Visiting Myrtle Beach but want a break from the water? Here’s 4 tours available on land
Most people vacationing in Myrtle Beach are likely to seek out the sand and surf along the Atlantic Ocean coast, but for adventure-seeking tourists perhaps prone to seasickness, or even locals wanting to explore more of their hometowns, the area offers several on-land tours.
From self-guided tours seeking out the Grand Strand’s hidden gems and a behind-the-scenes look at a favorite animal-based attraction to a trolley ride back in time, here are some tours to consider during your break from the beach:
Arts trail
One of the area’s newest available tours, the Myrtle Beach Arts and Gallery Trail launched last year as a partnership between Visit Myrtle Beach, the Franklin G. Burroughs - Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum and The Arts Grand Strand.
Visitors can register online for a free digital pass that will lead participants to various art-inspired landmarks on a trail that stretches from Little River and North Myrtle Beach to Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet. The trail features lesser known underground passages, oceanfront sculptures and even the historic Brookgreen Gardens.
“There are so many passionate artists in the Myrtle Beach area, and it’s an honor to help share their stories and promote their work through the Arts & Gallery Trail,” Patricia Goodwin, executive director of the Burroughs-Chapin art museum, said in a press release.
Participants can earn points for checking in at landmarks along the trail, and those points can be redeemed prizes ranging from prints by local artists and t-shirts to even a free trip to Myrtle Beach.
Historic trolley tours
A trio of trolley tours are available Tuesdays-Thursdays offering a unique look into the history of the Myrtle Beach area. Tickets are $30 each and available for booking online.
On Tuesdays, the tours focus on the role of music and movies on the area’s history, with stops including the historic site of Charlie’s Place, which was recently inducted into the Carolina Beach Music Awards’ hall of fame.
The Wednesday tour centers on the city’s origin and what residents experienced during World War II with the arrival of German prisoners or war.
Tours on Thursdays head toward Murrells Inlet with participants expected to hear various stories about ghosts, pirates and historic families.
Aquatic science tour
Behind-the-scene tours are available on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons at the Ripley’s Aquarium, located within Broadway at the Beach.
Participants can expect to tour the facility’s scientific research center and quarantine and research facility to get a firsthand look at how the aquarium staff rescue and care for its animals.
The aquarium itself is going to be getting a new exhibit soon, as the facility recently announced plans to open a two-toed sloth habitat in late spring.
Off to Charleston
If you’re interested in getting away from the beach altogether, Charleston Adventures offer a day trip on an air-conditioned motor coach with pickup and drop off in Myrtle Beach.
The tour of Horry County’s southern neighbor includes stops at the Charleston City Market, an optional mule-driven carriage tour, the Charleston harbor and Boone Hall Plantation.
You’ll even be back in Myrtle Beach in time for dinner as the tour bus picks up at 7 a.m. and drops off at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available online for $115 per person.
