Pancake Houses in Abundance!
I had been to Myrtle Beach in the past year and to be honest it was not one of my favorite places. It should be with my Greek heritage and being a restauranteur – thanks to generations of Greek restaurateurs who set out to fill a need for vacationers, pancake houses abound in North Myrtle Beach. So when I saw Myrtle Beach State Park on the Discoverer’s List of The Best State Park in each State, I was a little skeptical, to say the least. I will have to say, that despite my skepticism, I was pleasantly surprised by my visit. So if you’re visiting Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – take time away from the souvenir shops, dinner theaters, attractions, and pancake houses, and make an effort to visit Myrtle Beach State Park. I would add that there is a fee to enter the park – and as many of you know, I believe in fairness, equality, and accessibility – consequently, I am against high entrance fees. One positive note on the fees, you can go in and out of the park on the same day – which was a benefit to me as you’ll see later on in this post. Here is the list of fees: $8 adults; $5/SC seniors (age 65 & older); $4/ child age 6-15; Free for children 5 and younger.
Pictures: Entrance on South Kings Highway | Park Map
About the Park and the CCC Strikes Again!
Myrtle Beach State Park, nestled along the stunning coastline of South Carolina, stands as a natural haven, offering a diverse range of attractions for nature enthusiasts and beachgoers alike. Spanning 312 acres, this coastal gem is a testament to the state’s commitment to preserving its natural beauty.
The park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a New Deal Program created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The program was designed to provide employment during the Great Depression while addressing national needs in conservation and recreation. I am finding this as a common theme in the Discoverer’s list and southern state parks.
One of the highlights of the park is its pristine beach that stretches for a mile along the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors can enjoy the sun, take a refreshing dip in the sea, or explore the shoreline for seashells and other marine treasures. The maritime forest, declared a Heritage Trust Site, showcases a unique ecosystem with a variety of indigenous plant and animal species. Hikers can explore the rich biodiversity of the forest through nature trails that wind through towering pines and myrtle bushes.
If you ever visit Myrtle Beach State Park, don’t forget to check out the Nature Center, which offers interactive exhibits and educational programs about the park’s ecology and wildlife. Unfortunately, the center was closed during my visit. You can also enjoy the park’s picnic areas and campgrounds, making it an excellent choice for a day trip or an extended outdoor adventure. The park is also renowned for its fantastic surf fishing spots, with stunning ocean views, and Myrtle Beach pier offers another great fishing location.
Pictures: The CCC and Myrtle Beach State Park | The Pier
Trip #1
Yes, I made two different trips to the park and was happy to learn they had in-and-out privileges. I did a little research about the park and came across this list of five things to do at the park. And the last item on the list piqued my interest.
TOP 5 THINGS TO DO
- Enjoy an ice cream cone from the gift shop while taking a stroll out on the fishing pier.
- Explore nature at the Nature Center or on a self-led scavenger hunt.
- Hit the beach and search for shells, sea creatures and sharks’ teeth.
- Escape the busy Grand Strand and enjoy a walk on the Sculptured Oak Nature Trail through the beautiful maritime forest.
- Wake up early and relish in the peace and solitude of the park as you enjoy watching a sunrise.
Sunrise, here we come…
So early that morning, I got up and was happy the hotel had coffee ready. I grabbed two cups of coffee to go as I knew I would be gone for a bit and off I went. I was a little surprised that upon my arrival at the park, there was an attendant already there, collecting the entrance fee. I paid my $8 and in I went. I drove to the beach, parked my car and then found a spot on the beach to watch the sunrise. For the most part it was peaceful, but soon the “noise window” was open and planes began taking off from nearby Myrtle Beach International Airport. Nonetheless, I was happy to see the sunrise and had the beach nearly to myself.
Pictures: The many phases of sunrise
Pictures: The many phases of sunrise
Pictures: Footprints in the sand | The many phases of sunrise
Pictures: And so the planes begin taking off | The raised walkway at sunrise
Pictures: One of the picnic areas | The pier at sunrise
Back to the Hotel
After enjoying the beautiful sunset, I went back to the hotel for the complimentary breakfast and to pack my things as I decided to head out to my next destination after I visited the park.
Myrtle Beach State Park, Round 2
On my second visit to the park, there were a few cars ahead of me at the entrance, but it wasn’t too bad. I parked my car near the fishing pier, as that was my next stop. As expected, the park was beginning to get busier. The pier provides great views of the beach and has a tackle shop, a gift shop, and an ice cream stand. A few people were fishing on the pier, but the end of the pier was closed due to some damage caused by a hurricane. As a result, some of the deeper fishing spots were unavailable. In addition, there were some oversized chairs that visitors could sit in and get a souvenir photo.
Pictures: Views from the pier
Pictures: Oversized chair | The Pier
Pictures: The closed portion of the pier | Swinging bench near the pier
Dressed to hike!
The trails are not very long, but I had read about the wildlife and decided to put on my hiking boots and bring my hiking poles. I did get a few looks from families – Like who is this guy? Doesn’t he know he’s at the beach? The park has copperhead snakes, and if you know anything about these snakes, you know why it is important to have poles and wear boots. Unlike other viperids, copperheads often “freeze” instead of slithering away, and as a result, many bites occur due to people unknowingly stepping on or near them. So off I went to the furthest trail – the Youpen Trail – named after an evergreen tree that can grow up to 30 feet tall – the Yaupon Holly (lex vomitoria). In the fall and winter, yaupon has bright red berries that are an important food source for birds and small mammals, and in the spring, yaupon develops pretty white flowers.
Pictures: Yaupon Trailhead | The Yaupon Trail
Be very, very careful….
Soon I came across three logs covered with mushrooms. And if you have read any of my earlier posts, you know I have a fascination with mushrooms. So I moved in to get a closer picture of the mushrooms, and then I saw it! A copperhead, “frozen” in the middle of the logs! I slowly moved away and made a note of the location so that I could let the rangers know. As an FYI – you can tell that it is a copperhead by the brown “Hershey’s Kisses” on the snake’s body.
Pictures: The 3 logs with the mushrooms and copperhead snake | The copperhead snake
More interesting wildlife…
Along the trails, I also saw a pink-striped oak worm moth (at least that is what both Google Lens and Apple Photo identified it as) and an American five-lined skink. The skink I had to go back and get the picture as it darted away the first time I was trying to get a picture. The trail eventually connects with the Sculptured Oak Nature Trail. I took this first to the left and to the “pond.” I am sure under all the fauna, there is a pond, but it was hard to see.
Pictures: Pink-striped oak worm moth | The Pond
Pictures: American Five-lined Skink | Another interesting mushroom
As you walk through the park, hopefully, you’ll be lucky enough to see the many blooming species of plants – such as the aquatic pickerelweed, hibiscus, and saltmarsh morning glory. Additionally, I came across the American Beautyberry and some cool trees.
Pictures: Pickerelweed | Hibiscus | Saltmarsh Morning Glory
Pictures: A fallen tree that I thought was super cool | American Beautyberry | Another cool tree
From the pond, I went back towards the beach on the Sculptured Oak Nature Trail. There are places on the trails to sit and enjoy nature, but something about sitting on a raised platform and knowing that there are snakes in the area, didn’t sit well for me – pardon the pun!
Pictures: Sculpture Oak Nature Trailhead | One of the benches to sit and enjoy nature| The Sculpture Oak Nature Trail
Completing the list
With items 3, 4, and 5 checked of the TOP 5 THINGS TO DO at Myrtle Beach State Park, I decided to reward myself with the first item on the list – enjoy an ice cream cone from the gift shop while taking a stroll out on the fishing pier. Espresso Chip please!
The last item on the list was to visit the Nature Center. As it was on the way out, I decided to drive and park near the Nature Center. Additionally, the Park Office is across the street and I was able to let them know about the Copperhead Snake in the event they wanted to relocate the snake. After my report, I went to the Nature Center, but it was closed the day I was visiting. It wasn’t a total bust as I got to see a couple of Golden Silk Orbweaver Spiders.
I definitely made the most out of my visit to the park but will say that I don’t think I would make a special trip. However, if you are in the area, make an effort to visit the park, you’ll be happy you did!
Date of Visit: 28 August 2023
