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Um...ok....I imagine you must be local to SC, because only a SC resident would say that its beaches are prettier than the Gulf Coast.
My parents rent yearly in Folly Beach, SC (outside of Charleston). My in-laws own a house on the Gulf Coast between Panama City and Destin. The Gulf Coast beaches are *MUCH* prettier. To say that the SC coast even compares is a gross exaggeration.
I live in NC, so I personally like having the Atlantic so nearby, but seriously, the Gulf has the most beautiful white sand beaches and *crystal* clear water. It's the closest you'll get to the Caribbean clearness in the States. It looks like bath water.
Folly Beach is very, very murky. In fact we just returned from there today, and man is it murky. I found this forum thread because I came home wondering why and googled "why are SC beaches so murky?".
We've been to Bald Head Island quite a bit, and it's not nearly as murky as Folly, but it still holds no candle to Gulf Coast. If you want clear water, go there.
Oh, and by the way, the Atlanta really has no more waves than the Gulf. In my years of going to both places, I see no difference. Both are adequate. You can surf both, but you'll be disappointed.
Destin is wonderful and beautiful water and white sandy beach. I have never saw anything clear or even close to it at the beaches in MB.
Everytime I go to the beach it is pretty clear. Was there last week for a few days and out in the ocean up to my chest & could see my feet. That was the prettiest I have seen it in a while. Guess it depends on weather systems/jet streams/currents/etc.
Everytime I go to the beach it is pretty clear. Was there last week for a few days and out in the ocean up to my chest & could see my feet. That was the prettiest I have seen it in a while. Guess it depends on weather systems/jet streams/currents/etc.
That is something, I assume you are talking about Myrtle Beach. Everytime I have gone it's always brown in color and you can't exactly see your feet or anything.
I was wondering if the water at Myrtle Beach is clear or muddy/murky? I've heard alot of beaches tend to be murky due to the wave action like the Atlantic churns up. But there are a few places where wave action is less, so the water tends to be clearer. I was wondering if this is the case in M.B.?
no, Myrtle Beach does not have particularly clear water.
an earlier poster hit the nail on the head with tannins.
I live at a beach about 1.5 hours north of MB, and the water is crystal clear. The reason being, that our tiny little watershed is unusual for this area. It has sandy soil, and few tannins in the water. You can see your feet, even when the water is chest-high.
About 10 miles south of my beach, there is another beach that is close proximity to a river that drains a huge watershed (1/3 of NC), with high tannin levels. It is just a little ways away, but the water is grey-black and murky.
no, Myrtle Beach does not have particularly clear water.
an earlier poster hit the nail on the head with tannins.
I live at a beach about 1.5 hours north of MB, and the water is crystal clear. The reason being, that our tiny little watershed is unusual for this area. It has sandy soil, and few tannins in the water.
About 10 miles south of my beach, there is another beach that is close proximity to a river that drains a huge watershed (1/3 of NC), with high tannin levels. It is just a little ways away, but the water is grey-black and murky.
Hey Le Roi, what beach are you at? How can I find it? I have heard a very very long time ago about crystal clear water in Myrtle Beach and have not been able to find it, other than a pool. People look at me like I am nuts or something.
Um...ok....I imagine you must be local to SC, because only a SC resident would say that its beaches are prettier than the Gulf Coast.
My parents rent yearly in Folly Beach, SC (outside of Charleston). My in-laws own a house on the Gulf Coast between Panama City and Destin. The Gulf Coast beaches are *MUCH* prettier. To say that the SC coast even compares is a gross exaggeration.
I live in NC, so I personally like having the Atlantic so nearby, but seriously, the Gulf has the most beautiful white sand beaches and *crystal* clear water. It's the closest you'll get to the Caribbean clearness in the States. It looks like bath water.
Folly Beach is very, very murky. In fact we just returned from there today, and man is it murky. I found this forum thread because I came home wondering why and googled "why are SC beaches so murky?".
We've been to Bald Head Island quite a bit, and it's not nearly as murky as Folly, but it still holds no candle to Gulf Coast. If you want clear water, go there.
Oh, and by the way, the Atlanta really has no more waves than the Gulf. In my years of going to both places, I see no difference. Both are adequate. You can surf both, but you'll be disappointed.
old post, i know.
but i'd point out that Folly Beach and Bald Head Island are both at the mouths of huge blackwater river systems. Their murkiness has nothing to do with them being Atlantic. This poster is making poor assumptions based on limited experience.
While parts of the Florida panhandle are beautiful, I could point to the Mississippi gulf coast of Gulfport-Biloxi as an example of some nasty gulf water (even before the spill.) So it isn't a gulf vs. atlantic issue... it can vary widely from one beach town to the next. Just look on a map to see why Destin is so clear -- a huge chunk of its local watershed (with all that black silt) runs parallel to the coast, and drains into the Pensacola Bay, a few beaches west.
Hey Le Roi, what beach are you at? How can I find it? I have heard a very very long time ago about crystal clear water in Myrtle Beach and have not been able to find it, other than a pool. People look at me like I am nuts or something.
i am at Wrightsville. Figure Eight is also crystal clear. Further up the coast, Emerald Isle is supposedly one of the most beautiful beaches in the area, but I haven't made it that far north yet.
clear water is just aesthetic, though. Some of these "clear waters" are actually loaded with bacteria, like here at Wrightsville.
Nearby Carolina Beach, by contrast, is nasty grey, and covers you with a grimy film... but has exceptionally "clean" water from a bacteria standpoint.
i am at Wrightsville. Figure Eight is also crystal clear. Further up the coast, Emerald Isle is supposedly one of the most beautiful beaches in the area, but I haven't made it that far north yet.
clear water is just aesthetic, though. Some of these "clear waters" are actually loaded with bacteria, like here at Wrightsville.
That is interesting. I have always been told this but if it's loaded with bacteria then it may not be that worth going to. Thanks though for the info I will check it out when I am in that area.
That is something, I assume you are talking about Myrtle Beach. Everytime I have gone it's always brown in color and you can't exactly see your feet or anything.
We always go to Huntington Beach SP, Myrtle Beach SP & Garden City. It was gorgeous last week while we were there. I'll take it any day over the beaches in the northeast, and yes, I've been to them plenty of times over the years.
I'd post some pics but they all have my kids in them.
We always go to Huntington Beach SP, Myrtle Beach SP & Garden City. It was gorgeous last week while we were there. I'll take it any day over the beaches in the northeast, and yes, I've been to them plenty of times over the years.
I'd post some pics but they all have my kids in them.
I like huntington state park too but haven't been in a while. Interesting how the water in different places are clear. Thanks for writing.
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