27. Parks & Playgrounds
In addition to our two wonderful State Parks, the Grand Strand is loaded with city parks offering everything from organized sporting events, to live oceanfront rock ‘n’ roll! In Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, you can enjoy state-of-art facilities for soccer baseball, softball, tennis and much more. At our State Parks you’ll get back to nature along hiking trails, undeveloped oceanfront and educational nature centers. In downtown Myrtle Beach, in the heart of the honky-tonk along the famed Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, you’ll enjoy a wide variety of live music out under the stars, under the shadow of the Sky Wheel. In between, almost every community of the Grand Strand has dozens of parks, some small with just a bench or two, and others quite large with well-maintained playgrounds. The beach will always take top billing along the Grand Strand, but our many parks come in a close second.
This recently opened facility has already hosted tournaments on numerous state-of-the-art fields with teams from around the United States in lacrosse, baseball, softball, flag football even Harry Potter’s Quidditch! Additionally, two half-mile hiking and jogging trails, picnic shelters, a 25-acre lake, a large dog park, and an amphitheatre hosting seasonal live music events, help round out this new addition to the Grand Strand Park family.
Part of the original Myrtle Beach U.S. Air Force Base, this re-purposed land is home to the Market Common business and residential district. But even before Market Common was fully realized, the Grand Park had been hosting tournaments, dragon boat charity races, football, soccer, baseball and softball tournaments and much more. Cameras installed at nine fields offer live-streaming of all the action, but why not check it out for yourself?
Named for the Plyler family, owners of the iconic Gay Dolphin Gift Cove in downtown Myrtle Beach, Plyler Park is part of the revitalization of the downtown district, which included the $6 million Boardwalk and Promenade. Plyler Park hosts a variety of free live music concerts every night June through August, called Hot Summer Nights. Bring a lawn chair, or sit in the first-come first-served bleacher seats.
Two State Parks call the Grand Strand home; Myrtle Beach State Park at 4401 South Kings Highway, and Huntington Beach State Park at 16148 Ocean Highway in Murrells Inlet. Both parks are very different from one another; Huntington Beach offers more wildlife viewing and is the home of Atalaya, formerly an artist’s retreat and summer home. Myrtle Beach State Park is also beautifully situated oceanfront and offers a fishing pier. (Admission charged)
This 10-acre facility in the heart of North Myrtle Beach is home to numerous special events and activities throughout the year. In addition to playgrounds, tennis courts, picnic shelters, a paved walking path with fitness trail, youth baseball field with grass infield, and meditation garden, McLean also hosts a summertime movie series, Christmas tree lighting, Easter egg hunt, and many other family-oriented activities.
Located in Carolina Forest just a few miles inland, this community-oriented playground is a great place to take the kids to burn off some energy. Built by area volunteers, Palmetto Adventure Land features swings, slides, monkey bars, games, a boat and submarine, and all manner of other things to play on. There are also picnic shelters at the facility, and visitors also have access to the Carolina Forest Library and Carolina Forest Recreation center, which has a public gym and fitness center.
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