I will always remember as a young college student realizing more than just Carolina residents knew about Myrtle Beach, SC. I’d been going to Myrtle Beach since I was just in primary school and when I heard it mentioned on a TV show, I was flabbergasted. They just said Myrtle Beach! How do they know about Myrtle Beach?! Sure enough, I found out later people even come from Canada to go to Myrtle Beach! Who knew?
My husband and I got engaged at Myrtle Beach and my kids, now 9 and 7, still enjoy our yearly trek to the coast. After nearly 30 years I’ve got Myrtle Beach down to a science and Iím just about to share with you the best attractions. Letís say you want to spend 5 days in Myrtle Beach this summer with your kids. What are the must-see attractions?
Day 1 – Broadway at the Beach
You canít not go to Broadway at the Beach. And yes, this could be a full day’s adventure. A few of our favorite things at Broadway:
- Build a Bear. For the past few years this has been our designated let’s build a bear time. It’s one of their favorite activities the whole week.
- Ripleyís Aquarium. If you have a rainy afternoon to spend somewhere, hit up the aquarium. While it’s not the most impressive one anywhere, it’s nice and will keep your kids entertained and dare I say, educated for the afternoon.
- Shopping. While I’d admit the shopping isnít fantastic here, there are two shops I like to hit up there and that is Body Central where I usually can score jewelry for 3 for $10 and Bijuju that has great accessories.
- Broadway at the Beach also hosts The Hard Rock Cafe and if you’re a child of the 90ís, youíll appreciate adding their T-shirt to your collection. However, if it were me, Iíd scoot across the street to the Mellow Mushroom and have myself a pizza!
Day 2 – The Sea Screamer
We enjoyed this one years ago and only did it once but it is still one of my favorite things. The Sea Screamer is a speed boat leaves out from a water way and takes you down the coast. You can see celebrity houses on the way out and youíre guaranteed a dolphin sighting going down the coast.
Day 3 – Tanger Outlets
If you love shopping like I do, you need to take a day to spend at the Tanger Outlets. There are two locations but either will satisfy your shopping sweet tooth. Be sure to grab the coupon booklet and save even more. Another hint, if your husband or kids just canít stand the idea of this one, send them over to the NASCAR Speedpark for the day!
Day 4 – Pirates Voyage
So I’m going to be transparent here and say that this item was supposed to be labeled Dixie Stampede. One of my favorite things weíve ever done in Myrtle Beach is go to the Dixie Stampede dinner show. You got to eat a meal all by hand and watch an equestrian show. I just went to the site and saw it’s been remade into the Pirates Voyage last year. See how much I know! Well. It’s all still owned by a Dolly Parton company and I’m very sure it’s similar in quality and not to be missed. The intro video hooked me. I think weíre going to have to put this on our to-do list pronto since itís a whole new show!
Day 5 – Alligator Adventure
We’ve visited the Alligator Adventure a time or two and itís worth seeing if you have kids in tow. Be sure to watch the alligator feeding. Amazing creatures! My hint is go in the morning when itís not so hot as it’s all outside.
Myrtle Beach offers many more great attractions. Barefoot Landing, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Myrtle Waves, Carolina Opry, Medieval Times, Legends in Concert, Dick’s, crabbing, fishing, and jet skiing. You can see why Iíve gone for 30 years and still am not bored, although itís easy to go broke! Be sure to enjoy the sand, waves and hot Carolina sun on my very favorite (and free!) part about Myrtle Beach!
Amy Bennett is a recovering perfectionist and lover of God. She is wife to her police officer husband, Scott and mommy to two beautiful girls, Emma and Lexi and hopefully one handsome boy soon. They reside in South Carolina, in a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina with their two dogs Mattie and Tucker and a picket fence to hold them all in. Amy spends her day writing code for a bank and her evenings writing blog posts at Permission to Peruse.
Leave a Reply