Whether you're on the market for your next vacation home or you're searching for a retirement condo in paradise, you want to settle in a place that is as exciting as it is scenic.
Consider Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. While there are miles upon miles of beaches on the East Coast of North America, none are quite like this stretch of sand and frothy waves.
Beyond its beauty, there are countless things to do in Myrtle Beach. From dining to shopping to adventure, residents will find a plethora of options catering to every age group and interest.
Our Top 15 Things to Do in Myrtle Beach
As you plan your search for the perfect seasonal or permanent home, make sure you take time to experience this unique area. We'll even make it easy on you. Below is our list of top 15 activities you simply cannot miss while visiting Myrtle Beach.
Give them a try, and see if you don't fall in love with this exciting city!
1. Get a Bird's Eye View from the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel
Located on the boardwalk in downtown, the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel is a 10-minute Ferris wheel ride that provides you with a stunning view of the city and beach. Rising at a towering 200 feet, passengers will experience 3 rotations from their seats inside of see-through gondolas.
Each ride is reserved by your ticket, and you'll never have to worry about a 10-minute ride with strangers! You are always coupled with your friends or family, making it a memorable experience you are guaranteed share together.
2. Go Back to the Renaissance at Medieval Times
Nothing gets the blood pumping quite like a joust over savory chicken and mead! Medieval Times brings the Renaissance to your dinner table in a live-action event that will thrill the entire family.
Choose your knight wisely, and let your heart get swept up in the rhythm of their mighty steeds' hooves! Proclaimed as the number one dinner attraction in America, you'll experience swordplay, jousting, and more accented by a stunning musical score.
The food is worth noting, too. With both regular and vegetarian meal options, no one goes hungry at Medieval Times. The Royal Court shares a bountiful spread as well as a show that will have you talking for weeks to come.
3. Get Salty with the Sea Captain's House
Looking for a more classic bite to eat? The Sea Captain's House is--you guessed it--a seafood restaurant on North Ocean Boulevard. It's been in Myrtle Beach for more than 50 years, serving up locally sourced seafood dishes that will really hit your palette.
Don't walk in expecting average food and flavor here. It's a must for any shrimp or seafood lover looking to satisfy their craving.
One bite will tell you they haven't wasted the last 5 decades by cooking sub-par dishes. Each recipe has been perfected, its flavor raising the bar on seafood.
Their menu is extensive and accommodating, including:
- Breakfast Menu
- Lunch Menu
- Dinner Menu
- Children's Menu
- Gluten-Free Options
- Vegetarian Options
- Tempting Dessert Menu
- Great Wine Selection
- Tasteful Drink Menu
You'll need several visits in order to find your favorite dish. Even then, you might be hard-pressed to choose just one!
4. Tap into Your Inner Pirate Over a Hardy Meal
Landlubbers beware! Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show isn't your usual dinner outing. Those who dare to dine here will experience an acrobatic water show like nothing they've ever seen before.
Fill your belly with food and satiate your appetite for adventure with Blackbeard and his crew as they take on an epic battle for every pirate's lust: gold and treasure.
The menu includes vegetarian options, but you'll need to request them ahead of time as you make your reservations.
Arrive 50 minutes early and you can even meet Blackbeard's crew. It's an opportunity perfect for the young pirates on your crew.
This show is a stunner filled with fire, swordplay, aerial feats, and music sure to make your move. Rated 4.7 stars by over 2,000 Google reviewers, you won't want to leave it off of your to-do list.
5. Meet the Stars
If you ever wanted to rub shoulders with celebrities, Myrtle Beach has just the place for you. The Hollywood Wax Museum lets you get up close and personal with stars of the past and present, including characters from your favorite movies.
These wax figures are strikingly realistic. Among Myrtle Beach's collection are:
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Johnny Depp
- Bradley Cooper
- Julia Roberts
- Brad Pitt
- And More!
Take selfies and "wow" your friends with these stunningly lifelike wax figures. As you tour this fun museum, you'll learn about the stars' personal lives, pet peeves, and other facts while engaging in fun games along the way.
6. Make a Splash at the Local Water Parks
Do you love a good water park?
Myrtle Beach has not one, but two independent water parks: Myrtle Waves Water Park and Splashes Oceanfront Water Park.
Myrtle Waves is the largest water park in South Carolina, while Splashes Oceanfront is set right next to the beautiful Atlantic shore.
Whether you just want to relax and float down a lazy river or catch your thrills on one of the many available slides, you'll find both parks to be a refreshing escape from the summer sun.
7. Explore a Museum of Oddities
Located in the Boardwalk area is a museum of incredible truths known as the Ripley's Believe it Or Not Odditorium. From shrunken heads to 100 percent authentic vampire killing kits, you won't believe your eyes!
This amazing museum has 12 themed galleries and more than 200 exhibits and artifacts held within its 2-story building. Beyond that, there are 5 separate Ripley's attractions located in Myrtle Beach alone!
Venture beyond the Odditorium to check out Ripley's Aquarium, the Marvelous Mirror Maze, Ripley's Haunted Adventure, or the 5D Moving Theater. Between these five unique attractions, you'll cover all the frights, facts, and entertainment you can crave.
These spectacular experiences offer enough things to do in Myrtle Beach to fill a day or more with wide-eyed surprises and new discoveries.
8. Get Up Close and Personal with Alligators
Want a close-up look at some of the oldest reptiles on the planet? Alligator Adventure at Barefoot Landing offers you a memorable encounter with these fierce predators.
Experience their exhilarating shows, which include live feedings, alligator, and snake handling, as well as captivating and educational lectures.
You'll find many alligators at this attraction who 15 feet or more in length, and they will put on quite the performance when it comes to fresh meat!
Don't worry, it's 100 percent safe to visit. Just keep your arms and legs outside of the gator pit.
You'll learn a lot about these creatures and the marvelous instincts that have kept them around for so long.
9. Putt It Out with a Few Rounds of Mini Golf
Feeling competitive? Take your friends and family out for a couple of rounds of mini-golf! Known as the "Mini-Golf Capital of the World", Myrtle Beach features 50 different mini golf courses within its city limits.
Each location has its own unique course and theme. Grab a ball and putter and explore a fantastical landscape! Among the numerous themes you'll find at these attractions are:
- Dragon Themes
- Dinosaur Themes
- Hawaiian Themes
- Jungle Themes
- Pirate Themes
Both seasonal and full-time residents will be hard-pressed to try them all. You would have to visit one nearly every week of the year.
It keeps the game refreshing and new for those who constantly seek the next hole-in-one!
10. Get in Touch with Your Wild Side on a Safari
Sandy shores aren't the only thing you'll find at Myrtle Beach. Doc Antle's Myrtle Beach Safari is located on a large, 50-acre nature preserve where you can experience many wild encounters.
The preserve houses several exotic animals including:
- Ramses the Cheetah
- An African elephant named Bubbles
- Ahren, a rescued African fish eagle
- A 900lb liger aptly named Hercules
- A baby Bengal named Stripes
- Various wolf pups, chimpanzees, and gibbons
Some of the baby animals are available for photo ops, but you can also snap photos while on a safari.
If you're really looking for a thrill, consider going on a night safari! With many of these animals leading a nocturnal lifestyle, it's a great opportunity to witness them active and on the prowl.
11. Take a Stroll Down the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade
What if you just want to relax, do some shopping, and enjoy the outdoors? Myrtle Beach has plenty of room for that, too. The popular Beach Boardwalk and Promenade are both leading attractions in the area.
The boardwalk itself stretches a mile into the Atlantic. Venture across its deck and peer into the water to witness the various fish and other sea creatures you usually won't see from the shore.
You can also enjoy the beach or take an easy stroll through the shops and activities that surround the Promenade. You'll find great restaurants, enticing shops, and opportunities to shed a few calories through surfing, volleyball games, or just an active day on the beach.
It's the ideal traditional beach atmosphere.
12. Get Out on the Water
Want to go fishing?
How about kayaking?
Maybe you're more into jet skis and water sports.
Whatever you're craving, there are numerous rental and excursion opportunities available at Myrtle Beach. Catch a fishing charter and search for that elusive "big one" or plan out one of your favorite water activities for the day.
Myrtle Beach welcomes the active and adventurous, providing you with a host of opportunities to experience the water in new ways.
You can even take advantage of one of the many dolphin tours in the area. These enchanting sea mammals are commonplace in Myrtle Beach. It's not uncommon to find them playing in the wake or even popping a curious glimpse at the people around them in the water.
13. Find Peace in the Gardens
There is something satisfying about a walk through a beautiful garden. Brookgreen Gardens is the perfect opportunity to explore beautiful scenery, animals, and sculptures while learning about local history.
This whopping 9,000-acre garden is a National Historic Landmark. Here you'll find multiple attractions, including the garden itself, masterful sculptures, the Lowcountry Zoo, and an introduction to the Lowcountry history.
It's an illuminating experience. With so much room to explore, you'll likely find that one visit isn't enough! That's why they offer memberships for those who find themselves coming back again and again.
14. Explore the Evolution of One of Pop Culture's Favorite Classic Games
Everyone loves pinball. It's a classic piece of engineering that has been found in arcades, pizza joints, and even some homes.
The Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum gives you the chance to learn and play your way through the game's evolution. This facility is a nonprofit that dedicates its operation to raise funds for children's charities, so you'll feel good about spending money here.
Enjoy this nostalgic return to a classic game on your own or with the family. You can even rent out space here for private gatherings, birthday parties, and company events.
15. Explore Various Windows into History
If you're looking to feed your curiosity through museums and historical sites, you'll find no shortage of locations to explore.
Take a step back into history by visiting the Hopsewee Plantation. This property dates back to the 1740s and was the birthday of Thomas Lynch, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
You can also stop by the Franklin G. Boroughs-Simon B. Chapin Art Museum or the Wheels of Yesteryear museum for an enriching and educational experience.
16. Take an Awesome Journey Back to the 1980s and ’90s
We added a bonus thing to do! Number 16 is a different type of unique museum. The Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum where you can actually play all of your old favorites. You can take a totally awesome journey back to the 1980s and ’90s, share the games of your youth with your kids, or reconnect with friends. If you’re on a budget and looking for affordable fun things to do, but this hands-on retro stop on your must-do list.
How it works... Admission is $12 per hour per person. All games are set to free play, no quarters needed. Once you pay admission you can play as much as you want during your time period.
Buy Real Estate Amidst All the Things to Do in Myrtle Beach
Ready to put this list of must-sees to the test? Contact us to schedule a time to search for your next retirement or vacation home nestled close by to all the things to do in Myrtle Beach.
From turnkey finished listings to foreclosures available at a tempting price, we can help you find the perfect place for you. Some of these homes are available at half of their original value, so they won't stay on the market long!
Talk Soon! How Can We Help You?
Jerry Pinkas Real Estate Experts - 843-839-9870