Myrtle beach vacation what to do
Myrtle Beach is a town in South Carolina that’s home to 2 million people and offers a wide range of activities. It’s known for its beautiful beaches, and it’s also home to the first public golf course in the U.S. designed by Donald Ross. The city has long been popular with tourists from all over America, but it’s also the location of many businesses that cater to families traveling with children.
Myrtle Beach is also known for its natural beauty. It’s surrounded by water with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Intracoastal Waterway on the other side. It has three famous beaches: The Grand Strand, North Myrtle Beach, and South Myrtle Beach.
The best way to enjoy Myrtle Beach is to stay in a rental property. There are thousands of vacation rentals available, and you can find the perfect place for you and your family.
The best part about renting an apartment or house is that you don’t have to worry about packing up your stuff, driving all the way back home, or dealing with long lines at the airport. You can just relax and enjoy your vacation!
Another great benefit of renting a home is that it’s easy to find out exactly what it will cost before you book it online. Once you know how much money you have left over after paying for your rental, you can plan out exactly how much fun everyone will have this summer!
Myrtle beach vacation what to do
1. Hit the Beach
While it might seem obvious, the main attraction in Myrtle beach is the beautiful stretch of white-sand beach along the city’s oceanfront, which extends for a total of 60 miles. Fly a kite, search for shells, toss a Frisbee, or let the kids enjoy the water while parents watch nearby.
Adventurers can enjoy a variety of sports, such as boating, fishing, surfing, para-sailing, windsurfing, or scuba diving. Many people come simply to set up a chair and read a book. A nighttime walk on the beach shows off the lights of the hotels with the background sounds of water breaking on the sands.
The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is where you will find the bulk of the town’s hotels, family tourist attractions, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Along the 1.4-mile-long promenade, you will also find multiple stages, which feature concerts as well as arcades and other entertainment. Watch for a variety of special events and annual festivals hosted here, including the Myrtle Beach Seafood Festival, the Carolina Country Music Fest, and others.
2. Go Underwater at Ripley’s Aquarium
Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach gives families the unique opportunity to explore a giant aquatic habitat from the inside, thanks to the acrylic tunnel that winds through the Dangerous Reef aquarium. From within this tunnel, visitors can get up close to thousands of fish, including sea turtles, stingrays, and giant sharks. The courageous can opt to actually camp overnight inside the tunnel, and those who are extra-brave can try diving with the sharks.
The aquarium also has a variety of habitats that feature aquatic residents of the Indo-Pacific, like the intricately colored clown triggerfish, an Amazon River habitat, and a stingray lagoon. Visitors can learn more about marine life in the interactive Discovery Center and find out how the immense habitats are maintained by visiting the facility’s systems control room. Staff members also present regular shows, including shark, sea dragon, and jellyfish feedings; dive shows; and a mermaid show.
Address: 1110 Celebrity Cir, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Official site: www.ripleyaquariums.com/myrtlebeach/
3. Be Amazed at WonderWorks
WonderWorks Myrtle Beach takes the concept of a science museum to a new level, engaging kids of all ages in learning while having tons of fun. The interactive exhibits are organized by theme into WonderZones, which focus on topics like natural disasters, physical challenges, lights and sound, space exploration, and art. There is also an area dedicated to the youngest visitors, where they can play and learn with activities like a giant Lite-Brite.
Fun activities include the Extreme 360 bikes experience, an indoor glow-in-the-dark ropes course, and a laser tag arena. The whole family will love the immersive experience of the 6D Extreme theater where motion, environmental effects, and a 3-D film create an exciting thrill ride.
Outside the crazy building, the fun continues with a zipline that soars for 1,000 feet above the water and a ropes course with various challenges all suspended 40 feet in the air.
Address: 1313 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Official site: www.wonderworksonline.com/myrtle-beach
4. Catch a Dinner Show at Dolly Parton’s Pirates Voyage
Next door to The Carolina Opry sits Dolly Parton’s “Pirates Voyage,” a dinner show for landlubbers. Guests are seated in front of a watery stage to enjoy a hearty meal while watching acrobatic pirates from the Sapphire and Crimson crews battle for victory. Sea lions, parrots, and other live animals join the pirates for tricks, comedy, and contests. And audience members can also join in on the fun.
Even though you can purchase tickets at the door, it’s a good idea to call ahead to secure the best seats. Also plan to arrive early (but not more than 45 minutes) to get good spots for the pre-show, which is a first-come, first-served general seating show.
Address: 8901 N Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Official site: http://piratesvoyage.com/
5. Take in the View from the SkyWheel
The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel takes guests way up high in its 42, six-person gondolas. The ride offers an expansive view and plenty of photo ops, and the gondolas are climate-controlled for comfort.
If you want to take your experience one step further, reserve the VIP option for a longer ride in a gondola with a glass floor and views from every angle; advance tickets are available online. At night, one million LED lights illuminate the wheel, making it an iconic landmark and point of reference for tourists and locals alike.
Address: 1110 N Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Official site: www.myrtlebeachskywheel.com
6. Have a Night Out at Broadway at the Beach
Visitors can find a variety of activities at the family-friendly Broadway at the Beach district, home to attractions such as Old Tyme Portraits, Ripley’s Aquarium, and WonderWorks. Other popular activities include mini-golf, a water park, a wax museum, boat rides, and helicopter tours. The Legends in Concert, a celebrity tribute show, is also based here in a state-of-the-art facility.
The area has dining options with classic fare (burgers, pizza, steak, and seafood). On a warm evening, take a paddleboat ride or an after-dark stroll on the Broadway bridges extending over the Intracoastal Waterway. (Pick the bridge closest to Dragon’s Lair Fantasy Golf for some light-hearted background music.)
Every Tuesday and Friday and some weekend days later in the season, Broadway at the Beach lights off an impressive fireworks display at 10pm.
Address: 1325 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Official site: www.broadwayatthebeach.com
7. Stroll through Brookgreen Gardens
Intricate sculptures decorate the grounds of Brookgreen Gardens, a unique property that merges art and nature in a variety of ways. The 9,127-acre property is home to extensive botanical gardens, which form a natural gallery for the artwork, but is also a history and wildlife preserve.
In addition to miles of paths and quiet resting places, Brookgreen offers excursions on a 48-foot pontoon boat, which floats alongside historic Oaks Plantation rice fields, and other guided tours include more areas of the plantation, including the old rice mill and a Civil War fort.
The remote historic plantation house can also be seen via an interpreter-led tour, which also includes visits to the Alston family cemetery and the remains of the plantation’s slave village.
Address: 1931 Brookgreen Garden Dr, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Official site: www.brookgreen.org
8. Ride the Roller Coaster at Family Kingdom Amusement Park
The Family Kingdom Amusement Park offers rides along with the games of chance right on Myrtle Beach’s seashore. Whether you purchase individual ride tickets, get a wristband for all-day fun, or just want to stroll through the arcades and soak up the festive seaside carnival atmosphere, this is a fun place for families, couples, and everyone else.
The park gets better every year and has recently added four new rides that include a brand-new steel roller coaster called Twist ‘n Shout, the super fun Magic Bikes, and the slightly crazy Jump Around Dune Buggies.
The classic rides remain, with favorites like bumper cars, go-karts, antique cars, a carousel, Ferris wheels, and a kiddie train. Thrill rides include multiple roller coasters, tilt-a-whirl, and a 110-foot free fall Sling Shot.
Cool off at the adjacent Splashes Water Park where you’ll find 18 attractions, some of which include a log flume, speed slides, a 430-foot lazy river, and a variety of water flumes.
Address: 300 Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Official site: www.familykingdomfun.com
9. Learn about Jet Aircraft at Warbird Park
Warbird Park is an educational and free attraction located in the Market Common district of Myrtle Beach at the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. Since its privatization in 1993, the base has become a beautiful park, displaying aircraft that was once an active part of operations, and each craft on display is presented with details about its history and significance.
Among aircraft on display, tourists will find an A-10 Warthog Thunderbolt that supported ground troops during Operation Desert Storm, an F-100 jet fighter that saw action between the mid-1950s and early 1970s, and one of the base’s A-7 Corsair tactical fighter jets. The park is also home to the Wall of Service, which contains the names of all service members who served at the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.
Address: Farrow Pkwy, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Official site: www.warbirdpark.com
10. Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Myrtle Beach has seven different Ripley’s attractions in two different locations: Broadway at the Beach and North Ocean Boulevard near Plyer Park. Perfect for a rainy or cool day or just for some pure fun and nonsense, these attractions never fail to provide a good time.
Options include the Super Fun Zone arcade; a 5-D Moving Theater; the spectacular Ripley’s Aquarium; a Haunted Adventure; a Marvelous Mirror Maze; the Smash Dash; and the old standby of oddities, Believe it or Not!
Boardwalk on the Beach
- Address: 1110 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
North Ocean Boulevard
- Address: 901 North Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Official site: www.ripleys.com/myrtlebeach
11. Get Wet at Myrtle Waves Water Park
Myrtle Beach is home to South Carolina’s largest water park – Myrtle Waves. Over one million gallons of water flow through more than 20 acres of slides, rides, rafts, and chutes. The larger and more heart-stopping slides include Turbo Twisters, the King Cobra shoot on Snake Mountain, and Night Flight, but other tamer options suited to younger children are available. Myrtle Waves has the city’s only FlowRider endless surf machine.
Among a thrilling range of water slides, the 20-foot-long enclosed Super Chute slide is for the bravest souls. It will have you screaming before tossing you into the water. Other beachfront water parks include Splashes Water Park and Wild & Water Wheels, which is home to huge waterslides and tube slides, pools, a go-kart track, kiddie and family rides, and mini-golf.
Address: 3000 10th Ave N, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Official site: www.myrtlewaves.com
12. Test Your Skills at One of the Mini Golf Courses
Dozens of mini golf courses are located throughout the Grand Strand. In fact, one could almost make a full vacation out of just playing putt-putt golf. Route 17 business, which runs parallel to Ocean Boulevard, is home to the majority of the area’s mini golf courses. Some of the biggies are Mt. Atlanticus, Jungle Lagoon, Treasure Island, and Captain Hook’s Adventure Golf.
These mini golf operations are more than just your standard run-of-the-mill golf courses. They have elaborate holes that include ships, caves, jungles, and a surprise or two you might not expect.
13. Go Shopping at Barefoot Landing
Similar to Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing has quite a selection of shopping, food, and quality entertainment in north Myrtle Beach. During the day, visitors can shop for apparel, jewelry, and gifts or pick from a wide variety of attractions such as Alligator Adventure and Backstage MirrorMaze.
Come evening, catch a show at The Alabama Theater or the House of Blues. Another option (for brave souls) is a Myrtle Beach Ghost Walk. During these Ghosts and Legends tours, guides relate haunting pirate stories for an enthralled crowd.
Every Monday, Barefoot Landing shoots off an impressive display of fireworks at 10pm.
Address: 4898 Hwy 17 S, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Official site: www.bflanding.com
14. See a Show at the Carolina Opry
The Carolina Opry has been the go-to place for some of the biggest shows in Myrtle Beach for well over 30 years having staged over 9,000 productions. Loved by locals and tourists alike, the Carolina Opry pulses with music most nights of the year. A trip to the Opry is the beachy South Carolina version of Broadway in New York City.
The Carolina Opry features productions with catchy, classic tunes that will have you clapping and singing along. Each performance showcases talented singers, musicians, comedians, and dancers, including acts from America’s Got Talent and American Idol. Tribute bands also feature prominently in the lineup of acts.
Address: 8901 N Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Official site: www.thecarolinaopry.com
15. Hollywood House of Wax
Every tourist town needs a wax museum, and Myrtle Beach is no exception with its Hollywood House of Wax. You’ll have no trouble spotting it off Highway 17; just look for King Kong swinging off the Empire State Building.
Inside the wax museum are eerily lifelike wax figures of Hollywood’s most famous actors, including Clint Eastwood, Duane Johnson (aka The Rock), and others. You can also get onstage with some of today’s most notable musicians and hold a trophy with NASCAR heroes.
The Hollywood House of Wax is located in the Broadway at the Beach complex.