Sprawling Estate with Game Room in South CarolinaN°001
South Carolina, USA
Waterfront
Photo by KSixty miles of Atlantic sand and easy Southern charm
South Carolina's coast runs long and gentle, and nowhere more invitingly than the Grand Strand, the sixty-mile sweep of beach centred on Myrtle Beach and the fishing village of Murrells Inlet. A private villa here means ocean views, a pool in the warm months, championship golf minutes away and seafood straight off the docks, with Southern hospitality as the setting.
- Sixty miles of sandy Atlantic beach along the Grand Strand
- One of America's densest concentrations of championship golf courses
- Murrells Inlet's MarshWalk, the seafood capital of South Carolina
- Brookgreen Gardens, a celebrated sculpture garden and wildlife preserve
- Spacious villas with pools and ocean views, ideal for family gatherings
Known forThe Grand Strand's beaches, world-class golf, Murrells Inlet seafood, Brookgreen Gardens and Lowcountry charm
Best time to visitMay to September for beach season; spring and autumn for golf, gardens and mild, uncrowded weather
Nearest airportMyrtle Beach International (MYR); Charleston (CHS) about two hours south
Ideal forFamilies, golf groups and multi-generational gatherings wanting beach, value and space
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South Carolina in pictures
Events not to miss in South Carolina
- Early April
The Masters Tournament
Golf's most storied major is played at Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia, directly across the river from North Augusta. Even without badges, the region hums with golf that week.
- Late May to early June
Spoleto Festival USA
Charleston's internationally acclaimed festival fills seventeen days with opera, theatre, dance and music across the historic city, an easy excursion from the southern Strand.
- Early June
Carolina Country Music Fest
One of the East Coast's biggest country music festivals brings major headliners to the beachfront in downtown Myrtle Beach across a long June weekend.
- 4 July
Murrells Inlet Fourth of July Boat Parade
A beloved local tradition in which decorated boats process through the inlet past crowds on the MarshWalk, followed by fireworks over the marsh. Small-town America at its warmest.
South Carolina through the seasons
- Spring (March – May)
Azaleas and prime golf weeks
Gardens bloom at Brookgreen, temperatures suit thirty-six holes a day and the Masters draws the golf world to the region each April.
- Summer (June – August)
Classic family beach season
Warm Atlantic swimming, boardwalk evenings and long days on the sand. The peak season for oceanfront villas, so book well ahead.
- Autumn (September – November)
Warm seas without the crowds
The ocean stays swimmable into October, golf conditions are superb and the MarshWalk's terraces are at their most pleasant.
- Winter (December – February)
Mild days and quiet coast
Short, gentle winters suit golf trips, birdwatching at Huntington Beach State Park and off-season value in spacious villas.
The Area and Where to Stay
The Grand Strand stretches from Little River down past Georgetown, with Myrtle Beach at its energetic centre. North Myrtle Beach offers a calmer, family-oriented stretch of sand with wide residential beaches, while Myrtle Beach proper concentrates the boardwalk, entertainment and dining. South of the city, Murrells Inlet trades high-rises for salt marsh, fishing docks and the famous MarshWalk, with Pawleys Island's understated old beach houses beyond. Villas here range from oceanfront houses sleeping large family groups to golf-course residences with private pools. Inland, North Augusta sits on the Savannah River across from Augusta, Georgia, a quiet base best known to golf pilgrims each April. For a classic beach stay, base yourself between North Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, where sand, seafood and tee times are all minutes apart.
Things to Do
The beach sets the rhythm: long mornings on the sand, afternoons by the pool, evenings on a dock watching the marsh turn gold. Golf is the region's other religion, with dozens of championship courses threaded through pine and marshland, including celebrated layouts at Pawleys Island and Caledonia. Brookgreen Gardens combines one of America's finest sculpture collections with moss-draped oaks and a Lowcountry zoo, while Huntington Beach State Park opposite offers some of the East Coast's best birdwatching. Families fill days with the SkyWheel, water parks and mini-golf in Myrtle Beach, and anglers charter boats from Murrells Inlet. Your concierge can arrange tee times, fishing charters, kayak tours through the salt marsh and evening reservations along the MarshWalk.
Food and Local Flavour
This is Lowcountry eating at its most generous. Murrells Inlet, long called the seafood capital of South Carolina, lands shrimp, flounder and oysters that go straight to the restaurants lining its MarshWalk, where dinner comes with marsh views and live music. Expect Calabash-style fried seafood, she-crab soup, shrimp and grits and hushpuppies, alongside Southern barbecue and sweet tea. Myrtle Beach adds everything from pancake houses to polished steakhouses, and farm stands inland sell peaches and boiled peanuts in season. At your villa, an oyster roast or a private chef's Lowcountry boil turns a family evening into an occasion, and the concierge can book the waterfront tables worth planning around.
When to Visit
The Grand Strand enjoys a long, warm season. Beach weather runs from May through September, with the ocean warmest in mid-summer and family crowds at their peak in July and August. Spring and autumn are the connoisseur's choices: azaleas and ideal golf temperatures in March and April, then warm seas, soft light and empty beaches in September and October. Winters are short and mild, suiting golf trips and quiet coastal walks, though too cool for swimming. If golf is the draw, note that the Masters in nearby Augusta each April makes that week the region's busiest inland. Villas on the beachfront book earliest for the summer school holidays.
Getting There
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) sits minutes from the Grand Strand, with direct flights from dozens of US cities, and Charleston International (CHS) is roughly two hours south for wider connections. Drivers reach the coast easily from the Northeast and Midwest via Interstate 95 and Highway 501. For North Augusta, Augusta Regional (AGS) is closest, with Columbia and Charlotte within driving range. Once here, a car is essential: the Strand's beaches, courses and restaurants stretch along sixty miles of coast. The concierge can arrange private transfers, car hire and airport pick-ups to make arrival effortless.