10 Best Things to Do in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach has all the ingredients for a classic American vacation. Its vibe is a combination of youthful fun mixed with nostalgia. What does that mean? It means everyone can feel like a kid at Myrtle Beach, and you’re sure to return home with fond memories that will help you maintain your vacation glow long after you’ve returned to work. Here are the 10 best things to do in Myrtle Beach.

Find a Secluded Stretch of Sand

Okay, the beach is obvious. But, the question is where on the 60 miles of coastline are you going to plunk down your blanket and sandcastle bucket? Make sure you find the stretch of sand with the atmosphere that matches your beach style. Huntington Beach State Park has more than three miles of secluded sands flanked by dunes.

South of town, Surfside Beach and Garden Beach are even quieter options for families who want a place to sun and swim.

Insider Tip: Lack’s Beach Service lifeguard locations dot the coast to keep swimmers safe. But simply renting your beach chairs and umbrellas from them is one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach, too.

Eat Seafood

While you can’t go wrong with just about any seafood joint in the area, Murrells Inlet is the place to go for local catch. The fishing village, located south of downtown Myrtle Beach, has a MarshWalk lined with waterfront eateries. For you-know-its-local fare, head to Wicked Tuna. The eatery only serves fish caught locally by its own boats, and you’ll also find tons of fare for the turf lovers.

Downtown, family-run Mrs. Fish is another local favorite due to its down-to-earth vibe (food comes on paper plates) and super low prices (at lunch you can get a fried seafood platter with flounder, shrimp, bay scallops, and oysters for $13.99). Placing a takeout order for an instant picnic at the beach is one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach.

Insider Tip: Even if you’re not hungry, hit the MarshWalk on a summer night and you’ll more than likely hear several live bands—no cover charge.

Catch Your Dinner

Myrtle Beach State Park is known for its surf fishing for flounder, trout, king mackeral, and more. You’ll need a saltwater fishing license, available at bait shops or online. Nonresidents can expect to pay $11 for a 14-day license. You can also opt to hire a fishing charter. Some for-hire services will even clean your fish for you.

Insider Tip: For fishing without a license, several public piers sell daily fishing passes, including Myrtle Beach Pier. For $5 you can fish all day.

Walk the Boardwalk

The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade is home to it all: rides, restaurants, and hotel rooms. You’ll often stumble on live music in the summer in addition to fireworks displays. But no trip to the 1.2-mile boardwalk is complete without a Ferris Wheel ride. The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel takes you high above the coastline—more than 180 feet high—for arguably the area’s best view of the Atlantic. Tickets are $9 for kids three to 11 and $14 for adults.

Insider Tip: Head south to Garden City Pier for similar fun on a smaller scale. The pier has an arcade, a bar with live music and karaoke, and plenty of fishermen reeling in their catch. It’s one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach one a smaller, less-crowded scale.

Get a History Lesson

Hopsewee Plantation, former home of one of the signer’s of the Declaration of Independence, sits along North Santee River and takes you back to life on an 18th-cenutry rice plantation. For $20 (discounts for children under 17), the one-hour tour covers every room in the National Historical Landmark, while also tackling the area’s more difficult history when visiting slave cabins on the grounds.

Insider Tip: Reserve seats for tea at Hopsewee Plantation in advance. There’s a small fee to reserve in advance, but the entire cost gets applied to your meal.

Drive Fast … Really Fast

Myrtle Beach Speedway lets you get behind the wheel of a NASCAR race car. After training and instruction, you get behind the wheel for a five-minute timed racing session that’s easily one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach. You’ve got the track all to yourself. No instructor riding with you, just in-car communications making sure you stay on track. When it’s over, you’ll find out your top speed.

Insider Tip: For a more affordable experience, you can go for a ride with a professional racing instructor behind the wheel of a NASCAR.

Fly Through the Sky

While you can literally fly through the sky on a helicopter ride, you can get a little more wind in your face with Soar + Explore. Located at WonderWorks, which also hosts science exhibits and laser tag, this rope course lets you navigate 33 different elements by climbing and balancing your way across ropes and cables for $11.99. You can add on trip across the 50-foot-high zipline. Radical Ropes has a ropes course and ziplines, but also lets you free fall from 70 feet.

Insider Tip: Ditch the swim attire if you plan to tackle one of these courses. Swap flip-flops for closed-toe shoes and wear pants or shorts to comfortably navigate the ropes.

Get Outdoors

A city on the water inevitably has a bunch of water-based activities, and there’s no better time to try something new than when you’re on vacation. Coastal Scuba has classes and dive charters for SCUBA, while Kokopelli Surf Camp offers not only surf lessons, but also kayak and paddleboard tours and rentals. For something more laidback, Waccamaw River Tours take you down the creeks that line the area’s National Wildlife Refuge.

Insider Tip: When you need a break from the sea, strike it out on land on the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway. Eventually the path will stretch more than 25 miles from Murrells Inlet to Georgetown as part of the East Coast Greenway.

Take a Day Trip

If you’re the type of traveler that gets fidgety after a couple of days, then you’re in luck. Myrtle Beach is perfectly positioned not just for access to the Atlantic, but also to several of South Carolina’s best small towns. Pawleys Island, a barrier island south of downtown, is a quiet, historic resort town with untouched dune-backed beaches.

Away from the coast, Conway is worth a visit, too. The town’s Riverwalk is lined with shops and restaurants, and on Saturdays the Farmers Market is the place to go for food-based souvenirs like jams and jellies.

Insider Tip: Look for cooking classes at Horry Georgetown Technical College, so when you head home you can prepare your own fish, shellfish, or barbeque to perfection. Classes are also available for kids ages nine to 13.

Golf

It’s no secret that golfing is one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach. Many legends of the golf game have designed some of the more than 100 golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area, but the best part is that the area’s public golf courses are just as beautiful. River Oaks Golf Plantation lets you get your golf game on among its three, nine-hole courses.

Insider Tip: If you’re not into formal golf, there’s a themed mini golf course to fit your style: Hawaiian, Jurassic, pirates, and even a course that requires a ride in a mining car.

The Best Summer Hotel Deals in Myrtle Beach (Sponsored)

With free nights at Sea Watch Resort, you can turn your weekend getaway into an extra-long weekend getaway. If you've got more vacation time to use up, you can pay for four nights and get two additional nights free.

With six oceanfront pools, two lazy rivers, 10 hot tubs, and several dining and bar options, the hotel offers up everything you need for a relaxing escape.

Travel dates: Through January 1, 2018

Find this and other summer hotel deals at VisitMyrtleBeach.com!

With free nights at Sea Watch Resort, you can turn your weekend getaway into an extra-long weekend getaway. If you've got more vacation time to use up, you can pay for four nights and get two additional nights free.

With six oceanfront pools, two lazy rivers, 10 hot tubs, and several dining and bar options, the hotel offers up everything you need for a relaxing escape.

Travel dates: Through January 1, 2018

Find this and other summer hotel deals at VisitMyrtleBeach.com!

Participating Oceana Resorts by Windham Vacation Rentals, including the highly rated Anderson Ocean Club & Spa and Harbourgate Resort & Marina, are offering 25 percent off stays when you book online and pay your reservation in full 30 days before you arrive. You can also save up to 15 percent if you pay at least 14 days before arrival.

Oceana Resorts are throwing in additional savings with perks like unlimited water park access, free miniature golf, and no greens fees at select golf courses. Your included Oceana Privileges Card also scores you discounts at area shops, restaurants, and activities.

Travel dates: Through December 31, 2017

Restrictions: Three- or four-night minimum stay required, depending on property

Find this and other summer hotel deals at VisitMyrtleBeach.com!

Stay two nights at the Beach Cove Resort and your third night is free. If you want to have an even longer long weekend, then you can pay for four nights and get two additional nights free.

The all-suite-and-condo accommodations mean you've got more room to relax, while the pool area, including lazy river, overlooking the Atlantic help you continue to unwind even outside your hotel room.

Travel dates: Through January 1, 2018

Find this and other summer hotel deals at VisitMyrtleBeach.com!

The Caravelle Resort, known for various accommodations across its nine buildings, is letting guests stay for six nights and pay for four. For shorter stays, you can stay for three nights and pay for two. With three-bedroom condos, studios with kitchens, suites, and traditional hotel rooms, there's a space that'll fit your style.

As a guest, you have access to amenities at the Caravelle Resort building, like the Wild Water Pool, and also receive a Vacation Member Benefits (VMB) card. This unlocks savings totaling $382 on attractions, including discounts on SkyWheel, surf lessons, dining, and more.

Travel dates: Through January 1, 2018

Find this and other summer hotel deals at VisitMyrtleBeach.com!

TripAdvisor travelers love Surfside Beach Resort, and the hotel is giving even more reasons to love it with several deals, including a discounted room rate with $50 toward any Divine Dining Group restaurant.

The restaurant group is known for local fare, and crowd-favorite Bubba's Fish Shack and award-winning River City Cafe are both within feet of the resort. The hotel also offers discounts the longer you stay with 20% off seven nights.

Restrictions: Not valid with other promotions

Find this and other summer hotel deals at VisitMyrtleBeach.com!

If you're planning on enjoying some of Myrtle Beach's attractions and entertainment, the Now That's Entertainment package at Grande Shores Ocean Resort may save you some cash.

The package includes one free adult “all day” waterpark pass every day of your stay to Myrtle Waves Water Park, one complimentary game of laser tag at Fun Warehouse, one complimentary round of mini golf at Cancun Lagoon or Mutiny Bay, and free unlimited DVD rentals from the hotel. All of this is in addition to your access to indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, and lazy river.

Travel dates: June 4 through September 6, 2017; other travel dates available with different package amenities

Restrictions: Limit one free ticket/admission pass per reservation/per family.

Find this and other summer hotel deals at VisitMyrtleBeach.com!

When you arrive on a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday and stay three nights or more at Dayton House Resort, you can save 30 percent on room rates. Unlike many other area properties, Dayton House Resort has a two-acre lawn with loungers, umbrellas, and oceanfront gazebos, made for soaking up the sun.

Indoor pools, hot tubs, oceanfront outdoor pool, and lazy river are all included in the experience, too.

Travel dates: June 18 through August 10, 2017

Restrictions: Not valid July 4th week. 14-day maximum stay.

Find this and other summer hotel deals at VisitMyrtleBeach.com!

Perfect for larger families or those that need two hotel rooms to fit the whole clan, Condo-World Resort Properties are offering huge discounts on summer stays. You can take as much as $300 off four-night stays with promo code VISITNMB.

With numerous properties to choose from, you're sure to find something that fits your family. And with a kitchen and a local farmers' market, you can save on meals throughout your vacation.

Travel dates: June 3 through September 9, 2017

Restrictions: Excludes 4-bedroom condos July 1 through August 5. Not all units participate in discount.

Find this and other summer hotel deals at VisitMyrtleBeach.com!

Book your weeklong stay at Sandy Beach Resort, and you'll save 20 percent this summer. You can apply the discount to any room type, including oceanfront rooms and Jacuzzi suites. All rooms have a kitchen and offer easy access to the Grand Strand.

With room rates starting at an already low $59, you stand to have extra money in your vacation budget for gorging on seafood or taking advantage of area attractions

Travel dates: Through September 30, 2017

Restrictions: Seven-night minimum stay, 14 nights maximum.

Find this and other summer hotel deals at VisitMyrtleBeach.com!

It pays to take an entire week of vacation—for your mental health and your wallet. With seven-night stays at South Wind on the Ocean, you can save up to $200. The one- to five-bedroom oceanfront condos that make up the property all have kitchens and private balconies overlooking the Atlantic. As a guest, you have access to amenities including three pools, three whirlpools, and a lazy river.

From June 4 through September 4, the property is offering a $40 instant rebate for Sunday arrivals of four-night stays or longer.

Travel dates: May 29 through September 3, 2017

Restrictions: Minimum-night stay required and varies by property. Taxes and resort fees are collected at check-in.

Find this and other summer hotel deals at VisitMyrtleBeach.com!

More from SmarterTravel:

• A Guide to Your Girls’ Getaway Weekend in Myrtle Beach
• Why Myrtle Beach Is the Best Summer Vacation Destination You Haven’t Thought of Yet
• 10 Best Summer Hotel Deals in Myrtle Beach