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10 days in Myrtle Beach with kids

A longer stay reaches beyond the main resort strip without changing hotels. The plan alternates local days with southbound excursions, leaving meals and recovery time between three manageable stops.

10 daysFamilies with kidsBalanced paceMid-range
Day 1

Lowcountry gardens and a quieter beach

Drive south once, combine two neighboring outdoor stops, and finish with an easy waterfront dinner area.

Drive south to Murrells Inlet; allow 35–50 minutes each way from central Myrtle Beach, plus local transfers
Open day route
Morning09:30

Brookgreen Gardens

1931 Brookgreen Drive, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Mix sculpture gardens, shaded paths, and the Lowcountry Zoo rather than trying to cover the entire property. It gives different ages something to notice without feeling like a formal museum day.

Time
3 hr
Cost
$$
Hours
Daily 09:30–17:00; entry gates close at 16:30. Special-event hours vary. Visitor information

Worth knowing: Download the current garden map and choose two areas before arriving—the grounds are larger than they look.

Afternoon14:00

Huntington Beach State Park

16148 Ocean Hwy, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Use the beach and short nature trails as the unstructured half of the day. The causeway is also a good place to look for birds and alligators from a safe distance.

Time
2 hr
Cost
$
Hours
Daily 06:00–18:00, extended to 22:00 during daylight saving time. Atalaya has separate hours. Visitor information

From the previous stop: About 5 minutes by car

Worth knowing: Bring water shoes, towels, and bug spray in the car even if swimming is not the main plan.

Evening17:30

Murrells Inlet MarshWalk

4025 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Walk a manageable section of the marshfront, watch the boats, and choose dinner based on the shortest wait rather than locking the family into another schedule.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Free to walk; dinner $$–$$$
Hours
Public boardwalk; restaurant hours vary Visitor information

From the previous stop: About 15 minutes by car

Worth knowing: Ask for a text-message waitlist, then use the boardwalk while your table is being prepared.

Day 2

Sea life, play time, and a flexible evening

Start with the aquarium and lunch in the same complex, then drive to The Market Common for playground time.

Walk between the aquarium and lunch; drive to Savannah’s Playground and park again
Open day route
Morning09:30

Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

1110 Celebrity Cir, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Start early for the underwater tunnel and interactive exhibits. Allow breaks so younger children can enjoy the visit without rushing past everything.

Time
2 hr 30 min
Cost
$$$
Hours
Open daily; closing time changes seasonally Visitor information

Worth knowing: Check for timed tickets and feeding schedules before choosing your arrival time.

Midday12:30

Broadway at the Beach

1325 Celebrity Cir, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Choose lunch and one small attraction rather than attempting everything. This is deliberately a buffer for shopping, snacks, or a break back at the hotel.

Time
2 hr
Cost
Free to enter; food and attractions vary
Hours
Complex hours vary by business and season Visitor information

From the previous stop: The aquarium is inside the same complex

Worth knowing: Set a per-child souvenir or attraction budget before walking through the complex.

Afternoon16:00

Savannah’s Playground

3600-3640 Emmens Ave, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Let kids move freely after the structured aquarium visit. The inclusive playground has distinct areas for different ages and abilities.

Time
1 hr 15 min
Cost
Free
Hours
May–September 08:00–20:00, Tuesdays from noon. Shorter hours in other months; check current park notices. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 15–25 minutes by car to The Market Common, plus parking

Worth knowing: There is limited shade in some areas, so late afternoon is more comfortable in warmer months.

Day 3

Beach morning and the classic Boardwalk

Keep the morning loose, then use the oceanfront attractions as optional choices rather than obligations.

Drive from the state park to oceanfront parking, then walk between the Boardwalk and SkyWheel
Open day route
Morning09:00

Myrtle Beach State Park

4401 S Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29575

Begin with sand, the fishing pier, and a short nature walk. The park setting is easier to manage than combining beach time with the busiest Boardwalk blocks.

Time
2 hr 30 min
Cost
$
Hours
Day-use hours vary seasonally Visitor information

Worth knowing: Pack a simple breakfast or early lunch and leave before the hottest part of the day.

Afternoon14:30

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade

1st Ave N to 16th Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Walk only the section that suits everyone’s energy, stopping for an arcade, snack, or ocean view instead of treating the full promenade as a required march.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Free to walk
Hours
Public promenade; business hours vary

From the previous stop: Allow 15–25 minutes by car, plus time to find oceanfront parking

Worth knowing: Photograph your parking-zone number; nearby blocks can look very similar on the return walk.

Evening17:00

SkyWheel Myrtle Beach

1110 N Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Use the enclosed gondolas for one classic family view of the coast. If weather or energy is poor, skip it without disrupting the rest of the day.

Time
45 min
Cost
$$
Hours
Seasonal hours and weather closures apply Visitor information

From the previous stop: On the Boardwalk route

Worth knowing: Check visibility and wind before buying tickets; sunset slots are popular.

Day 4

Conway beyond the beach

Meet the region through a compact museum, riverside lunch and a separate living-history farm.

Central Myrtle Beach → Conway → farm → Myrtle Beach; allow 40–60 minutes outbound in traffic.
Open day route
Morning10:00

Horry County Museum

805 Main Street, Conway, SC 29526, USA

Choose the local-history rooms and freshwater aquarium rather than expecting children to read every display.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Free
Hours
Tuesday–Saturday; check holiday notices. Visitor information

Worth knowing: Plan this day Tuesday through Saturday, not Monday.

Midday12:15

Conway Riverwalk

2nd Avenue and Elm Street, Conway, SC 29526, USA

Walk a manageable stretch beside the Waccamaw River and use downtown Conway for an unhurried family lunch.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Free; lunch extra
Hours
Outdoor visit in daylight; access can change after flooding. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 10 minutes to relocate, then take the lunch break here.

Worth knowing: Keep children close at the river and check flood closures.

Midday14:15

L.W. Paul Living History Farm

2279 Harris Short Cut Road, Conway, SC 29526, USA

Explore the farm buildings and everyday tools that explain rural family life, with demonstrations only when scheduled.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Free
Hours
Tuesday–Saturday, normally 9am–4pm. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 20–25 minutes by car from downtown Conway.

Worth knowing: Call first if a particular demonstration matters to the children.

Day 5

North Myrtle Beach at a smaller scale

Pair a real play break with local history and a pier visit; this is not another packed attraction day.

McLean Park → local museum → Cherry Grove; return south after the pier.
Open day route
Midday12:30

North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum

799 2nd Avenue North, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, USA

Look for fishing, beach-music and community displays that give the resort communities a story beyond the sand.

Time
1 hr
Cost
Free
Hours
Tuesday–Saturday, normally 10am–4pm. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 10 minutes by car plus lunch near Main Street.

Worth knowing: Eat lunch before the visit; keep the gallery session short.

Midday14:30

Cherry Grove Fishing Pier

3502 North Ocean Boulevard, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, USA

Walk over the ocean to watch anglers and compare the shoreline; fishing equipment is not required for a visit.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Low; parking extra
Hours
Check current pier hours and storm restrictions. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 15–25 minutes north by car and time to park.

Worth knowing: Check walking admission and parking separately before arrival.

Day 6

Art, invention and aviation

Stay in the southern Myrtle Beach area for a museum morning, hands-on play and an outdoor aircraft display.

Art Museum → Market Common → Warbird Park; short local drives.
Open day route
Morning10:00

Franklin G. Burroughs–Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum

3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, USA

Pick a small number of artworks for a family looking game, allowing time to talk instead of rushing every gallery.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Donation suggested
Hours
Check gallery calendar; Sunday hours start later. Visitor information

Worth knowing: Check exhibition changeovers and use a Tuesday–Saturday morning.

Midday13:00

EdVenture Myrtle Beach

4005 Howard Avenue, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, USA

Give children a longer hands-on block for imaginative play and experiments after lunch in Market Common.

Time
2 hr
Cost
Moderate
Hours
Normally Monday–Saturday 10am–6pm; Sunday noon–6pm; check closures. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 15 minutes by car and a full lunch break.

Worth knowing: Check cleaning closures and bring a change of clothes if useful.

Afternoon15:30

Warbird Park

150 Farrow Parkway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, USA

Compare the aircraft shapes and read selected memorial panels that connect this district to its former air-base role.

Time
1 hr
Cost
Free
Hours
Visit in daylight and avoid thunderstorms. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 10–15 minutes to drive and park near the memorials.

Worth knowing: This is an outdoor memorial; do not climb on the aircraft.

Day 7

Georgetown's working waterfront history

Take one southbound excursion for a maritime museum, riverfront lunch and a booked historic-house tour.

Myrtle Beach → Georgetown's Front Street; park once where practical.
Open day route
Morning11:00

South Carolina Maritime Museum

729 Front Street, Georgetown, SC 29440, USA

Use boats, navigation objects and lighthouse material to explain why this small port mattered to the coast.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Free; donations welcome
Hours
Monday–Saturday, normally 11am–5pm. Visitor information

Worth knowing: Leave Myrtle Beach early enough for traffic and parking.

Midday13:00

Georgetown Harborwalk

Front Street waterfront, Georgetown, SC 29440, USA

Follow the public waterfront and choose lunch along Front Street, keeping this as a seated break as well as a walk.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Free; lunch extra
Hours
Outdoor daylight visit; restaurants set their own hours. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Walk 5–10 minutes from the museum to the waterfront.

Worth knowing: Stay on public walkways rather than private working docks.

Afternoon15:00

Kaminski House Museum

1003 Front Street, Georgetown, SC 29440, USA

A guided house visit introduces domestic life and local collecting traditions without requiring another long drive.

Time
1 hr
Cost
Moderate
Hours
Book an advertised tour; normally Monday–Saturday at 11am, 1pm or 3pm. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 10–15 minutes walking along Front Street and arrive early.

Worth knowing: Reserve the actual 3pm tour and ask about children's suitability.

Day 8

Lowcountry stories south of the resort

Use a confirmed house tour and a short research-center visit, then pause in Pawleys Island on the way home.

Hopsewee → Hobcaw Discovery Center → Pawleys Island; a longer driving day.
Open day route
Morning10:00

Hopsewee Plantation

494 Hopsewee Road, Georgetown, SC 29440, USA

Take a guided visit that considers the plantation economy and enslaved people's lives alongside the surviving house.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Moderate
Hours
Tuesday–Saturday; confirm the booked house-tour time. Visitor information

Worth knowing: Reserve a suitable tour and explain the history to children beforehand.

Midday13:30

Hobcaw Barony Discovery Center

22 Hobcaw Road, Georgetown, SC 29440, USA

Use the small ecology and history exhibits to connect marsh wildlife with the communities who lived on this land.

Time
1 hr
Cost
Free; donations welcome
Hours
Call to confirm Discovery Center opening; tours require separate reservations. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 40–50 minutes driving north and a separate lunch break.

Worth knowing: Confirm center opening first; independent access beyond the gate is prohibited.

Afternoon15:30

Pawleys Island Historic District

Myrtle Avenue and Pawleys Island Chapel, Pawleys Island, SC 29585, USA

Finish with the island's older streets and marsh views, observing residential boundaries rather than seeking another attraction queue.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Free; parking may apply
Hours
Daylight exterior visit; church interiors are not assumed open. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 30–40 minutes by car from Hobcaw and time to park.

Worth knowing: Use legal public parking and keep the walk short in heat.

Day 9

Garden City and Surfside

A pier, a browsing-and-lunch stop and a separate beach community make a lower-pressure southern coast day.

Garden City → Hudson's market → Surfside Beach; return along the coast.
Open day route
Morning10:00

The Pier at Garden City

110 South Waccamaw Drive, Garden City, SC 29576, USA

Watch fishing from the pier and look back at the shore before the busiest part of the beach day.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Free to walk; parking extra
Hours
Confirm seasonal pier opening before travelling. Visitor information

Worth knowing: Check storm access; fishing permits and rentals are separate.

Midday12:30

Hudson's Surfside Flea Market

1040 Highway 17 South, Surfside Beach, SC 29575, USA

Browse a limited number of stalls with the children and leave time for a simple lunch rather than a prolonged shopping expedition.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Free to browse; purchases extra
Hours
Seasonal market days and vendor hours vary. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 15–20 minutes by car and time for lunch.

Worth knowing: Check the operating calendar; not every stall opens every day.

Afternoon15:00

Surfside Beach oceanfront

Ocean Boulevard South at Surfside Drive, Surfside Beach, SC 29575, USA

Use a different town's public beach access for sand play and a short shoreline walk; swimming is optional.

Time
2 hr
Cost
Free beach access; parking extra
Hours
Daylight visit subject to beach conditions and local rules. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 10–15 minutes driving to the public oceanfront access.

Worth knowing: Check flags and lifeguard coverage; budget for posted parking.

Day 10

North-end wildlife and a show

Keep the whole day around Barefoot Landing, with one animal attraction and a proper rest before the evening performance.

Alligator Adventure → Barefoot Landing → Alabama Theatre; one compact district.
Open day route
Morning10:00

Alligator Adventure

4604 Highway 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, USA

Explore the reptile exhibits at a child's pace and choose demonstrations from the day's published schedule.

Time
2 hr
Cost
Moderate
Hours
Check the day's opening and demonstration schedule. Visitor information

Worth knowing: Do not promise feeding demonstrations; they depend on season and conditions.

Midday13:00

Barefoot Landing

4898 Highway 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, USA

Have lunch by the boardwalk district and browse a few shops, then protect several hours for a hotel or shaded rest.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Cost
Free to browse; lunch extra
Hours
Individual restaurants and shops keep separate hours. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 10–15 minutes to move within the complex and find lunch.

Worth knowing: The midday visit is not intended to fill the entire wait until the show.

Evening19:00

Alabama Theatre

4750 Highway 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, USA

End with a reserved performance chosen for the family's ages and attention spans, not an assumed nightly show.

Time
2 hr
Cost
Moderate to high
Hours
Performance calendar only; dates, start times and programme vary. Visitor information

From the previous stop: Allow 15–30 minutes for parking and check-in after the afternoon rest.

Worth knowing: Replace 7pm with your ticket time and eat dinner beforehand.

Before you decide

Questions about this trip

Must we book every stop?

No. Reserve the Hopsewee and Kaminski house tours and any Alabama Theatre performance; check EdVenture and Alligator Adventure tickets separately.

Are ten days all beach days?

No. Added days include children's learning, a river town, maritime history and local heritage. Swimming is optional and depends on beach conditions.

Can a toddler manage Georgetown?

The town route has short transfers and a lunch gap. The separate Hopsewee day has more driving and historical interpretation; use a shorter visit if your child needs it.

Official visitor information

Use these operator and visitor pages to confirm tickets, opening times and access for your dates. Details checked .

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