Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Planning your family vacation to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, may take some effort considering how much it has to offer. Myrtle Beach spans 60 miles of beach and is home to several golf courses, water parks, amusement parks, gardens and theaters. With some careful planning, you can enjoy your Myrtle Beach family vacation to the fullest.
Find family-friendly accommodations. Before choosing a Myrtle Beach hotel based on price alone, give some thought to the activities your family is interested in. If you plan to be surfing or spending more time at the beach, an oceanfront hotel should be on top of your list. If your family is more inclined toward watching shows or shopping, look for places to stay around Barefoot Landing or Inlet Square Mall. Hotels and resorts with water parks and kiddie pools, such as the Sea Mist Resort or Dunes Village Resort, are a good choice if you have young children.
Research the area attractions. Have a free Myrtle Beach vacation guide mailed to you (see Resources section). Many websites provide information on the activities and attractions available in this area. Attractions include water parks and amusement parks such as Myrtle Waves Water Park, Wild Water & Wheels, Family Kingdom Oceanfront Park, Family Kingdom Amusement Park and Ripley's Aquariums. The NASCAR Speedpark features NASCAR-themed mini golf courses, kiddie rides, speed bumper boats and seven race tracks.
Decide on which beach and water activities you and your family want to experience. Myrtle Beach offers snorkeling, banana boat rides, jet skiing, parasailing, scuba diving, fishing, dolphin cruises and sunset and casino cruises. Express Water Sports, Island Song Charters, Thomas Outdoors Watersports, Banana Boat Express and Parasail Express all arrange tours or offer equipment rental.
Allocate ample time for each activity. Divide your time in Myrtle Beach either based on activities you'll be doing or areas you'll be covering. For example, you could allocate one day for the beach and ocean activities, one for shopping and watching shows or taking a cruise and a third for water parks and museums. Shopping areas include Barefoot Landing, Inlet Square Mall and The Market Common. Myrtle Beach is home to several theaters that offer live entertainment ranging from various genres of music to comedies to variety shows. Alabama Theater, The Carolina Opry, The House of Blues and Palace Theater are worth exploring.
Consider planning your trip to coincide with one of the many festivals that Myrtle Beach hosts. Sun Fun Festival: A Celebration of Summer Concert Series features various artistes and bands. Beach Boogie and BBQ Festival is held in early September. The Canadian-American Days is a festival celebrated in March.
Enjoy yourself. Myrtle Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the U.S. and is featured on Yahoo Travel's 2008 "Top 10 Places for Families to Visit in the U.S." and "USA Today's" 2005 "10 Great Places To Go Coastal With Your Kids." Start packing your beach clothes.