{"ok":true,"data":{"id":1993,"slug":"north-myrtle-beach-north-myrtle-beach","name":"North Myrtle Beach","country":"USA","state":"South Carolina","city":"North Myrtle Beach","coords":{"lat":33.816,"lng":-78.68},"beachType":null,"tags":["famous"],"article":{"hero":"North Myrtle Beach unfurls along thirteen miles of the Grand Strand, where the sand runs compact enough for morning joggers and wide enough that your beach towel never feels crowded, even in July. The water here stays bathwater-warm through September, its gradual slope letting children wade out twenty yards before the Atlantic reaches their waists. Pelicans dive-bomb for mullet just beyond the sandbar, and shrimp boats trawl the horizon at dawn, their outriggers spread like wings.\n\nThis is the beach that invented the shag, South Carolina's state dance, and you'll still find couples two-stepping barefoot at sunset near Ocean Drive. Between the dunes, pastel-painted beach houses on stilts give way to the kind of Old South motels your grandparents might remember—neon signs advertising ice machines and shuffleboard courts, their retro charm now genuinely vintage. The boardwalk at Barefoot Landing hums with live bluegrass on Thursday evenings.\n\nYour days here follow an easy rhythm: morning boogie-board sessions, midday refuge under a rented umbrella with a cooler full of boiled peanuts, late-afternoon hunts for olive shells and whelks tumbled smooth by the tide. When hunger strikes, you're never far from calabash-style seafood—cornmeal-crusted flounder and hushpuppies served on paper plates—or the vinegar tang of Carolina pulled pork at roadside shacks where locals argue Clemson versus Carolina.","teaser":"You'll smell the sweet waft of funnel cake before your toes hit the firm, caramel-colored sand. North Myrtle Beach stretches wide and forgiving, its shallow shore break perfect for toddlers splashing ankle-deep while parents scan for dolphin fins arcing beyond the breakers.","uniqueAngle":"This is where Carolina beach culture was born—the birthplace of the shag dance and the calabash seafood tradition that swept the South.","accessType":"Drive-up","thingsToDo":[{"icon":"swim","title":"Shallow Shore Play","subtitle":"Gentle slope for young swimmers"},{"icon":"surf","title":"Boogie Board Rides","subtitle":"Small breaks near Cherry Grove"},{"icon":"food","title":"Calabash Seafood Platter","subtitle":"Lightly fried flounder and shrimp"},{"icon":"camera","title":"Sunrise Shrimp Boats","subtitle":"Trawlers working offshore at dawn"}],"audience":{"surfer":"The breaks here favor longboarders and beginners—waist-high rollers that rarely get overhead, peaking best on southeast swells during hurricane season. Cherry Grove Pier and 13th Avenue South offer the most consistent shape, with sandbars that shift weekly. The crowd's mellow; locals will wave you into a set if you smile. Water temps hit 78°F by June, so a springsuit works until October. Bring tropical wax—the sand's hot enough to melt harder compounds by noon.","couples":"Stake your claim near 48th Avenue North, where the crowds thin and the dunes rise tall enough for privacy. Sunset arrives around 8 p.m. in summer, painting the pier pilings copper and rose. Book a table at The Inlet Crab House for she-crab soup on the deck, or grab steamed oysters from waterfront shacks at Vereen's Marina. The Sea Ranch Resort offers dated but spacious oceanfront rooms with screened balconies where you'll fall asleep to wave-crash. Walk barefoot to Duffy Street for pre-dawn coffee, then claim your stretch of empty sand.","backpacker":"Pitch camp at Apache Family Campground—twenty dollars gets you a tent site two blocks from the sand, with coin showers that actually run hot. Beach access is free at every public crossover; pack a cooler and skip the boardwalk markups. Olympic Flame Pancake House serves egg-and-grits plates for six dollars before 10 a.m. The Coast RTA bus runs the length of the Strand for two dollars, connecting you to grocery outlets in Myrtle Beach proper. Fill your water bottle at any of the public restrooms along Ocean Boulevard.","local":"Hit the sand between 6 and 8 a.m., before the umbrella rental crews stake their rows and the families caravan in from Charlotte. The stretch between 16th and 18th Avenue North stays quieter year-round—fewer high-rises, more dune grass. September offers the best balance: still-warm water, half the crowd, and the mullet run that brings kingfish close to shore. Park at Tilghman Beach instead of the main drags; you'll walk an extra block but skip the meter maids and find sand dollars the tourists miss.","family":null,"party":null,"diver":null,"explorer":null},"faqs":[{"a":"North Myrtle Beach is generally safe for family swimming, with lifeguards stationed at popular access points during summer months (Memorial Day through Labor Day). The beach features gentle slopes and typically calm waves, ideal for children. However, always check daily flag warnings before entering the water. Purple flags indicate dangerous marine life like jellyfish, while red flags mean hazardous conditions. Rip currents can occur, so swim near lifeguard stations and teach children to swim parallel to shore if caught in one. The beach patrol provides excellent supervision during peak season.","q":"Is North Myrtle Beach safe for swimming with kids?"},{"a":"Late spring (April-May) and early fall (September-October) offer the best balance of warm weather, lower crowds, and affordable rates. Summer (June-August) brings peak season with temperatures in the 80s-90°F, but also the largest crowds and highest prices. Water temperatures reach a comfortable 75-80°F from June through September. Winter remains mild (50s-60s°F), perfect for budget travelers and golf enthusiasts, though ocean swimming is chilly. Hurricane season runs June through November, with September being the most active month, though direct hits are relatively rare.","q":"When is the best time to visit North Myrtle Beach?"},{"a":"North Myrtle Beach offers numerous public parking options. Free parking is available at several public beach accesses along Ocean Boulevard, including Cherry Grove, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill sections, though spaces fill quickly in summer. Metered parking costs approximately $2-3 per hour at various access points. For extended stays, consider day passes where available. Many hotels and resorts offer free parking for guests. Arrive before 10am during peak season for the best chance at spots. Street parking regulations are enforced, so check posted signs carefully to avoid tickets.","q":"Where can I park at North Myrtle Beach?"},{"a":"North Myrtle Beach offers extensive dining and accommodation options for all budgets. Oceanfront hotels, condos, and resorts line Ocean Boulevard, ranging from budget-friendly chains to upscale properties. Many families prefer weekly condo rentals for full kitchens. The Main Street area features diverse restaurants, from seafood spots like Duffy Street Seafood Shack to casual beach bars. Highway 17 provides additional chain restaurants and shopping. Barefoot Landing, a popular waterfront complex, offers 100+ shops and restaurants including waterfront dining. Grocery stores like Kroger and Food Lion serve self-catering visitors.","q":"What food and lodging options are near North Myrtle Beach?"},{"a":"North Myrtle Beach is the birthplace of the shag, South Carolina's official state dance. This swing-style partner dance emerged in the 1940s-50s at beachfront pavilions and remains deeply embedded in local culture. The shag is danced to beach music, a rhythm-and-blues sound that's distinct to the Carolina coast. Visitors can experience shag culture at venues like Fat Harold's Beach Club and Duck's Beach Club, especially during the Spring Safari and Fall Migration events when thousands of shaggers gather. Free shag lessons are often available at various venues throughout the week during summer.","q":"What is shagging and why is North Myrtle Beach famous for it?"}]},"seo":{"title":"North Myrtle Beach: Carolina Coast Family Escapes & Shag Dancing","description":"Sixty miles of caramel sand where families build kingdoms at dawn and shag dancers spin on Ocean Drive after sunset. North Myrtle Beach blends nostalgia with Carolina surf.","ogImage":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50879654818_87bb2fc30e_b.jpg"},"images":[{"id":"508985","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/4597/39269648161_768d941311_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/4597/39269648161_768d941311.jpg","alt":"Foggy Beach"},{"id":"508986","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49075452213_a729929ffc_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49075452213_a729929ffc.jpg","alt":"Beach Closed"},{"id":"508989","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48614169773_cb02c1212b_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48614169773_cb02c1212b.jpg","alt":"Blanket"},{"id":"508990","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49075452083_78e161c30d_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49075452083_78e161c30d.jpg","alt":"Cold and Windy"},{"id":"508991","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/4642/24654662177_47ee11b7f3_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/4642/24654662177_47ee11b7f3.jpg","alt":"East Coast USA 2018 01 05"},{"id":"508992","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/4729/24656280397_4b9e3bd4ab_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/4729/24656280397_4b9e3bd4ab.jpg","alt":"East Coast USA 2018 01 05"},{"id":"508993","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/7471/15693623203_72d1f022cc_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/7471/15693623203_72d1f022cc.jpg","alt":"Ophiomorpha burrows in aragonitic limestone (Cockburn Town Member, Grotto Beach Formation, Upper Pleistocene, 114-127 ka; Ophiomorpha Bay, Cockburn Town Fossil Reef, San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 10"},{"id":"508994","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51003929942_f8edaef088_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51003929942_f8edaef088.jpg","alt":"Roseate Spoonbill.  -   platalea ajaja"},{"id":"508997","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50814244323_eb6f3eaa17_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50814244323_eb6f3eaa17.jpg","alt":"Roseate Spoonbill. -  (platalea ajaja)"}]}}