One of the more upscale Charleston-area beaches, Isle of Palms maintains a longstanding reputation as  one of the state's best family-friendly, noncommercial beaches. Amenities range from beachside bars to numerous volleyball courts, as well as accessible showers and bathrooms. The beach (and surrounding community) is characterized by a quaint, small-town vibe even in the height of the season.
Photo courtesy of iStock / TriggerPhoto

Most famous for the wide Grand Strand beach, Huntington Beach State Park has plenty more to offer, including excellent birdwatching, the state's best surf fishing and historical attractions like Atalaya, the Moorish-style winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington and a National Historic Landmark.
Photo courtesy of iStock / UWMadison

Litchfield Beach brings the feel of Hilton Head to South Carolina's Grand Strand. While just 30 minutes north of Myrtle Beach, Litchfield Beach couldn't be more different. The public access beach points here offer a much quieter seaside experience.
Photo courtesy of iStock / RiverNorthPhotography

This Myrtle Beach-area stretch of sand, nicknamed the Family Beach, enjoys soft white sand and dozens of public access points. Surfside Pier is a local favorite for fishing, while other amenities include showers, handicap ramps and water sports rentals.
Photo courtesy of fran.trudeau / Flickr

Sandwiched between river and ocean, this 11-mile Kiawah Beachwalker Park offers up the island’s only public beach access. Its wide boardwalk cuts a path through a host of native flora including pine, yucca and hardy palmetto. Flat and wide with amenities that include picnic areas, a host of fun beach rental services and a snack bar, Beachwalker also is a favorite for dog-lovers, who enjoy bringing their leashed pets with them on strolls.
Photo courtesy of Bill Sutton / Flickr

Stretching between Surfside Beach and the entrance to Murrells Inlet is Garden City Beach, a quiet beach community popular with vacationing families, as well as water sports enthusiasts, fishers and crabbers. At the heart of the beach, a fishing pier extends 668 feet over the water.
Photo courtesy of Donald Kautz / Flickr

Explore the 6-plus miles of this expansive and beautiful beach any way you want – recommended ideas include walking or cycling. The view of the beach is just as enticing from the water, so much so that Folly is frequented by surfers. Those with little or no experience need not fret, myriad outfitters are happy to step in with expert tutelage.
Photo courtesy of Ron Cogswell / Flickr

With nine public beach access points and abundant (and free) parking, Pawleys Island offers a self-described "elegantly shabby" beach escape just 35 minutes south of Myrtle Beach's bustling Grand Strand.
Photo courtesy of iStock / UWMadison

Welcome to the Grand Strand, a 60-mile necklace of South Carolina beaches in which Myrtle Beach is the crown jewel. This town is well known for its world-class golf, but its beaches are just as impressive. Iconic structures – the towering SkyWheel and Apache Pier (the East Coast’s longest wooden one!) – are great stops in between one’s enjoyment of the oceanfront sunrises, lively Atlantic surf and the unparalleled Lowcountry seafood.
Photo courtesy of Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

Situated in North Myrtle Beach, Cherry Grove Beach is home to a 985-foot fishing pier with expansive sandy beach to either side, over 3 miles in total.
Photo courtesy of Rain0975 / Flickr