With 60 miles of beaches, warm weather year-round and even warmer Southern hospitality, it’s impossible not to love a Myrtle Beach family holiday in South Carolina.
Myrtle Beach is America’s beachiest beach, to the point that it’s simply referred to as, ‘The Beach’. So we’ll just start by saying there are 1,000s of things to love here, and that’s even before we mention the 2,000-plus restaurants, which means our top 10 favourites list is far from comprehensive. With that in mind, our number one suggestion is plan a Myrtle Beach family holiday and make your own list of favourites. But take a look at ours first.
The Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach
Start your Myrtle Beach family holiday on The Grand Strand
Myrtle Beach makes it very easy to plan a holiday, because practically everything you need is on the 60-mile long stretch of Atlantic coast known as, The Grand Strand. As well as places to stay, places to play and places to eat, this is where you’ll find all the beaches.
It’s not official, but Surfside is known locally as a ‘family beach’, not least because the sands are cleaned every day and lifeguards are on duty, it’s also wheelchair accessible and the first autism-friendly beach on The Grand Strand.
If you want wide-open sea views then head for Atlantic Beach. Litchfield is the beach for space to yourself. And if your heart is set on a waterfront holiday home, Garden City Beach has more than enough to go round.
Then, right at the heart of The Grand Strand is Myrtle Beach itself, home to the classic boardwalk, unmissable family attractions and, of course, quite a few of the 2,000-plus restaurants that make Myrtle Beach one of the most exciting places to eat in South Carolina right now.
Myrtle Beach, Mini Golf Capital of the World
Welcome to the Mini Golf Capital of the World
The best destination nickname we’ve heard in a long time, and it’s true, Myrtle Beach is home to more than 30 miniature golf courses and more than earns its title. Unsurprisingly there’s a lot of course-competition, and every one is out to impress, so you can look forward to playing in the shadow of erupting volcanoes and pirate themed courses, along with jungles, lagoons and even more than one course themed around Hawaii.
Between its world-class reputation and the fantastic weather, Myrtle Beach mini-golf also attracts some pretty serious players, and the course don’t just look wild, some of them are fiercely challenging too. But at heart it’s really all about having fun, and kids can’t get enough of that.
Huntington Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach
Have the best day out at Huntington Beach State Park
It costs you as little as £4 to play all day in 2,500-acre Huntington Beach State Park, which is great value considering how much there is to do here.
Three miles of beautiful beach is a good place to start, but if you’re feeling a bit more energetic, take a hike on one of the family-friendly trails and keep your eyes wide open for birds and wildlife. The park is home to more than 300 bird species and it’s even possible to spot Loggerhead turtles at certain times of year.
Park picnics are a much loved local tradition, so don’t miss out on those. And for something totally unexpected, take a tour of Atalaya; the former home of sculptor, Anna Hyatt-Huntington, and now a National Historic Landmark. The house’s Moorish design is worth a look-see all by itself.
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
“America’s Boardwalk” is a Myrtle Beach family holiday classic
Stretching for over a mile along the beachfront and delivering amazing views, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk also comes with enough history to earn the title “America’s Boardwalk’.
Interesting as all that is, kids are more likely to fall for its colourful shops and restaurants, buzzy holiday vibe and the phenomenal SkyWheel Myrtle Beach: just one of the attractions that call the Boardwalk home.
Big Mike’s Soul Food, Myrtle Beach
Eat your way round 2,000 plus restaurants – or do your best!
Myrtle Beach doesn’t just ask you what you want to eat, it’s interested in how, why and where too.
Themed restaurants are as big as you’d expect, so if you want to eat out with dinosaurs, you know where to come. Of course, out of the 2,000-plus places to sit down and tuck in, there are plenty of award-winners – some South Carolina’s best chefs call Myrtle Beach home.
Fresh seafood is a menu staple, naturally, but if you want to try traditional Lowcountry cooking or classic Southern comfort food, you’ll be pleased to know that plenty of restaurants serve up all that good South Carolina heritage too. And you’ll also find a strong line-up of sensory-friendly restaurants where the whole family can relax.
Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach
Turn your Myrtle Beach family holiday into a great American road trip
The Grand Strand isn’t just 60 miles of beaches, it’s also the link between 14 Myrtle Beach communities, each with their own distinct personality and plenty of reasons to drop by, or stay awhile: all the right ingredients for a family road trip, just a thought.
It goes without saying that you’ll find your own favourite beach town, but pirate-keen kids will particularly like Murrells Inlet, known as ‘the Seafood Capital of South Carolina’, but more importantly, a one-time hang out for none other than the infamous Blackbeard. Sticking with that theme, you might want to explore Little River: another haunt for 18th century seafaring rogues.
Back to the present day, stop by Pawley’s Island for three of America’s top 100 golf courses. Don’t miss Conway for boat tours along the river, quaint shops and some of the prettiest streets on the Grand Strand. Or, as we said, take a road trip along The Grand Strand and see the lot.
Live music for everyone, Myrtle Beach
The sound track to your best family beach holiday
Music is everywhere in Myrtle Beach, and a lot of it is live. In fact, according to legend, ‘beach music’ was first invented in ‘Atlantic Beach’ SC, and it’s hard to argue with that considering its line-up of past performers includes legends like Marvin Gaye and Ray Charles.
These days the music mix is eclectic and someone, somewhere will be playing your tune whether your tastes run to country or classic R&B or you’re more rock and pop or even jazz. And it’s not just professionals hogging the limelight, if you want to knock out some sweet sounds of your own, karaoke is almost as well loved in Myrtle Beach as sea breezes and golden sands.
Myrtle Beach family holiday vibes
Southern hospitality is as warm as the sun in Myrtle Beach
We’re not sure if it’s the wonderful weather – year round sun and summer temperatures upwards of 25° do tend to soothe your soul – or if it’s just the way they roll in Myrtle Beach, but you’ll find a warm, Southern welcome everywhere you go.
So you really get to relax here, which isn’t always a given on holiday with kids, and from hotels and restaurants to state parks and beaches, the local people go out of their way to make you welcome, and make you want to come back.
Myrtle Waves Waterpark, Myrtle Beach
Come make waves in South Carolina’s largest waterpark
Since we’re on the subject of warm, sunny weather, let’s talk waterparks, because the largest one in South Carolina is right here.
Myrtle Waves Waterpark delivers 1.2 million gallons of water for splashing around all summer long, it’s a bit of a legend on the ‘fun-for-all’ front as well, with 22 slides, rides and chutes designed to appeal to everyone from tiny water babies to grandparents. And speaking of extended families, the top local tip for visiting Myrtle Waves is to hire a cabana for the day, and who are we to argue with insider info?
Pavilion Park, Myrtle Beach
Add the fun of the fair to your Myrtle Beach family holiday
Between its classic nostalgia rides, rollercoasters, white knucklers and cute attractions for younger kids, it’s no surprise that Pavilion Park is such a big favourite with families.
It’s also part of Broadway at the Beach, the largest entertainment complex in South Carolina, and home to an astonishing 350 acres of shops, restaurants and attractions, as well as some of the best Myrtle Beach family hotels.
Here’s how to plan a Myrtle Beach holiday and find your own reasons to love ‘The Beach’
