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.

Parasailing is one of those bucket list things. You get an amazing view of everything, as you fly in a parachute, solo or with friends and family.

It's the safest way to watch 15-foot gators leap from the water to devour their dinner. This reptile sanctuary features gators, snakes, and other animals.

Stroll through the world's largest outdoor sculpture collection amid beautiful gardens.

It's a museum filled with exhibits that promote creative play. Kids can pretend shop at a farmers market or build things with giant foam blocks.

Whether you like bowling, bocce, darts, chess, or just good food, 710Bowling is a great addition to the North Myrtle Beach area.

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!

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

No forks here! It's a 3-course dinner show out of the middle ages. Guests are greeted as "My Lord, Lady, Prince, and Princess," and knights duel and joust below.

The longest wooden pier on the East Coast is also part of Apache Family Campground. Join in the family fun with themed dance parties and karaoke.

Some crazy fisherman caught a 1,780-bls tiger shark here. This North Myrtle Beach pier is home to yearly tournaments and has some of the best Myrtle Beach fishing.

Enjoy live music at the Paradise Cafe Deck and a band pavilion with a full-service bar at the end of the pier. There's also a large video game arcade.

If you don't want to catch your own dinner, sit down for fresh seafood at Pier 14 Restaurant. There's a large outdoor deck with panoramic views of the Atlantic.

What used to be a bait shop is now a sleek, modern eatery. Stop by Pier House Restaurant for delicious seafood on a wrap-around deck.

At the southern tip of Myrtle Beach this pier is home to fishing tournaments. There's also Barnacle Bill's Bar and Grill, and a bait and tackle shop.

Within Myrtle Beach State park, this quiet pier is a prime spot for fishing and crabbing.

It's a great place for fishing on the south strand. Head to a number of great restaurants nearby, whether or not you catch the 'big one.'

Home to one of the biggest wooden coasters in the South, this park has 37 rides for all ages. There's also a waterpark located conveniently across the street.

Great for families with older kids, you'll get to traverse ropes courses and fly down ziplines.

You get a beautiful view of the Atlantic (for a few seconds that is), until you drop down on a bungee cord. This one's for the adrenaline junkie in your family.

Strap in for a behind-the-wheel stock car experience at the Myrtle Beach Speedway. Or, you can always just sit back and watch the professionals do the racing.

Starting at $20 per person, you can ride a helicopter over the ocean and see the entire beach in its full glory.

Though a bit outdated by today's standards, if you're looking for a taste of nostalgia, then is your spot. OD Pavilion also hosts regular concerts on the beach.

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

Take out a go-cart on a former NASCAR track. There's also a mini golf course, arcade, rock wall, and the thrilling Sky Coaster.

It's an enchanting mansion, once the home of famous philanthropists, Archer and Anna Huntington. Explore the ruins and have a picnic in the surrounding state park.

Designed with long bombers in mind, the course has broad landing areas free of bunkers. So take aim and fire away!

Don't be deceived by the first 15 holes, the last three'll getcha. No. 17 is a monster at 576 yards with water hazards and bunkers guarding the green.

Eerie oak trees draped in Spanish moss give it a 'Gone with the Wind' feel. Lush beauty and tough-but-fair playability make it one of the 100 best public courses.

With its famous risk-reward No. 8, this Murrells Inlet Golf Course is also ranked among the "Top 100 Women-Friendly Courses."

Built on an old indigo plantation, next to its sister Caledonia, it's routinely ranked by Golf Digest as one of the best Myrtle Beach Golf Courses for its supreme beauty and playability.

The best course at Barefoot Resort & Golf, this beautiful North Myrtle Beach golf course can be tough. But pick the right tees and most players can get through without undue suffering.

The "Friendliest Course on the Grand Strand," Possum Trot features broad fairways and shortish par-5s. It's great for family play and has a top-ranked golf academy.

Ranked in the top 50 public courses, it's one of the Grand Strand's most difficult courses, playing to 7,450 yards with a course rating of 76.1 and slope rating of 148.

Known as "The Granddaddy," this course was designed by the first president of the PGA. In 1954, executives of Time-Life gathered here to hash out the concept for Sports Illustrated.

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.

South of Myrtle Beach, the beach continues along the inlets and islands of the Southern Strand. You're away from loud music and free to relax.

You can get up close to the area's majestic dolphins, on a boat cruise or guided jet ski tour.

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

It's a day on a farm from the early 1900's. Watch blacksmiths hammer out tools and farmers plow the fields. It's a great educational activity for the kids.

The Grand Strand's best zoo – you get to see otters, foxes, eagles, and more. Then take a pontoon boat ride to see gators and native animals in their natural habitats.

Offering lessons, summer golf camps, and junior league tournaments this organization helps kids improve their skills.

This popular three-day school gives junior golfers and adults a crash course at True Blue Golf Course.

It's a renowned teaching facility for ages 5-17, perfect for young players just taking up the sport, as well as those fine tuning their game for elite competitions.

Operated by golf legend Raymond Floyd, Arrowhead offer 27 holes on three distinct courses. There's something fun for every skillset.

Great for kids, these 18 par-3 holes, play as short as 69 yards. So you won't be stuck on the course for too long.

Think non-corporate Chuck E. Cheese's, but with top-notch pizza. There's an amazing playspace for kids and a sports bar for parents.

With moving seats that buzz with different physical effects and even smells, you're immersed in a multi-sensory cinema experience.

In the first half, you chase bank robbers through a mind-bending maze. In the second part, kids get to dodge lasers in a spy mission.

This dual mirror maze and laser vault challenge will put your sense of reality to the test.

You put on glasses and watch a dazzling wrap-around screen while your seats move to the movie.

Take your family's holiday photo next to the world's tallest and shortest man. These exhibits of oddity will peak your curiosity.

Next door to Ripley's Museum, this mirror puts you in a labyrinth of mirrors and LED lights.

Kids get to see how electricity works, experience a hurricane, and explore a 3D version of Google Earth. There's even a zipline going into the building and lazer tag inside.

Turquoise blue water cascades into crystal-clear seas in this version of the Mayan Riviera. The course plays into a Mayan temple that erupts with thunder and lightening.

It's great for young kids because they get to play the story of Peter Pan. You can also buy a $35 package here to play Dragon's Lair, Jungle Safari, Jurassic Golf, and Shipwreck Island.

Journey back to the time of knights, castles, and dragons. Watch out for the firebreathing dragon! It's at Broadway at the Beach so you're next to tons of fun.

Every year, the best mini golfers in the world gather here for a face off. It may well be the most famous mini golf course in the world.

Mini golf fans often get their wedding photos taken here. This Hawaiian paradise is all about the epic Hole 11, a tricky shot known as the "Big Hill."

Putt through a misty prehistoric jungle with challenging hills and tricky lies. Then do the Ice Age course and test your skills in the fog.

You crash land on a tropical island with nothing but your putters. All that's left to do is play until you're rescued.

It's the world's only volcano with air conditioning inside. So when the weather is hot, the best place to play is inside a magma chamber.

Purists might scoff at the ridiculous theming that mixes the Loch Ness Monster, minotaurs, and aliens with Elvis and Einstein. But nobody said it wasn't entertaining.

It's the only course overlooking the ocean, right above the boardwalk. You putt around a small lagoon where a shark takes a bite out of a fisherman's boat every 15 minutes.

Instead of 1-3 people on a tube, the entire family is towed on the back of an inflatable banana. Hold on around the turns, you might all fall off at once.

Myrtle Beach boating is unique. You can rip through the ocean on a speedboat, or take it easy on a leisurely pontoon boat cruise.

You can fish from the piers, on the river, or take a deep sea fishing charter and venture offshore. You might just catch the next record-breaking tarpon.

Pull a lever and fly 15 feet in the air on jetpack. Or, pull tricks on a water-powered hoverboard. This one's for grown ups and big kids.

It's like riding a motorcycle on water. Zip through the network of rivers or head out to sea and ride with the dolphins.

You just can't get the same experience with wildlife in a motor boat. Paddle close to egrets and seals, as you explore the rivers and inlets of the Grand Strand.

Paddle with the family through calm, glass-like waterways or explore the small islands of Murrells Inlet.

The waves may be smaller than at most surfing hotspots, but Myrtle Beach does get some sets of its own. Head to Surfside Beach when conditions are right.

People come here to take wedding photos. This breathtaking boardwalk path weaves past oak trees, historic buildings, and the glass-like reflection on the river.

It's what Myrtle Beach used be like before all the high-rise hotels. This laid-back beach town is a nice place to unwind. Take a stroll on its newly refurbished boardwalk.

The battle at Ft. Fisher helped seal the Confederacy's fate, cutting off the last supply line to Robert E. Lee's Army.

Get a snapshot of old-school Myrtle with beach houses, seafood shacks, and souvenirs. Make sure you eat at Duffy's Seafood Shack for a true beachy meal.

With 1/2, 3/4, and full-day fishing trips you can get a sense for inshore, offshore, and deep sea fishing. Their fleet can accommodate large groups.

Dark corners, scariest noises, and that guy with a chainsaw make this haunted house show fun for the whole family.

Hop aboard the Sea Gypsy with the little ones ones, as they dress in pirate outfits and shoot water cannons off the starboard. This boat cruise is a delight for young kids.

Take a ferry to this uninhabited barrier island to explore 16 miles of trails. The highlight is Boneyard Beach with it's skeletonized trees, jutting out of the sand.

These two 18th century lighthouses stand at an impressive 65-ft and 150-ft tall. A ferry will takes you there where you'll wade through the marsh to reach them.

Set in the 23,000-acre Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, this relaxing getaway features three miles of walking/biking trails and a scenic boardwalk, perfect for a picnic and family photo.

It's the launching point for fun ocean adventures including dolphin tours, kayaking, paddle boarding, parasailing, and jet skiing.

This vast wildlife refuge is home to forests, wetlands, and old plantation. They offer several tours that show you the history and ecology of the Grand Strand.

Not well-known to visitors, the gardens here line the scenic Intracoastal Waterway. It's a great place to watch the sunrise, stroll along the river or fish, and a must for bird watchers.

This Scottish-style course features 27 well-maintained holes, design in a 19th century Scottish layout. It's also known as a great couples course.

Set on a historic rice plantation dating back to the 1700s, the course meanders through marshes, woodlands, and natural grasses.