From Gullah Geechee to Beach Jams: Peeling Back the Layers of Myrtle Beach

Unpacked by AFAR

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is so much more than its gorgeous beach. This week, follow Unpacked by Afar host Aislyn Greene as explores the 14 communities that make up the Grand Strand, a coastal community in South Carolina.

She tours Myrtle Beach's food, music, and culture scenes and drives down the Grand Strand to see the gardens and parks that beckon visitors away from the sand. In this episode, you’ll get off-the-beaten path and gain insight to plan your own unique vacation in Myrtle Beach.

What Is Myrtle Beach Known For?

In this episode you’ll learn:

• More about the Grand Strand: the 60 miles of beach and 14 communities beyond the boardwalk.
• Where to get the best food in Myrtle Beach: from Calabash buffets to red velvet waffles and Jamaican cuisine.
• The preserved history of Myrtle Beach, the birthplace of shag and America’s first sculpture garden.

On The Storied Side of the Beach

Don’t miss these moments:

[08:28] A historic trolley tour of Myrtle Beach legends, from Alabama to Charlie’s Place.

[15:08] Where to eat in Myrtle Beach (the best food is off-the-beaten path).

[33:10] The Gullah Geechee Seafood Trail: learning a culture, uplifting a community.

Legends and Lands Beyond the Boardwalk

In this episode, Aislyn Greene peels back the layers on Myrtle Beach to help travelers get to the heart of a popular vacation spot.

She chats with locals about the best places to eat, visits America’s first sculpture garden, learns the history of Charlie’s Place, where Black swing musicians jammed, and connects with the Grand Strand’s most foundational communities.

Meet this week’s guests

• Stuart Butler, chief marketing officer for Visit Myrtle Beach
• Kathryn Hedgepath, the creator and narrator of the Myrtle Beach History Trolley Tours
• Retro Myrtle Beach Guy, YouTube travel creator
• Jamie Daskalis, chef at Johnny D’s Waffles and Benedicts
• Andre James, freelance food writer
• Ann Wilson, interpretive park ranger at Myrtle Beach State Park
• Paige Kinnery, president and CEO of Brookgreen Gardens
• Marilyn Hemingway, CEO and founding president of the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce and the Gullah Geechee Chamber Foundation

Resources

• Read the full transcript of the episode.
• Book one of Kathryn’s four trolley history tours.
• Explore Retro Guy’s Myrtle Beach videos.
• Dine at Johnny D’s (don’t miss the red velvet waffles).
• Visit Myrtle Beach State Park.
• Tour Brookgreen Gardens.
• Read the Eater guide to Myrtle Beach.
• Explore the Gullah Geechee Seafood Trail.
• Explore more Afar stories about Myrtle Beach, like this food and drink guide and this guide for travelers with disabilities.
• Go to Visit Myrtle Beach, for deals, events and guides during your tip.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us