride the Barefoot Carousel, or catch a show at the Alabama Theatre or House of Blues. In summer, the SummerFest fireworks light up the water on Monday nights. The full barefoot landing guide covers it in detail.
Mini Golf, Gators, and Family Fun
For families, the area is dense with low-key fun. Hawaiian Rumble, on Highway 17 South, is a nationally known mini golf course with a 40-foot volcano that erupts on a timer, and it hosts the U.S. Pro Mini Golf Masters. Aloha Mini Golf and the pirate-themed Black Pearl give you more 18-hole options nearby. Add LuLu’s Beach Arcade and Ropes Course at Barefoot Landing and a crabbing trip off Cherry Grove Pier, and the kids are set. The family activities guide has more.
Golf on the Grand Strand
This is one of the densest golf destinations in the country, and several top courses sit minutes away. Barefoot Resort and Golf alone has four championship layouts by Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Tom Fazio, and Pete Dye, and Tidewater Golf Club nearby is one of South Carolina’s top-ranked courses. Even if only part of your group plays, tee times are easy to build around beach days. The north myrtle beach golf guide breaks down the courses.
A Sample Day from Mar Vista Grande
A good rhythm: coffee on the oceanfront balcony, a morning on the sand out front, lunch back in the condo’s full kitchen or out on Main Street, then an afternoon at Barefoot Landing or a round of mini golf. Cap it with dinner over the water and a show. The beach access guide and the blue haven oceanfront condo page help you settle the details.
Things to Do: Common Questions
What are the top things to do in North Myrtle Beach?
The beach and Cherry Grove Pier, Barefoot Landing with its shops and shows, mini golf at Hawaiian Rumble, Alligator Adventure, and championship golf across the Grand Strand.
What is closest to Mar Vista Grande?
The oceanfront beach is right out front at 603 South Ocean Boulevard. Main Street dining is a short drive, and Barefoot Landing is about ten minutes south on Highway 17.
Are there free things to do?
Yes. The beach, walking to Cherry Grove Pier, browsing Barefoot Landing, and the summer Monday-night SummerFest fireworks over the water are all free.
What is there to do with kids?
Mini golf at Hawaiian Rumble, Alligator Adventure, LuLu’s Beach Arcade, the Barefoot Carousel, and crabbing off Cherry Grove Pier, plus the resort pools and lazy river.
Is there much to do at night?
Yes. The Alabama Theatre and House of Blues at Barefoot Landing run shows, and oceanfront spots like Buoys on the Boulevard have live music.
How much is golf-focused versus family?
The area suits both. Golfers have dozens of courses minutes away, while families have mini golf, the beach, and Barefoot Landing, so mixed groups do well.