Four places, each with its own reason to visit
An oceanfront stay gives you a lovely place to begin and end the day. In between, there is plenty to discover nearby: breakfast overlooking the Atlantic in Surfside Beach, fishing or an evening band at Garden City Pier, dinner and live music along the MarshWalk, or a leisurely afternoon exploring Pawleys Island.
The Salty Mermaid and Ocean Currents are both in Garden City Beach. Surfside Beach is easily accessible from either property, while Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island give you more reasons to explore farther south. These communities share a stretch of coast, but each brings something different to a getaway.
Garden City Beach: oceanfront mornings and an evening at the pier
Garden City Beach is home to both of our corner oceanfront condos. Start with coffee on your balcony, a walk along the shoreline or time by the pool. You do not need to leave the neighborhood to enjoy the coast.
When you do venture out, The Pier at Garden City offers more than a view. There is a fishing pier and tackle shop, an arcade for a little family competition, and seasonal live entertainment. It can be a fishing outing during the day or a place to hear a band in the evening. Check the pier's current calendar for music and seasonal operations.
For a different Garden City evening, read our visit to The Quay, with an inlet-side setting to contrast with a day on the oceanfront.
An easy plan: A beach morning, a relaxed afternoon at your condo, then dinner or music near the pier.
Surfside Beach: pier restaurants, ocean views and a weekly market
Surfside Beach is an easy outing from both The Salty Mermaid and Ocean Currents. The Surfside Beach Fishing Pier is a good starting point, with room to stroll above the waves and restaurants with direct ocean views.
The Whistling Duck pairs its oceanfront setting with wine, charcuterie and shared plates. Explore The Whistling Duck’s official website above for a closer look at its setting and menu. Surf Diner is another dining option on the pier, and Drippy's offers an ice-cream stop while you explore. Check each business's current hours when planning a meal.
There is also a reason to venture a little inland. The town's weekly farmers market takes place at Memorial Park on Surfside Drive during its operating season. Browse produce, baked goods, local honey and locally made items, with vendors varying from week to week. The town currently lists Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., from April 7 through December 15 for the 2026 season; check the linked calendar for your visit.
An easy plan: Browse the market on a Tuesday, then head toward the pier for lunch with an ocean view. On another day, make the pier itself the outing and stay for a leisurely meal.
Murrells Inlet: live music, seafood and a day on the water
The MarshWalk brings you to the tidal-water side of the coast. Waterfront restaurants, docks and marsh views make it a natural place to spend an evening. Walk along the boardwalk, choose somewhere for dinner, and see which venues have live music that night. The setting gives you a different perspective from the open Atlantic outside your condo.
It is also a starting point for more active plans. Fish Finder Fishing Charters offers inshore and nearshore trips departing from the MarshWalk. Express Watersports, with docks along the MarshWalk, lists jet ski rentals, kayaking and paddleboarding, dolphin-watching trips and sunset cruises. Choose an outing that fits your group's interests and confirm the operator's meeting point, seasonal availability and requirements before booking.
For a different kind of Murrells Inlet day, put Huntington Beach State Park or Brookgreen Gardens on your list. The park offers beach, wildlife viewing and Atalaya; Brookgreen combines sculpture, gardens and the Lowcountry Zoo.
Brookgreen also offers a changing calendar of nature walks, Yoga in the Gardens, art exhibitions and creative workshops. Check the official events calendar for your travel dates, including registration requirements and any separate fees.
An easy plan: Reserve a fishing charter or water outing for one day. Save another evening for dinner, a walk beside the marsh and live music.
Pawleys Island: the Hammock Shops and a change of scenery
Pawleys Island deserves a place in the itinerary, too. Head south for an afternoon that combines browsing, a meal and another view of the coast.
Start at The Hammock Shops Village. The collection includes The Original Hammock Shop, home and gift shops, clothing boutiques and specialty-food shops. Browse at your own pace, then consider BisQit or Local Eat Drink Celebrate, both listed among the village's dining options. This is a useful outing for a day when you want to do something beyond the beach without filling every hour.
The shopping village is on the mainland. The island itself is a separate stop, with public beach access managed by the town. If you would like to add a shoreline walk, use the Town of Pawleys Island's beach-access and parking information to choose a legal access point. Public access does not mean unlimited parking, so plan the stop before setting out.
An easy plan: A leisurely browse through the Hammock Shops, lunch nearby and, if it fits the day, a separate visit to the island's beach.
Choose one outing, then leave a little space
You do not need to cover all four communities in one day. Pair the Surfside market with a pier-side lunch, give a fishing charter its own morning, or save Pawleys Island for a browsing-and-dining afternoon.
Use current directions from your chosen property rather than a fixed promise about drive times. For more ideas, browse our five things to do near Garden City Beach, then leave yourself time to enjoy your oceanfront home base.
Find your Garden City Beach home base
The Salty Mermaid offers two bedrooms, two en-suite bathrooms and an oceanfront balcony with beach access down the oceanfront stairs.
Ocean Currents offers one bedroom with a king bed, an oceanfront balcony and elevator access.
Both offer corner oceanfront settings and electric fireplaces. Explore the property that fits your trip, then leave room to discover the neighboring communities.
