Cherry Grove Beach, North Myrtle Beach places to stay

Cherry Grove Beach is a small waterfront neighborhood along the Atlantic coast of North Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. Its name comes from the native cherry trees that produce red and black varieties of the fruit. The area is known for its swimmable, white-sand beach topped with pockets of tall Marram grass, attracting visitors for beach activities like kayaking, surfing, and boogie boarding.

Near the beach is one of the main focal points of the neighborhood, the 985-foot Cherry Grove Fishing Pier, complete with a second-story lookout point for sweeping views of the Atlantic. Saltwater fishers set up along the pier, reeling in marine life like mackerel, trout, and blue crabs.

The two-mile, pristine shores of Cherry Grove Beach meet at the intersection of the Atlantic Ocean and acres of protected marshlands of The Russell Burgess Coastal Preserve. The preserve’s marsh water pools are surrounded by wispy green grass, with a wooden boardwalk perfect for spotting local waterbird species like the bright white snowy egret, the yellow-crowned night heron, and the black-and-blue-colored purple martin.

The weather in Cherry Grove Beach fluctuates throughout each season. Summers are hot and humid and are usually some of the rainiest months of the year. Local events are in full swing during this time, with the Sounds of Summer Concert Series featuring live music every Friday evening from mid-June to mid-September. Fall is warm and comfortable during the day and cools off as the sun sets. Cherry Grove Beach waters are cold for swimming this time of year, making it a perfect time for a change of scenery by visiting one of the area’s wineries, known for their white wine varieties.

Winters are cold yet mild overall. Holiday shows begin ramping up in November and last through January at the Carolina Opry, Myrtle Beach’s live music venue, which has weekly Christmas shows. Spring is warm and the least rainy season of the year, so this is the ideal time for exploring the outdoors. A day trip to the Myrtle Beach State Park will have native wildflowers on display, like the colorful gaillardia and Indian pink flower.

Waites Island

You can reach the saltwater marshes and undeveloped beaches at Waites Island, located directly across the shores of Cherry Grove Beach, by kayak or paddleboard. Preserved in its natural state since the 1920s, it was first inhabited by the Waccamaw tribe for generations. The island’s marshes are home to birdlife you can find year-round, like the blue heron, the osprey, and the bald eagle.

Heritage Shores Nature Preserve

The one-mile loop trail at the Heritage Shores Nature Preserve sits on a small slice of island in the Cherry Grove neighborhood. You can follow the trail on foot as it alternates between sandy paths surrounded by tall grassy meadows and overwater boardwalks, covering seven acres of marshlands. As the trails lead you close to the marsh waters, you can birdwatch for pelicans, white ibis, and great egrets.

North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum

The North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum houses antique relics from all of the small coastal neighborhoods within North Myrtle Beach, including Cherry Grove. The museum’s artifacts range from cultural heirlooms like 1950s jukeboxes to historic pirate exhibits describing their takeover of North Myrtle Beach’s waters throughout the late 1600s and early 1700s.