Ocean Views and Good Brews in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Back in late-March, Alex and I took a day trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to enjoy an afternoon of ocean views and good brews. Though I’m not a frequent visitor to this well-known, we’ll-traveled area, I’ve really come to love Myrtle Beach from my handful of visits over the last decade. A bustling coastal city known best for its beachside resorts and its boardwalk filled with attractions for the whole family, Myrtle Beach is one of those places that’s sure to give you lots of fun memories to look back on for years to come.

Living 2 hours and 15 minutes from the popular Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade, Myrtle Beach falls right into day trip driving distance for me. As true with many cities and places I travel to, I always like to shake up the things I see and do. For this trip, Alex and I decided to walk along the beach, ride the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel (first time!), and drink a beer at a few local breweries. They say laughter is the best medicine, but I think it’s spending a day outside with good company.

Upon our arrival to Myrtle Beach in the early afternoon, our first stop was the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade for a walk along the beach. After grabbing an iced coffee from Boardwalk Coffee House (a boardwalk must try!), we set out to the beachfront for a short walk. There were some tourists out and about (mostly spring break travelers), but thankfully the beach was not as packed as it usually gets in the warmest weather months. I love a good quiet beach walk, that’s why I prefer to visit the beach in the off-season. Not that I mind the sounds of kids squealing with excitement, adults laughing and joking with one another, and music blaring through radios and speakers, I just prefer the quiet sound of the waves crashing the shore. When traveling to Myrtle Beach, even in the off-season, there’s always music playing somewhere, so it’s never a truly quiet retreat.

Always looking for something new to try, Alex and I decided to buy tickets to ride the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel. Lasting approximately 10-12 minutes and costing just under $20, we both agreed the SkyWheel was a really cool way to experience Myrtle Beach in a new way. At the peak, the SkyWheel gives you a breathtaking 200-foot-high panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean. 10/10 recommend doing this at least once! We had so much fun. Snapped a couple Polaroids for our collection too.

The thing I love about day trips with Alex is we have so much fun doing even the most simple things. Between the two of us, no matter what we’re doing, we’re both so content goofing around and living in the moment. Exactly how it’s supposed to be.

After leaving the beachfront, we decided to spend the rest of our afternoon sipping beers from local breweries. Having never been to any of the breweries in the Myrtle Beach area, Alex and I picked three to visit. Each had different vibes, but generally speaking, all three had pretty good beer. What more could a beer lover ask for?

First up was Grand Strand Brewing Company, a quick 5 minute walk from the boardwalk. As it was a super windy day, the brewery wasn’t serving flights, so we each picked a pint to enjoy at an outdoor table. Located right off the busy Kings Hwy, the traffic blocks out the view of the ocean and therefore all you can really see and hear are cars. The vibe of the brewery seemed very catered to tourists; I’m sure they get super busy in the summer months considering how close they are to the boardwalk.

Our second stop was Independent Republic Brewing Company, a small hidden gem tucked away along the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway. Serving a few house beers and an array of other domestic and craft beers, there were many different choices to choose from. While there’s no indoor seating here, the outdoor beer garden area was beautiful! We grabbed our beers and sat at one of the tables overlooking the water. We really liked the house beers we tried (a saison) and enjoyed the overall vibe of place. It was our favorite of the three breweries and one I now recommend to fellow beer lovers looking for a new place to try in the Myrtle Beach area.

Our third and final stop on our way out of Myrtle Beach was Crooked Hammock Brewery. The coolest thing about Crooked Hammock is that it’s located within a waterfront plaza that allows you to walk the grounds with your beer. After ordering our last beer of the evening, we sipped while enjoying a sunset walk around the property. As Myrtle Beach is a touristy area in general, it surprised neither of us to see that this place also leans into the tourist experience. Still fun for us though — and a solid nightcap too!

Have you ever been to Myrtle Beach? Share your favorite Myrtle Beach memory in the comments below, I’d love to hear about it.

Enjoy!

JB