Posted on 4/30/2024

Top 5 Things to Do at the Heritage Shores Nature Preserve

While most first-time visitors associate North Myrtle Beach with sandy beaches and soft waves, there is plenty more for nature-lovers to explore during their stay! Visit the Heritage Shores Nature Preserve during your stay on The Grand Strand!

Heritage Shores Nature Preserve is just one of the many great natural attractions to visit while youâre staying on The Grand Strand. For a full list, download our free Vacation Guide! Itâs chock-full of great recommendations for historic sites, museums, parks, restaurants, and art galleries in the area. Planning your vacation is easy when you use our free Vacation Guide!

Visit the Heritage Shores Nature Preserve

Wooden boardwalk along Goldenrod trail on a cloudy day, Sunshine on leaves

The Heritage Shores Nature Preserve was established in 2007 and is located on an island in the Cherry Grove marsh. This seven-acre park is perfect for fishing, kayaking, birdwatching, and picnics. Admission is free year-round, making this one of the best free things to do in North Myrtle Beach!

Enjoy Birdwatching

Heritage Shores is a renowned destination for birdwatching. Many different species can be found here, including blue herons, brown pelicans, white ibis, and great egrets. Visitors have even spotted double-crested cormorants, osprey, hawks, and barred owls! Grab your binoculars and take advantage of this thriving bird habitat.

Take Advantage of the Heritage Shores Nature Preserve Fishing

grandfather and grandson fishing on a pier together making new memories

Are you an avid angler? Take advantage of the preserveâs fishing pier in the Cherry Grove Hog Inlet. This body of water is home to a variety of native fish include silverside, winter flounder, mummichog, and pinfish. You may even catch Atlantic croaker and striped mullet. Keep an eye out for beautiful bottlenose dolphin who fish in this area too!

Take a Stroll

With more than seven acres of walking paths, park guests can experience a different hike each time they visit. Interpretive signs describe the plants, animals, fish, and birds in the area and a scenic mile-long boardwalk winds through the beautiful and diverse ecosystem. Be sure to bring your camera!

Have a Picnic

Cute family picnicking in the park

There are several picturesque spots in the park where visitors can enjoy lunch with a view. Simply pack a sandwich or a few snacks and munch on your goodies while admiring the inlet and ocean. Picnics are fun for the whole family, and dogs are permitted in the park as long as they are on a leash.

Go Kayaking

After lunch, paddle your way through the Cherry Grove marsh by kayak! Great Escapes Kayaking Expeditions offers guided two-hour kayak tours through the preserve. Youâll explore hidden saltwater creeks and can watch awesome marine life in their natural habitat. Donât forget to call ahead to make your reservations!

Book Your Stay in North Myrtle Beach With Seaside Vacations

After a day spent exploring Heritage Shores Nature Preserve, return to your gorgeous rental home or condo from Seaside Vacations! You wonât find a better selection of accommodations anywhere else on The Grand Strand.

If youâre visiting the Heritage Shores Nature Preserve, consider renting one of our condos in Hyperion Towers! Our two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit is just a 15-minute walk from the park. Prepare your picnic lunch in the fully-equipped kitchen or enjoy the views from the large oceanfront balcony. This condo also features a washer and a dryer, three televisions, and free internet access.

Please take a look at the rest of our rentals and book today! We are excited to have you.