Best Educational Fun & Historical Activities in Myrtle Beach (for All Ages)
From interactive museums and aquariums to historic sites, nature walks, and cultural landmarks, there are plenty of ways to mix fun with discovery in Myrtle Beach. Kids can dive into science, history, and the outdoors without ever realizing they’re learning, and adults will find plenty to spark their own curiosity along the way. It’s the kind of educational fun that works just as well for multigenerational trips as it does for family vacations.
Whether you’re traveling with a future historian, a science-loving kid, or an adult history buff, these attractions offer something more than entertainment. Many are also great options for rainy day activities or when you’re looking to slow things down and explore a different side of Myrtle Beach beyond the beach itself.
Across the Grand Strand
There are many sites across the area that preserve and share the region’s African American history and stories. In Myrtle Beach, Charlie’s Place and the Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum highlight the legacy of Black music, culture, and education during segregation, while Freewoods Farm and Sandy Island tell deeper stories of land ownership, farming, and life after emancipation. These sites do skew a little more history-focused for adults than hands-on learning for kids, but they offer important context and meaning for visitors who want to better understand the Grand Strand’s past.
Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach
The adventure goes way beyond alligators! This North Myrtle Beach attraction is home to a wide variety of animals, including flamingos, macaws, frogs, snakes, and other fascinating species from around the world. Throughout the park, knowledgeable staff and live presentations help bring these animals to life, giving kids and adults alike the chance to learn, ask questions, and see wildlife up close in an engaging, hands-on setting.
Murrells Inlet
Huntington Beach State Park pairs incredible wildlife viewing with one of the most unique historic sites on the Grand Strand. Atalaya, the former winter home of sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington and philanthropist Archer Huntington, offers guided tours that explore its Moorish-style architecture, artistic legacy, and role in Lowcountry history. Beyond the castle walls, the park’s beaches, marshes, and trails are home to birds, alligators, and other native wildlife, giving visitors a chance to connect history, art, and nature in one unforgettable setting.
Murrells Inlet
Brookgreen Gardens is one of the most impressive learning experiences on the Grand Strand, blending art, history, and nature in a way that works for all ages. Home to the largest collection of American figurative sculpture in the United States, it also features a Lowcountry zoo, butterfly exhibits, and wide-open gardens that invite kids to explore instead of stand still. Families can cruise the creeks on a pontoon boat through historic rice fields, join guided tours with knowledgeable interpreters, or let younger visitors wander through storybook-style play areas that bring learning to life.
Conway, SC
Downtown Conway blends history with creativity and outdoor fun in a way that’s easy for families to explore. Along the Conway Riverwalk, kids can spot wildlife, play at Riverfront Park’s playground, and hunt for colorful murals and the playful Conway Critters as part of the Myrtle Beach Arts Trail. The area’s historic streets, local shops, and great dining options make it a fun place to wander while learning how the town grew along the Waccamaw River. It’s a relaxed, walkable stop that mixes discovery, movement, and local flavor.
Georgetown, SC
A day trip south of Pawleys Island to Georgetown offers a slower, explore-at-your-own-pace kind of fun that works well for curious kids and adults alike. At the Rice Museum and Kaminski House, families can see artifacts, maps, and historic spaces that bring Lowcountry history to life without feeling overwhelming. Kids love climbing on the replica cannons, watching boats move through the harbor from the Georgetown Harborwalk, and spotting birds along the waterfront. Add in ice cream stops, local shops, and waterfront dining, and Georgetown becomes an easy, low-pressure way to mix history, outdoor exploring, and family fun.
The Market Common, Myrtle Beach
EdVenture is packs a ton of interactive exhibits into a small space with things that encourage kids to explore, experiment, and learn by doing. Inside, young visitors can step into real-world roles, from preparing healthy meals in the Cooking Lab and practicing their on-air skills in the NewsRoom to building, problem-solving, and creating through hands-on STEM, art, and life-skills exhibits. Designed to spark curiosity and confidence, the museum makes learning feel like play, giving kids the freedom to try new things while parents watch ideas start to click.
Georgetown, S.C.
Another historic landmark in Georgetown is this stunning plantation. This 16,000-acre property is dedicated to research and education. The plantation includes over 70 cultural sites, such as cemeteries, slave cabins, and the Hobcaw House, where Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and other leaders of the 20th century stayed. Take a guided tour or enjoy unique ecology programs through hikes at the beach, marsh and forests. You can explore the planets or learn to make baskets, as their tours are ample and of wide variety.
Georgetown, S.C.
Step back into colonial and Lowcountry history at Hopsewee Plantation, a National Historic Landmark on the scenic Black River. Guided tours of the 18th-century house share stories of the people who lived and worked here and bring early American history to life. Kids and adults can discover traditional sweetgrass basket weaving in hands-on workshops that celebrate an art form still rooted in Gullah culture, and stroll the riverside grounds to imagine life in the colonial Lowcountry. Hopsewee makes a meaningful and memorable day trip that blends history, culture, and outdoor exploration.
Conway
The Horry County Museum explores the history, prehistory, and natural world of the Grand Strand, helping visitors understand how the area has evolved over time. Housed in the restored 1905 Burroughs School, a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum features engaging exhibits, rotating displays, and a freshwater aquarium made famous on Animal Planet’s Tanked. With hands-on learning opportunities, public programs, and a large auditorium hosting talks and events, it’s a place where history, science, and local culture come together in an accessible way for all ages.
Conway
Located just outside Conway, the L. W. Paul Living History Farm brings early 20th-century farm life to life through immersive, hands-on experiences. Designed as a recreation of a one-horse family farm from 1900 to 1955, the site allows visitors to see how rural families lived, worked, and supported their communities. Seasonal and quarterly events showcase traditional skills, farming practices, and daily life, making it an engaging way for kids and adults to connect with the region’s agricultural roots.
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach State Park offers an easy, hands-on way to learn about the coastal environment, right on the oceanfront. The park’s nature center introduces visitors to local wildlife, ecosystems, and conservation through interactive exhibits and programs led by park naturalists. Along the trails, beach, and pier, kids and adults can spot birds, crabs, fish, and even dolphins offshore while learning how barrier islands, maritime forests, and coastal habitats work together. It’s a relaxed, outdoor classroom that makes science and nature feel approachable and fun.
Broadway at the Beach
Pavilion Park offers a fun, hands-on way to experience a piece of Myrtle Beach history without slowing the day down. The park carries on the legacy of the original Myrtle Beach Pavilion, once a beloved seaside attraction, through classic amusement rides now located at Broadway at the Beach. Highlights include the 1912 carousel, one of only a handful of working Herschell-Spillman carousels in the country, along with vintage rides like the Teacups and Scrambler. The area can be busy and loud, so noise-canceling headphones may be helpful for guests with sensory sensitivities.
Broadway at The Beach
Ripley’s is full of hands-on experiences where kids (and adults) can learn about exotic sea creatures, get up close with stingrays and penguins. You can even do special tours that get you a little closer to sea life. They offer day camps as well, and sometimes sleepover adventures — this is definitely a favorite for my family! Ripley's also recently added a great sloth exhibit in 2024 with two of the friendliest sloths around. You definitely should check it out!
The Market Common, Myrtle Beach
Warbird Park offers a meaningful look into Myrtle Beach’s military history in a setting that’s approachable for all ages. The free park features historic aircraft on display, including an A-10, Corsair, and Sabre, along with placards that explain the role of Myrtle Beach Air Force Base and the people who served there. Recent additions include the WWII Memorial and Vietnam Memorial, creating a space that resonates with veterans while giving kids a tangible way to learn about history beyond a textbook. A visit to Warbird Park pairs easily with time spent exploring The Market Common area, including nearby spots like Savannah’s Playground, Splinter City Disc Golf Course or a stop at EdVenture Children’s Museum, making it a thoughtful and educational stop within a full day of activities.
Broadway at The Beach, Myrtle Beach
Spark your child's imagination at this amusement park for the mind. This once top-secret laboratory was located in the Bermuda Triangle. An experiment gone awry lifted the laboratory, carrying it to Myrtle Beach where it landed upside down. Luckily, all of the exhibits remained intact and available for guests to explore. Wonderworks combines both education and entertainment with more than 100 interactive exhibits, including natural disasters, light and sound, space discovery and more.
Janice is a mom and a grandmother. After retiring from New Jersey and moving to the Grand Strand in 2005, she began writing as a hobby. In 2010 she created her own site, An Open Suitcase, where she shares her love of travel. Janice has contributed travel stories to many large brands and destinations including Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, but her passion will always be sharing her home, the Myrtle Beach area, with everyone. She spends much of her time taking her grandchildren or visiting friends to experience all that the Myrtle Beach area has to offer.