Huntington Beach State Park and Atalaya

Huntington Beach State Park is the Grand Strand as it looked before the towers: about three miles of wide, undeveloped beach backed by dunes, salt marsh, a freshwater lake and maritime forest, just south of Murrells Inlet and directly across US-17 from Brookgreen Gardens. It was part of the same 1930s purchase by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, and their winter home, Atalaya, still stands near the beach. The house is unlike anything else on the coast: a single-story, Moorish-style compound of courtyards and rooms around a square tower, built as a working winter retreat and studio and now a National Historic Landmark you can walk through for a small extra fee. The park is also one of the best birding sites on the East Coast, with more than 300 species recorded; the causeway between the freshwater lake and the salt marsh is the place to start, and it is also where you are most likely to spot alligators sunning on the banks. Then there is the beach itself, quieter than anything in Myrtle Beach proper, with a jetty at the north end, good surf fishing and room to spread out. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for South Carolina seniors and $4 for ages 6 to 15, with Atalaya an extra $2. In standard time the park is open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (to 9 p.m. during daylight saving time), and Atalaya 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (to 5 p.m. in daylight saving time).

Start on the causeway. Park near the lake, walk slowly and scan both sides: freshwater on one, salt marsh on the other, with herons, egrets, wood storks, ospreys and in the cooler months large numbers of ducks and shorebirds. Alligators are reliably seen in the freshwater lake (keep your distance and never feed them). From there, head to the beach for a long walk north toward the jetty, where the dunes are high and the beach is empty on most off-season weekdays. Note the dog rules: leashed dogs are allowed on the south end of the beach only, not on the north end toward the jetty.

Atalaya rewards a slow visit. The Huntingtons built it in the early 1930s, and its plain stucco walls, courtyards, barred windows and tall tower make it feel more like a North African fortress than a beach house; Anna Hyatt Huntington worked on her sculpture here, which links the house directly to the collection at Brookgreen across the highway. Self-guided visits run daily on the posted schedule, but the house can close for scheduled events, so call ahead if it is the main reason for your visit. Dogs are not allowed inside.

Current notes for autumn 2026: the Nature Center's marsh boardwalk is closed for construction, and king-tide flooding closed Oyster Shell Landing and the north end road from late October through November 2. On busy weekends and holidays the park can close temporarily when parking fills, so arrive before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m. Camping (more than 170 sites, many with full hookups) is popular and books early. A small seasonal ice cream stand runs limited hours. Combine the park with Brookgreen Gardens for a full day; the two are the heart of the Huntingtons' legacy.