Myrtle Beach Attractions

Myrtle Beach offers a sun-soaked slice of classic American beaches -- a sea of kaleidoscopic umbrellas next to the ocean, airplanes passing overhead with banners flying behind them and windsurfers skirting by beneath rainbow parachutes. You'll be in the thick of it all if you head to the Grand Strand, which has more than 60 miles of beaches, plus family-friendly theme parks, restaurants and areas for shopping. For instant access to Grand Strand beaches, snag an oceanview room at one of the hotels lined up near the shore. Keep in mind that the Grand Strand can get a bit noisy at night -- especially during the busy spring break and summer seasons (think roaming packs of teenagers and cars blasting loud music). Families seeking a quieter vacation should look into hotels away from the bustling Strand.

Broadway at the beach is the go-to spot for rides, cotton candy, shopping and good ol' family fun. This attraction's impressive inventory includes an Imax theater, two -- count 'em, two -- Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Stores, an oddly-shaped Planet Hollywood, Ripley's Aquarium (more on that below), plenty of stores, kiddie rides and so much more. This massive complex is basically a mix between a shopping mall and an amusement park, and the entire thing is situated around a large lake. There are so many attractions there that visitors could easily spend an entire day roaming the grounds, shopping and eating. Some good advice: Grab a map at one of the visitors' centers, and plan out your day based on what you want to see and how much time you have. You probably won't be able to see everything your family wants to in one visit, so be prepared to compromise and negotiate! One of the more offbeat attractions available at Broadway at the Beach includes a water-walking ball. (Kids can walk over the lake in what looks like a giant, clear hamster ball.) Younger children will enjoy kiddie rides like teacups and a carousel at Carousel Park or the Pavilion Nostalgia Park. Check out the Broadway at the Beach Web site to find seasonal activities like fireworks.

Sadly, this spectacular natural attraction is all too often overlooked for the busy theme parks and sculpted golf courses of Myrtle Beach. But Brookgreen Gardens is a hands-down must-see site for every family. This nonprofit outdoor museum, zoo and sculpture garden is a National Historic Landmark -- and for good reason. The park's more than 9,000 acres contain four historic plantations, archeological sites, a sculpture, a learning and research center, a wildlife preserve, an aviary and plenty more. If you think your kids may be bored to tears by plants and statues, think again. Visiting families can watch otters splashing around in their natural habitat, spot alligators on a pontoon boat creek excursion or take a Jeep trek to a historic (and creepy!) plantation graveyard. The lush grounds are teeming with nature, so don't be surprised if you spend an entire day exploring this incredible local treasure.

Learn about Myrtle Beach history, nature and wildlife on an exciting Jeep tour. These three-and-a-half-hour tours will take you to the Atlantic Flyway, where you can spot alligators and local birds, a 300-year-old plantation house, the Waccamaw River and more. Plus, tour guides tell of local ghost lore near haunted graveyards. This tour is absolutely perfect if your family needs a break from lazy beach days, shopping and seafood. And although your kids will learn a thing or two about the interesting history of Myrtle Beach, the tour feels less like school and more like a safari -- so we doubt anyone will get even close to bored.

This freshly built shopping and dining mecca offers a multitude of upscale chain stores (many of which can be found in your local mall). But, this is more than a mall. It's an outdoor maze of stores that houses festivals on occasion and has a playground for kids, a movie theater and lots of outdoor dining. Moms will enjoy pushing strollers up and down the palm-tree-lined sidewalks and stopping in stores, such as Ann Taylor, Anthropologie, Chico's and Pottery Barn. Kids can swing or slide at the outdoor playground, get an ice cream cone at Coldstone Creamery or catch the latest Pixar film at the movie theater. Get a complete list of stores and restaurants at The Market Common Web site.

Parents may be interested in hitting Myrtle Beach's famous golf courses, sans little ones, but kids can have fun hitting some golf balls on vacation, as well. Your family will likely spot plenty of colorful, outrageous and fun mini-golf courses in Myrtle Beach. Most of the courses can be found along Kings Highway, so the clan can take a drive down this road and see for themselves which course looks the best. A few of our favorites include Jungle Lagoon Mini Golf and Cancun Adventure Golf.

Ripley's Aquarium is said to be the most visited attraction in South Carolina. And we're not surprised. Located at the popular Broadway at the Beach, the aquarium features fun and kid-friendly exhibits on all things aquatic. The featured exhibit is "Dangerous Reef," where young and old alike glide on a moving sidewalk through a tunnel surrounded on all sides by fascinating ocean creatures, from sharks to stingrays. Kids certainly won't get bored at this aquarium, as most of its exhibits are specifically geared toward a younger audience. The aquarium's colorful, interactive displays and anthropomorphically dubbed sea creatures ("Gabby" the sea turtle is the aquarium's mascot) will delight youngsters.