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This spring we took a road trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I have traveled so much for work; I wanted to go somewhere new. I had never been to South Carolina and thought it would be warmer than Northern Michigan. I was wrong about it being much warmer. When we were there, it was in the 40’s and 50’s. Bad luck for us because we are told it is usually in the 60’s and 70’s in late March. Regardless, we made the trip a good one and learned a lot about where to eat and what to do in the area.
If you’re heading to Myrtle Beach with teens, here are some great tips and ideas for making the most of your experience. First, let me preference that the area is very touristy so if you are not into t-shirt shops on every corner and buffets galore, the city might not be for you.
1. Save Big On Everything
Utilize the Monster Coupon book for deals on Ripley’s Aquarium, WonderWorks, and so much more. It is always better to plan ahead and save, than pay full price when you arrive, and this coupon book allows you to do just that. Don’t forget to organise it or grab it before you arrive, or as soon as you arrive to make sure you get the most out of it.
2. Captain George’s for Great Seafood.
There is literally a seafood buffet on every block. It’s nuts! I did a lot of research to find one that had great reviews. I wanted one that had good food, was clean and was reasonably priced. Easily Captain George’s had the best reviews. Let me tell you, they did not disappoint. The place is huge but extremely clean. We went early to avoid the dinner rush and it was a great time to go because there were no lines.
3. Hit the Broadway Grand Prix early
Besides saving $2 with a coupon, go early in the day and purchase a wristband. The wristband is good until closing. This is ideal because you can go to the Hollywood Wax Museum (right next-door) or cross the highway to the Ripley Aquarium and then come back and do more racing. You really get your monies worth if you buy the bands early and utilize them until closing!
4. Take a Leap of Faith
Hit the Radical Ropes adventure park for zip tours, climbing walls and a very challenging aerial park. The staff is top notch. My family really enjoyed this experience and loved the encouragement from the staff.
5. Visit the Huntington Beach State Park
It’s far less crowded with makes it great for hunting sea shells and building sand castles. It’s also inhabited by wetlands and we were able to explore nature trails, a boardwalk over a lagoon and check out the Sandpiper Pond Nature Trail and viewing deck. We were looking for alligators but didn’t have any luck. The beach was very clean and they had a great bathroom area and many spots for picnics.
6. Check out the alligators
At Alligator Adventure. We loved seeing the different animals, all 200 of them! The World’s Largest Croc was a sight to see and the live shows were fun too. If you buy your tickets there, you can visit the park for a 2nd day free. Bonus! This is great if you want to see different shows or if the kids love the park.
7. Go fishing or stroll along the beach
At Second Avenue Pier. The pier is privately owned so there’s a $2 fee to stroll the pier but it’s worth it. For a small fee you can buy bait and rent fishing gear. My husband and son spent hours fishing and loved it. When I asked my daughter what her favorite part of the trip was, she said the pier and us walking the beach all evening.
Hopefully if you’re visiting Myrtle Beach in the near future, these tips and ideas will help you. Whatever you do, just have a blast, the time is fleeting.