South Carolina’s beautiful, beachy coastline runs for miles and miles, but that’s not the only reason we’re suggesting you take your kids on a South Carolina beach holiday.
Family beach days, South Carolina
South Carolina’s coast stretches for 187 miles along the Atlantic and has beaches almost every mile of the way. In between the beaches there are beautiful barrier islands, grand cities, lively seaside communities and places with names like ‘Hammock Coast’: a hint at the toes-in-the-sand vibe here.
You could spend an entire South Carolina beach holiday just being on the beach. But we have to warn you that there’s plenty to tempt you away from the sea, but happily, not too far away. So when you want a break from lazy days in the sun, we’ve found you the most fun things to do with kids that still keep you on the lovely South Carolina coast.
Dolphin tours, South Carolina
Why dolphin tours are South Carolina beach holiday must-dos
Sit on one of South Carolina’s beaches, look out at the Atlantic and there’s a good chance you’ll spot dolphins. The entire coast is home to large resident populations as well as migrating pods, which doesn’t make the sight of a fin breaking the water’s surface any less of a thrill, even for local.
But, when you want more than just squinting from the sand, pick a boat tour anywhere from Hilton Head Island to Myrtle Beach, hop aboard and get ready to add, ‘up close with dolphins’, to your long list of South Carolina beach holiday memories.
A favourite ‘only in South Carolina’ experience is a dolphin tour that follows big shrimp boats out to open sea: savvy dolphins know that shrimp boats mean fish thrown overboard, so where the boats go, they go.
Tours where you can jump into the water and wade to sandbars are great fun too. And older kids will also like tours with local experts who weave in South Carolina’s coastal history, myths and legends. Although younger ones don’t miss out, because tour lengths vary from a laid-back hour to three hours, so you can easily find one to suit the attention span of even the littlest dolphin spotter.
Why a South Carolina beach holiday is made for dolphin loving families
Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, South Carolina
Soar to new heights on the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel
Sticking with views, South Carolina doesn’t want to boast, but it is home to the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel and views don’t come much bigger than that.
At 400 foot tall and right on Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, overlooking the Atlantic, it’s one of the most iconic sights on the Grand Strand and a must do if you’re visiting America’s Beachiest Beach (that’s what they call this part of the South Carolina coast).
You’re tucked into air conditioned gondolas and each ride lasts 15-minutes, or three full revolutions of the wheel. That’s more than enough time to capture everything – teens will be pleased to know the gondola glass is non-reflective – or just sit back and gaze at the sights. Sunrise and sunset rides are particularly spectacular and the SkyWheel is also fully accessible.
Pirates of Hilton Head, Hilton Head Island
A South Carolina beach holiday could turn your kids into pirates
Kids fascinated by pirates have found heaven in South Carolina which was once a hotbed of buccaneering types. The likes of Blackbeard and Sted Bonnet were notorious round these parts in the early 18th century, and the most infamous of all female pirates, Anne Bonny, was a Charleston local.
So you’ll come across pirate history almost anywhere you care to go along the coast, but if you’re searching for some real-life swashbuckling antics, sign your kids up to be Pirates of Hilton Head.
Set aboard a replica pirate ship name of Black Sparrow, this experience is made for two to 10 year olds and regularly hits the number one spot of things to do in Hilton Head Island. Of course it’s all fun and games, with a serious side of dress up and some lessons in how to parlay like a true pirate: expect plenty of ‘Aaargh me hearties’ back on dry land.
Water cannons, treasure maps, clue solving and hunting down the elusive Stinky Pete, are all part of the adventure which lasts an hour and 30 minutes. Sadly parents can’t dress up and get involved in the derring-do, you’re there to record the whole thing on your phone and cheer on young scallywags from the sidelines.
Captain Hooks Mini Golf, Myrtle Beach
Come play by the sea in the Mini Golf Capital of the World
You can’t have a South Carolina beach holiday without playing a round (or many) of mini-golf, particularly if you’re in Myrtle Beach, officially the Mini Golf Capital of the World and home to over 30 different courses.
These aren’t just the usual pitch and putt with a few small hazards. You’ll find prehistoric courses packed with dinosaurs, several with full-on Hawaii themes, pirate courses, jungle courses and even a course with an erupting volcano.
Naturally such wildly imaginative places to knock a ball around attract some of the world’s biggest mini-golf afficionados, not to mention champion players – yes, that’s a thing! And the game comes with more than a little bit of history in Myrtle Beach: the first course was built here in 1930. However, when all’s said and done, it’s about having fun in the sun, by the sea and obviously, winning too, which makes it the perfect ‘sport’ for families.
If you’re not sure where to begin, the Myrtle Beach Mini Golf Trail is highly recommended. Not only does it let you book tee-time at your choice of courses, it tracks your progress and gives you points – if just playing the game isn’t competitive enough for you.
Dangerous Reef, Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach
Believe it, Ripley’s has a great aquarium in Myrtle Beach
With its mix of fantastical – think mermaids swimming in the tanks – to soothing, spectacular and a little bit chilling at times, Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach deserves its reputation as one of the best places to spend time on a South Carolina beach holiday.
Over 10,000 aquatic animals are in permanent residence here, and not all of them are the usual suspects. For a start there’s a very cute colony of penguins which kids can watch by crawling through an observation tunnel.
In fact, interactive is very much a thing here. So as well as spying on tropical fish you can stroll through a Tropical Rainforest, reach out and stroke stingrays in their shallow lagoon and immerse yourself in the Goldfish Realm, where the goldfish are very much out of the ordinary.
Extraordinary also applies to the Dangerous Reef which hosts hammerhead sharks, sand tiger sharks, reef sharks, green turtles, sawfish, grumpy looking Atlantic tarpon and many more thrillers from the deep. Although probably the biggest thrill of all is walking through the Dangerous Reef tunnel as some of the sea’s most fearsome predators glide over your head. You know it’s completely safe, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting.
Charles Towne Animal Forest, Charleston
Take a wild walk in the past on a South Carolina beach holiday
What wild creatures were wandering round South Carolina when settlers first arrived here in the 17th century? That’s something which might never have crossed your mind, but it’s a question that’s asked and answered to spectacular effect at Charles Towne Landing Animal Forest in Charleston.
Part of the Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, the Forest covers 22-acres and makes a fascinating history lesson for kids, from the perspective of strangers in a strange land encountering wild beasts the like of which most of them had never seen before.
So as you walk the trail and spy pumas, black bears, otters, bison, pelicans and many more animals, large and small, let your imagination run wild, trip back in time, forget everything you know, and for a little while just be a settler witnessing all this with fresh eyes.
It’s great fun for children and there are regular family activities to add to the experience. Just make sure you leave plenty of time to explore the River Otter Habitat, where viewing panels let you get unusually close to the slinkiest of mammals and watch them at play, and work.
Now plan the rest of your South Carolina family beach holiday with Discover South Carolina