Plan a perfect Myrtle Beach girls’ trip with this guide

With stunning ocean views, trendy restaurants and endless summer vibes, Myrtle Beach is a perfect destination for a quick girls’ getaway.

But with so much to do, the Grand Strand can be difficult to tackle in one weekend.

If you’re unsure where to start planning a weekend in Myrtle Beach, we’ve mapped out some of the best attractions the area has to offer in an itinerary of must-visit options. Here’s how to make the most of a quick girls’ trip in the Grand Strand.

Friday night: Dinner and drinks

Once you’re settled in for the evening, check out a charming cocktail spot for dinner and drinks.

With dozens of trendy cocktails and stylish furnishings to match, JEM Social is one of the cutest and booziest spots in town. The extensive cocktail menu is split into refreshing, adventurous, tropical, spirited, disco era and night cap drinks.

To accompany the cocktails, JEM Social offers Asian-inspired small plates and mains. Reviewers rave about the miso salmon, crispy deviled eggs and charred shishitos.

If you’re still up for festivities, JEM Social is located between Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing. Both walkable outdoor areas are currently running summer entertainment series every night with live music, street performers, variety shows and more.

Saturday: Beach picnic

No trip to Myrtle Beach would be complete without sun and sand. For the perfect beach day, make sure to check warning flags, beach bacteria and the UV index before making your way to the shore. Pack sun protection and bug spray–even though you’re safe from mosquitoes, sometimes biting flies make an irritating appearance at local beaches.

While there are plenty of waterfront eateries where you can grab lunch without straying from the coast, packing a picnic is a perfect way to make the most of your time at the beach. Grabbing takeout is always an option, but picking up a ”pub sub” from Publix is a quick and easy way to capture the essence of a classic picnic without your home kitchen.

Saturday evening: Marshwalk night out

For the main night of your weekend vacation, get ready for a night out. For seafood and southern bites, live music and drinks on the water, check out the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk. Located in the South Strand, the Marshwalk is a half-mile wooden boardwalk over an estuary. At low tide, you’ll see oysters lodged in pluff mud and, when the tide comes in, swamp grasses sway above the water.

If you have the money and time, boat rides launching right from the boardwalk let visitors tour the water. From boozy cruises to nature tours to spooky boat rides, there’s something for every taste.

For an unforgettable meal, Dead Dog Saloon offers seafood and pub-style bites surrounded by pictures of beloved canine companions that have since passed on. Or, if you find dozens of dogs watching off-putting, you can grab dinner at one of the seven other restaurants on the boardwalk or drop into different spots to grab drinks and appetizers.

The Marshwalk allows visitors to carry open containers, so you can take your drink to go and scope out the next place to patronize, enjoy performances or dance. Pop into restaurants to see live music, or make your way down between Wicked Tuna and Tuna Shak for outdoor performances.

Sunday morning: Girls’ brunch

A brunch outing is essential for any girls’ trip. Myrtle Beach is filled with pancake houses, but for a more aesthetic outing, plan for a proper brunch.

Since opening last year, Zeytin has garnered rave reviews for craft cocktails and Mediterranean-style dishes. Diners especially love the lahmacun–a thin pie with ground beef and onions, sujuk–Turkish sausage–with eggs, skewers and pancake stacks.

Sunday afternoon: shopping spree

Before bidding the Grand Strand adieu, get some retail therapy at one of the area’s malls. Myrtle Beach offers two malls, two outlet malls and three major outdoor shopping areas.

To stretch your wallet at popular favorites like Coach, Tory Burch and Lulu Lemon, visit one of the Tanger Outlets off of Highway 17 or Highway 501.

If you’re nostalgic for a more traditional mall experience, check out the Myrtle Beach Mall at the north end of Myrtle Beach next to the Intracoastal Waterway or the Coastal Grand Mall near the Myrtle Beach International Airport. Both malls offer movie theaters and classic department stores like Belk and Dillard’s.

Or if you want to soak up a bit more of the South Carolina sun, make your way to Barefoot Landing, Broadway at the Beach or the Market Common.

For classic outdoor mall stores, like Pottery Barn, Anthropologie and Barnes & Noble, the Market Common is a great destination. But for keepsakes to remember your trip, Broadway and Barefoot are good spots to browse vacation ware, souvenirs and beachy home decor.

This story was originally published July 31, 2025 at 6:00 AM.