 Family Travel Files Ezine Family Vacations Resource |
South Carolina: Myrtle Beach, Family Vacation Ideas – Water Flumes, Family Golf, and a Shark Tunnel.  From beach combing and surf walking to heart stopping shows, living history and more golf than one vacation will hold, the vacation possibilities are endless. Myrtle Beach is family friendly. Known for great golf and awesome entertainment, the area also offers an array of day adventures to create the perfect family beach vacation.
You’ll find sun soaked beach days, shopping bargains, scrumptious seafood, kid-friendly golf and plenty of entertainment to fill the nights. Our idea menu of ideas includes the good stuff so it is easy to make it happen.
Castle a spell and make magic. MagiQuest is a new family vacation experience that utilizes patented technology to create a magical experience for participants. It all begins with a personalized “magic wand” to enjoy during the interactive adventure and keep for the future. Participants of all ages are quickly trained as “Magi,” (short for magical beings). The training results in skills that when used correctly set off lightning bolts, control music, open treasure chests and perform heroic deeds. The fun involves role-playing, teamwork, skill and imagination for the whole family (even grandparents!) Harry Potter would approve.
Play in the sun at the beach. Myrtle Beach’s Family Kingdom Amusement Park has more than 30 rides including an all-wooden roller coaster, the Swamp Fox, a long flume, go-kart tracks, bumper cars, a historical carousel, and the largest Ferris wheel in the state. Admittance to the park is free, and the rides are pay as you go – so family’s can do as much or as little as they want. For a great way to cool off families should try the nearby Ocean Front Water Park, Myrtle Beach’s only water park actually on the ocean. With three wet-and-wild water flumes, one with a 185-foot drop, two exhilarating speed slides and many other water-themed rides and attractions the water park is the ideal way to beat the heat.
The wheels [on the bikes] go round and round. Burn off some energy, let the kids pedal and relax or skate along the Strand. Bicycles-n-Gear is Myrtle Beach’s premier cycling shop since 1988 has plenty of options for families. Located inside of the Sports Corner they carry only top-of-the-line bicycles, inline skates and everything you need to enjoy South Carolina’s Grand Strand on non-motorized wheels.
Count the animals. Low Country History & Wildlife Preserve is part of the tranquil Brookgreen Gardens. The options for families are unique to the area. From bouncing along in an oversized jeep to gliding along in a 48-passenger pontoon boat, the experience will be one-of-a-kind. The all-natural exhibit showcases the history from the time of the early Native American residents.  The Low Country habitats feature non-releasable animals and include a waterfowl aviary built over a tidal swamp, river otter and alligator habitats along a creek. Bonus points: Interpreters onsite provide a variety of ways for visitors to interact with nature and its inhabitants. Create KidsArt at the beach. Easy to enjoy, family friendly and welcoming best describe The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum located footsteps from the beach. They provide ongoing discovery programs for young children as well as families. The ambience created by the former beach house turned art museum is peaceful and inspiring. The contemporary galleries do not overwhelm instead offering an energizing tribute to art and living. Bonus points: Second Saturdays at the Art Museum offers a chance for children to explore their creativity through a variety of arts and themes. Fun stuff includes faux stained glass, photo journals, strip quilts, wearable art and sand candles. Walk through the water. Believe it or not, Ripley’s has an amazing aquarium at Broadway at the Beach. It showcases some of the worlds' most curious as well as awesome aquatic life. Interactive and inviting the displays invite questions and provoke thought. Touch a horseshoe crab; pet a manta ray; crawl through a tunnel or watch a diver feed the fish; it is fun for all ages. Bonus points: Throughout the year they offer special camps for children. The Sleep with the Sharks program offers overnight visitors to sleep overnight in the Dangerous Reef Tunnel and unlock the mysteries of the aquarium at night.
Explore together. If your holiday includes young children then a visit to the Children's Museum is a perfect fit. Located near Broadway at the Beach, the spunky space encourages little ones to touch, explore and play. Coming soon to the museum are exhibits focusing on recycling, building a house and cooking – all at the new museum site. Need to know: The Myrtle Beach website has a special section dedicated to kids. It includes coloring pages and word games.
Make it happen. To see the bigger picture, make vacation plans and take advantage of website online discounts go to www.VisitMyrtleBeach.com  Here is the deal. No family vacation in Myrtle Beach is complete without a few deals. From the Myrtle Beach website you may print coupons to redeem on your vacation. Fun deals: Participating in the Amusements and Water Parks category - Broadway at the Beach, Brookgreen Gardens, Family Kingdom Amusement Park Grand Prix Family Thrill Park, MagiQuest, Myrtle Waves Water Park, NASCAR, Speedpark, Pavilion Amusement Park, Downwind Sails and Ocean Watersports, U-Save Auto Rental and Planet Hollywood are on the list. Golf deals: For golfing you will find discounts provided by Cane Patch Par 3 Golf & Driving Range, Captain Hook's Adventure Golf, Dragon's Lair Fantasy Golf, Jungle Safari Mini Golf, Jurassic Golf, Midway Par 3 at South Beach Resort, Myrtle Beach National, Shipwreck Island Adventure Golf. Shopping deals: Find deals for shopping at Barefoot Landing, Bass Pro Shops, Coastal Grand Mall and Colonial Mall. Entertainment deals: Take advantage of discounts at Alabama Theatre, Carolina Opry, Legends in Concert, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament and Palace Theatre. Planing Details Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. 1200 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, 29577 or www.VisitMyrtleBeach.com
MagiQuest. 1185 Celebrity Circle, 29577. (843) 913-9408, Toll- Free 1-866-353-6244 or www.magiquest.com Family Kingdom Amusement Park and Ocean Front Water Park. 300 South Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. (843) 626-3447 or www.family-kingdom.com Low Country History & Wildlife Preserve Brookgreen Gardens. 1931 Brookgreen Gardens Dr. Pawleys Island, 29585. (843) 235-6000 or www.brookgreen.org Bicycles-N-Gear. 515 C Hwy. 501 Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. (843) 626-2453 or www.bicycles-n-gear.com The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum 3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, 29577. (843) 238-2510 or www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org Ripley's Aquarium. 1110 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, 29577. (843) 916-0888, Toll-free 1-800-734-8888 or www.ripleysaquarium.com Children's Museum of South Carolina 2501 North Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577. (843) 946-9469 or www.cmsckids.org
Researched and written by Travel Communications Inc. and images provided by South Carolina Division of Tourism. Copyright 2011.
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