Myrtle Beach, on the South Carolina coast, is one of our favorite long-weekend getaways! It’s less than four hours from our house and offers a wide variety of entertainment options and activities in addition to the beach, so basically, there’s something for everyone!! There are so many different things to do in Myrtle Beach with Kids so we try and incorporate something new on every trip!
Ripley’s Aquarium
Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach is always a must-do for our family. In addition to the usual aquarium options with big tanks of ocean life and touch pools for horseshoe crabs, stingrays, and jellyfish (exclusive to Ripley’s, as far as I know!), there are also exhibits that change seasonally.
One of our favorite parts of the aquarium are the tunnels that go through Dangerous Reef, allowing a variety of sea life, including sharks and sawfish, to travel all around you– even directly overhead! You can read more about our most recent Ripley’s Aquarium visit here.
Barefoot Landing
Barefoot Landing is a great place to walk around Myrtle Beach with kids and spend some time shopping if you need a break from the beach. In addition to the stores with Myrtle Beach tourist paraphernalia, we love the Christmas Mouse— it’s festive year-round, and Ron Jon Surf Shop– where we make sure to stock up on stuff for the beach.
The Barefoot General Store is a great stop for sodas in glass bottles- the perfect treat on a warm summer day! The kids were excited that they had Carolina originals: Pepsi and Cheerwine, as well as Mexican Coca-Cola, and sitting on the steps of the General Store was the perfect way to enjoy those treats.
Since this is the South, you always need to stay aware of your surroundings. We spotted an alligator sunning itself in the grass next to the boardwalk, as well as a couple swimming around in the lake that Barefoot Landing surrounds. There are signs everywhere saying to watch out for alligators and snakes, so it is imperative that you stay aware.
Alligator Adventure
Near Barefoot Landing, Alligator Adventure is a fun stop for the whole family. It’s one of the largest parks for reptiles in the world and does a phenomenal job of showcasing a variety of animals in as natural a habitat as possible while still allowing the public to see them up close.
Look at those toothy grins! The American Alligator is clearly the star of the facility, although many other animals, including some that are not native to North America, also call the park home.
The alligator live feedings (only offered from mid-April to mid-October) are completely awesome to witness. The giant alligators will leap as much as 15 feet in the air in order to get their dinner from the brave staff and then devour it right in front of you.
Looks like a nice family dinner– but not one that I would want an invitation to!
Pirates Voyage Dinner Show
Pirate’s Voyage is one of the most well-known dinner shows in Myrtle Beach and features a fantastic four-course dinner along with a show of swashbuckling fun! Get there early in order to enjoy the pre-show and extend your pirate adventure!
The theater is divided into Crimson and Sapphire teams, and you get to cheer your team’s pirate crew on as they search for the lost treasure of Davy Jones. The show features acrobatics, aerial feats, and even live animals as the two crews race toward the treasure! You can read more about our latest Pirate adventure here.
Bowling Alleys
If the summer sun is getting you down, a visit to one of the many bowling alleys in Myrtle Beach is a sure-fire way to beat the heat (or rain, depending on the time of year).
We went to 710 Bowling and in addition to having bumpers for littles (or bigs that need them!), they also have cool ramps to make it easier to get the ball to go straight down the lane. 710 Bowling also has an extensive arcade, table tennis, darts, and billiards making it a great place to spend a few hours.
The Beach (Daytime)
The beach is the obvious choice for things to do in Myrtle Beach with kids and it does not disappoint! We typically stay in oceanfront hotels and have the use of the hotel beach area but there are plenty of public access points throughout the city – over 40 to choose from!
The sand is great and not too shell-y so it doesn’t hurt your feet when you walk around on it. Our kids love digging holes in the sand until they reach the water so we make sure to pack the sand toys or pick up new ones from Ron Jon when we’re at Barefoot Landing.
We always pack a lunch to enjoy at the beach since we typically try and spend most of the day there. Sandwiches and chips are our go-to, along with plenty of water in order to stay hydrated.
The Beach (Evening)
The beaches are totally different once the sun has set– empty for the most part and MUCH cooler! Our kids love running around since there aren’t other beachgoers in their way.
We don’t venture out into the water past sunset (I’ve watched enough Shark Week to know that’s feeding time!!), but the kids love playing in the sand and sticking their toes in the water. We will often walk around the beach after dinner to get all the wiggles out and make bedtime a smoother process!
Myrtle Beach is a great destination for a long beach stay since there are so many different attractions to check out, but it’s also small enough that it works for a long weekend trip, too!
Have you been to Myrtle Beach?? What’s your favorite thing to do??
