Myrtle Beach Message Board

Are there any local parks or public areas on the Intercoastal in MB where someone can sit and spend a few hours watching the boat traffic? We've got some friends we're down here with this week that always do that in Fla, and were looking to do it here in the next day or two.

Thanks in advance.

Have you been to the Marshwalk in Murrells Inlet?
http://www.marshwalk.com/
There's a public beach ramp next to the Belin Methodist Church where you can watch small boats going out of the Inlet to the Intracoastal Waterway. There are a lot of larger boats along the Marshwalk. Park near Capt. Dick's and walk out the Veterans' Pier for some good views.

Drive down to Marlin Quay at the end of Garden City where you can see the ocean on one side and Murrells Inlet on the other. If you get there at sunset, you can take some nice pictures from the deck of Gulf Stream Cafe, next door to the Marina.
http://marlinquay.net/

On the north end, try Harbour Gate Marina:
http://www.harbourgatemarina.com/

Dave and Sue, I assume from your post that you're looking for a public, park-like area to just go and sit, relax and watch the boats along the Intracoastal Waterway.

I would suggest checking out the Socastee area near the old bridge, or perhaps a bit further south of that near the Waccattee Zoo off of Enterprise Road (which is off of Route 707). We took the boat cruise from the zoo a couple summers ago and I remember seeing a public boat launch area just south of there where I think you could just watch the boats go by. I'm not sure how much boat traffic there would be along that stretch, though, and I'm not sure how to reach that boat launch from the road. Perhaps a Google Earth or similar search would reveal something.

You can also go down to the waterway behind some of the Barefoot Landing shops. I'm not sure if there are benches there or not, but it might be a busier area to watch the boats. However, there it's all concrete - not really any shade at all.

Good luck - and if you find a perfect place, please share it with everyone. It could become a new favorite for locals and vacationers alike.

The Boathouse near Freestyle park is an excellent place. They have a Tiki bar on the waterway too.

I do remember seeing a park with a small pier right off of Dick Pond Road between Garden City and Socastee. I wonder if there is any place between Little River and Barefoot Landing that would be free to dock a boat to for a little bit to stretch you legs and maybe have a restroom and then get back on the boat. As we are renting a boat again in Little River and we are heading south this time and I especially would love to know about a place with a restroom as I don't like being stuck on the water if I need to go. Like if we made it to one of the marinas could we temporally dock then leave. If anyone knows about this I would be very grateful.

Vereen Gardens on 179 in Little River is outstanding. A couple of piers for fishing and watching boat traffic.