One of the best ways to experience the Grand Strand is by bicycle, which allows visitors to cover a lot of ground while also traveling slowly enough to take in some scenic spots you either can't access by car or couldn’t fully appreciate from an enclosed vehicle. Breakers Resort guests can explore the beautiful coastal terrain and stop to smell the wildflowers on nearby bike paths.
Whether you are an experienced cyclist who brings your own bike on vacation or a casual rider who prefers to use one of the many local bike-rental services, traveling by bike will allow you to explore miles of asphalt and dirt while discovering a different side of the Myrtle Beach area you haven't seen before. Here are some of our guests' favorite places to go for a bike ride on the Strand:
* The Hulk: Officially known as the Horry County Bike & Run Park, this mountain bike trail lives up to its nickname with big hills and a scenic green landscape. The coastal terrain on the Strand is mostly flat, so cyclists who love a little elevation change will definitely want to take on The Hulk, which begins with a 30-foot climb and continues in topsy-turvy fashion from start to finish. The trails are home to the Waccamaw Trail Blazers Mountain Bike Club, so you might even make a few friends along the way.
* Huntington Beach State Park: Bring your camera for this 26-mile trail that runs from Murrells Inlet to the Litchfield Beach oceanfront via the maritime forests of Huntington Beach State Park. The trail runs past historic sites like Atalaya Castle, natural sights like ancient live oak trees covered with Spanish moss, and eventually ends on the beach for a quick dip to cool off. While you are on the south side of the Strand, check out the adjoining 12-mile Waccamaw Neck Bikeway.
* The Market Common: This shopping and dining district has great cycling spots in both urban and rural settings. Take a spin down the side streets that surround the shops and restaurants, or head to Grand Park and go for a ride around the 2-mile loop that circles a large lake. Take a break at the picnic shelters and playground equipment for kids, and feed the ducks and geese that call the park home. There are also trails that run through the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base and beyond, including one that crosses Kings Highway into Myrtle Beach State Park.
* Ocean Boulevard: The city of Myrtle Beach recently installed bike lanes on northbound and southbound Ocean Boulevard, allowing cyclists to enjoy the same scenic views as those who have cruised The Strip in cars all these years. Although the downtown area might be more congested than you’d like for a carefree bicycle ride, Breakers guests can head north to the Golden Mile section for one of the nicest rides on the Strand. Pedal past old beach homes and take in breathtaking vistas of the ocean, beaches and dunes. The bike paths run all the way to The Dunes Golf & Beach Club before you have to turn around.
* Perrin’s Path: For a more carefree and traffic-free bike ride, the new Perrin’s Path offers a 1.2-mile paved path away from the hustle and bustle of the streets. Running behind the historic Pine Lakes Country Club — the first golf course in Myrtle Beach — Perrin’s Path is lined by trees and native shrubs for most of its length, and it features park benches and informational signage about local plant and animal life. This trail is perfect for kids still on tricycles or training wheels.
After a nice bike ride around Myrtle Beach, head back to home base at The Breakers Myrtle Beach Resort for a hot shower or a cool dip in the pool. It’s one more way to enjoy a perfect Grand Strand vacation.
