15 Reasons To Visit Myrtle Beach, SC This Summer

To make sure you have a good time on your Myrtle Beach vacation, you’ll want to check out our Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Travel Guide. There’s a ton of content about the area there, from Broadway at the Beach to the Myrtle Beach boardwalk and beyond.

15 Reasons To Visit Myrtle Beach, SC This Summer

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See the Polynesian Fire Luau

This is one of the summer-only activities on this list. We went to the Polynesian Fire Luau (6803 N Ocean Blvd) a few years ago for Pete’s birthday, and we absolutely loved it. You eat a full Polynesian meal, watch traditional dancing (and there’s audience participation too!), and then watch a poi show.

When we went, it was sold out. And I can absolutely understand why. You get dinner and show (and leave full!), you learn about Polynesian culture, and it’s something you can’t really do too many other places, so it’s pretty unique to your Myrtle Beach vacation.

For more details, see our full Polynesian Fire Luau review.

Polynesian Fire Luau info:

Showtimes: 6 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday
Run time: 2.5 hours
Cost: Starting at $49.99 for adults and $24.98 for children. Kids under 2 are free.
Tickets: Order tickets online here or call the box office at 843-424-1978

Visit the Ripley’s Aquarium

It’s hot in Myrtle Beach in the summer, so you might be looking for a way to cool down. Ripley’s Aquarium (1110 Celebrity Cir) is a great way to do that — because it’s air conditioned inside. You’ll be able to check out sharks, jellyfish, plus you can even have breakfast with a mermaid.

As far as aquariums go, it’s not that big. We went and enjoyed ourselves, but we did kind of go through it really quickly. That happened with us at SeaLife Orlando and the Shark Reef Aquarium At Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, so if you’ve been to either of those, you kind of know what I mean. I just want you to set your expectations appropriately because the admission cost will take up a bunch of your vacation budget.

Ripley’s Aquarium info:

Hours: Daily from 9 am to 7 pm
Cost: $34.99 for adults, $24.99 for children ages 6 to 11, $12.99 for kids 3 to 5. Kids under 3 are free.
Tickets: Order tickets online here.

Hang out at the beach

If you’re going to Myrtle Beach in the summer, you want to go to the beach. At least for a little while. There are miles of beaches with public beach access located right off the boardwalk and public parking lots on the other side of the boardwalk. There’s also a lot of public beach access in North Myrtle Beach, which is where we go at least once every summer because it’s a little less congested and less touristy that the beach near the boardwalk is.

When you’re going, make sure that you double check our Beach Packing List to make sure you have everything. There are a bunch of souvenir shops on the boardwalk that carry things you might forget (sunscreen, a towel, etc.), but you’re going to pay a premium. And, if this is a family vacation, our What To Pack For A Day At The Beach With Kids post will help.

Myrtle Beach beach info:

You are not permitted to sleep on the beach or at a beach access between 9 pm and 8 am. For more, check out this list of Myrtle Beach beach laws.

Swashbuckle your matey at the Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show

The  Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show (8907 N Kings Hwy) is a great pirate-themed dinner show. There’s a gigantic pirate ship set up in the middle of an arena where the pirates dive off boards into water in the center, perform feats of strength around the ship, and more. It’s fun for the whole family. Plus, you eat a full meal while you’re there too, so it’s one night of your trip that you don’t have to cook.

We went to to Pirates Voyage for my birthday one year and I loved it. The show is open year round, but you should check it out seasonally because the plot of the show does change (there’s a Christmas show and a generic one).

Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show info:

Showtimes: Daily at 6 pm
Run time: About 2 hours, with a 50 minute pre-show
Cost: Starting at $54.99 for adults and $29.99 for children ages 3 to 9.
Tickets: Order tickets online here or call the box office at 843-497-9700

Watch the dueling pianos at Crocodile Rocks

We meet friends in Myrtle Beach every summer, and one of the things we did for years is go to the piano bar Crocodile Rocks (1318 Celebrity Cir CS3) in Broadway at the Beach. It opens at 7 pm and if you get there early, there’s no cover. Plus, at that time, it’s cheaper to get one of the dueling pianos to play your request.

So. About that. The two pianos will play your requests. However, the more you pay, the better the chance that they’ll play your request. Early in the night there are fewer people at the bar, so you can get your song played for less. There’s also a board at the bar for shout outs — and the price for that goes up as the night goes on as well.

Crocodile Rocks info:

Hours: Doors open at 7 pm Wednesday through Saturday
Run time: Until the bar closes
Cost: Free for anyone with a local ID. There is a cover charge for non-locals.
Tickets: Call 843-444-2096 for VIP seating

Become a skeptic at Ripley’s Believe It or Not

I actually like Ripley’s Believe It or Not (901 N Ocean Blvd), even though I’m never really sure if I should believe it … or not. The one in Myrtle Beach is right off the boardwalk, and it’s pretty big. It’s a good way to beat the warmer weather for a while.

We went a few years ago and were really excited to see a gum wrapper chain that was the county we grew up in in New York. Is that the really the longest gum wrapper chain in the world? Who knows. But it was fun to see.

Ripley’s Believe It or not info:

Hours: Daily from 11 am to 7 pm
Cost: $24.99 for adults and $14.99 for children ages 3 to 11. Kids under 2 are free.
Tickets: Order tickets online here.

Rock out at the House of Blues

The House of Blues (4640 Hwy 17 S) is a great place to catch a concert. We’ve seen so many of our favorite bands there. The majority of the shows there are ticketed and you’ll want to book tickets ahead of time because the shows can sell out.

What’s great is that during the summer (through early fall), you can listen to live music outside on the deck starting at 6 pm Thursday through Saturday. The outside music is completely free — and has been fantastic every time we’ve been there.

House of Blues info:

Check out the House of Blues Myrtle Beach events calendar for details on upcoming shows and tickets.

Stroll along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk

I like the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach because it reminds me of Atlantic City, just without the casinos and gambling. There are stores, restaurants, and attractions, like the Myrtle Beach Skywheel, all over the boardwalk. There are of things to do on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, so the whole family is able to enjoy it.

While you’re walking, you have to check out Gat Dolphin Gift Cove, which has dubbed itself “the nation’s largest gift shop.” It’s five floors and 26,000 square feet of souvenirs with a giant dolphin fountain in the middle. The gift shop is wild. We stop in every time we’re in Myrtle Beach because with an average of 70,000 items in store, there’s always something you need to bring home.

Root for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans (1251 21st Ave N) are a Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Because the baseball season is only during certain months (including the summer), you can only watch the team during those months. So if you’re in Myrtle Beach over the summer, check out a game.

Minor league games are so much more fun that a professional game, in my option. There’s a lot of crowd participation, fun activities to entertain viewers between innings, and more. Plus, tickets are usually really affordable too so your whole family came go for a fraction of what you’d pay to see a pro game.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans info:

Dates: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans schedule runs from May to September
Cost: Tickets start at $9
Tickets: Order tickets online here or call the box office at 843-918-6000

Have dinner and a show at Medieval Times

If you don’t have a Medieval Times near you, check out Medieval Times in Myrtle Beach (2904 Fantasy Way). The Medieval-themed dinner show is so much fun. There’s an arena in the middle of stadium seating and the seats are color coordinated to a knight. All night long, you’ll be cheering for your knight during feats of strength, hoping he saves the princess.

You get dinner (and yes, the rumors are true: dinner comes without utensils) and a show with knights and horses. We went a few years ago (you can read about it in our full Medieval Times review) and really enjoyed ourselves … especially the tomato soup. I think about it all the time.

And, not Myrtle Beach related, but if you find yourself in Las Vegas, the Tournament Of Kings is a similarly-themed show.

Medieval Times info:

Showtimes: 5 pm Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday; Saturday at 4:30 pm and 7 pm
Run time: About 2 hours
Cost: Starting at $55.95 for adults and $28.95 for children
Tickets: Order tickets online here or call the box office at 1-888-WE-JOUST (935-6878)

Hike at the Myrtle Beach State Park

If you’re looking for something to do outdoors that doesn’t involve swimming, hiking is a great way to spend some time and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

The Myrtle Beach State Park (4401 S Kings Hwy) is fantastic for nature lovers. The forest runs along the Atlantic Ocean. Plus, there’s a Nature Center with natural history displays, saltwater aquariums, and reptiles. As with other state parks, it does have a nominal fee to enter, but it’s worth it.

Myrtle Beach State Park info:

Hours: March through November: 6 am to 10 pm; December through February: 6 am to 8 pm
Cost: $8 per adult (16 to 64); $5 for seniors (65+); $4 per child ages 6 to 15. Kids 5 and under are free.

Eat and rock out at Hard Rock Café

You can go to Hard Rock Café at Broadway at the Beach (1318 Celebrity Cir) any time, but during the summer, there are usually four days of live entertainment each week. That schedule is definitely because of the summer. And although you can hear live music there during the rest of the year, your choices are more limited.

You can go and dine there any time, though. You can order off the actual menu or, you can purchase a voucher for Hard Rock Café to eat off a prix fixe menu (called the Electric Menu). You get an entree, side, and dessert. I had a cauliflower burger that was fantastic. When you purchase the voucher, tip is already included, so that’s a little bit easier for you.

Hard Rock Café info:

Hours: Daily from 12 pm to 8 pm

Check out the Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center

I didn’t think I would like a wax museum as much as I did until I went to one. They’re so much fun. The Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center (1808 21st Ave N unit a) has a huge King Kong hanging off the side of it, calling you inside. 

Inside, you’ll find a bunch of wax figures to pose with, along with a bunch of costumes and props to make your photos even more fun. But wait, there’s more. Downstairs from the wax museum is the Hannah’s Maze Of Mirrors, a mirror maze, and Outbreak – Dread the Undead, a year-round zombie-themed haunted house (in that there are props and actors that jump out at you).

We went and did all three activities and really enjoyed our afternoon there. You can read about it in our Hollywood Wax Museum: Everything you need to know post before deciding to go or not.

Right behind the complex is the Broadway Grand Prix, an entertainment complex with go kart tracks, rock climbing, and mini golf courses, so your family might want to check that out as well.

Hollywood Wax Museum info:

Hours: 9 am to 9 pm Sunday through Tuesday; 9 am to 9 pm Wednesday through Saturday
Run time: About 2 hours, with a 50 minute pre-show
Cost: Starting at $26.99 for adults and $16.99 for children ages 4 to 11. Kids 3 and under are free.
Tickets: Order tickets online here or call the box office at 843-424-1978

Get lost at the Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze

If you’re claustrophobic, Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze (913 N Ocean Blvd) isn’t for you. But if you want a place to (potentially) get lost for a while so you can beat the summer heat, this is it.

My cousin and I did it a couple years ago, and, even though it was definitely a lot harder than we expected, we had a great time. If you’re deciding between this one and Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors at the Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center, this one is definitely harder and for older people while Hannah’s is easier and has cartoons during it, so it’s more for younger visitors.

Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze info:

Hours: Daily from 11 am to 7 pm
Cost: $9.99
Tickets: Order tickets online here

Go Shopping

Myrtle Beach has some great shopping options. There’s Broadway at the Beach, two Tanger Outlets, Coastal Grand Mall (which is one of my favorite malls), and a ton of strip malls.

Of course, there are also the traditional beach shops (like Eagles Beachwear and Wings Beachwear) for tourists too.

Check out Legends In Concert

A couple years ago, Pete and I went to see Legends In Concert in Myrtle Beach and had the best time. I loved every second of it. Tribute artists take the stage for live performances — which are actually very good. The acts change seasonally, so if you’ve gone before, you can still go back for a while new show.

We saw a Dolly Parton impersonator who was fantastic. The “Blues Brothers” were so much fun. At one point, one of the “brothers” said  “The more you drink, the more we look like the real thing.” And it’s true. The performers sort of look and sound like the real people. And you know they’re not, obviously, but if you let yourself get lost in the charm, it’s great.

At the end of the night, the performers are in the lobby and you can take photos with them. I took one with “Bruno Mars” to send to someone who really likes him. She didn’t mistake the impersonator for the real Bruno, but she did like the photo.

You can read more about it in our Legends In Concert review.

Legends In Concert info:

Hours: Monday through Saturday at 7:30 pm
Run time: About 2.5 hours
Cost: $48 to $65, depending on your seats
Tickets: Order tickets online here