Travel & Destinations

Myrtle Beach Up Close and Personal

Myrtle Beach truly is a golfer's paradise! With so many Grand Strand courses from which to choose, it's hard to make a decision on which courses to play. Whatever you decide, you will undoubtedly find friendly staff, challenging layouts, and courses to fit your budget. And flying there is easier now than ever!

Attractions

The Grand Strand offers hundreds of entertainment options - whether you prefer riding a roller coaster, zooming around a racetrack, observing wildlife and nature, or chilling out at a water park. We have your ticket to these adventures and more.

• Alligator Adventure. One of the largest exotic reptile parks in the world awaits visitors at Barefoot Landing. Live shows, nature exhibits, zoological gardens, and a serpentarium provide a unique and thrilling experience for all ages. Attention-grabbers include albino alligators, a Komodo Dragon, tigers, and the park's newest resident, Utan, the largest crocodile ever to come to the United States. Raised in Thailand, Utan is 20 feet long and weighs more than 2,000 pounds. (800-361-0789)
  


• Brookgreen Gardens. Located on the site of four former rice plantations, Brookgreen Gardens contains the Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington Sculpture Garden, where more than 550 works of American sculpture are displayed, and the Lowcountry History and Wildlife Preserve, containing several thousand acres of native plants and animals. A recent addition is the E. Craig Wall Jr. Lowcountry Center, featuring exhibits, lectures, and other programs focusing on area history. Other highlights: creek excursions aboard "The Springfield," Trekker rides through three ecosystems and various historic sites, a museum gift shop, and three dining areas, including the Pavilion Restaurant and Courtyard Cafe. (843-235-6000)


• Children's Museum of South Carolina. Everything here is hands-on, which children love! Bubble Mania is tops, followed by Children's ER, Express Yourself Art Center, Magic School Bus, and USS Kids Afloat. And no one goes home without coloring, painting, cutting, and gluing a personal work of art. Weekly activities include a program just for toddlers. (843-946-9469)



• Family Kingdom Amusement Park & Water Park. This family oriented park is the home of the legendary all-wooden roller coaster, the Swamp Fox, along with a state-of-the-art log flume, an interactive laser dark ride called The Pistolero, and the 110-foot Slingshot. Among the park's 33 other rides and attractions is a section called Kiddie Land with 18 rides for young children (including toddlers), and the Grand Stand's only oceanfront water park. (843-626-3447)



• Myrtle Beach Grand Prix Family Thrill Park. High-speed fun awaits everyone, starting with Formula 1 Grand Prix cars for licensed drivers, go carts for ages 5-up, thrill rides for 3-up, and a Kiddie Zone for 1-up. (843-272-7770)



• Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park. The Pavilion has been entertaining generations of families for more than 50 years. An 11-acre playground by the sea, the Myrtle Beach Pavilion features nearly 40 rides ranging from kid-sized rides to the Hurricane roller coaster. The Pavilion is also home to the Grand Strand's only under-21 nightclub, The Attic. (843-448-6456)



• Myrtle Waves Water Park. South Carolina's largest water park offers 20 acres of themed attractions and more than 1 million gallons of water. There's also a giant wave pool, lazy river, Tadpool (for little ones), and interactive Saturation Station, along with concessions, volleyball, group facilities, and more. Brand-new for the summer of 2004: Aruba Tooba. This "Extreme Bowl Tubing Ride" is one of only 16 such rides in the world. (800-524-WAVE)



• NASCAR SpeedPark. This 26-acre race-themed amusement park is an officially licensed property of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. Guests can experience the excitement of NASCAR on seven challenging racetracks, a state-of-the-art interactive arcade, two 18-hole NASCAR-themed miniature golf courses, kiddie rides, a souvenir shop, and a snack bar. (843-626-TRAK)



• Ripley's Aquarium. Sharks, jellyfish, stingrays, and exotic fish are just a few of the creatures you'll encounter at Ripley's Aquarium, past winner of the S.C. Governor's Cup for best travel destination. The aquarium continues to win raves for its fascinating sea life exhibits and enlightening programs and events. A new state-of-the-art exhibit, "Titanic," opened in 2004. Other Ripley's attractions on the Grand Strand include Ripley's Haunted Adventure, Ripley's Moving Theater, and Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum. (843-916-0888)



• Wild Water Water & Race Theme Park. This 16-acre park is packed with more than 33 exciting rides, including high-speed flumes, waterfalls, a wave pool, Adventure River Ride, kiddie slides, and many others. There's also miniature golf, a video arcade, food court, picnic facilities, and a separate racetrack complex with rides for all ages. (843-238-9453)



• Waccatee Zoo. This unique zoo is located on 500 acres of wooded property at the juncture of the Waccamaw River, Intracoastal Waterway, and Socastee Creek. Besides housing more than 100 animal species, it is a natural wildlife sanctuary and breeding ground for many migratory birds. (843-650-8500)



• Last, but certainly not least, test your putting skills on one of nearly 50 miniature golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area. Choose from myriad themes, from man-eating dinosaurs and lava-spewing volcanoes to high seas adventures aboard pirate ships. There's something for everyone!