Getting the Maximum Bang for your Buck at Myrtle Beach Attractions

Myrtle Beach has so many great attractions that it’s impossible to visit them all. But if you’re on a one-week vacation and you’re family is on a budget, you might want to start with the ones that offer the best bang for buck.

That’s right, not just the cheapest, but the ones that come with extra value and make your vacation dollars go the extra mile. Here are five tips on Grand Strand attractions that deliver maximum fun for the funds:

• Free concerts and fireworks shows: You can’t beat free, and you can’t get more “bang” than fireworks. On Monday nights, the free pyrotechnics display is at Barefoot Landing; on Tuesdays and Fridays, the skies light up at Broadway at the Beach; and on Wednesdays , it’s the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, where free events are held all summer, like live concerts and Kids Mondays.

• Family Kingdom amusement and water parks: Theme parks aren’t exactly known for affordability, but Family Kingdom in downtown Myrtle Beach comes pretty close. For starters, there’s no admission fee for either the amusement park or Splashes, the water park, for those who don’t want to ride or slide, so parents, grandparents and small children can tag along and watch the little ones have a blast. You can purchase ride tickets or all-day passes to both parks.

• Miniature golf: Playing a round of putt-putt golf can be fun but pricy for the whole family. But if you have a few putt-putt nuts in your party, most mini-golf courses offer all-day and night passes for only a couple of more dollars than the cost of a single round. Drop off a foursome at the putt-putt course for a few hours while the ones who don’t like to chase the little white ball can do their own thing.

• Myrtle Beach Pelicans: There’s nothing like fun at the ol’ ballpark, and this outfit delivers a good time for all ages, even non-sports fans. With creative nightly promotions and wacky between-inning entertainment, the Pelicans provide three hours of fun for as little as $9 per person. The food and drinks are where they get you, so go to dinner before the game and splurge for popcorn and peanuts. Wiener Wednesdays offer $1 hot dogs and Thirsty Thursdays feature $1 drafts.

• The Beach: OK, so this one is obvious, but it’s also often overlooked. Plan a family picnic near sunset and spend a few hours hanging out in the sand. You can see the fireworks display at Second Avenue Pier from almost anywhere in Myrtle Beach, and there’s no admission fee.

(posted 6/25/14)