It can sometimes be a little difficult to keep your teenagers entertained on family vacations. Fortunately, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has something fun for the whole family—including teenagers! This post lists activities specifically for teenagers, but with the exception of two or three of these things, they were fun for the entire family (even my little nephew, who was a little over one year old at the time). Let me know what you would add to this list in the comments.
What is Myrtle Beach best known for?
Myrtle Beach is a popular vacation spot known for its long, stretching, soft sand beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, mild weather, and charming family-friendly attractions. Being in South Carolina, this coastal getaway is known for its southern hospitality and charm. Plus, it’s also the mini-golf capital of the world!
Which part of Myrtle Beach is best for families?
The two main parts that make up this beautiful grand strand of the South Carolina coastline include Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. Both towns offer a lot in terms of activities and attractions, including restaurants, shops, and beaches. However, North Myrtle Beach is the wiser choice when it comes to a family-friendly beach vacation. This section of town is a little calmer, with appropriate vacation activities for kids and teens.
Do college kids go to Myrtle Beach?
About 25 years ago, Myrtle Beach was a big spring break destination for rowdy college kids. However, these days, this idyllic coastal town has become a more wholesome retreat for kids and families. You will still find some college kids in the main Myrtle Beach area during spring break, but North Myrtle Beach is a bit calmer with plenty of family-friendly entertainment such as mini golf, arcades, Pirate Voyage dinner, and Alligator Adventure.
Best Myrtle Beach Activities for Teenagers
Below is a list of some great spots for tweens and teens to visit in this lovely South Carolina beach town. Although there are tons of family-friendly things to do, I’ve listed some of the most popular attractions for teens, including some of my teens’ favorite adventures when we took the trip to Myrtle Beach.
Parasailing
If you’ve never seen it before, parasailing is a thrilling boating activity that parents and kids of all ages can enjoy. A boat tows a large kite setup to hang two people side-by-side. It’s probably the closest you can get to feeling like you’re flying, and the best part is that it’s totally safe! Parasailing was the unanimous favorite for both of our teenagers (Ryan and Brooke) on our trip there! I even enjoyed parasailing, and I’m afraid of heights.
Mini Golf
Mini-golf is another popular attraction for all ages in Myrtle Beach. There are a variety of places to see; after all, this is the mini-golf capital of the world, with 50 different courses to choose from! You won’t just see basic windmills and amateur putting greens here. There are putt-putt courses with pirate ships, epic volcanoes, deserted islands, Mayan temples, dinosaurs, and gold mines. Some traveler favorites include Hawaiian Rumble, which was once voted #1 in the world, followed by Captain Hook’s Adventure, Cancun Lagoon, and Jurassic Golf.
Mini golf was a close second-favorite activity for everyone on our trip (not just our teenagers). The adults and my nephew enjoyed Jungle Lagoon. However, there are a lot of cool mini-golf courses to choose from in Myrtle Beach. That just happened to be the course closest to where we were staying.
Alligator Adventure in North Myrtle Beach
Alligator Adventure
Located in Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, Alligator Adventure is a 15-acre animal park with over 200 different types of animals to see, including lots of alligators. If you’re an exotic animal fan, this exciting destination also has snakes, flamingos, hyenas, monkeys, and tortoises.
Of course, the main attraction is these amazing swamp-dwelling reptiles, so take advantage of the live alligator shows and feedings. This activity was a hit for our whole family, and both teenagers enjoyed it.
Hang Out on the Beach
Everyone likes the beach—even teenagers! One of the main things that draws people to Myrtle Beach is its prime oceanfront location. One favorite North Myrtle Beach spot is Cherry Grove Beach, where you can relax in the soft sand, go swimming, or even fish off of the Cherry Grove Pier! Surfside Beach is another family-friendly favorite where you can sign up for surf lessons or stroll on the boardwalk. From swimming to searching for seashells to just plain relaxing, the beach was a hit for everyone on our trip to Myrtle Beach.
Go Shopping
Myrtle Beach has no shortage of shopping areas, and one of my favorites is Barefoot Landing. Whether you want a fun souvenir, t-shirts, hats, or gourmet food, this family-friendly spot is a clean and safe place to spend time. I felt totally confident letting our teenagers roam alone there. Broadway at the Beach and the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk also have quite a selection of charming shops.
Ride Myrtle Beach SkyWheel
If you’re looking for a fun place to spend the evening, plan it around the SkyWheel, a 187-foot-tall Ferris wheel in Myrtle Beach! It offers some awesome views of Myrtle Beach, and the carts are a very smooth and comfortable ride.
Our family was able to comfortably fit all eight of us in one cart. Everyone (adults, teenagers, and babies) loved this activity. We went and wandered the boardwalk and had a nice oceanside dinner after we were done with our ride. It was a nice way to spend the night with the whole family!
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Explore Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach
Ripley’s Aquarium, located at Broadway at the Beach, features over 10,000 sea creatures, including sharks, penguins, jellyfish, and more. They even offer hands-on experiences with horseshoe crabs and gentle stingrays.
The aquarium was only a hit for one of our teens. You can’t win them all, but if you have a marine-life lover in your group, you’ll want to book your tickets for this aquarium. Brooke absolutely loved it and thought that it was so cool that she got to touch a jellyfish and a horseshoe crab. She said it was one of the best parts of the trip for her. However, Ryan had zero interest in the aquarium. So, we were split 50/50 on this one.
Ride Some Amusement Park Rides
Family Kingdom is a great classic amusement park with a ton of fun thrill rides and attractions like a roller coaster, skeeball, go-kart tracks, and bumper cars.
We spent a little time here, but the favorite turned out to be The Sling Shot ride, which propels two riders more than 300 feet into the air at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Ryan and I enjoyed this one the most (and I’m an adult with a fear of heights). Brooke, however, had zero interest in this. So, we were split 50/50 again on this one.
Pirates Voyage Dinner or Medieval Times Dinner
If you’re looking for some swashbuckling adventure or a jousting tournament with a four-course meal, don’t miss Pirates Voyage or Medieval Times! Both places offer themed dinners along with an exciting show.
Full disclosure: our teens were not particularly interested in this show. However, our cousins and their teenage daughter loved the pirate show and were even asked to participate in it! So, it might not be for everyone, but it’s still a fun option.
Electric Bike Rental
One of the great things about visiting Myrtle Beach is getting to enjoy all that beautiful coastal scenery. What better way to enjoy the fresh sea air and gorgeous sights than by renting an electric bike? It’s a great way to get some energy out for teens, plus the electric feature makes it an easy ride for when you get tired. It’s such a fun way to explore Myrtle Beach! You can rent a bike by the hour or by the day for an even better deal.
Broadway Grand Prix
This place is not just for aspiring race car drivers! With seven go-kart tracks, a rock-climbing wall, a sky-coaster, mini golf, and a video game arcade, Broadway Grand Prix is a must-see. Located across from Broadway at the Beach, this adventure zone is a convenient spot where teens, tweens, and adults can get their fair share of thrills.
looking for even more fun things to do in Myrtle Beach With Your Teens?
Click below to see the best tours in Myrtle Beach!
There are a myriad of different lodging options when planning a trip to beautiful Myrtle Beach! From rental houses to hotels to luxury resorts, there’s something for everyone.
Hotels: If you’re looking for a simple check-in, and check-out experience with amenities like a pool, activities, a gym, and a concierge, then a hotel is definitely the way to go. Luckily, there are plenty of options when it comes to hotels accommodating a range of budgets.
If you’re looking for a clean, safe, and affordable option, Holiday Sands Hotel is a popular option, with locations both in South and North Myrtle Beach.
Resorts: Resort hotels are a popular option among tourists visiting the grand strand of South Carolina. Not only do they offer comfortable accommodations, but they also have lots of fun activities for kids.
Captain’s Quarters is one favorite family-friendly resort that features a pirate-themed pool and waterpark complete with a pirate ship! Kids also love the bowling alley, arcade, and treasure hunts provided by hotel staff.
Rental Houses: There are a number of vacation house and condo options for families hoping to have a more homey vibe on their trip, where you can spend time cooking together and playing board games. Vrbo and Airbnb are good options for finding just what you’re looking for.
*If you liked this post, it is now available as a self-guided walking tour via GPSmyCITY.
Using a VPN When Traveling in Myrtle Beach
VPN is short for “virtual private network.” A VPN (like IPVanish) sets up a private connection between your device and whatever network you are connected to, so no one can see your browsing data. It is important to use a VPN anytime you are connected to public Wifi (such as at a restaurant, resort, hotel, cafe, airport, etc.). This is because when you connect to a public network no matter where you are, you run the risk of a hacker grabbing your unencrypted data. Trust me, speaking from experience here, this can put a real damper on your trip if your banking, phone, or email get hacked while you’re traveling!
It’s a good idea, no matter where your adventure takes you, to have travel insurance. You never know what might happen! Whether you get sick before your trip and can’t go, or you become sick or injured while on your adventure, being covered with travel insurance is a must. Some credit card companies do provide this service (check with yours), or you can get a free quote from travel insurance companies such as Squaremouth.
Which one of these activities in Myrtle Beach sounds the best to you and your teenagers? And are there any activities you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments!
Hi! I’m Lindsey, the voice behind Have Clothes, Will Travel. I’m an online shopping aficionado from a small town in Wisconsin who has also lived in Russia, Argentina, Japan & Australia.
I’ve never been but it sounds like there are a lot of fun things to do there! I’d be much too scared to do the parasailing though – I’m scared of heights, haha!
I was there over 15 years ago with some people that like to golf. Didn’t it used to be known for the most gold courses or something. But I would have a much better time now, and I’d do almost everything you suggested!!
XOXO
Jodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com
Oh yes, still known for golf. My brother and sister in law loved the courses there. I was just gearing this list toward things to do with teenagers, but you can still golf like crazy there. 🙂
Fantastic post ❤
Thanks
I’ve lived in NC for almost three years and still haven’t been to Myrtle Beach. I definitely want to check out the aquarium. Thanks for sharing!
Xo,
Kristie
Www.kristieincarolina.com
You will have to give it a go one day. 🙂 Thank you for reading!
I’ve never been but it sounds like there are a lot of fun things to do there! I’d be much too scared to do the parasailing though – I’m scared of heights, haha!
Hope that you’re having a wonderful weekend 🙂
Away From The Blue Blog
Haha, I”m afraid of heights too. It’s surprisingly not too terrifying! Hope you have a great week too.
How fun, I’ve never been to Myrtle Beach but I’d love to visit with the family.
www.teacupsandtulips.com
It a great family trip. 🙂
I was there over 15 years ago with some people that like to golf. Didn’t it used to be known for the most gold courses or something. But I would have a much better time now, and I’d do almost everything you suggested!!
XOXO
Jodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com
Oh yes, still known for golf. My brother and sister in law loved the courses there. I was just gearing this list toward things to do with teenagers, but you can still golf like crazy there. 🙂
Myrtle Beach sounds amazing! These are such great tips. I want to visit.
Thanks, Courtney!
These are good ideas. The parasailing sounds like a lot of fun.
https://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
Thank you! Parasailing is a really great time. 🙂