25 Best Things to Do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (2024)

Located in the middle of South Carolina's 60-mile Grand Strand along the Atlantic Coast, Myrtle Beach features an oceanfront boardwalk, gorgeous beaches, and plenty of golf courses, nightlife, family entertainment, hotels, and restaurants. While summer is a popular time to visit, it's a year-round destination with attractions for every season, taste, and budget. Here are 25 fun things to do on your next trip to Myrtle Beach, from soaring above the sandy strip to embracing your inner pirate on a themed cruise — this is Blackbeard and the gang's former stomping ground, after all.

See Myrtle Beach from above on the SkyWheel

Take in miles of Myrtle Beach's skyline and ocean views from the SkyWheel, with a vantage point of nearly 200 feet above the boardwalk. For a VIP experience, you and three friends can lounge on leather seats in your own glass-floored gondola.

Race along the tracks in go-karts

Head to The Track for a go-kart ride on the Mighty Myrtle elevated track, where drivers ride up three and a half stories and circle back down with an exciting drop at the end. At the Broadway Grand Prix, seven go-kart tracks range from the Pro-Track for experienced drivers to the Family Track for all levels. There's also a Junior Racer and Kids Track so everyone can get behind the wheel for some driving fun.

Root for the home team

For some local baseball action, check out the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a Single-A Affiliate team of the Chicago Cubs. Promotions include Fireworks Fridays and a chance for kids ages 12 and under to run the bases after every game.

Soak up the sun at the beach

Myrtle Beach is home to 114 public beaches that are perfect for sunning, swimming, surfing, wading, and hunting for seashells and shark teeth along the shore. Several beaches offer wheelchair access as well as chairs equipped with balloon tires, making them more accessible to everyone.

Explore the shore by Jet Ski or banana boat

Ride with your group of three to 10 on a banana boat, a yellow banana-shaped tube that's towed through the waves. You can choose from several Myrtle Beach companies, including Downwind Sails and Express Watersports. Rent a Jet Ski to speed through the ocean at your own pace, or join a tour for a guided excursion through the Intracoastal Waterway's tributaries for sightseeing and fun. Several companies, including Island Adventure Watersports and Express Watersports, offer rentals and tours.

Go on a guided kayak tour

Take a guided kayak tour through Myrtle Beach's streams and backwaters to experience the unique environments and wildlife of the area, including the Waccamaw River, marshes, and local islands. Tours are offered by J & L Kayaking and Great Escapes Kayak Expeditions, among other locally owned companies.

Keep an eye out for dolphins

Go on a cruise to see dolphins swimming alongside the boat, or spend a day deep-sea fishing with one of several Myrtle Beach companies such as Voyager or Hurricane Fleet. You can also soar over the area on a parasail adventure for a bird's-eye view of Myrtle Beach and the Atlantic. Feel the breeze, spot some dolphins, and enjoy a thrilling experience with Downwind Sails, Express Watersports, or New Wave Watersports.

Hit the waves on your own

Rent a pontoon boat, stand-up paddleboard, canoe, or scuba gear from one of the Myrtle Beach water activity companies mentioned above to explore the area at your own pace.

Play classic arcade games

Kids of all ages (or anyone who considers themselves to be young at heart) will have a blast at theMyrtle Beach Pinball Museum. Guests pay $12 per hour for access to the interactive museum's 26 vintage 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s pinball machines. You won't have to worry about digging for loose change or purchasing tokens —once inside, all machines are set to free play, so you can spend every minute enjoying nothing but the game.

Tee off at top golf courses

More than 90 public, private, and semi-private golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area make it a favorite destination for golf fans from all over. With a range of prices, landscapes, challenges, and courses designed by famed golf course architects like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Robert Trent Jones, every golfer can find the perfect place to play.

Or pick one of the kid-friendly mini golf courses

For family fun and entertainment, Myrtle Beach boasts more than 50 miniature golf courses, with a variety of themes, prices, and locations for visitors to choose from. Even if you're not traveling with kids, it's a great date night activity or a fun way to inspire a little friendly competition.

Visit a world-class art museum

Once you've had your fill of the beach, head inside to check out the impressive permanent collection of Southern art, antique maps, historical prints, and crafts at the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum. Offering a variety of books, jewelry, stationery, art supplies, and home decor, the gift shop is a great place to pick up artsy souvenirs.

Listen to live music for free

There's nothing like stumbling upon a great band and listening to live music, especially when it's free. And you can do just that on Main St. at Ocean Blvd. in North Myrtle Beach during the Music on Main Concert Series on Thursdays from June through September, or during any of the other festivals held here throughout the year.

Get hands-on at a Children's Museum

Traveling with little ones? Head to theMyrtle Beach EdVenture Children’s Museum, where kids can get in on the action with family-friendly exhibits showing them how things work at a supermarket, at the beach (geared toward ages three and under), in a cafe, and at the doctor's and dentist's office. Other displays focus on STEM topics such as space and flight, while a few more take a closer look at auto mechanics, motor skills and balance, performing arts, construction, art, magnets, and wind tunnels.

Check out Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen Gardens is home to 9,127 acres featuring stunning botanical gardens, an extensive collection of American sculptures, the Lowcountry Zoo, and the Lowcountry History and Wildlife Preserve. Whether you make time to visit just one or several of these attractions, you're in for a real treat.

Take in the area's natural beauty

Luckily for nature lovers, the Myrtle Beach area is home to two state parks that are both worth visiting. Make time for Myrtle Beach State Park, an oceanfront destination with nature trails, bike paths, equestrian trails, a fishing pier, and several picnic areas. Located at the southern end of Myrtle Beach, Huntington Beach State Park features 2,500 acres of hiking trails, marshes, bays, and opportunities for overnight camping.

Sip the day away at a nearby winery

Duplin Winery at North Myrtle Beach is a great place to sample a variety of vintages while enjoying cheese, crackers, and a virtual tour of its Rose Hill, North Carolina, home base. As part of the tour, you'll have a chance to hand-bottle your own wine to take home. Nearby, Carolina Vineyards Winery, located near the Intracoastal Waterway in North Myrtle Beach, offers a variety of tastings, including frozen wine during the summer.

Or try local beers at a microbrewery

New South Brewing, a microbrewery in Myrtle Beach that's been open since 1998, features ales, lagers, IPAs, and seasonal specialties such as Oktoberfest and Dark Star Porter. Nearby, Tidal Creek Brewhouse focuses on small-batch craft beers and also serves freshly brewed coffee and Lowcountry food favorites (think fried green tomatoes, burgers, and chicken wings) in a friendly atmosphere.

Geek out over classic cars

Classic car lovers can geek out over all their favorite models at theWheels of Yesteryear Vintage Automobile Museum. Open in Myrtle Beach since 2009, the museum showcases a collection of more than 150 American-made cars and trucks that husband-and-wife founders Paul and Carol Cummings have been assembling over decades. Visit the gift shop to pick up nostalgic die-cast collectible versions of your favorite vehicles, plus T-shirts and other car-centric souvenirs.

Learn about wildlife at Ripley's Aquarium

Don't missRipley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach; not only is it a wonderful place to view sea creatures like stingrays up close, but also sloths and other South American critters. Check the website before you go to book additional experiences such as behind-the-scenes tours of the Marine Science Center, penguin encounters, glass-bottom boat rides, sleepover parties, or the ever-popular Breakfast With a Mermaid.

Embrace your inner pirate

Get ready to don cheesy pirate gear and practice your best "Arrrrrrr!" Myrtle Beach —and the entire Carolina coast for that matter — was once a haven for Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and heaps of other infamous pirates back in the day, so why not get in on some family-friendly pirate action on a themed cruise while you're in town? Blackbeard’s Pirate CruiseandPirate Adventures of Myrtle Beach each offer kid-friendly sailings complete with temporary pirate tattoos, fake pirate mustaches, costumes for the kiddos, stories about those who once sailed through these waters, and a treasure-seeking adventure that ends in an epic water cannon battle.

Cruise down the intracoastal on a riverboat

If you'd like to enjoy a boat ride that's a little less pirate-y, you can always opt to cruise down the Intracoastal Waterway on aBarefoot Queen riverboat instead. This premier North Myrtle Beach attraction offers several indoor and outdoor decks to spread out on, with onboard narration and entertainment, as well as a fully stocked bar to enjoy while you take in views of the surrounding area. Scenic daytime and lunch cruises are 1.5 hours long, while dinner cruises are slightly longer at two hours.

Master the waves at Kokopelli Surf Camp

Pick up a new beach hobby at Kokopelli Surf Camp, which has group or private lessons designed for every level, whether you're just starting out or want to brush up your skills. Three-day camp sessions are also offered for kids, while surfboard rentals are available if you'd rather do your own thing.

Experience early-1900s farm life

Part of the Horry County Museum, the L.W. Paul Living History Farmlets you see what it was like to live in the area as a farmer between 1900 and 1955. Demonstrations and presentations change seasonally according to what's happening on the farm. Guided tours are free and last roughly one hour, so it's worth checking out if you're suddenly craving a little time away from the beach.

Tour a popular local distillery

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Twelve 33 Distillery for a chance to see how some of your favorite spirits are created "from grain to glass," and how locally sourced ingredients make the craft co*cktails served here really stand out. Among the distillery's specialties are several types of rye whiskey, spiced rum, vodka, and gin with ties to South Carolina's prohibition era. Pro tip: Book the VIP Tour to enjoy a special tasting flight in the distillery's secret speakeasy.