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A visual journey through Myrtle Beach's sandy shores, entertainment districts, and coastal landscapes.
Myrtle Beach is where American families have made summer memories for generations. With 60 miles of sandy shoreline, more than 120 golf courses, and entertainment options that rival any major city, the Grand Strand delivers a vacation experience that keeps families returning year after year. This 7-day itinerary covers the best of beach life, local culture, and coastal cuisine.
Myrtle Beach combines classic American beach town charm with modern entertainment and natural beauty. It is affordable, accessible, and endlessly fun for travelers of every age.
The Grand Strand stretches 60 miles from Little River to Georgetown, offering wide sandy beaches, gentle surf, and warm Atlantic waters. The Ocean Boulevard boardwalk features the 200-foot SkyWheel, arcade games, and the iconic Myrtle Beach Pavilion area.
With over 120 golf courses, Myrtle Beach is a golfer's paradise. Courses designed by legends like Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, and Robert Trent Jones draw players from across the globe. The area also claims to be the mini-golf capital of the world, with elaborately themed courses on every corner.
Broadway at the Beach is a 350-acre entertainment complex with restaurants, shops, and attractions including Ripley's Aquarium. The Carolina Opry and Alabama Theatre host world-class music and comedy shows. Family Kingdom amusement park sits right on the oceanfront.
Brookgreen Gardens combines sculpture art with botanical gardens and a Lowcountry zoo on a historic rice plantation. Huntington Beach State Park offers pristine beaches and birdwatching at Atalaya Castle. Murrells Inlet MarshWalk features waterfront dining along a salt marsh boardwalk.
This Myrtle Beach itinerary blends classic beach days with local culture, outdoor adventure, and the family-friendly entertainment that makes the Grand Strand America's favorite family vacation destination.
Check into your oceanfront resort or condo rental. Myrtle Beach offers everything from budget-friendly motels to luxury resorts like the Marriott Grande Dunes. Set up your beach chairs and dive into the warm Atlantic. The wide, gently sloping beaches are perfect for families.
Walk the 1.2-mile Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade, ranked one of America's best boardwalks by National Geographic. Ride the SkyWheel for 200-foot views of the coastline. Play arcade games at the Family Kingdom arcade.
Drive to the original Calabash, North Carolina, 30 minutes north, for authentic Calabash-style seafood. The lightly battered, deep-fried shrimp, oysters, and flounder have made this tiny fishing village famous since the 1940s.
Visit Ripley's Aquarium at Broadway at the Beach, one of the most popular attractions in South Carolina. Walk through the Dangerous Reef tunnel as sharks and sea turtles swim overhead. The touch tanks let kids interact with stingrays and horseshoe crabs.
Explore the 350-acre entertainment complex. WonderWorks, the upside-down interactive science museum, entertains kids for hours. The Escape Room and Dave & Buster's provide indoor fun. Stroll around Lake Broadway watching the fountain shows.
Dine at Margaritaville or Jimmy Buffett's LandShark Bar & Grill for island vibes and cold drinks. Many Broadway restaurants feature live music on outdoor patios during summer evenings.
Tee off at one of Myrtle Beach's legendary courses. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, consistently ranked among America's top 100 public courses, winds through former rice plantations with live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Rates range from $50 to $150 depending on season.
Myrtle Beach claims to have more mini golf courses per capita than anywhere on Earth. Mount Atlanticus and Hawaiian Rumble feature elaborate waterfalls, caves, and mountain themes. Some courses stay open until midnight during summer.
Drive south to Murrells Inlet, the seafood capital of South Carolina. The MarshWalk is a half-mile boardwalk connecting waterfront restaurants like Dead Dog Saloon, Wahoo's Fish House, and Drunken Jack's. Watch the sunset over the salt marsh while dining on fresh-caught shrimp.
Spend the morning at Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark combining America's largest outdoor sculpture collection with botanical gardens and a Lowcountry zoo. The 9,100-acre property was formerly four rice plantations. The 2,000 sculptures by 425 artists are breathtaking.
Visit adjacent Huntington Beach State Park for three miles of pristine, undeveloped beach. Atalaya Castle, the winter home of sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, offers guided tours. The park is a premier birdwatching destination, especially during spring and fall migrations.
Eat at Bubba's Fish Shack in Surfside Beach for no-frills fried seafood and hush puppies. The paper-lined baskets and picnic tables create the perfect casual beach atmosphere. The coconut shrimp is legendary.
Rent jet skis from one of the many Ocean Boulevard vendors and explore the coastline from the water. Parasailing offers a bird's-eye view of the Grand Strand from 400 feet above the Atlantic. Most outfitters operate from piers along the beach.
Try your luck at the Myrtle Beach State Park Pier or Springmaid Pier. Both rent equipment and sell bait. Common catches include Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and flounder. Even if you do not catch anything, the people-watching and ocean views are worth the $2 pier admission.
See a show at the Carolina Opry, Myrtle Beach's longest-running live entertainment venue. The two-hour variety show features music, comedy, dance, and laser effects. The caliber of performers rivals anything in Branson or Vegas.
Take a day trip to Charleston, two hours south on Highway 17. The historic district's cobblestone streets, antebellum mansions, and Spanish moss-draped oaks transport you to the Old South. Start with a walk down Rainbow Row, the colorful 18th-century homes on East Bay Street.
Browse the Charleston City Market, operating since 1804, for sweetgrass baskets handwoven by local Gullah artisans. Have lunch at Hyman's Seafood, a Charleston institution since 1890, serving she-crab soup and fried green tomatoes.
Drive back to Myrtle Beach in the early evening. Stop at Peach Stand in Fort Mill for fresh South Carolina peaches if it is summer. Grab ice cream at Kirk's Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street for homemade flavors.
Wake early for one final sunrise over the Atlantic. Morning low tide is the best time for shell collecting. Look for lettered olives, whelks, and sand dollars along the waterline. The Grand Strand's beaches are renowned among shell collectors.
Pick up souvenirs at Gay Dolphin Gift Cove on Ocean Boulevard, operating since 1946. The multi-level shop sells everything from shark teeth to hermit crabs to classic beach t-shirts. It is a Myrtle Beach institution.
Check out and head home from Myrtle Beach International Airport, just three miles from downtown. The compact airport makes departures stress-free. Leave with sand in your shoes and memories of 60 miles of smiles.
Late spring and early fall offer the best combination of warm weather, lower rates, and thinner crowds. Summer brings peak temperatures and the most activity, but hotels cost 50% more. October features pleasant weather and the popular Irish-Italian International Festival. Winter is quiet and inexpensive, though many attractions reduce hours.
Oceanfront resorts with pools and lazy rivers are the Grand Strand's signature. The Breakers Resort features multiple towers, pools, and direct beach access. Dunes Village Resort has the area's largest indoor water park. For budget-conscious families, oceanfront condos through VRBO often provide better value and kitchen facilities.
Myrtle Beach offers exceptional value with numerous free attractions. The beach itself costs nothing. Free summer concerts happen at Plyler Park and the Boardwalk. The Myrtle Beach Farmers Market operates Thursday mornings. Several piers allow free walking. Many mini golf courses offer discounted replay rates, and some beaches host free movies and concerts in summer.
Spring brings the Myrtle Beach Bike Week and the Blue Crab Festival in Little River. Summer features weekly fireworks on the boardwalk. Fall hosts the Irish-Italian Festival and the Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival at Huntington Beach. Winter brings the Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens, where the gardens are illuminated with thousands of candles and lights.
A visual journey through Myrtle Beach's sandy shores, entertainment districts, and coastal landscapes.
Read reviews from families and beach lovers who have experienced this wonderful Myrtle Beach journey.
"We have been coming to Myrtle Beach for 20 years with our kids and now grandkids. The beach is clean, the people are friendly, and there is something for every age. Our condo at Dunes Village has the best lazy river."
"Caledonia Golf Club was the most beautiful course I've ever played. The live oaks, the marsh views, the conditioning, everything was perfect. Worth every penny of the $120 green fee. Already booking a return tee time."
"Brookgreen Gardens completely surprised us. We expected a quick walk through some flowers and ended up spending four hours. The sculpture collection is world-class, and the zoo had animals we had never seen before. A hidden gem."
"The MarshWalk at Murrells Inlet is our favorite dinner spot. We bar-hopped between restaurants, had fresh-caught seafood at three different places, and watched the most beautiful sunset over the marsh. The live music at Dead Dog Saloon was great."
"Myrtle Beach is the best value family vacation in America. Our oceanfront hotel was $89 a night, the beach was free, and mini golf was $10 per person. We spent less than $2,000 for a family of four for the whole week."
"Ripley's Aquarium was the highlight for our kids. The moving sidewalk through the shark tunnel had them screaming with delight. The touch tank was their favorite part. Worth every penny of the admission."
"We did the day trip to Charleston and it was incredible. Rainbow Row, the City Market, and lunch at Hyman's made for a perfect day. It is a long drive but totally worth it. Charleston is one of America's most beautiful cities."
"The Carolina Opry show exceeded all expectations. The musicianship, the comedy, the production values, it was like a Vegas show at a fraction of the price. Our whole family, from age 8 to 70, loved every minute."
From 60 miles of sandy beaches to world-class golf and family entertainment, Myrtle Beach offers the perfect coastal vacation. Let us help you plan your ideal 7-day trip to America's favorite family beach.