Head to Garden City South Carolina for some family fun! Garden City Beach offers a marina, restaurants, amusements, a fantastic fishing pier, and creek walk spanning the picturesque salt marsh, among many other things. While the beautiful shoreline is the area’s number one attraction, the 668-foot long fishing pier serves as the heart of the community. It’s a fisherman’s paradise during the day and offers live music during the summer evenings, along with a marina, amusements, restaurants and other businesses. The Garden City Pavilion Arcade is great for family-friendly fun, with lots to do during hours not spent on the beach. So whether you’re listening to live music on the pier during a summer night, or taking advantage of the area’s arcade, there’s plenty to love about Garden City Beach. For all of the best South Carolina beaches, head here. Visiting Garden City South Carolina soon? Continue reading 🙂
Garden City SC Weather – When to Visit
The best time to visit Garden City is from June to August when the weather is just right for enjoying the beach. There can be some afternoon rain showers, especially in July. You’ll also find warm temperatures and slightly cheaper rates if you visit March through May, but there will be spring breakers from area colleges crowding the beach and nearby hotels. Autumn ushers in room bargains and cooler temperatures that range from the high 70s to the mid-40s. During winter, temperatures are chilly and hotels are at the lowest rates (and zero crowds), but some area attractions and restaurants will be closed or have reduced hours.
The Garden City Pier
The Pier at Garden City is consistently voted “Best Fishing Pier” and is known for its karaoke and free-spirited live entertainment. This is known as the party pier! The pier is also family-oriented with fun and games for all ages. It’s the happening place to any time of the year to enjoy the ocean breeze while fishing or just relaxing along the Atlantic.
Located 8 miles south of Myrtle Beach, in the heart of Garden City Beach, on the south end of the Myrtle Beach area, this quiet area is mostly resort hotels adjacent to older residential neighborhoods. The Pier at Garden City is 668 ft. long with a rain shelter at the end of the pier. The pier was originally part of the Kingfisher Inn resort next door built in 1973. There is no charge to walk on the pier to enjoy the view and check out the daily catches of those fishing on the pier.
Best Tours & Activities Near Garden City
Waccamaw River Nature and Wildlife Tour
Explore the beautiful cypress-lined Waccamaw River, Intracoastal Waterway, and the creeks and swamps on this guided boat tour near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Be on the lookout for birds and other wildlife that inhabit these southern waters that run along the refuge. The boat docks are located within Waccatee Zoo. Learn more about the Waccamaw River Nature & Wildlife Tour.
2-Hour Guided Segway Tour of Huntington Beach State Park
Join them for a 2-Hour Guided Segway Tour at one of the Grand Strand’s most beautiful wetland and wildlife preserves, Huntington Beach State Park in Myrtle Beach. Nature lovers will enjoy the park’s Environmental Education Center for the chance to see Loggerhead Turtles and other endangered wildlife species up close. The park’s freshwater lake along the causeway is a sure-fire place to see Alligators basking in the sun, a variety of bird species, and maybe even a mink or two. Learn more about the 2-Hour Guided Segway Tour here.
River Island Adventures Tubing, Kayaking and Paddle Boarding Day Pass
Spend the day with seasonal river tubing down the river, exploring on a kayak relaxing in a hammock or playing one of our many super sized yard games. Arrive anytime and stay as long as you want! Fun for the whole family! Learn more about the River Island Adventures Day Pass.
Surf Lessons in Myrtle Beach
While enjoying the fun and sun in Myrtle Beach, take some time for a lesson in surfing, tailored to fit all ages and skill levels. Learn the basics of proper form and ocean safety from a professional surf instructor that is both CPR- and first aid-certified. After some stretching, head to the water and discover how to paddle and catch waves. The instructor remains in the water through the end of the lesson, making students feel at home while attending to every learning need. Learn more about Surf Lessons in Myrtle Beach.
Guided Stand-Up Paddle Board Tour
Take a 2-hour guided SUP tour down the Murrells Inlet or the Waccamaw River in Myrtle Beach. Get comfortable with our paddle boards and see some of South Carolina’s coastal scenery and local wildlife. Choose from multiple departures throughout the day, including sunrise and sunset tours, and locations are chosen based on current tides and weather conditions. Learn more about the Guided Stand-Up Paddle Board Tour.
Best Garden City Restaurants
Inlet Crabhouse Restaurant & Raw Bar $11 – 30
Find seafood with a Caribbean and southern twist at this restaurant. Favorites are the Inlet Shrimp & Spinach Dip, the Shrimp & Grits, and the Seafood Marinara Pasta. Telephone: 843-651-8452 Web: Inlet Crabhouse Restaurant & Raw Bar
Captain Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood $11 – 30
Captain Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood has been one of the most well-known seafood buffets in Myrtle Beach, serving authentic Calabash style seafood since the 1980s. Telephone: 843-626-9354 Web: Calabash Seafood Buffet
Grilled Cheese & Crab Cake Co. $11 – 30
Their delicious menu consists of a huge variety of grilled cheese sandwiches and a variety of seafood, from u-peel shrimp to Crab Cake sandwiches. The Crab Melt and Lobster Grilled Cheese are two of the locals favorites along with some Old Bay Fries. Telephone: 843-947-0855 Web: Grilled Cheese & Crab Cake Co.
Pacino’s Mediterranean Grille $11 – 30
Pacino’s Mediterranean Grille offers Mediterranean classics with a very extensive menu including appetizers, salads, soups, pasta, seafood and a kids menu. Telephone: 843-651-0532 Web: Pacino’s Mediterranean Grille
Conch Cafe $11 – 30
Get some delicious steak and seafood right on the beach. Besides the great selection of steak and seafood, they also have salads and soups. Their frozen drinks are yummy as well. Telephone: 843-651-6556 Web: Conch Cafe | Oceanfront Dining in Garden City, SC
Best Garden City Nightlife
Hurricanes Daiquiri Bar & Grill
Great food. Great service. Drinks definitely worth it and absolutely delicious. Hurricanes Daiquiri Bar is a fantastic place to grab drinks and a snack. They don’t pour light so be careful! Telephone: 843-945-9645 Web: Hurricanes Daiquiri Bar & Grill
Hurricanes Daiquiri Bar & Grill
Head to this bar for a break and try nicely cooked burgers. You will be offered good beer. Most users state that the staff is friendly. Telephone: 843-651-0002 Web: Rising Tides
Suck Bang Blow
The Original Biker Burnout Bar opened its doors in 1996 and quickly gained a reputation for ice cold drinks, great live music, hot bartenders and of course, smoking a fatty in the World Famous Burnout Pit. Telephone: 843-651-7960 Web: Suck Bang Blow
Now, this looks like a really fun place to visit. It seems to have everything. Sand, sea, sunshine and entertainment all in one place. I have not come across anything like this in the UK. We do have a beach with a pier, Weston-super-mare they call it. But, I have yet to see the sea, it’s always out and never as blue as this one. Thanks for sharing,
You are very welcome. Time for you to get out of the UK and travel! I am glad you enjoyed my Garden City South Carolina guide.
I have not been before to South Carolina, but now that I have found this guide I am really wanting to vacation here soon! The place looks beautiful and the prices for the hotel rooms are very reasonable. Garden City looks so beautiful! I am really hoping that this COVID ends very soon so I feel safe to travel to South Carolina!
You and me both! South Carolina is very close for me and I am looking forward to 2 weeks in the area. I can’t wait. I will go this summer no matter what. It’s a nice drive for me. Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.
Hi, I’ve just gone through your article about Garden city South Carlina-beach travel destinations. I find your article very interesting and informative. Some of these travel places are to find and know about unless we read about them. Garden city South Carolina sounds like real fun as you stated clearly that it offers so much including restaurants and amusements. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing piece of writing with us, I will definitely be sharing it with my family and friends.
Great, glad you enjoyed! Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.
Thanks for bringing us this great family destination.
It is essential when going on vacation with your family that there is something for everyone. Garden City certainly is one such destination. The pavilion arcade will definitely entertain everyone in the evenings and the pier will be great just for a walk, apart from the entertainment it offers.
The Segway tour sounds like great fun, as it will be a real adventure, especially for the children. It would also be a great idea to get them surfing lessons too.
This certainly is a fun filled destination for the whole family
Yes it is a great family destination. There is a ton in the area to do. Not just gorgeous beaches. Please let me know if you need any additional information. Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you so much for sharing about Garden City Carolina, all the beaches look breath taking! I can definitely take a road trip with my husband and drive down there and enjoy the beaches. I would love to give the segway tour and try the food at conch cafe. Thanks for providing the itinerary!
You are welcome! I am glad you enjoyed 🙂
This sounds like an awesome place to visit and so much to do. I love this long pier so that you can get to where the fish live and enjoy live entertainment at night. The video showed so much from the air that I really got a feel for the place. Amazing having all those colourful houses built right on the sand. I would love to see it at night with the music and people enjoying themselves but I guess that would be hard to film.
It’s on my bucket list now.
It’s a special place, the whole Charleston Sough Carolina area. Tons to see and do. Thanks for taking the time to visit beach travel destinations and leave me comments.
omg! I didn’t know South Carolina had such places. I’m from Europe but spent in the US over a year, traveling around in between work commitments but never been to South Carolina. Now I truly regret it 🙁 Just added this one for my destinations list to travel after this damn pandemic is over.. thanks!!
South Carolina is beautiful and really has a lot of unique beach destinations, lots of history, southern charm and culture. You would love it for a vacation 🙂 Thanks for visiting my Garden City South Carolina guide.
Garden City in South Carolina looks like another great place I should go to in the States. The beach looks awesome and talking about seafood with steak has made me hungry. It looks like the city is also big enough that there are plenty of good quality hotels by well-known brands such as Hilton. After reading your post, I realized that I don’t know much about any good travel locations in the States. What other places would you also recommend?
I live in Florida, and it is a big state with lots of place, but Clearwater Beach is a great destination (not that I am bias LOL), all of the East Coast is great really. Even Texas has some great beaches. The gulf is nice because the water tends to be warmer and you don’t see a lot of the more harmful marine life.
Thank you Leahrae for your in-depth article on Garden City South Carolina and beach area. We used to live in the Garden City state,(NJ) which also has many beaches. The pictures you show are beautiful and many places to go and things to see, making it an ideal vacation spot. I have often heard of Myrtle Beach. Now I would like even more to travel there. I guess that is another thing to put into my bucket list. What temperatures does it get to in the wintertime? Is it a wintertime destination?
There is plenty to do in the winter time. Horseback riding on the beach, bird watching, and it’s oyster season (which I love!) Temperatures are going to be in the 60s which to me, is cold. But that is really not a bad temperature. So yes, visit in the winter. Hotel rates will be down too!
I have many wonderful childhood memories of spending summer vacations along these coastlines of South Carolina. Myrtle Beach was always the favorite spot for the kids, while the adults often wanted somewhere that could offer a more serene environment. Garden City SC offers a good combination of being close to the attractions while having enough room and space to feel relaxed!
I agree Aly. It is a bit of everything here and so close as you say to a lot of wonderful areas!
What a nice place to be with a beautiful beach and many facilities for a nice vacation. I should go there for one of those holidays to enjoy the live music, experience the Garden city pier and have a taste of new meals in one of the restaurants. Can my family come along with me?
Oh yes, this is a great family destination. There will be plenty for all of you to do. Let me know if I can help you plan your family vacation in Garden City South Carolina.
I have been to North Carolina before but I am not sure how much better South Carolina could be? From the looks of this article I can see that so far it is just as amazing, and it could possibly even be better! I’m very glad though to have run into your article because you have provided a great deal of information in detail
It’s going to be a coin toss, and they are both great beach destinations with plenty for couples and families. So since you’ve been to North Carolina, you have to check out South Carolina and see what you think 🙂
Hello there! Oh wow, this looks like an amazing place to visit. I am actually currently one state north of here so it might be worth it to pay a visit here some time. Fishing and eating Cajun seafood are definitely one of my favorite hobbies. I haven’t tried kayaking before but that is something I always wanted to try. Thanks for creating this post that includes all the attractions, restaurants and activities to do in this location!
You live so close Mike, and it would be worth the visit. I absolutely love to kayak and paddle board. I live on the beach, and I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t be out on the water! Thanks for visiting my Garden City South Carolina guide.