weekenders MYRTLE BEACH, SC

Sunrise at the MarshWalk, in yrtle Beach has Murrells Inlet. a reputation that veers M toward kitsch— miniature-golf courses outnumber Starbucks cafés here. But there’s more to this seaside town and its surrounding beach communities—a 60-mile stretch known as the Grand Strand—than you might realize, including new foodie and art attractions. Read on for 11 ways to live it up in the Lowcountry.

1. TOUR OUTDOOR ART Four former rice plantations— totaling an impressive 9,100 acres—make up Brookgreen Gardens in the village of Murrells Inlet, near Myrtle Beach. The gardens are home to a large arboretum with an 80-foot- tall Chinese fir; a pine forest that’s one of the few remaining habitats for endangered red- cockaded woodpeckers; and 2,000 sculptures. Visit soon to see brand-new stickwork pieces by North Carolina–bred artist Patrick Dougherty. They look like human- scaled bird’s nests and will remain as long as Mother Nature allows.

2. BAR CRAWL Open containers are A-okay on Murrells Inlet’s MarshWalk. Bars and restaurants line the wooden path, which overlooks a saltwater estuary. The newest nightclub, The Claw House, serves seafood 11 Reasons to Visit towers at the raw bar and cold drinks in the beer garden; of the 90 brews on tap, go for the the Grand Strand Mountain Candy IPA, from North Carolina’s Sycamore brewery. ’S FAMILY-FRIENDLY GETAWAY SHOWS OFF ITS SOPHISTICATED SIDE. 3. KAYAK WITH GATORS Ply the waters of Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge with BY KATHRYN O’SHEA-EVANS Gator Bait Adventure Tours on

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its new Mystery Train and Cypress at Thomas Keller’s Napa Valley Above: A mixolo- For a sip of Southern comfort, gist behind the bar Swamp Kayak Tour and you might landmark, the French Laundry. at the Chemist. order the Periodically Peach spot great blue herons or alligators martini, rimmed with sugar. framed by cypress trees. As co- 5. SHOP TILL Y’ALL DROP owner Chris Ochsenbein puts it: Once a defunct Air Force base, 7. TAKE IN SOUTHERN ART “The reflections and scenery on is now Part of the new Grand Strand a black-water river make you feel a lakeside outdoor mall with Arts Trail, the Franklin G. like you stepped back in time.” stores you can find only down Burroughs–Simeon B. Chapin south, such as family-owned Art Museum is housed in a 1924 4. DISCOVER women’s boutique Ivy & Leo, cottage overlooking Springmaid TOMORROW’S headquartered in North Carolina. Beach. There are 21 works by noted ALL-STAR CHEFS Visit the Southern Living Store South Carolina painter Jonathan You could be sampling the for souvenirs, like Alabama-made Green in the collection, including edible stylings of the next Fairhope Favorites MoonShine Hot The Gnostic, which shows his own Alice Waters during a meal at Sauce or gold-rimmed oyster-shell Gullah grandmother sitting in the International Culinary dishes from Grit & Grace, based on the shade of a massive oak tree. Institute of Myrtle Beach. Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina. Students from around the world 8. EAT WELL hone their skills at the on-site 6. DRINK UP Opened last summer by a yoga restaurant. A recent dinner based If Bill Nye the Science Guy wanted teacher, Costa Bowls is the place on the dishes of famous chefs a night on the town, he’d head to for smoothie bowls. At another included carrots in duck fat with The Chemist, where some drinks new Myrtle Beach favorite, Good barley à la Daniel Humm of New arrive in beakers and even at times Day Cafe, guests can write on York’s Eleven Madison Park, and in a puff of smoke thanks to dry the walls. Consider ordering the

roasted monkfish as prepared ice embedded under their carrier. overstuffed lobster rolls, made DUTILE THIS SPREAD: MATT VISITMYRTLEBEACH.COM; OPENING PAGE: PHOTOS,

74 FALL 2019 weekenders MYRTLE BEACH, SC

with cold-water North Atlantic weekenders lobsters—sweeter than their GUIDE TO MYRTLE BEACH warm-water cousins.

EAT 9. CREATE A DIY DELIGHT MarshWalk 4025 Hwy. 17 Plantation Resort Business, Murrells Inlet; Villas 6045 If HGTV is your go-to streaming Costa Bowls 2954C Howard Ave.; 843-353-6171; costabowls​ marshwalk.com Shares amenities with Plantation binge, AR Workshop Myrtle .com; bowls for two, $18* Waccamaw National Resort of Myrtle Beach. 1250 U.S. Hwy. 17 N., Surfside Beach Beach is a must. In just a few Good Day Cafe 819 Main St.; Wildlife Refuge 1403 W. Cox MEMBER REVIEW: “A nice stay.” hours you can whip up anything 843-448-4663; gooddaycafe.net; Ferry Rd., Conway; 843-527- lobster rolls for two, $34 8069; fws.gov from a highly Instagrammable For complete member re- chunky knit blanket to a solid- Hook & Barrel 8014 N. views (as member reviews Kings Hwy.; 843-839-5888; have been condensed) wood lazy Susan with your family hookandbarrelrestaurant.com; STAY and additional resort list- ings, visit RCI.com or call monogram. “Since many of the dinner for two, $64 RCI® AFFILIATED 800-338-7777 (Weeks) designs are personalized, no International Culinary RESORTS IN OR NEAR or 877-968-7476 (Points). two people leave with the same Institute of Myrtle Beach MYRTLE BEACH Club Members, please call 920 Crabtree Lane; 843-839-7001; INCLUDE: your specific Club or RCI project,” says owner Christi Rippy. hgtc.edu; five- to seven-course telephone number. tasting menus, $40 a person SeaGlass Tower 8719 10. SAMPLE THE SOUTH Floor-to-ceiling glass walls mean you always feel close Chef Heidi Vukov opened Hook RELAX to the outdoors. 1400 N. RCI® TIP The Chemist 300 Ninth Ave. N.; & Barrel restaurant in 2017 after Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach Looking for more fall 843-445-7077; chemistbar.com; using the longleaf pines that grew MEMBER REVIEW: “The unit and getaways? Visit RCI.com and drinks for two, $20 facility were spotlessly clean.” use the Vacation Type filters on the property to construct The Claw House 4097 Hwy. 17 to help you search. Whether the space. Locals come for the Business, Murrells Inlet; Horizons at 77th DC61 you want the beach, the spa, 843-651-4415; theclawhouse.com; Guests rave about the wonderful or something else, RCI.com showstopping jellyfish chandeliers can help you find a vacation drinks for two, $10 staff and convenient location. that’s right for you.** above the raw bar and a gratis 215 77th Ave. N., Myrtle Beach appetizer of pimento cheese, MEMBER REVIEW: “Would **These vacations are limited SHOP dill, and sea salt lavash (a kind definitely book again.” and subject to availability. of flatbread) laid out on a South AR Workshop Myrtle Beach 4999 Carolina Forest Blvd., Wyndham Ocean Carolina–shaped cutting board. Suite 7; 843-213-2670; arworkshop​ Boulevard 6777 .com Take advantage of the in- room Jacuzzi tubs for total OTHER VACATION 11. TRACE HISTORY The Market Common relaxation. 410 S. Ocean Blvd., OPTIONS: himself ate 4017 Deville St.; 843-839-3500; marketcommonmb.com North Myrtle Beach at the homestead that’s now MEMBER REVIEW: “We were Camelot by the Sea treated like kings.” Choose between a day at the central to the 274-acre Hampton EXPLORE pool or the beach. Both are just Plantation State Historic Site, Presidential Villas at steps away. 2000 N. Ocean Blvd., Brookgreen Gardens Myrtle Beach; 855-707-8384; about 50 miles south of Myrtle 1931 Brookgreen Dr., Murrells Inlet; Plantation Resort 4220 There are countless historic camelotresort.com; rooms from Beach. Much of it has been left 843-235-6000; brookgreen.org; $64 a night admission, $18 landmarks, five theme parks, and unrestored so that visitors can several beaches nearby. 1250 see how it was built. Activities Franklin G. Burroughs– U.S. Hwy. 17 N., Surfside Beach Bay Watch Resort & Simeon B. Chapin Art MEMBER REVIEW: “The friendliest Conference Center range from hiking the rice dike to Museum 3100 Ocean Blvd.; and most helpful staff.” Beautiful views and plenty of learning about the enslaved people 843-238-2510; myrtlebeach amenities await. 2701 S. Ocean Blvd., North Myrtle Beach; 866- who worked the fields. Make note artmuseum.org; admission, free Plantation Resort of Myrtle 1797 987-8952; baywatchresort.com; of the live oak tree beyond the Gator Bait Adventure Tours Beach 3650 Forestbrook Rd.; 843-503- Canadian geese and American rooms from $64 a night portico—Washington encouraged 3276; gatorbaitkayakadventures​ woodcocks flit about the .com; one-and-a-half-hour Mystery grounds, set within a bird North Beach Plantation the owners, who intended to cut it A great pick for travelers of all Train and Cypress Swamp Kayak sanctuary. 1250 U.S. Hwy. 17 N., down, to preserve its beauty. Still ages. 100 N. Beach Blvd., North Tours, from $30 a person Surfside Beach flourishing more than 200 years “My kids Myrtle Beach; 855-904-4858; Hampton Plantation State MEMBER REVIEW: and I had a great time.” northbeachrentals.com; doubles later, it’s a lovely sight. Historic Site 1950 Rutledge from $148 a night Rd., McClellanville; 843-546-9361; southcarolinaparks.com; Find Myrtle Beach day-trip ideas grounds visits, free;

PHOTOS, OPENING PAGE: VISITMYRTLEBEACH.COM; THIS SPREAD: MATT DUTILE THIS SPREAD: MATT VISITMYRTLEBEACH.COM; OPENING PAGE: PHOTOS, + in the Endless Vacation® magazine app. house admission, $7.50

*Estimated meal prices do not include drink, tax, or tip. ENDLESS VACATION 75