Barefoot Landing is North Myrtle Beach's answer to Broadway at the Beach, and many visitors prefer it. Instead of a man-made lake, it sits on the Intracoastal Waterway, the inland channel that runs behind the Grand Strand, and its boardwalks and decks look out over the water and passing boats. Entry and parking are free, and the place is built for wandering: a long loop of independent boutiques, souvenir shops, jewelry stores, candy and jerky shops, and a range of restaurants with waterside seating, including LuLu's, Big Chill Island House, Flying Fish Public Market and Grill, Taco Mundo Kitchen y Cantina and Bully's Pub and Grill on its lakefront deck. The entertainment anchors are strong. The Alabama Theatre presents ICONIC, its signature variety production, and every holiday season The South's Grandest Christmas Show, which runs from November 2, 2026, to January 2, 2027, six nights a week with some matinees. House of Blues next door hosts tribute bands and concerts, and Alligator Adventure adds a reptile park full of alligators, birds and other animals. The calendar is busy too: summer fireworks every Monday from June through August, SummerFest, Septemberfest, BooFest at Halloween and a Christmas tree lighting followed by fireworks. In November and December it is one of the coast's best evening outings: shopping, dinner on the water and a holiday show in one stop.
Location explains the appeal. Barefoot Landing sits on US-17 in North Myrtle Beach, a few minutes inland from the beaches of Windy Hill and Cherry Grove, and its setting on the waterway gives it a breezier, more relaxed feel than the big complexes to the south. North Myrtle Beach itself formed in 1968 from four beach communities, Cherry Grove, Windy Hill, Ocean Drive and Crescent Beach, and it is the home of the shag, the Carolina beach dance; Barefoot Landing is its social hub, where families on a beach week come for an evening stroll.
Make a plan around the shows. The Alabama Theatre's Christmas show is the big ticket for November and December visitors, and House of Blues dates sell out for popular acts; book both ahead and arrive early to eat on the water before curtain. Alligator Adventure is best by day, when the animals are active. The riverboat cruises that depart from the area along the waterway are a nice extra in the warmer months; check current schedules before you go, as winter departures are limited.
When to go: summer Monday nights bring fireworks over the water, which draw big crowds; in the off-season the boardwalks are quiet, shop hours may be shorter on weekdays, and the holiday lighting brings evening visitors back from mid-November. If you are staying in North Myrtle Beach, it is an easy short drive for dinner; from central Myrtle Beach allow 20 to 30 minutes on US-17.
What to expect
The experience
A free waterfront shopping and dining village on the Intracoastal Waterway with independent shops, waterside restaurants, Alligator Adventure, the Alabama Theatre and House of Blues.
Best time
Late afternoon into evening. Summer Mondays for fireworks; mid-November onward for holiday lights and shows.
How long
Two hours for a stroll and dinner; four with a show.
Tips
Book Alabama Theatre and House of Blues seats ahead. Eat on a waterside deck before the show. See Alligator Adventure in daylight. Check cruise schedules in winter.
Quick picks
- Best for
- An evening in North Myrtle Beach that mixes waterfront dining and a show.
- Families
- Very good: free to explore, Alligator Adventure, candy shops and summer fireworks.
- Couples
- Dinner on the waterway at sunset, then a holiday show or concert.
- Pair with
- A North Myrtle Beach beach morning and the Alabama Theatre's Christmas show in season.
- Time needed
- Two to four hours.
Good questions
Where is Barefoot Landing?+
On US-17 in North Myrtle Beach, along the Intracoastal Waterway, about 20 to 30 minutes north of central Myrtle Beach.
Does it cost anything to visit?+
No. Entry and parking are free; shows, Alligator Adventure, food and shopping cost extra.
What shows are at Barefoot Landing?+
The Alabama Theatre presents ONE: The Show and, from November 2, 2026, to January 2, 2027, The South's Grandest Christmas Show. House of Blues hosts concerts and tribute bands.
When are the fireworks?+
Every Monday from June through August, on Labor Day weekend, on New Year's Eve and after the annual Christmas tree lighting.
What is Alligator Adventure?+
A reptile park at Barefoot Landing with alligators, birds and other animals, famous for Utan, the huge crocodile billed as the King of Crocs.
