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You will never run out of fun and exciting things to do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The amusements and attractions in Myrtle Beach attract all ages and include thrilling roller coasters, slippery water slides, bungee jumping at the beach, video arcades, aquarium, wax museum, horseback riding, miniature golf, boat and Jeep tours and a world-famous sculpture garden.
Indoors and outside, Myrtle Beach’s attractions and amusements are everywhere—on the beaches and inland. Some are fast paced, while others offer rest and relaxation. Walk down the block or explore all 60 miles of the Grand Strand and the myriad of amusements and attractions offered.
Little River:
Tribal Island Tiki Adventure Golf
This is miniature golf at its most adventurous. Two 18-hole putt-putt golf courses, Volcano Valley and Tiki Bay, wind in and out of caves, under waterfalls and around an active volcano that erupts hourly. The Par 3 golf course is lighted at Tribal Island Tiki Adventure Golf and this attraction also features a driving range. Open daily.
(901 Highway 17 North, Little River; 843-281-1177)
www.harbourviewgolf.com
Inlet Point Plantation Stables
Horseback riding at the beach is an activity straight out of the movies. But when you vacation in North Myrtle Beach, Inlet Point Plantation Stables is just down the street. Kids 10 and older and adults are invited to experience the tranquility of a 2-hour ride that takes you around the plantation and on the beautiful beaches of a private island. For kids 7-years-old and up, there is a 1-hour trail ride through a pecan grove and it also goes along the Intracoastal Waterway. For the youngest in your family, Inlet Point Plantation Stables has pony rides. Reservations accepted.
(5800 Highway 236, North Myrtle Beach; 843-249-2989)
www.inletpointplantation.com
North Myrtle Beach:
Alligator Adventure
Conveniently located at Barefoot Landing, Alligator Adventure showcases a collection of exotic birds, lizards, giant frogs and reptiles from around the world. Alligator Adventure has black bears, Galapagos tortoises, rattlesnakes and pythons and the star of the show is Utan, a 2,000-pound, 20-foot long crocodile that was raised in Thailand. He’s the largest crocodile to ever come to the United States. Meander through the marshes, along the swamp trails and explore the zoological gardens. Some of nature’s most beautiful and intriguing exhibits are found at Alligator Adventure.
(4604 Highway 17 South, North Myrtle Beach; 800-361-0789)
Bob’s Watersports and Clowns Arcade
Banana boat rides and parasailing are in store for you at Bob’s Watersports and Clowns Arcade. The whole family can bounce along the ocean’s waves on a banana boat ride—it easily holds six people. But it is the parasailing adventure that gives you the best oceanfront views!
(2208 North Ocean Boulevard, North Myrtle Beach; 843-249-9908)
Carolina Safari Jeep Tours
This three-hour tour has appeared on Discovery’s Travel Channel and is well known for all the history and lore it shares. Pirates, ghosts, alligators and slaves are part of the expedition that takes you past a graveyard, ricefields and a cypress swamp. From a 15th-century Spanish castle and the African Gullah culture to several ecosystems for a peek at wildlife and nature, Carolina Safari Jeep Tours makes learning fun.
(pick up at most area hotels; 888-497-5330)
La Belle Amie Vineyard
Myrtle Beach’s very own local winery features summer festivals, live music and bring-your-own-picnic events throughout the year. This property has been in the Bellamy family since the 1800s and they run the vineyard today. Picnics on the beautiful grounds are encouraged and wine tastings are expected. A gift shop is on site and vineyard tours are available. Call for more information about special events. Open Monday through Saturday.
(Highway 90, Little River; 843-399-WINE)
www.labelleamie.com
Myrtle Beach:
Air Boingo
For an 80-foot bungee jumping experience near the beach, visit Air Boingo. They have more than two million safe bungee jumps on record. For a thrilling Myrtle Beach experience, go bungee jumping! Located just off the beach. Open daily in the summertime.
(311 8th Avenue North, Myrtle Beach; 843-626-2863)
Family Kingdom Amusement Park & Water Park
More than 30 amusements rides, including a wooden roller coaster and a 100-foot free fall ride, are found at this Myrtle Beach amusement park. Family Kingdom Amusement Park has South Carolina’s largest Ferris wheel and the historic carousel is a work of art as well as a children’s favorite. There are more than a dozen attractions for the younger kids in your family, such as gentle pony rides. Park entrance is free and park wristbands or ride tickets are available for purchase. Next door to the amusement park is the oceanfront water park. Slippery slides, kiddie pools, lazy rivers and flume rides offer refreshing fun with breathtaking ocean views. Open daily in summer. The amusement park is open daily April through September.
| (300 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach; 843-626-3447) www.family-kingdom.com |
Huffman Helicopters
Hover over Myrtle Beach in a Long Ranger or Jet Ranger helicopter on a tour that gives you incredible views of the Grand Strand. Huffman Helicopters has several choices—from a 12-minute tour that is affordable and can accommodate six people to a one-hour flight that shows you from the sky all that Myrtle Beach has to offer. Huffman Helicopters is available for chartered flights, such as the “Lights of the Grand Strand” night flight.
(Myrtle Beach International Airport and Business Highway 17; 800-579-HELI)
www.huffmanhelicopters.com
Jungle Princess
The Jungle Princess is a cruise down the Intracoastal Waterway that boards at the Waccatee Zoo. The wildlife that is easily spotted along this quiet, forested section of the river is astounding. It’s a birdwatchers’ paradise. The Jungle Princess has a couple climate-controlled decks in addition to an open-air deck. Choose your seat and settle in for a tour that shows the other side of the Myrtle Beach area. A snack bar is available. The Jungle Princess has daily tours and sunset and dinner boat rides. Call for times and to make reservations.
(Waccatee Zoo at 8500 Enterprise Road, Myrtle Beach; 843-236-1700)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans Professional Baseball
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the farm team of the Atlanta Braves and were league champions for two consecutive years. Their games are exciting and full of family entertainment. The BB&T Coastal Field is an outstanding facility with home games from April to September. Tickets are affordable and seats are found in luxury suites, boxes, bleachers and on the lawn. Beer is available and a gift shop is on site. Call for home game dates and times and ask about the specials.
(21st Avenue North and Robert Grissom Parkway, Myrtle Beach; 843-918-6000)
www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com
Myrtle Beach Speedway
Built in 1958, the Myrtle Beach Speedway is a half-mile track that is sanctioned by NASCAR and has been driven by several generations of Earnhardts. Amateur and professional truck and car racing are on the calendar every Saturday from April through September. Call for race times, rain dates and special events.
(located four miles west of the beaches on Highway 501; Myrtle Beach; 843-236-0500)
www.myrtlebeachspeedway.com
Ripley’s® Believe It or Not Museum, Haunted Adventure & 4-D Moving Theater
Ripley’s is one-stop shopping for entertainment. Conveniently located in downtown Myrtle Beach and right across the street from the white, sandy beaches, the Ripley’s compound includes the Believe It or Not Museum where the incredibly odd is showcased, human talent is revealed and freak acts of nature are exposed. The roller coaster made of toothpicks and Cleopatra’s barge of sugar are just two of the unusual exhibits. Ripley’s® Haunted Adventure is next door where you can experience spine-tingling adventures on all three floors of the haunted house. Take a ride in a 3-D movie at Ripley’s® 4-D Moving Theatre, the only motion-simulator theatre in Myrtle Beach. The audio and visual effects you’ll experience in this unique theatre are state-of-the-art. Theatre shows change often throughout the year, so call for current listings. All of the Ripley’s® attractions are open daily.
(9th Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach; 877-280-2751)
www.ripleys.com
Waccatee Zoo
More than 500 acres of woods alongside the Intracoastal Waterway make for the perfect zoo-like setting. Waccatee Zoo is privately owned and features more than 100 species of animals. Water buffalo, kangaroos, camels and zebras call Waccatee Zoo home. This waterfront wildlife sanctuary is a breeding ground for migratory birds. The Jungle Princess river cruise departs from the Waccatee Zoo. Open daily, weather permitting.
(8500 Enterprise Road, Myrtle Beach; 843-650-8500)
www.waccateezoo.com
Le Grande Cirque
Le Grande Cirque takes the most intriguing components of a big-top circus performance and beautifully melds it with theatrical shows to create a colorful, energetic feat of beauty and grace. The world’s greatest acrobats convene on one Myrtle Beach stage for a mesmerizing display of human ability, flexibility and strength. It’s a great show for all ages.
www.PalaceTheatreMyrtleBeach.com
Surfside Beach:
Wild Water – Water & Race Theme Park
A 16-acre water park easily found on Highway 17 in Surfside Beach, Wild Water has more than 33 rides, pools and activities. The Dark Hole and Free Fall Cliff Dive are for the brave, while the Wipeout Wave Pool is a favorite for all. Flumes and slides that launch you at high speeds, sometimes head first, are what water parks are all about. There is a section devoted to children and a miniature golf course offers a family-friendly break from the high energy water park. Picnic sites, food court, arcade and a neighboring racetrack with rides for kids and adults are all part of Wild Water. Open daily in summer.
(910 South Highway 17 Business, Surfside Beach; 800-833-9453)
www.wild-water.com
Murrells Inlet:
Brookgreen Gardens
Brookgreen Gardens is a world renowned sculpture garden steeped in history. This national historic landmark is a museum, education center, zoo and garden showcase that borders a freshwater river. The Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington Sculpture Garden features hundreds of American sculptures, the largest collection known in the world. Encompassing several thousand undeveloped acres, Brookgreen Gardens is a preserve for animals and native plants. Throughout the year, Brookgreen Gardens features visiting artists, traveling exhibits and special programs. The annual Nights of a Thousand Candles is regularly featured in national magazines, such as Southern Living. Walking tours, boat tours and Trekker rides are available. A restaurant, snack bar and gift shop are on site. Open daily. Tickets are valid for six consecutive days and annual family passes are available.
(Highway 17, three miles south of Murrells Inlet; 800-849-1931)
www.brookgreen.org
Huntington Beach State Park
Cross the Huntington Beach State Park causeway where the saltwater inlet is tidal on the north side and the freshwater pond houses alligators on the south. Hiking trails, miles of undisturbed oceanfront access, a bike trail that is part of the East Coast Greenway and camping are all found at this oceanfront state park. Birdwatching and nature hikes are among the most popular activities, while the rocky jetty at the northernmost end of the three-mile beachfront is famous with fishermen. Swim in the ocean, meander all the boardwalks, surf fish and spread out a picnic during your visit to Huntington Beach State Park. The 2,500-acre park also features Atalaya, the winter home of Anna and Archer Huntington that was designed to look like a Spanish castle. Special events, festivals and classes are offered year-round. Open daily.
(3 miles south of Murrells Inlet on Highway 17, across from Brookgreen Gardens; 843-237-4440)