Skywheel, Myrtle Beach; credit SCPRT
Myrtle Beach Family Attractions
Unless noted otherwise, most theme parks are open from March until early December.
Family Kingdom Amusement Park
DESCRIPTION: Home to South Carolina’s largest roller coaster or largest Ferris wheel; Swamp Fox Roller Coaster is a wooden classic with sharp 62-foot drop. As you might expect from atop the 100-foot Ferris wheel, you get fantastic views of the coast; small kids love the miniature locomotive, and antique carousel built in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Other attractions include Kiddie Land for toddlers, go-carts, bumper cars, arcade games, video games and a Grand Slam Batting Cage. King Arthur costumes and castle adornments compliment the animated medieval theme.
ADDRESS: 300 South Ocean Blvd between 3rd & 4th Avenues, Myrtle Beach, SC
PHONE:
843-916-0400
WEBSITE: https://www.familykingdomfun.com
NASCAR Speedpark
DESCRIPTION: With 7 Exciting tracks, 2 NASCAR miniature golf courses, Kiddie Rides, rock climbing wall, bumper boats and a SpeedDome Arcade there’s plenty for thrill seeking wanna-be race car drivers. There’s also a well stocked NASCAR merchandise gift shop.
ADDRESS: 1820 21st Avenue North, Myrtle Beach, SC
PHONE: 843-918-8725
WEBSITE: http://www.nascarspeedpark.com
Wild Water Waterpark & Family Fun Center
DESCRIPTION: This 16-acre facility features a tremendous variety of water rides and slides. Wipeout Wave Pool, a technologically advanced wave pool produces eight different kinds of waves that are sure to please teens and adults. Dark Hole is one scary good tube ride filled with dramatic dips and twists. A 16-foot wide Lazy River with a tropical rainforest meanders throughout the park; other water rides will have you twisting and turning down body flumes at breathtaking thrilling speeds. Free Fall Cliff Dive and Triple Dip Speed Slide are not for the timid; Wally’s Wee-Kids World is just right for the little ones; feeling a sedate — enjoy the Lounge Pool, which is as relaxing as its sounds. Age-scaled race tracks, an arcade, bumper boats, and an 18-hole miniature golf course round out the amenities.
ADDRESS: 910 US Highway 17 South, Myrtle Beach, SC
WEBSITE: https://www.wild-water.com
Myrtlewaves Water Park
DESCRIPTION: Want safe water action and thrills — this park has it droves; the highlight rides are LayZee River takes all ages on a 3-mph inner tubes trip around the park; the Wave Pool features 20,000 square foot of ocean simulated, crystal clear waves up to six feet; Bubble Bay is a 7,000 foot leisure pool with three cascading water umbrellas and bubble jets around the edges; Saturation Station is an island of splashes, squirts, slides and waterfalls, and a 700-gallon volcano that soaks you every 6-8 minutes; Turbo Twisters/Riptide Rockets takes you 10 stories high for one of the world’s tallest tubular slides, Super Chute is a 20-foot long tube with four-foot vertical drop into eight feet of water; admission fee; hours vary by season
ADDRESS: US 17 Bypass at 10th Ave North, Myrtle Beach, SC
PHONE: 843-913-9260
WEBSITE: http://www.myrtlewaves.com
Ripley’s Aquarium
DESCRIPTION: One of the best aquariums in the South, an interesting Titanic exhibit and is reasonably priced at $12 adults, $8 for ages 6-12, seniors $9. Parents should note that Ripley’s Aquarium provide students with an interactive educational experience designed to meet curriculum standards set forth by state educators.
DAYS & HOURS: Sun-Thu 9a-11p, Fri-Sat 9a-11p
ADDRESS: 1110 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, SC
PHONE: 843-916-0888 or 800-734-8888
WEBSITE: http://www.ripleysaquarium.com
Ripley’s Believe It or Not
DESCRIPTION: Features all the artifacts and oddities we’ve come to expect from this American Institution. $12 per adult, $8 for ages 6-12, seniors $9; open daily 11a-6p
ADDRESS: 901 North Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC
PHONE: 843-448-2331
WEBSITE: http://www.ripleys.com
Waccatee Zoological Farm
Began as a private collection of exotic and domestic animals, it has evolved to a 500-acre farm in the Socastee community west of Surfside Beach. It contains more than 100 species of animals, including miniature horses and deer, black leopard, lions, cougars, tigers and ostriches and exotic birds. The zoo has a petting area for small children to meet animals. There is also a natural wildlife sanctuary and breeding ground for several species of migratory birds, as well as alligators.
ADDRESS: 8500 Enterprise Road, Myrtle Beach, SC
