The Grand Strand is well known for its 60 miles of beautiful beaches, large entertainment complexes like Broadway at the Beach, great shopping centers such as Market Common and Tanger Outlets, seafood buffets, and an abundance of amusements and rides scattered throughout the city. For some visitors, this is a perfect combination of fun, relaxation, convenience, and value. Others may find themselves seeking a more adventurous type of vacation, and you may be surprised to find that Myrtle Beach can offer this type of experience as well.
The chief attraction of Myrtle Beach is the obvious one: the beach! Visitors drive for hours (or days) to sit in the sand, splash in the waves, collect shells and enjoy other typical beach activities, but there are many other ways to enjoy the waters of the Grand Strand. Coastal Scuba (a partner on Oceana Resorts’ Privileges Card Program) offers scuba diving classes for all levels of experience to prepare you for several different dive options, ranging from half day to full day. Dive sites include post-Civil War wreckage, artificial reefs, a sunken drug-smuggling cargo ship, and many others! Expect to see a variety of interesting and even exotic marine life with any dive. For those who prefer to stay above sea level, visit Great Escapes Kayak in North Myrtle Beach. They offer kayak and paddle board rentals, as well as guided tours of Cherry Grove, the Waccamaw River, Waities Island, and other fun and beautiful areas. Kayaking is not only a great family friendly adventure, but a great value as well. For those seeking the ultimate rush, Shawn’s Backwater Adventure offers several jet ski tour packages, ranging from family friendly exploring and dolphin tours to adrenaline pumping rides with seasoned rider, guide and co-owner Shawn through backwater river trails.
Visitors will also find adventure on the solid terrain of the Grand Strand. To start, check out the Myrtle Beach State Park, where you can warm up by exploring nature trails, trying your hand at surf fishing or pier fishing, participating in a scavenger hunt, and learning about the park’s wildlife. Afterward, drive a few miles inland to the Carolina Forest area and check out “The Hulk” – a seven mile trail full of twists, turns, hills and drops, with waterway views, grassy meadows, and jungle-like sections. The park is open to all who want to run, walk, or bicycle, for all skill levels, and was developed with all different types of people in mind. Dogs are welcome too! If that’s not extreme enough for you, add some mud to your sand with an ATV tour with Carolina Backwoods! Family owned and operated, Carolina Backwoods has several different locations and tour options. Words can’t even describe it – check out the videos on their website! Bonus points: these folks also support Wounded Warrior Project.
One of the best parts of a Myrtle Beach vacation is enjoying an aerial view of our beautiful city. Of course, you could ride the Myrtle Beach Skywheel for a scenic view of the beach and downtown area, but why not try something a bit more adventurous? Take a short drive to the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex and enjoy an awesome day of exploring new heights at Go Ape Tree Top Adventure. The course spans six acres, crosses a lake, and has over 2400 feet of zip lines! On the south side of Myrtle Beach, Radical Ropes offers a similar experience, with a 55 foot high Aerial Adventure Park made up of 5 levels, zip lines that start at 70 feet up, a climbing wall and the “Leap of Faith.” Still not enough? Take a helicopter ride with Helicopter Adventures, who offers flights starting at $20. The truly adventurous can take a 42 mile tour that extends from the heart of Myrtle Beach to Cherry Grove and back.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of all adventure activities you will find in the area, but it should be a good starting point to begin your vacation planning. If you want to know more about area attractions, events, and more, browse the Myrtle Beach Travel Guide section of our website, or ask us a question on our Facebook Page!