On the water
Dolphin cruises, kayaks, jet skis, parasailing and waterfront stops from the marsh to the open ocean.
Dolphins are regularly seen in the inlets and nearshore waters, but sightings are never guaranteed. Many boat and rental operators run seasonally, so confirm the schedule, bring sun protection and arrive a little early.
33 places
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Central Myrtle
Black Drum Brewing
Breweries & wineries · Ocean views and about 40 Carolina taps
Pick from about 40 South and North Carolina beers on tap, with ocean views from the building. Smoked meats and fresh seafood pair with an outdoor beer garden and yard games.
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Georgetown
Winyah Bay Brewing Company
Breweries & wineries · Waterfront brewpub in Georgetown
Brews like the Blueberry Wheat and White Boots Pineapple Ale come with views of Winyah Bay from the Georgetown waterfront. Southern seafood dishes and indoor and outdoor seating make it worth the drive south.
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Central Myrtle
Apache Pier
Nightlife & clubs · Live music
An oceanfront pier with summer bands playing hits from every decade. Family friendly.
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Murrells Inlet
Dead Dog Saloon
Nightlife & clubs · Live music
A MarshWalk landmark with live country, classic rock and blues at night, overlooking the marsh.
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North Myrtle Beach
Fat Harold's Beach Club
Nightlife & clubs · Beach club
The self-proclaimed "Home of the Shag" in the Ocean Drive section of North Myrtle Beach, with shag lessons and a State Dance lesson during the week and DJs seven nights a week. Live beach-music bands play during big event weeks. It entered the Carolina Beach Music Awards Hall of Fame in 1996, and the Shag City Grill serves food inside.
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Central Myrtle
Ocean Annie's Beach Bar
Nightlife & clubs · Live music
An oceanfront beach bar with live music on the pool deck most nights, plus dancing.
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North Myrtle Beach
Pirate's Cove Lounge
Nightlife & clubs · Dance club
A seasonal oceanfront rooftop club above a country dance hall. Open late spring and summer.
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Central Myrtle
Señor Frog's
Nightlife & clubs · Dance club
A themed party club at Broadway at the Beach with DJs, plus a quieter back patio with a live band and waterfront views.
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Surfside
The Pier at Garden City Beach
Nightlife & clubs · Live music
A no-frills pier party with karaoke and dancing to classic rock and more.
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Central Myrtle
Tin Roof
Nightlife & clubs · Live music
A live-music bar and restaurant near the Boardwalk with two floors, multiple bars and a rooftop bar with ocean views. Bands and DJs play, with country acts on weekends, and the menu leans toward hand-breaded tenders and wings. College and NFL football are shown in season, and group party packages are available.
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North Myrtle Beach
Action Water Sportz
Thrill & action · Jet ski / boat rides
Rent jet skis for the waterway, backwater or ocean, join a 2-hour jet ski dolphin excursion, or take a pontoon out for a half or full day on the Intracoastal.
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North Myrtle Beach
Aloha Watersports
Thrill & action · Parasailing / jet ski
Aloha Watersports runs parasailing, Big Island banana boat rides, jet ski rentals and pontoon boats in North Myrtle Beach, and has a surf shop on site. It is a one-stop spot for a day on the water for families and groups.
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Murrells Inlet
Crazy Sister Marina
Thrill & action · Jet ski / boat rides
A locally owned MarshWalk marina with dolphin and eco tours, sunset and family pirate cruises, holiday fireworks and ghost-story trips, plus head-boat and private fishing charters. Rent pontoon boats, skiffs, kayaks and jet skis, or book a guided jet ski dolphin tour.
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Central Myrtle
Downwind Sails Parasailing
Thrill & action · Parasailing
Parasailing from the Myrtle Beach oceanfront. A second location is at 2985 S Ocean Blvd. Riders go up to 400 feet above the ocean with licensed professionals, on a Coast Guard-inspected 35-foot parasail boat. Flights last 8 to 10 minutes in the air. The company recommends flying between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., before afternoon winds build.
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Murrells Inlet
Express Watersports
Thrill & action · Parasailing / jet ski
A family-owned water-sports operator in Murrells Inlet. Choose from parasailing, jet ski rentals and eco tours, banana boat rides, kayak and paddleboard rentals, pontoon boat rentals, dolphin watch tours, sunset and sailing cruises, fishing charters, and scuba charters and classes.
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Little River
Myrtle Beach Jet Ski Rental
Thrill & action · Jet ski
A family-run company at Cricket Cove Marina in Little River offering jet ski rentals, guided dolphin sightseeing tours, 2-hour ocean rides and island and waterway tours through the Intracoastal and inlets. Pontoon boats seat up to 15. Beginner rides and guides make it friendly for first-timers and families.
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North Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach Watersports
Thrill & action · Jet ski
Guided jet ski dolphin tours of one or two hours, led by experienced guides, most of them private or semi-private. Tours leave from the company's North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach locations, so check the booking page for the departure point. Riders born after July 1, 2008 must complete a boat rental course before operating a jet ski.
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North Myrtle Beach
New Wave Watersports
Thrill & action · Parasailing
New Wave Watersports offers parasailing and banana boat rides from the beach in North Myrtle Beach. Check-in is on the sand behind Molly Darcy's Irish Pub, so you can walk from the beach, board the boat and float high above the coast.
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Murrells Inlet
Seakart Adventure SC
Thrill & action · Jet boat / sea kart
Seakart Adventure is a jet ski and boat hybrid that you drive yourself behind a professional guide boat. Each guided tour lasts 60 minutes and up to three guests can ride in each Seakart. The tour runs out of Crazy Sister Marina in Murrells Inlet and is described as family friendly.
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Little River
Southern Shores Cruises
Thrill & action · Jet boat / cruises
Southern Shores Cruises offers a two-hour catamaran island and dolphin cruise, the one-hour Thrill Seeker jet boat ride, a 90-minute Need 4 Speed offshore boating experience, private charters, and jet ski rentals and dolphin tours for drivers 18 and older. Guests should arrive 30 minutes before their scheduled time.
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Murrells Inlet
Black River Outdoors Center
Nature & eco · Kayak / paddleboard
Guided kayak tours of a blackwater cypress forest on the Waccamaw River, the Murrells Inlet salt marsh and Huntington Beach State Park, plus naturalist-led, birding and kayak fishing trips. Wildlife can include swallow-tailed kites, osprey, bald eagles and alligators. Book online for the meeting spot.
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Conway
Conway Riverwalk
Nature & eco · Boardwalk
The Conway Riverwalk is a scenic promenade of roughly a mile along the dark Waccamaw River in downtown Conway. Along the way are historic markers, public artwork, a public park, a marina and a playground, so it works well for a family stroll after a visit to the Horry County Museum.
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Murrells Inlet
Crazy Sister Dolphin Cruises
Nature & eco · Dolphin tour
Dolphin-watch and sunset cruises from the MarshWalk. The marina also runs marsh eco and birdwatching tours, history and ghost cruises, pirate adventures and wine-sampling sails, plus fishing trips and rentals of pontoons, skiffs, kayaks and jet skis. It suits families and couples; see the website for the current schedule.
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Murrells Inlet
Express Watersports Dolphin Watch
Nature & eco · Dolphin tour
A 1.5-hour dolphin watch cruise leaving the MarshWalk dock in Murrells Inlet on a 46-foot boat with covered and open decks and a restroom. Marine science students or a naturalist narrate, and snacks and drinks are sold on board. It suits families and anyone after a relaxed outing; sightings aren't guaranteed. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are also available.
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Georgetown
Georgetown Harborwalk
Nature & eco · Boardwalk
A riverfront walk along Front Street with boat tours, museums and a marina.
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Little River
Getaway Adventures Dolphin Tour
Nature & eco · Dolphin tour
Narrated sightseeing and dolphin cruises from Little River on the Intracoastal Waterway, with marine life and local history along the way. Choose a dolphin tour of about 1.5 to 2 hours, or a longer trip with a stop at Waties Island for shelling and swimming (not offered on weekends or holidays).
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North Myrtle Beach
Great Escapes Kayaking Expeditions
Nature & eco · Kayak / paddleboard
A North Myrtle Beach outfitter since 2008 offering guided kayak and paddleboard tours and rentals on the Waccamaw River, undeveloped Waties Island and the Cherry Grove marsh. Good for families, friends and couples. Book online or by phone ahead of time, especially for the river.
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Murrells Inlet
Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
Nature & eco · Boardwalk
A waterfront boardwalk along the marsh, lined with live-music venues.
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Central Myrtle
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
Nature & eco · Boardwalk
An oceanfront promenade with piers, rides and summer live music.
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Little River
Sea Racer Tours
Nature & eco · Dolphin tour
Sea Racer runs dolphin-watching cruises from the Big M Casino boat dock in Little River on a 70-foot boat with a 360-degree viewing area and room for up to 128 passengers. Tours last about 1.5 to 2 hours along the Little River and Myrtle Beach coastline. Dolphin sightings are not guaranteed.
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Little River
Sea Thunder and Sea Screamer
Nature & eco · Dolphin tour
Fast, narrated dolphin cruises of 1.5 to 2 hours from Little River. The boats run up the Intracoastal Waterway, past barrier islands and out through the jetty into the Atlantic to look for wild bottlenose dolphins. Sea Thunder boards at 1522 Watson Ave and Sea Screamer at 4499 Mineola Ave. The company offers a dolphin sighting guarantee; check its terms.
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Murrells Inlet
Surf the Earth
Nature & eco · Kayak / paddleboard
Kayak (including fishing kayaks) and paddleboard rentals, plus surf lessons, in the Pawleys Island area. The family-run shop also rents surfboards and skim and body boards and sells surf apparel, including a kids' collection. It is open Monday through Saturday and has three locations.
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North Myrtle Beach
Voyager Dolphin Cruises
Nature & eco · Dolphin tour
Dolphin trips from North Myrtle Beach.
