In today’s society, family friendly destinations seem to be slowly but steadily disappearing. Myrtle Beach, however, has maintained its status as one of the most family friendly beaches on the east coast. A plethora of family oriented attractions, entertainment, events, and accommodations make Myrtle Beach a highly sought after destination each year.
Myrtle Beach Attractions
Attractions are at the heart of Myrtle Beach and you can rest assured that your family will have plenty to do. Venues like Broadway at The Beach offer a wide variety of attractions in addition to shopping and dining, making it easy to fit in several different items into your itinerary. Popular attractions include the Ripley’s Aquarium, WonderWorks, NASCAR SpeedPark, MagiQuest, and Myrtle Waves Water Park. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a minor league affiliate of the Texas Rangers, also calls Broadway at The Beach home and features several family oriented promotions throughout the week as well as games and contests in between the innings to keep visitors engaged. If you are exploring the north end, check out Barefoot Landing, another one stop shop for attractions, dining, and shopping. The main attractions, however, is the beach! Spend a day (or two or three) lounging in the sand, riding the waves, and fishing with the family. Our pristine, white sandy beaches are the main reason why thousands flock to the area each year and lifeguards constantly patrol the beaches, ensuring a clean and safe family environment for all.
Boardwalk
For family friendly entertainment, look no farther than the famous Myrtle Beach boardwalk. This newly renovated, 1.2 mile long oceanfront boardwalk is hosting a summer full of fun, entitled “Hot Summer Nights”. Each evening, the boardwalk will light up and host a variety of family friendly fun, like the Kid’s Carnival, open-air concerts, fireworks over the ocean, and street performers. While you are there, take a whirl on the SkyWheel, an exciting ferris wheel ride that boasts 42 climate controlled gondolas and soars over 20 stories into the sky, providing breathtaking views of the Atlantic.
The Market Common
The Market Common is another great place for family fun. This unique venue provides guests with an urban village feel as they stroll the shop lined avenues. At night, however, this outdoor paradise transforms into a haven for families. Each Wednesday evening throughout the summer, the Market Common is showing a free family friendly movie in Valor Park. Guests can bring chairs and blankets and snack on food and beverages that are available for purchase via Nacho Hippo and Canipes Chocolates & Candies. For younger children, the Grand 14 Cinema at Market Common is offering free children’s movies every Tuesday morning at 10:00 am. In addition, they are selling $1.00 popcorn and drinks. Guests can also enjoy complimentary carriage rides through the picturesque streets of Market Common every Friday from 6-9 pm. What a deal!
Events
Myrtle Beach is also home to several exciting family oriented events each year. If you are in town for the 4th, head down to Murrells Inlet and enjoy a free boat parade and fireworks show. The parade will begin at high tide, about 5:00 pm this year, beginning at Garden City Point and float the inlet, finally ending at Hot Fish Club. The best places to view this colorful parade include The Marsh Walk, Belin Methodist Church, Nance’s Restaurant, and Hot Fish Club. The Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival is a popular culinary event that features a variety of palette pleasing BBQ options, live music, games, and more! Other popular Grand Strand events include the Atalaya Arts & Crafts festival in Myrtle Beach, the Pavilion Reunion in Pawley’s Island, the Blue Crab Festival in Little River, and the Rivertown Music & Arts Festival in Conway.
Family Resorts
Inarguably, the most welcoming part about staying in Myrtle Beach is the home away from home feeling you get by staying at a Myrtle Beach family resort. Family resorts in the area surpass expectations by offering spacious accommodations, top of the line amenities, and prime beachfront locations. Standard amenities often include several indoor and outdoor pools, designated kiddie play areas, on-site tennis and volleyball courts, and coveted direct beach access. In addition, most resorts offer seasonal kid’s clubs to keep the little ones entertained throughout the week. Accommodations are spacious and very flexible. Rooms vary greatly in size and one could easily find an efficiency suite for a small family or a generous three bedroom condo perfect for larger groups. Rooms all include a full kitchen, making preparing a money saving meal easy, in addition to a full washer and dryer, walk out balcony, and plenty of room for everyone to comfortably lounge around. Family resorts in Myrtle Beach offer something for everyone and you can rest assured that you will be staying at a place that your entire family will love.
It’s not difficult to see why Myrtle Beach remains one of the most popular family friendly destinations on the east coast. The plethora of entertainment, attractions, events, and accommodations keep families coming back year after year. Stop putting it off and start planning your perfect family vacation today!
