For an affordable good time in the sunshine, set your sights on Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. These Myrtle Beach family activities and attractions will keep kids entertained, happy, and ready to drop from exhaustion at the end of the day. It's the perfect recipe for a successful family beach vacation! From gators to mini golf and amusement parks galore, here are 25 fun things to do in Myrtle Beach with kids of all ages.
1. The Grand Strand
The pride and joy of the Myrtle Beach area is The Grand Strand. This 60 miles of soft white sand stretches along the Atlantic Ocean from the North Carolina border to Georgetown, South Carolina. The natural coastal beauty of the Strand is breathtaking.
No Myrtle Beach family vacation would be complete without lots of beach time. Enjoy a variety of traditional beach-going pleasures. Think sand castle building, sunbathing, swimming, and surfing.
2. Huntington Beach State Park
Head to Huntington Beach State Park for a peaceful East Coast beach scene away from hotels and tourists. This Myrtle Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet offers three miles of beautiful beaches. You can also explore nature trails, a campground, and a variety of habitats for wildlife.
You might even spy an alligator crossing the causeway. Keep your eyes open and your little ones close when exploring the marsh. The good news is gators prefer freshwater and are rarely spotted on beaches.
3. Miniature Golf
Myrtle Beach is renowned as the Miniature Golf Capital of the World. In fact, you'll find 50 mini-golf courses in Myrtle Beach!
These mini golf courses are lushly landscaped. Select from a variety of themes from pirates to spewing volcanos or Jurassic dinosaurs. There’s a putt-putt course here to please your entire family.
One favorite is Cancun Lagoon Miniature Golf. This mini-golf course transports vacationers to ancient Mayan Mexico. A 50-foot-tall Mayan pyramid is hard to miss. With 27 air-conditioned indoor-outdoor holes, it makes a good option for hot summer nights.
Adventure Falls Golf ranks among the best courses on TripAdvisor. Choose from two 18-hole courses. A gigantic octopus, dinosaur, and shark will wow kids. Look for an Adventure Falls Groupon to save money on your Myrtle Beach family vacation.
4. Family Kingdom Amusement Park
Theme park lovers will find themselves at home at Family Kingdom Amusement Park. This seaside theme park boasts 38+ attractions. Enjoy sweet kiddie rides to thrill roller coasters, including the 2,400-foot-long Swamp Fox wooden roller coaster. Family Kingdom is just a short walk from the main Myrtle Beach Boardwalk.
5. Arcades at the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
All self-respecting beach boardwalks offer plenty of arcade games. Myrtle Beach has several large prize-doling arcades along the Grand Strand.
Favorites are the old-school games of chance and skill. Think ball pitching, mole whacking, and Skee-Ball. Of course, you'll also find plenty of modern video games, too.
6. Myrtle Beach SkyWheel
One of the most popular attractions in Myrtle Beach is the 187-foot-tall Ferris wheel, Myrtle Beach SkyWheel. It offers the best views of the beach and boardwalk areas, especially as the sun sets.
7. Broadway at the Beach
If you want Myrtle Beach family activities and attractions, then you must visit the massive Broadway at the Beach. This entertainment complex is a one-stop shop for play. Your family could spend a whole day (or week!) exploring here.
It spans 300+ acres of live entertainment, restaurants, and shopping. In fact, Broadway at the Beach is home to some of the things to do in Myrtle Beach with kids recommended on this list like Ripley's Aquarium, WonderWorks, and the Broadway Grand Prix.
For another fun family activity at Broadway at the Beach, check out The Escape Game Myrtle Beach. Read our full The Escape Game review before you go.
8. Brookgreen Gardens
The Brookgreen Gardens is home to the world's largest collection of American figurative sculptures in the U.S. In fact, the gardens contain over 2,000 sculptures. The vast property includes mature Spanish moss-covered oak trees, flowers in bloom year-round, and many fountains.
Fun activities for children abound at Brookgreen Gardens. Ask for a Little Brookgreen Detectives booklet at the Welcome Center for a scavenger hunt on the grounds.
The Children's Discovery Room offers interactive projects and crafts on weekday afternoons. Plus, a Children's Nature and Sensory Trail encourages active play. And the Garden Room for Children is a beautiful outdoor space filled with whimsical statues of kids and animals.
Not to be missed is the Enchanted Storybook Forest. This whimsical garden features storybook playhouses. Each house represents a beloved nursery rhyme or story.
Explore the Lowcountry Zoo at Brookgreen Gardens with its array of local animals. See alligators, foxes, river otters, white-tailed deer, and more.
For an additional fee, enter the Whispering Wings Butterfly Experience. View all sorts of winged beauties as you wander through this lush butterfly house. One might even land on you!
9. Pavilion Park
Pavilion Nostalgia Park is the biggest theme park in Myrtle Beach. It is comprised of two parks: Fun Park and Action Park. Both are located at Broadway on the Beach
Classic rides take center stage at Fun Park. Younger children will enjoy rides like Mini Tea Cups, the Merry Go Round, and the Scrambler. (There are various height requirements starting at 36 inches.)
Older kids and teens will enjoy Action Park's thrill rides. The Wave Swinger ride is sweet. But true daredevils will want to give the Beast a go. This pendulum ride reaches speeds up to 55 miles per hour at heights over 125 feet, all while spinning in circles.
10. Boating and Sailing in Myrtle Beach
Watersports abound in Myrtle Beach. Families enjoy jet skis, parasailing, deep-sea fishing, dolphin cruises, sail boating excursions, and more. Sign up for boat rides or captain your own vessel. Take a look at the array of watery adventures available.
11. WonderWorks Myrtle Beach
Billed as an “amusement park for the mind,” WonderWorks offers 50,000 square feet of scientific education and informational play space. Kids will enjoy riding a virtual roller coaster, feeling hurricane-force winds, and climbing a ropes course. Laser tag and arcade games add to the fun. Wonderworks is part of the Broadway at the Beach complex.
12. Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach
Also located at Broadway at the Beach, Ripley's Aquarium gives vacationers a chance to go under the sea. View fish, horseshoe crabs, and other marine life here. Also, look for a jellyfish gallery, slime area, hourly dive shows, and marine education sessions.
Be sure to walk through the Dangerous Reef at Ripley's Aquarium. Board a moving carpet to view sharks in a 750,000-gallon tunnel.
Buy your Ripley's Aquarium tickets now!
13. Alligator Adventure
In addition to showcasing over 1,000 alligators, Alligator Adventure is home to many other animals. Your family will see an eclectic mix of lemurs, kangaroos, frogs, birds, bobcats, wolves, and more. For a learning experience, seek out staff lecturing about snakes, alligators, and other reptiles.
Meanwhile, live animal shows are the main draw at this unique animal park in north Myrtle Beach. Audience members even get a chance to touch the animals, if you dare.
14. Radical Ropes Adventure Course + Zip Lining
Up for a challenge? Monkey around in the trees at Radical Ropes Adventure Park. With three different courses featuring varying levels of difficulty, choose the one that matches your bravery limits.
Climb 55 feet in the sky to tackle 72 obstacles at this aerial park. Finish with the thrilling but safe 65-foot Leap of Faith free-fall to the ground. Visitors aged 7+ can also tackle a 60-foot climbing wall.
Also, adventurers aged 10+ can brave Radical Ropes Extreme Zip Lines. Zip along eight lines through the forest canopy.
For families with younger children, Radical Ropes offers KidZips. These less intimidating zip lines and obstacles are designed for kids 4 to 8 years old.
15. Dolly Parton's Pirates Voyage
Arr, matey! I bet you'll love Dolly Parton's Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show in Myrtle Beach with kids. Enjoy a four-course meal while watching Black Beard and Calico Jack in battle. This adventure takes place on land, water, and aboard full-sized pirate ships.
It's a Dolly Parton production, so expect rousing musical numbers. You'll also see amazing acrobatics, sword fights, diving, tropical birds, special effects, and fire dancing.
16. Broadway Grand Prix Family Race Park
Get your motor running at Broadway Grand Prix Family Race Park. Zoom around in a go-kart on seven different courses. Children 40-inch-tall+ drive on the Kids Track. Plus, drivers 48+ inches in height take on the Junior Racer and Family Track.
The family fun doesn't stop there, though. Also on site are a miniature golf course, an arcade with prizes, and bumper cars and bumper boats.
Plus, the Kids Zone provides six kiddie rides. Children too small for the go-kart tracks will appreciate the Kiddie Speedway and Grand Prix-themed Carousel. (36-inch height requirement.)
17. Carolina Opry
The 2,200-seat Carolina Opry is the oldest live theater in Myrtle Beach. The original location opened in 1986. The Opry has been wowing audiences ever since with a wide selection of entertainment.
Their most popular offering, also named The Carolina Opry, is a variety show. It's filled with live music, dance, and comedy.
The Carolina Opry Christmas Special is another festive favorite. Take a look at the selection of Carolina Opry shows. All these live shows are billed as family-friendly.
18. Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center
Pose with figures of famous folks at the Hollywood Wax Museum in Myrtle Beach. The statues are hand-crafted from wax but look amazingly lifelike. Movie sets, a NASCAR scene, and props like an Oscar award make photo ops so much fun.
Celebrities you can “meet” include Clint Eastwood, Robert Downey Jr., Lady Gaga, Dolly Parton, Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, Dale Earnhardt, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. That's just to name a few!
19. Myrtle Waves Water Park
Cool off during summer in Myrtle Beach with kids at South Carolina's largest water park. Numerous water slides will keep adventurous older children content. Myrtle Waves Water Park also features a wave pool, a 1,200-foot lazy river, a FlowRider, and lots of interactive water features at two splash playgrounds.
20. Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament
For a roaring good time, make reservations for the Myrtle Beach Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. Families root for their knight while chowing down on food like chicken, potatoes, corn on the cob, and dessert. (No utensils allowed!) Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.
Expect jousting horses, sword fights, falconry, and a queen overseeing it all. Plan to come an hour or so early. Then you can nab the best seats, peruse the shops, and maybe purchase a themed drink. Although children love Medieval Times, this really is an experience the whole family will enjoy.
21. Rockin' Jump Trampoline Park
Looking for a rainy-day activity in Myrtle Beach with kids? Head to Rockin' Jump to bounce their little hearts out. Multiple trampolines, a foam ball pit, a climbing wall, and additional indoor attractions will keep all ages busy for hours. Meanwhile, this is a great time for parents to relax and put up their feet…or join in the fun!
What's more, the Ninja Challenge Course thrills fans of the American Ninja Warrior TV show. The 80-foot-long course features challenge rings, a trapeze and cargo net, a crawl bridge, hanging pistons, swinging platforms, and more.
Look for a Rockin' Jump Groupon before you go.
22. Dino Park
Another fun attraction perfect for rainy days is Dino Park. This is where Jurassic times come to life. Located at Broadway on the Beach, this educational and entertaining venue is home to 20+ animatronic dinosaurs.
This attraction offers interactive exhibits, too. Children revel in a dino-themed playground and dig up fossils. Then play in the Dino Explore Pit, filled with 100,000 balls. Kids can even ride a gigantic dinosaur named Tyrannosaurus Tex.
23. Blackbeard's Pirate Cruise
Want to set sail on a pirate ship in Myrtle Beach with kids? You can! Board Blackbeard's Treasure Hunter for an hour-long adventure along South Carolina's Intracoastal Waterway.
Little buccaneers will have a ball searching for Bad Billy Bones, the pirate trying to capture their treasure. Expect songs, games, dancing, a treasure chest, and water cannons. (Yes, you may get wet!)
24. Edventure Children's Museum
Edventure Myrtle Beach promotes learning about air travel and outer space through interactive exhibits. Kids can test their piloting skills with a three-screen flight simulator. Next, look through telescopes to view planets. Then get ready for take-off with a spaceship-shaped climbing structure.
This children's museum is designed for kids aged 0 to 10. Find Edventure at Market Common.
25. Market Common
Myrtle Beach's Market Common is a lovely outdoor entertainment complex. Shop, take your brood bowling, rent e-bikes, or sit down for a meal together here.
As the cherry on top, treat your family to a sweet. Get ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. Indulge in a truffle or two at the Uncommon Chocolatier. Or sink your sweet teeth into tempting donuts from the 1970s-inspired SeaWitch Café.
Learn More Beach Vacation Tips
Grownups deserve to have a fun time, too! If you're thinking about booking a Myrtle Beach vacation, then read about the best things to do in Myrtle Beach for adults.
For another affordable beach destination, discover what to do on the Mississippi Gulf Coast with kids.
A beach holiday deserves a great place to stay. Read about the world's best beach hotels for families.
Want to take a look at Myrtle Beach hotels for families? View kid-friendly hotels in Myrtle Beach via Hotels.com!
Save These Top Attractions in Myrtle Beach
For future reference, save this list of things to do in Myrtle Beach with kids. Just pin the graphic above to Pinterest. I hope you'll follow Travel Mamas on Pinterest while you're at it!
Which of these Myrtle Beach family activities appeal to you most? Let us know in the comments below!
Thank you to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring my Myrtle Beach trip. All opinions are mine, as always.
About Colleen Lanin, The Travel Mama
I never knew there were so many activities in Myrtle Beach! We drove by there many years ago. If we get out that way I’ll be sure to visit.
There are lots of fun grown-up activities, too, like wine tasting and bird watching, too!
My wife and I are looking for resorts that offer cheaper monthly winter rates. We want to come down and stay longer so we can get the lay of the land in order to establish where to stay when we want to snowbird in the future. Also, a place to stay in the summer when we bring our grandkids. Any suggestions?
Hi Ron – I am reaching out to my contacts at Myrtle Beach PR to see if they can provide some guidance for you!
Hi Ron –
Here is what the Myrtle Beach PR team said:
Most hotels and resorts throughout the Myrtle Beach area are very affordable during the off-season. Once it gets closer to wintertime, Visit Myrtle Beach will share winter resort and hotel deals here: https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/hotels/deals/. If you would like to speak with someone at Visit Myrtle Beach with recommendations for specific areas or resorts, I would suggest the live chat feature on VisitMyrtleBeach.com.
Enjoy your Myrtle Beach vacation!
The Go Ape site says the Myrtle Beach location doesn’t open until May 2019. Did you go to a different location?
I went to Myrtle Bech location in the fall. I believe that this Go Ape location only opens in the spring.
I love love Myrtle beach! My husband and I went out our honeymoon here and just fell in love with it! Now 8 years later we are calling it home. Dream come true for us. http://www.drhorton.com/South-Carolina/Myrtle-Beach
We LOVED North Carolina, so it stands to reason that South Carolina should also be on the list 🙂
I’ve heard great things about Myrtle Beach. Beach vacations are so much fun for families, especially when there are this many other great things going on.
Brookside Garden is a definite must as well. Gorgeous sculptures, garden to run in and a scavenger hunt for kids. Just outside of town.
I agree! Brookgreen Gardens is incredible. That article still to come elsewhere… 😉
I had no idea there where so many family activites here. I always thought of it as a spring break place for college students. Glad to be set straight!
They really cater to families, and are REALLY catering to Canadians with their currency matching program. Affordability is a big plus with Myrtle Beach.
THere’s a Wonderworks in Orlando, too, that we thought was worth the visit. Will need to check out the Myrtle Beach area!
I know you’ll get to South Caroline one day!
I have a good friend with a vacation home in Myrtle Beach and I still haven’t gone! I need to change that soon. My daughter would love the APE treetop adventure course.
You need to request a stay at that vacation home! I noted quite a few lovely beachside houses on my visit, which I would definitely look into renting on my next trip.
We lived in Savannah, GA for three years and travelled extensively around S. Carolina and N. Carolina but never made it to Myrtle Beach. I really regret this now since reading your post because it looks like a fabulous family fun place:) Thanks for sharing, I will save for a later date in case we ever return to the area.
Something to look forward to in the future! Thanks for your comment, Lisa.
Looks amazing – SO MANY great things to do. Thanks for the travel inspiration!
Thanks for commenting, Jessie!