Kidding Around Greenville contributor Amy Wyler received passes to local attractions in order to facilitate this review.
It’s SUMMER!! School is about to let out and do you know what that means?? VACATION! Living in the Upstate of South Carolina, we have the privilege of enjoying the best of both worlds. Mountains just minutes down the road and the shores of the Atlantic Ocean just hours away.
Every year, our family loves to fill up our 15 passenger van and head to the Grand Strand. Myrtle Beach has been a beautiful family vacation destination for decades, and what better way to support our home state then to vacation in it and enjoy all the amenities Myrtle Beach has to offer…
What makes Myrtle Beach such a great family vacation destination?
Photo credit to Myrtle Beach Area CVB.
Accommodations
Designed for vacationers in mind, Myrtle Beach has just about every resort, hotel and motel to fit all budgets. From major hotel chains like the Hilton and Marriott, to privately owned resorts like Captains Quarters and condos at North Beach Plantation. Many are right along the shore, offering oceanfront or ocean view rooms.
For families looking to be within walking distance of nightlife, dining and some of the best shopping in South Myrtle Beach, Broadway at the Beach resorts might be perfect.
This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.
Attractions
Broadway at the Beach is home to some of my family’s FAVORITE traditions. Between Ripley’s Aquarium, Wonderworks and The Dragons Lair Fantasy Golf, we can spend a FULL day just walking around the boardwalk shopping and visiting our favorites.
Ripley’s Aquarium is a MUST if you visit Broadway at the Beach. Ripley’s is home to a 340 foot long glidepath. On it, you get to “dive” under the sea and go face to face in the Dangerous Reef. Sandsharks and sea turtles swim overhead and alongside of you as get a 180 degree view of life down under. My elementary aged children are fascinated with sharks and this visit was a wonderful way to solidify what they have been learning. Nothing compares to being able to see these beautiful creatures up close.
Another favorite is the Ray Bay!! Filled with large beautiful sting rays, see them glide in the water and then over at the shallow end, you can touch them. They are so friendly and safe to touch. The children love reaching in and seeing them slide right up the sides of the tank to say hello… The Aquarium is great if you happen to have a rainy day or a day you need a break from the beautiful sunshine!
Myrtle Beach has one local Attraction that can be seen for miles away… and at night, it lights up the SKY where it can be seen from most oceanfront balconies. The SKYWHEEL!! Situated right on the Promenade, the Skywheel takes you 200 feet above sea level. Take a breathtaking view of the miles of seashores in one of 42 climate controlled gondolas. At night, watch for miles as the SkyWheel puts on an amazing light show and lights up the sky!
Dining
Nothing works up an appetite quite like a day spent on the beach. And Myrtle Beach is the place to be!! From seafood freshly caught off the dock and live music on the pier to romantic dinners for two. Broadway at the Beach has an array of nightlife activities. Daily fireworks events from June through August along with free kids face painting on selected nights. Carnival rides and live music can also be found along the boardwalk there.
Another tradition for our family is a stop at River City! River City is a local cafe that was voted ” Best of the Beach” by the locals – a place that encourages you to throw your peanut shells on the floor and write on the walls. If you are looking for a fresh juicy cheeseburger, this is the place to go. Every year we cram into the quaint multi colored building with an appetite and a sharpie and leave our mark.
The two main things that come to mind when planning our annual family vacation are family friendly and affordable… and Myrtle Beach never fails. It continues to entertain and make memories for thousands every single year…. make sure you pick up a coupon book in the lobby of your resort and most dining establishments for discounts on most of the attractions I mentioned… they also have plenty of discounts on their website and facebook page.
But even if your goal is to just sit back and relax, then you came to the right place. Stroll down the 1.2 mile long boardwalk and unwind. There is nothing like the sound of the waves to make your worries roll away.
What’s your favorite thing to do when visiting Myrtle Beach?
RELATED:
- What Not to Do When Planning Your Disney Vacation
- Eating Your Way through Disney
- 5 Day Trips for Couples
Amy Wyler is a wife and mom to 7 amazing children, when not homeschooling her children, she runs her travel agency Polka Dots “N Wishes Travel and plans magical Disney vacations for families. She enjoys reading, painting and traveling. Amy’s passion is encouraging families to create memories that last a lifetime. You can follow her over on Facebook where she posts about travel specials, contests and more!
Ripley’s Aquarium is awesome. We went to Myrtle Beach last year with a 1 year old, this year with a 2 year old and a 3 month old. So finding stuff for little, little ones wasn’t a challenge. We spent a few hours The Children’s Museum, on especially hot days. We also loved Brookgreen Gardens. They have a sculpture garden, an Enchanted Storybook Forest, a zoo where we got to see the otters being fed and more. Barefoot Landing has some cool stuff too. In the future we’re going to check out the Tiger Sanctuary and Alligator Adventure. Both Barefoot… Read more »