There’s a steady, if low-key, surf scene in Myrtle Beach despite the fact that the surfing is not really that good and the sport is restricted to certain areas of the beach during the busy season of the summer. The rules are a little complicated.

In Myrtle Beach proper, surfing is allowed only from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. in the following zones from April 15–September 15:

• 29th Avenue South to the southern city limits
• 37th Avenue North to 47th Avenue North
• 62nd Avenue North to 68th Avenue North
• 82nd Avenue North to northern city limits

Up in North Myrtle Beach, surfers must stay in the following zones between 9 a.m.–4 p.m. from May 15–September 15:

• Cherry Grove Pier
• 6th Avenue North
• 13th Avenue South
• 28th Avenue South
• 38th Avenue South

Down at Surfside Beach, surfing is restricted to the following zones, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. year-round:

• 12th Avenue North to 14th Avenue North
• Melody Lane to 13th Avenue South

The oldest surf shop in the area, south of Myrtle in Garden City Beach, is the Village Surf Shoppe (500 Atlantic Ave., 843/651-6396, www.villagesurf.com), which since 1969 has catered to the Strand’s growing surf scene.

Nearly as old is the Surf City Surf Shop (www.surfcitysurfshop.com) franchise in Myrtle proper, with a location in North Myrtle at 1758 Hwy. 17 South (843/272-1090) and a location at 3001 N. Kings Hwy. (843/626-5412).