Garden City vacation rentals

While Myrtle Beach may get most of the spotlight when it comes to South Carolina coast towns, Garden City is a charming oceanside inlet that also deserves to be on your vacation radar. Sleepier than Myrtle, it shares the same postcard-perfect coastline with fewer crowds and plenty of candy-colored beach houses to rent. South Carolina’s marshy turf means wildlife flourishes in the area, especially with Garden City’s positioning on a narrow peninsula between the ocean and Murrells Inlet. If you prefer an active day beyond the beach, Garden City is an easy drive to mini golf courses, outdoor dining, and retail magnets like Broadway Beach, the Carolina Opry dinner theater, and the Family Kingdom amusement park. It’s also just down the road from the expansive Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park, making it a great launching point for exploring the outdoors.

The best times to stay in one of South Carolina’s coastal vacation rentals are spring (March to May) and fall (September to November), when the sun shines warmly and crowds start to dwindle. Though Garden City isn’t nearly as busy as Myrtle Beach, the beaches fill up in the summer months, particularly in June for the Carolina Country Music Fest in Myrtle Beach. One thing to bear in mind is that the Atlantic coast’s hurricane season runs June through November, though August and September tend to be the biggest months for storms. Garden City’s temperatures are often warm enough to enjoy the beach through late October, which also coincides with the start of South Carolina’s oyster season.

The Fishing Pier

During South Carolina’s warm months — which is to say, much of the year — Garden City Beach’s 668-foot-long fishing pier is a central gathering point for vacationers and residents alike. It’s also a popular spot for anglers to cast a line during prime fishing conditions, as well as for musicians to put on a live show.

Garden City Pavilion Arcade

If you’re a fan of retro games like pinball, you’ll want to carve out an afternoon to test your skills at the two-story Pavilion Arcade adjacent to the fishing pier. The arcade has been in business since the late 1960s, and bills itself as the world’s largest redemption center.

Brookgreen Gardens

Covering more than 9,100 shaded acres, Brookgreen Gardens is this coastal area’s crown jewel, featuring a wealth of art, themed gardens, and natural ecosystems. Most notable are the more than 2,000 figurative sculptures — which claims to be the country’s largest collection — spread throughout the impressive nature reserve.