With scenic landscapes seemingly around every corner, the Grand Strand is a nature lover’s — and a nature photographer’s — paradise. Not only is the North Myrtle Beach and surrounding area home to 60-plus miles of beautiful beaches, but outdoor adventurers can also find maritime forests, estuaries, rivers, lakes, ponds, historic marinas, iconic oceanfront scenes and plenty more natural attractions on this scenic stretch of the Carolina coast.
Ready to capture some of your favorite area sights on film? Consider these six top destinations for capturing amazing outdoor photos on the Grand Strand:
Myrtle Beach State Park
South Carolina’s first state park, Myrtle Beach State Park has been treating nature livers to stunning scenery for more than 75 years. For those looking through the lens, it offers a full mile of undeveloped beach, along with a fishing pier, a pair of hiking trails, and more.
Brookgreen Gardens
Located just across Highway 17 from Huntington Beach State Park, Brookgreen Gardens offers more than 9,000 acres of natural beauty to explore — and to photograph. The attraction’s biggest (and also quite picture-worthy) draw is its expansive sculpture gardens featuring more than 2,000 artworks from 400-plus artists. Other photogenic attractions here include nature trails, a butterfly garden and the Lowcountry Zoo.
Huntington Beach State Park
Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet features 3 miles of pristine (and picturesque) Atlantic Ocean beach that are perfect for picture-taking. It’s also home to National Historic Landmark Atalaya Castle, which makes for great photos, plus 2-mile and .3-mile nature trails, a Nature Center, numerous boardwalks, and abundant bird-sighting opportunities (300-plus different species have been seen within the park).
The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
Recognized as one of the top boardwalks in the nation by both National Geographic and Travel and Leisure, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade runs 1.2 miles along the Myrtle Beach oceanfront from Pier 14 to the Second Avenue Pier. It’s the perfect place for a seaside stroll, and photo-worthy sights can be found at nearly every point along the way — with particularly picturesque highlights including SkyWheel Myrtle Beach, the Goddess of the Sea statue in Plyler Park, the aforementioned piers at the Boardwalk’s north and south ends, and the downtown Myrtle Beach skyline.
Barefoot Landing
North Myrtle Beach hot spot Barefoot Landing draws thousands of visitors each day with its abundant shopping, dining and entertainment options. For photographers, it also boasts great views of the Intracoastal Waterway — along with a busy events calendar that features photo-worthy highlights like free fireworks shows, live musical performances, and roaming characters such as princesses, superheroes and more.
Ripley’s Aquarium
OK, this spot’s not technically outdoors — but the opportunities to capture wildlife on film are abundant here. A top family attraction at Myrtle Beach hot spot Broadway at the Beach, Ripley’s Aquarium lets visitors see the creatures of the ocean deep (and more) up close and personal. The perfect-for-pictures attractions here include a 750,000-gallon shark tank, Planet Jellies, Ray Bay, the Penguin Playhouse, Sloth Valley and many more.
A Resort With So Many Photo-Ops: North Beach Resort & Villas
Offering a broad range of room and villa options, along with a scenic and soothing location just steps from the Atlantic Ocean shoreline in North Myrtle Beach, North Beach Resort & Villas is a picture-perfect place to stay while making vacation memories on the Grand Strand. Check availability now — and start planning your beach getaway today!
