This traveling girl from north of the 49th parallel has a crush on the American South. The pull of a warm climate, genteel manners, copious glasses of sweet tea and loads of deep-fried goodness tempt me in ways that I can’t logically explain. How fortunate then, that my travels brought me to the affordable, tourist epicenter of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where I encountered all of the above. If you’re planning a Myrtle Beach vacation in the near future, enjoy our tips on the best things to do in Myrtle Beach with teens, kids and families.
Note: Travel looks different right now depending on where you live and where you’re going. Be sure to check local restrictions and be prepared to adhere to any and all safety regulations before planning a trip to any of the places you may read about on this site. Check the operations and accessibility of accommodations and attractions before departure.
Best Things to Do in Myrtle Beach with Teens
Hit the Grand Strand
The pride and joy of Myrtle Beach is its Grand Strand – 60 miles of beautiful, soft white sand that stretches nearly from the North Carolina Border to Georgetown, with Myrtle Beach in its center. The natural, coastal beauty of the Strand, particularly in its Beach State Parks, is breathtaking, as is the variety of traditional beach-going pleasures – sand-castle building, playing beach games, swimming, surfing, fishing, jogging and just soaking up the sun.
Visit the Arcades at Beach Boardwalk
The bright neon of these old-school arcades attracts you inside, even if you didn’t think you’d play. No self-respecting beach boardwalk can be without its game arcades, and Myrtle Beach has several large arcades along the Strand that will appeal to teens and kids of all ages. Particular favorites are the old-style games of chance and skill – think pitching balls or whacking moles.
Walking along the Beach Boardwalk with a peach ice cream from Peaches restaurant is great for people-watching and working off those delicious deep-fried hushpuppies (or deep-friend anything for that matter).
Ride the SkyWheel
For some sky-high thrills and views, take a ride on the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel. It offers some of the best views of the beach and boardwalk areas, and makes for some fun selfie opportunities for teens. The 10-minute ride is very smooth for anyone who’s a bit afraid of heights.
Kayak in Murrells Inlet
Head south of the Grand Strand for 20 minutes and get back to nature on a kayak tour of the unique ecosystem that is Murrells Inlet. Guided tours with Black River Outdoors will transport you to a quiet space of shore and seabirds, pirate stories and pluff mud. You can book 2 or 4 hour eco or fishing tours, and double-kayaks are available for families with younger kids. Kayaking the calm waters of the Inlet may provide just the break you need from the bustle and commercialization of Myrtle Beach.
You can also find kayaking and boating opportunities closer to the city, in the fresh water Intracoastal Waterway. A paddle in the calm waterway will reveal all manner of birds as well as floating homes and swing bridges.
Tour Brookgreen Gardens
Who says teens don’t like art? Kids of all ages will love Brookgreen Gardens, one of the loveliest and most interesting gardens in the United States. The lush gardens include a Live Oak Allée of enormous 300-year old oak trees, fountains, more than 1,400 bronze, marble and aluminum sculptures and pieces of public art, as well as an historical interpretive centre and natural zoo. There’s lots of room for kids to respectfully roam free, and a free trolley tours between different sections of the gardens if legs tire.
Go Ape Ziplining and Treetop Adventure
Teens, kids and adults up for an adventurous challenge will love monkeying around in the trees at Go Ape Zip Line and Treetop Adventure. About 15 minutes north of the Grand Strand, this tree-top adventure course includes 5 zip lines and a wide variety of tarzan swings and ropes in moderate and extreme levels.
You will be climbing up quite high into the trees, secure at all times with your safety ropes while Conan the safety instructor’s mantra runs continuously through your head – “Always Stay Attached”. Be sure to follow this wise advice and enjoy zipping in the forest and above the small lake during the final 900 ft of the course.
Play a Round of Mini-Golf
Myrtle Beach wins the prize as the ‘seaside golf capital of the world,’ with over 100 golf courses. But from a teen point of view, the more impressive statistic is that there are 50+ mini-golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area. The mini-golf courses are lushly landscaped and themed – from pirates to spewing volcanos to dinosaurs. You will find a mini-golf course here to please every club-wielding member of the family.
Visit Family Kingdom
Amusement park lovers will find themselves at home at the oceanside Family Kingdom complex. There are more than 35 thrilling rides, including those for families and kids, within easy walking distance of the shops, arcades and Myrtle Beach restaurants in the Boardwalk area. The complex also has a ferris wheel and water park called Splashes, with a lazy river, children’s area, speed slides and water flumes.
Nearby, and if you’ve got a pirate-crazy kids of any age, check out Pirates Voyage, an acrobatic live show with animals, actors and a four-course meal.
Check out Broadway at the Beach
First thing to know, it’s not actually on the Atlantic, the ‘at the Beach‘ part refers to being at (Myrtle) Beach. This massive entertainment complex (300+ acres) is touted as the number one attraction in Myrtle Beach. With entertainment, attractions, restaurants and shopping galore, it’s a bit reminiscent of Disney Springs in Orlando.
Two of the most popular attractions at Broadway at the Beach are the most teen-friendly – Wonderworks and the Ripley’s Aquarium. While this large complex is family-friendly in the sense that it hosts attractions that families with kids would like, much of it reminded me of a huge, open-air mall. That said, the indoor facilities are a great thing to do in Myrtle Beach with teens, kids and families on rainy days.
Wonderworks bills itself as an ‘amusement park for the mind’, offering scientific education and information through entertainment. While it may be tough to measure how much knowledge may sink in, kids will certainly enjoy riding in a virtual roller coaster, feeling hurricane-force winds, or trying their hand at the indoor ropes course.
At Ripley’s Aquarium, you can walk through the Dangerous Reef, a 750,000 gallon shark tunnel with a slowly moving carpet. The sharks and giant turtles swim all around you, and you can step off the carpet for photos at any time. There’s also a jellyfish gallery, slime area, and hourly dive shows and marine education sessions.
The Aquarium is one of the most popular family attractions in Myrtle Beach, and is filled with families keen on underwater adventures.
Go on an Alligator Adventure
In addition to showcasing over 400 alligators, Alligator Adventure is the home to many other reptiles and animals, including; lemurs, kangaroos, frogs, birds, bobcats and wolves. It’s an eclectic mix of wildlife, and the real draw is the live animal shows offered throughout the day. Park staff teach captive audiences all about snakes, alligators and other reptiles during the 30 minute show. Park guests can touch the animals (gently), if they dare.
Pin for Later
Where to Eat in Myrtle Beach
I cannot lie. I ate a year’s worth of deep-fried everything during my four night stay in Myrtle Beach, and loved it all. From the fried chicken, hushpuppies, fresh-caught (and fried) catch-of-the-day, green tomatoes topped with collard greens. I polished it all off with loads of sweet tea and peach cobbler. All of these great dining spots in and around Myrtle Beach are family-friendly.
For southern fried favorites, hit up Magnolias on 26th for its lunch-time $10 buffet. More refined dining with an ocean view, walk south along the Boardwalk to 2nd Avenue Pier for shrimp and grits. Post-kayaking, relax on the patio of Wicked Tuna at the marina in Murrells Inlet and enjoy a fried flounder sandwich. Out at Barefoot Landing, the Flying Fish Market & Grill has delicious fresh catches of the day to choose from along a water-front setting.
Finally, for one of the best meals of your life, grab a table at The Chemist, one block from the Beach Boardwalk. In its own words, the Chemist is ‘not your average Myrtle Beach restaurant’. It’s serving up fresh, modern cuisine and craft cocktails. With intriguing presentation (think Periodic Table coasters and staff in lab coats), mixed into a heady alchemy of instagrammable and delicious food awesomeness.
Order the smoked trout under glass, bamboo rice risotto, and end with the delicate and delicious Mango Buttermilk Panna Cotta Sunny Side Up. You’re welcome.
Where to Stay in Myrtle Beach
Hampton Inn Suites Hilton
The Hampton Inn and Suites Hilton in Myrtle Beach has a just reputation for friendly service. I was charmed by the warm, southern hospitality that I had hoped to find in South Carolina. The staff are friendly and very helpful to answer any questions. The generous, nautical-themed suites at the Hampton Inn are perfect for family stays. The hotel is located on a golden section of the Grand Strand along Ocean Boulevard, close to the Boardwalk and other regional attractions.
Full kitchens allow for home-food preparation, a real money-saver for families. Each suite has lovely Atlantic ocean views from spacious balconies with comfy chairs. Your stay includes a free hot breakfast, with cold and warm offerings: cereals, yoghurt, fruit, waffles, eggs, ham/sausages. The hotel pools include a lazy river, but the beach is so inviting, I think it’s the bigger draw.
Sea Watch in North Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach offers even more affordable accommodation choices. And it’s still within a 10 minute drive of the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. The Sea Watch Resort is an older property with a variety of suite choices meant to accommodate families for weeks at a time.
Rooms have full kitchens, and the Captain’s Cove offers delicious buffet breakfasts complete with a custom omelette bar. The pool deck is extensive, with six pools, two lazy rivers, and 10 hot tubs. The resort holds kid-friendly dance parties during weekend evenings.
These ten Myrtle Beach activities and attractions will keep kids entertained and ready to drop from exhaustion at the end of the day; a perfect recipe for a successful family vacation at the beach.
Of special note to Canadians: Check Visit Myrtle Beach for seasonal special hotel rates.
Photo Credits: C Laroye (unless noted)
Disclosure: The writer’s visit to Myrtle Beach was generously hosted by Visit Myrtle Beach. As always her opinions and love of hush puppies are honest and her own.
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