A Family-Friendly Guide to Myrtle Beach This Holiday Season

There’s no better place on the East Coast for a winter escape with your family than Myrtle Beach, SC. That’s because we host oodles of family-friendly holiday events, activities, and things to see and do, as well as restaurants that cater to kiddos. If you thought summer was the only time to hit the beach, we’re here to show you why the holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year!

What to See & Do – Holiday Style

• Trade snow for sand. Instead of shoveling snow, take advantage of our warmer winter weather and stroll or play with the kids on any spot of our 60 miles of beachfront. Instead of a snow man, build a sand castle. Or you can even go horseback riding on the beach this time of year when the sands are sans sunbathers!
• See a holiday light show. The Myrtle Beach area offers loads of light shows to brighten your holiday spirit, including Winter Wonderland at The Beach in downtown Myrtle Beach and the boardwalk, the massive light show on display throughout the North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex, and Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens.
• See a holiday show. Mostly all of our award-winning live theatres in the area transform their stages into a holiday-themed show that will delight the entire family, including Carolina Opry, Alabama Theatre, Medieval Times, and Pirates Voyage.
• Shop ’til you drop. Myrtle Beach isn’t short on shopping options to find the perfect gift for that special someone on your Christmas list. We suggest shopping unique boutiques at these mecca shopping complexes in the area: The Market Common, Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing, and The Hammock Shops in Pawleys Island, to name a few.

What to See & Do – Non Holiday-Related

• Play putt-putt. Mini golf, also known as putt-putt around here, can be played as a family year-round, and Myrtle Beach is known as the “Miniature Golf Capital of the World,” so you’ll plenty of courses to pick from. More than 50 courses in the area are laid out with fun obstacles and different themes!
• State parks. The Myrtle Beach area is site of two oceanfront state parks: Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park. Both parks boast hiking and biking trails, an indoor nature center to explore, educational programs, even an appearance by Santa on the beach this time of year.
• SkyWheel Myrtle Beach. What better way to see the Myrtle Beach skyline and all of the twinkling holiday lights than 200 feet above ground in one of the climate-controlled gondolas of the SkyWheel. Towering above the boardwalk, the SkyWheel is a holiday light display in itself!
• Indoor play. On those winter days tainted by a chill in the air, hunker down indoors for some family fun in one of these playtime venues in the area: Ripley’s Aquarium, the Hollywood Wax Museum, Myrtle Beach Art Museum, and Sky Zone Myrtle Beach for wall-to-wall aerial action. 

Where to Eat with the Family

• The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar. Aptly named, Crazy Mason near Coastal Grand Mall offers an overflowing list of milkshake combos that are over-the-top and pic-worthy. (No, really, the toppings are stacked beyond the top of the mason jar.) Check out their seasonal treats!
• RipTydz Oceanfront Grille & Rooftop Bar. This fun oceanfront restaurant on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk serves up a fun-filled ambiance, along with live entertainment and fresh seafood. The open-air building becomes partially enclosed to ward off the icy winter ocean breeze over the holidays.
• The Hangout. Hang out with the fam at The Hangout at Broadway at the Beach! The energy is high, the food is awesome, and the entertainment and games will make you laugh out loud. The staff here even encourages guests to get up on the table and dance!
• DinoLand Café. This family-friendly casual restaurant in Myrtle Beach offers a menu of carnivore flavorful faves, like ribs, burgers, and steaks, with a side of life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, mammoths, and lions, plus a lava mountain, a talking tree, and a flying dragon bar. Talk about an experience that will make memories!

Mom and Dad, I also recommend area breweries and arcades that offer food, brews, and entertainment for all ages!