Family Vacation GuideMyrtle Beach

Find alligators, snakes, and egrets in the area's largest state park. Explore the old mysterious mansion at Atalaya Castle or just hang out on the calm beach.

Enjoy the area's seafood while kids climb on the outdoor playground. This is a great family restaurant when you're exploring the peaceful south end of the Grand Strand.

It's quieter than Broadway at the Beach and geared more towards nature with tiger and alligator attractions. It's also home to House of Blues.

With tons of shops, restaurants, activities, and a vibrant nightlife, it's similar to Downtown Disney. Just watch out for those catfish in the lake!

Lined with designer shops, restaurants, and a huge movie theater, it's an outdoor mall with condos above.

Finished in 2010, the boardwalk is filled with beachside restaurants, souvenir shops and the iconic Skywheel. It also hosts concerts and summer events.

If you like irreverent comedy then this is your place. Waiters go out of their way to be sarcastic and crack jokes. Parent advisory suggested.

Dine on fresh fish over an island where one of Blackbeard's crewmates was abandoned with 32 casks of rum. You can probably guess what happened next.

A 70-foot tall Egyptian pyramid towers above. It's a dinner palace home to Elvis' Cape, Paul McCartney's suit, and black boots worn by Johnny Cash.

Built on a boat over the lake at Broadway at the Beach, this fun restaurant is a little patch of island paradise. Keep in mind, it does get crowded.

Homemade pasta and tomato bruschetta go nicely with the live accordion in the background. You might just hear the Beatles, if you listen closely.

It's what you think of when you think of Myrtle Beach. Warm sands, a boardwalk with restaurants and attractions, and tons of energy.

In this quiet maritime forest behind the dunes, you'll find picnic benches and a few trails. Admire the wildlife, and come for the kid-friendly nature classes.

Slightly less crowded than Myrtle Beach, this beach mixes homes and smaller resorts for a quieter experience.

Each climate-controlled car is a comfy place to escape the heat and admire the view from above.

You've probably seen this place somewhere. Gordon Biersch is an international hotspot for hearty German food and crisp lagers.

Vineyard, winery, and campground all in one. Stop by for their tastings, and if you have too much, just pitch your tent for a nap.

They sell juices, jams, and syrups, but are known more for their sweet muscadine wines. Pick up a bottle at Pee Dees Farmers Market.

Come by for tastings of wines made from Carolina's signature muscadine grape. This picturesque vineyard also hosts tons of events in their garden.

It's the longest running brew-pub in town with tons of varieties and daily happy hour from 4-7 pm. Dine indoors among the brewing vats or outside in the beer garden.

It's tucked away, hidden almost in an industrial section of town. But don't let that deter you. Come by for tastings or tours with their laid-back, friendly brewer masters.

It's a nice family-friendly brewpub in the South Strand. Grab a bite to eat, beer, or get a growler (64-ounce jug) for fill-ups of fresh, handcrafted beer.

It's an annual BBQ competition where you can taste BBQ from the best pitmasters in the country. Come hungry and ready for ribs, pork, and live music.

Few kids can resist the allure of giant pumpkins. This annual harvest festival at Brookgreen Gardens is good for the little ones and grandma and grandpa too.

It's a diamond in disguise. An ordinary storefront in a strip mall transforms into a mountain grill in the Rockies. Get the Rack of Lamb with braised brussel sprouts!

They put an interesting spin on Southern classics, with Collard Green Wontons and Fried Green Tomatoes in chipotle dressing. And don't miss Baker Barbara's homemade deserts.

Bonjour, ya'll! It's South of France in South Carolina. Try Espresso Rubbed Flat Iron Steak or Shrimp and Grits. Ask for the dessert menu for favorites from their bakery.

Dine inside at Frank's with classy small plates like Pork Belly, Tuna Nachos, and Fried Goat Cheese. Head outside for woodfired pizzas by an enormous fireplace.

Chic, swanky blue lighting combine with gourmet creations such as Chilli Dusted Duck Breast and Local Oysters with blackberry-basil mignonette.

Enjoy duck confit and souffle in the quaint town of Little River. Their wine list is excellent and they have a tasting menu too. Oh yeah, and the place is haunted (just the kitchen).

It's probably the only library that you're allowed to eat at. This upscale restaurant is known for their tableside preparations, including their famous caesar salad.

This old-fashioned ice cream parlor, on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, makes their own gelato and Italian ice. Try the Lemon Cookie Gelato!

Sit back in an old mansion for an authentic country buffet on Blue Willow China. Their fried chicken and Buttermilk Pie is some of the best around.

Mixing international influences (even sushi) into southern classics, this delicious Conway restaurant has a spacious deck overlooking downtown.

This country buffet in Conway serves crispy fried chicken, fantastic collard greens, and great desserts too.

This one stop shop has everything you'll need on vacation. It's a grocery, seafood market, souvenir store, and hardware store that also sells fresh baked donuts.

All you really need to know: they make 40+ flavors of cupcakes. We're talk'n 40 plus fresh, beautifully decorated cupcakes!

The allure of steak and Italian food all in one place makes this Myrtle Beach restaurant a local favorite. Service is friendly and the vibe is great for families.

It's one of the world's only restaurants specializing in both sushi and burgers. They also serve fancy cocktails finished with liquid nitrogen that take it to the next level.

Rockstar chef, Adam Kirby grows the veggies and catches a lot of the fish himself. His fried green tomatoes and oysters with bacon-cream sauce are soul satisfying.

This local favorite serves hearty Bavarian Bratwurst to soak up those pints of German beer.

Live music plays over views of the Inlet. Come for a breakfast of Lobster Home Fries and dinner with Boo-Boo's Tender (beef) Bites.

Starting at a plantation, you ride to the beach for a stroll along the ocean. Come during the day or a romantic sunset.

Rich and indulgent seafood mixes nicely with sunsets over the inlet.

Blue crab fondue, lobster pot pie, Shrimp & Scallops Carbonara, these are a few of the decadent creations here. On nice days they have live music in the gazebo.

"Mr. Fish" sold fish on the Grand Strand for the last 30 years. He took his love of perfectly fried fish and put it into this fantastic Myrtle Beach Restaurant.

Their crab cakes and shrimp and grits are to die for. This laid back beach house does it right.

Come here on a warm evening for a golden sunset and the scent of sweet, salty air. Try the oysters on the half shell or the classic low-country boil.

A historic restaurant in the heart of downtown Myrtle Beach, they even serve breakfast. Get their Crab Cake Eggs Benedict if you're up for seafood in the morning.

Lightly breaded and deeply fried, that's the "Calabash" way. This buffet is decorated to the teeth with nautical decor. They even have a model ship builder on staff.

Most of the time it's reggae-influenced rock 'n' roll and Americana, but twice a year it turns into Shag Central – a hub for Carolina Beach Music.

With a large concert hall, restaurant stage, and outdoor stage, there are lots of choices. Come Sunday mornings for the Gospel Brunch at Crossroads.

You can listen to live music from your boat. They host a variety of concerts across genres, and most acts are free! Come for their Sunday Funday summer concert series.

They book a wide variety of acts from big names to local stars. On Mondays they host an Acoustic Jam Night for something light and soulful.

Get a sense for all the great local artists. If you come Tuesdays you can even join in and jam with them.

Hop from bar-to-bar for live music, drinks, and food along the water in Murrells Inlet.

Wake up to Southern homecooking. Squash casserole, fried okra, catfish, and chicken and dumplings is enough to start your day right.