6 Must-See Family Friendly Activities in Myrtle Beach

My husband and I love to travel. Before having kids, we went on a week long vacation every year. We have been to multiple countries including Jamaica, Mexico, St. Thomas, Barbados, Antigua, Bahamas, and more – sometimes to an all-inclusive resort and reaching others on a cruise ship. Like most other things, vacations changed a bit after our boys were born. In the beginning, we thought we would alternate a couple’s trip with a family trip. That worked for a few years but now our boys like looking forward to and going on vacation, and we like taking them to see new places.

This year, we made the 14.5 hour drive to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

We had gorgeous weather, but it wasn’t warm enough to spend hours each day at the outdoor pool or swimming in the ocean so we had to find other things to do. Here are our six must-see family friendly activities in Myrtle Beach!

Waccatee Zoo – We have an annual membership to our zoo, and we tend to visit a zoo every time we travel. The Waccatee Zoo is definitely worth the little drive (It was about 20 minutes from our hotel.) and one of the best we have been to. It reminded me of a mix between our local zoo and the Wildlife Prairie Park. The entry price is very reasonable ($10 for 13+ years old and $4 for kids age 12 months – 12 years). Be sure to buy some food to feed the animals. We bought a gallon size bag of peanuts for $6 and didn’t run out. You can bring the stroller if you have younger kiddos, but I would recommend wearing them if they are too young as there are no paved paths. There are a TON of animals from snakes and birds to a camel and tiger and even llamas and deer. My boys LOVED being able to feed all of the animals. We spent about 2.5 hours here.
The Dinosaur Exhibit – We didn’t see this one advertised at all, but we came upon it when we were spending the morning walking around Broadway at the Beach. If you have kiddos who like dinosaurs, this is a must. There were a number of large, moving dinosaur exhibits with facts about each one, a children’s play area including coloring pages and a fossil find area, and your kiddos can be featured in their own movie riding a dinosaur! It was $14.95 for adults and $9.95 for kids, but they also have a family pass valid for 2 adults and 2 kids for $44.95.
Grand Strand Model Railroad Exhibit – We stumbled across this awesome FREE event! If you have kiddos (or you) who love trains, this is a nice stop for you. The Grand Strand Model Railroad Club has an exhibit of trains and train tracks in the Myrtle Beach Mall. It’s right next to Bass Pro Shops and open Monday 4-7pm, Wednesday 12-4pm and Saturday 10am – 5pm. It is most just to look, but the first set up does have a lot of different buttons your kiddos can press. There is no charge however, they do accept donations.
Pirate’s Voyage Dinner & Show – If you want to take the kids to a dinner and show while in Myrtle Beach, this is the one! It’s a little pricey (as much as $49.99 for adults and $26.99 for kids depending on seat selection), but if you have a kiddo young enough, they can sit on your lap and share your meal for no charge (bonus!). Looking back, I wish I would have done this with my 3-year old since he barely touched his dinner. There was plenty of food – soup, cheddar biscuit, chicken, pulled pork, potato, corn on the cob and apple pie. The show was excellent – be aware that there is fire in the show as well as real animals (dogs and sea lions). If you are going for the 6pm show, doors open at 4:30, and I would recommend getting there around that time. There is pre-show entertainment (beverages and snacks are additional during this time), and your kiddo can even get dolled up like a pirate if you want (additional fees involved, of course). Also, be prepared to tip your wait staff and get a group picture taken (additional charge). I’m such a sucker for the professional pictures. Anyone else? If you have been to Medieval Times, it’s the same type of set up.
Miniature Golf – There are awesome mini golf places all over Myrtle Beach. We visited two different places – Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf and Dragon’s Lair Fantasy Golf. At Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf, you get a train ride up the “mountain” where you start your golf adventure. My boys thought that was pretty cool. Even better, if your kiddos are young enough and use the plastic clubs, they can play for FREE! Dragon’s Lair Fantasy Golf is at Broadway at the Beach. Kids 3 and under play for FREE here (yay!), and you can play both courses for $11 per person. We opted to play both courses for only $3 more than playing one course. The course is in part of a castle and there is a small dragon “show” every 30 minutes.
Skywheel Myrtle Beach – The SkyWheel wasn’t super exciting, but it’s a must visit attraction in Myrtle Beach. My boys thought it was awesome, and if you want some great views of the beach and ocean, this is a great way to get them. The Skywheel is located on the Boardwalk and tickets were $9 for children age 3-11 and $14 for 12 and over. You go around three times.