Myrtle Beach Attractions
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Myrtle Beach Suburbs
Conway
One of the oldest towns in South Carolina. This historic river town has preserved much of its past, including many centuries old live oaks. The Horry County museum chronicles local history and contains prehistoric artifacts.
North Myrtle Beach
In 1968, four small beach towns: Windy Hill Beach, Crescent Beach, Ocean Drive Beach and Cherry Grove Beach located on the northern edge of the Grand Strand, joined to form the City of North Myrtle Beach. Their goal was to provide unmatched services to its residents and tourists; create a unique, safe beach community; and offer a place with recreation and vacation facilities. More than 30 years later, the City of North Myrtle Beach is home to over 12,000 permanent residents, and many others call it home during vacations and weekend trips throughout the year.
Murrells Inlet
in the south end of the Grand Strand, Murrells Inlet is the oldest fishing village in the state. It is home to fishermen, writers, poets and more legends and ghost stories than any other part of the Grand Strand. The area's history recounts stories of pirates, aristocratic plantation owners, the daughter of a U.S. vice president being forced to walk the plank of a pirate ship, phantom lighthouses steering ships from storms and cemetery-walking ghosts.
Georgetown
28 miles S of Myrtle Beach
The lifestyle of pre-Revolutionary War days comes alive here. Named after George II, this etown of only 11,000 people contains more than 50 historic homes and buildings dating back as far as 1737. Masted ships sailed from this riverfront, bound for England with their cargoes of indigo, rice, timber, and "king cotton." You can take a leisurely stroll along the Harbor Walk, tour the antebellum homes, or dine at some of the favorite spots.
Pawleys Island/Litchfield
25 miles S of Myrtle Beach; 12 miles N of Georgetown
One of the oldest resorts in the South, Pawleys Island has been popular with vacationers for more than three centuries. During the 18th century, rice planters made the island their summer home so that they could escape the heat and humidity of the Low Country and enjoy ocean breezes. Storms have battered the island, but many of the weather-beaten old properties remain.
The beaches here are among the best-maintained, least-polluted, and widest along coastal South Carolina. Because so much of the land is private, however, access to public beach areas is limited.
Many visitors from Myrtle Beach come to Pawleys Island to shop for handcrafts, such as the famous Pawleys Island rope hammock. At various plantation stores (known as the hammock shops), shoppers can find wicker, pewter, miniature doll furniture, clothing, candles, Christmas items, brass, and china.
Myrtle Beach Area Attractions
Alligator Adventure
(843) 365-0655
U.S. Hwy. 17 N.
North Myrtle Beach
An alligator park and reptile research institute that adjoins Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, this is one of the largest reptile facilities in the world. In addition to alligators and crocodiles, the natural 12.5 acre setting is home to a variety of exotic birds, frogs, snakes, tortoises and lizards.
All are situated in natural surroundings that emulate the beautiful wetland habitats to which these animals are accustomed.
Bellefield Nature Center
U.S. 17
South of Pawleys Island
The center is open year round, and admission is free.
The Bellefield Nature Center, at the entrance to Hobcaw Barony, is operated by the Belle W. Baruch Foundation. The Center features displays and audiovisual programs on Hobcaw's history, coastal environments, local wildlife and the teaching and research programs of the Baruch Institutes. Visit the saltwater touchtank and snake displays. Audiovisual programs are also shown daily. There are no walking trails or self-guided tours, and advance reservations are required for guided tours and special programs.
Brookgreen Gardens
US Highway 17 South
Murrells Inlet
843-237-4218
Located twenty miles south of Myrtle Beach, Brookgreen Gardens is known as the most beautiful sculpture garden in America. In 1930, Archer Milton Huntington, and his sculptress wife, Anna Hyatt Huntington, purchased four colonial plantations. In 1931 they organized a non-profit institution to preserve habitats for native plants and animals while providing an outdoor showcase for American Figurative Sculpture.
Brookgreen is also home to a 23-acre Wildlife Park that protects the habitats of a wide variety of indigenous animals.
Brookgreen’s botanical gardens feature 2,000-plus species and sub-species of plants.. "The Springfield," a pontoon-type craft that accommodates approximately 50 passengers tours the flora and fauna of the creeks, as guides identify such and give historical aspects of the rice fields.
Broadway At the Beach
1325 Celebrity Circle
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577-7445
(843)444-3200
a 350-acre entertainment complex in the heart of Myrtle Beach, offers 20 restaurants including Hard Rock Café, Planet Hollywood, Official All Star Café, Easyriders Café and NASCAR Café. Broadway at the Beach, nestled around a 23-acre lake, features more than 100 specialty shops and attractions such as Celebrity Square nightclub district, Carmike's Broadway Cinema 16, The Palace Theater, NASCAR SpeedPark and Dragon's Lair Fantasy Golf.
Broadway at the Beach also offers IMAX Discovery Theater and Ripley's Aquarium.
Butterfly Pavilion
Broadway at the Beach
Myrtle Beach
1-877-280-2751
Open daily. Call for hours.
The 22,500 square foot Butterfly Pavilion is a fully enclosed butterfly habitat featuring North American and tropical butterflies. It contains a 30 foot waterfall, a sunken pirate ship and colorful moths, butterflies, and birds. Interactive displays include a giant (walk-through) bee hive.
Carolina Safari Jeep Tours
(843) 497-3480
Tours take place twice daily during the summer; other seasons, once a day.
Each specially designed tour vehicle seats 10 to 13 passengers and a tour guide "safari-style," allowing for an extensive and personalized overview of area history and local lore as well as tons of narrative information.
The itinerary includes natural coastal attractions, historic areas, old plantation homes, two islands and an unexpected abundance of natural beauty.
Binoculars are provided, and you're welcome to bring cameras;
Franklin G. Burroughs and Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3200 S. Kings Hwy., Myrtle Beach
(843) 238-2510
The museum features an art gallery, gift shop and an art education center.
The art gallery building is housed in the former Springmaid Villa, a 1920s beach house that was saved from demolition. Renovations created 10 galleries with a total 3,600 square feet of exhibition space, a tea room and a large seminar room. Exhibits in the gallery showcase local and regional artists and national art exhibits.
Children's Museum of South Carolina
2501 N Kings Hwy
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577-3054
(843)946-9469
Family Kingdom Ocean Front Park
301 3rd Ave S
Myrtle Beach,
(843)916-0400
Family Kingdom is open from late March to late November. Operating hours vary, depending on the season.
South Carolina's largest roller coaster and largest Ferris wheel are both available here. . The Swamp Fox Roller Coaster is a great wooden classic with a 62-foot drop. Children like the miniature locomotive that chugs around the grounds. The antique carousel was built in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1932. Other attractions include go-carts, bumper cars and the Express Himalaya.
This home of family fun takes a great deal of pride in it's reputation as a "family-friendly" park. There is a separate area called Kiddie Land just for toddlers & tots. In Kiddie Land, you'll find lots of "small" rides, including a miniaturized ferris wheel and roller coaster.
The Franklin G. Burroughs, Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach
238 2510
Tuesday - Saturday, 10 - 4 Sunday,1 - 4
Admission charged.
The Franklin G. Burroughs, Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is a public art museum for the visual arts and includes "the Villa" exhibition galleries. Its programs include local art shows, a permanent art collection and traveling guest artist exhibits. An art library and working studios support active educational programs.
Fun Spot Action Park
500 S. Ocean Blvd.
Myrtle Beach
open daily from March until December
Operating hours vary, depending on the season.
This park will put you in the driver's seat of a custom-designed go-cart on a number of different and exciting tracks. The Super Eight Track, a multilevel, nine-turn course with hairpin curves features Myrtle Beach's only nine-horsepower carts. On the Family Track, two-seater carts allow a parent and child to share a spin.. The action park also features Bumper Cars, Bumper Boats, a Space Walk, Ferris wheel, carousel, Kiddie Cars and several other attractions for the little ones.
Hopsewee Plantation
off U.S. 17 S., 12 miles south of Georgetown
843-546-6961
Schedule visit in advance.
The plantation, featuring a view of the North Santee River, is open to the public early March through early November on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Other times are available by appointment. The plantation mansion, which was once the home of Thomas Lynch Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence, is surprisingly elegant in its simplicity.
Horry County Museum
438 Main St.
Conway 626-1282
The Horry County Museum showcases not only Horry County history but much of the surrounding area's history as well.
Originally a post office, the building stands on what was formerly the grounds of a historic home. Just outside the museum, stands the stately old Wade Hampton oak. A plaque on the oak commemorates the day in 1876 when Confederate Gen. Wade Hampton brought his campaign for the governorship to Conway and addressed the residents from beneath the tree. Many years later, when construction of a railroad threatened the historic oak, a spirited local lady, Mary Beaty, brandished a loaded shotgun and ordered workers, "Touch not a single bough." Her defiance inspired other residents to actively protect the town's magnificent live oaks.
Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park
812 N. Ocean Blvd.
Myrtle Beach
(843) 448-6456
In the heart of downtown Myrtle Beach, the Pavilion has been the area's No. 1 family attraction for more than four decades. In the last several years, the park has spent $10 million-plus on new rides, expansions and renovations. Covering 11 acres, the Pavilion currently offers more than 35 rides for young and old. One exciting option is the Hydro Surge, an 1,100-foot whitewater rafting experience that recreates the excitement of rafting down a wild river in an eight-person raft.
The Pavilion Grand Prix Road Course, a 900-foot-long go-cart course, allows the all family members to test their skill.
Myrtle Beach Grand Prix Family Thrill Park
3201 South Kings Highway
Myrtle Beach
(843) 238-3787
and
3900 US Highway 17 South
North Myrtle Beach
(843) 272-6010
10AM - 11PM in season.
Grand Prix Family Thrill Parks (North and South) each feature a variety of racing cars and tracks including formula Grand Prix, Go-Carts, Speed Racers, and Junior Racers. The parks are divided into zones which accurately describe the types of rides found in each area. Families and individuals of all ages enjoy spending time in the Family Thrill Zone, Race Zone, Children Zone, Laser Zone, Food Zone, Golf Zone, Water Zone, and Game Zone. The parks are designed to accommodate more than 3,000 people at one time, and can accommodate groups of all sizes.
Myrtle Waves
3000 10th N. Ext. (off U.S. 17 Bypass)
Myrtle Beach
843-448-1026
20 acres of water rides and slides. The Carolinas' largest water park is also the tallest; Turbo Twisters is a 10-story, lightening-fast ride. With 30 rides and attractions, Myrtle Waves is proudly staffed by professionally certified lifeguards. The just-for-children Tadpool, only 18 inches deep, includes a Little Dipper Slide and the Magic Mushroom water fountain.
The Lazy River serves up a cool and relaxing opportunity to float along a designated course. Picking up the pace is no problem on Snake Mountain, Pipeline Plunge or Ricochet Rapids all heart-in-your-throat water slides. Only the adventuresome venture to the Riptide Rocket, two body flumes that send you blasting.
Myrtle Waves also boasts its own Ocean In Motion Wave Pool
NASCAR Speed Park
1820 21st Ave N
Myrtle Beach, SC
(843)626-8725
and
North Myrtle Beach Grand Prix
3900 Hwy. 17 S., Windy Hill Section
North Myrtle Beach
The Speed park is designed to provide family entertainment that resembles as closely as possible the NASCAR racing circuit.
An impressive variety of vehicles includes Grand Prix go-carts, mini Ferraris, Jeeps and Corvettes that can be maneuvered on a variety of tracks for high performance fun. A few of the most challenging tracks require licensed drivers; however, there is plenty of racing excitement available for all ages.
Both parks also offer miniature golf courses and water race parks with bumper boats. The south park boasts speed boats and the East Coast's only Hydro-Fighter. The North location has a complete Kiddie Park with rides that include Dinosaurs, a Car Carrousel and a merry-go-round. Air-conditioned arcades and snack bars are provided at both locations.
Ocean Watersports
300 4th Ave. S.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-232-8383
http://www.familykingdom.com
Ripley's Sea Aquarium
1110 Celebrity Cir
Broadway at the Beach
Myrtle Beach, SC
(843)916-0888
Ripley's 74,000 square foot Aquarium is a unique, state-of-the-art, multi-sensory, entertainment facility which transports visitors to numerous aquatic environments.
It is a stunning exhibition of fish behind glass. Five portions of the aquarium feature different sea habitats.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum
Ocean Blvd. & 9th Ave No Myrtle Beach
843-448-2331
More than 500 exhibits from the believable to the bizarre.
South Carolina Aquarium
(843) 579-8601
The South Carolina Aquarium on Charleston Harbor depicts the rich variety of life that exists in the aquatic environments of South Carolina. Opening Spring of 2000, the Aquarium will bring together over 10,000 animals and 5,000 live plants normally separated by hundreds of miles in the wild. Journey from the Mountain to Sea, and learn how these environments, no matter how different, are mutually interdependent. River otters, snakes, fish, turtles, alligators, and birds, all in their natural habitats will be found under one roof. The South Carolina Aquarium offers the perfect balance between conservation, education, and entertainment.
Southern Cruz Casino
4491 Waterfront Ave.
Little River, SC 29566
843-249-9811
Take a cruise for casino fun. Call for schedule
Waccatee Zoological Farm
8500 Enterprise Rd. (Socastee Community)
Myrtle Beach
The Waccatee Zoological Farm began approximately 16 years ago as a private collection of exotic and domestic animals. Today, on a 500-acre farm nearly hidden away in the Socastee community west of Surfside Beach, Waccatee Zoo contains more than 100 species of animals. Including a herd of miniature horses and deer; a variety of big cats such as a black leopard, a lion, cougars and tigers; a long-necked llama; ostriches; a rainbow of exotic birds; and a menagerie of monkeys, the Waccatee Zoo is a wonderful off-the-beaten-path treat for the family. The zoo also has a petting area that is ideal for introducing small children to animals.
Wild Water
(843) 238-3787
a, state-of-the-art amusement park that offers a water park, kiddy park, motorized rides, miniature golf course, and arcade. stemming from a 35 ft. tower, the only ride of its kind in the Carolinas!
Wild Rapids Water Park & Pavilion
301 Third Ave. and S. Ocean Blvd.
Myrtle Beach
In addition to a fabulous oceanfront location in the center of Myrtle Beach, Wild Rapids features several big slides and tube rides for fun that's wet and wild and refreshing. A children's area is available, as well as an expansive sundeck that overlooks the Atlantic. An arcade is underneath the park that looks like a mountain
Wild Water Waterpark & Family Fun Center
910 Highway 17 S
(843)238-9453
Wally the Walrus, the mascot of Wild Water, welcomes guests to the wild slides and careening rides. This 16-acre facility is the area's newest waterpark
A 16-foot wide Lazy River, complete with a tropical rainforest and cascading waterfalls, meanders throughout the park. Wild Water also offers Wally's Wee-Children World, a wonderful kiddies' park with a pool, a "shipwreck," slides and more. Grownups will love the Lounge Pool; in-water lounge chairs are approved, and island music is upbeat.