Myrtle Beach Hotels Blog

These 5 Myrtle Beach thrill rides are the biggest, fastest, and scariest and promise stomach-churning speeds, incredible heights, and a jaw-dropping rush. Even beach bums agree vacations aren’t complete without a little adventure. When it’s time to turn up the fun, hit up these amusement park thrill rides and give everyone in your crew more than enough excitement.

Myrtle Beach is a warm-weather wonderland with snow cones, cotton candy, and thrill rides sprinkled throughout the city. Head to popular entertainment districts to get your heart racing before going to a show, or walk to thrilling attractions from your hotel on the strip whenever you summon the courage. Many Myrtle Beach rides are visible from oceanfront hotels, and the daring stunts and dazzling lights are impossible for thrill seekers to ignore.

People looking for the scariest thrill ride in the Grand Strand can choose between the terrifying 10-story, 350-foot water slide, a harrowing flight on the Myrtle Beach Sling Shot, or The Beast, a spinning, swinging pendulum. If you love heights, the Sling Shot ride is the highest thrill ride in Myrtle Beach, reaching about 300 feet at its peak. But since we’re certain you’ll have your eyes closed, follow it up with a trip on the SkyWheel to savor the sights from nearly 200 feet above the Boardwalk.

While there are probably 20 awesome rides at Myrtle Beach amusement parks that could have made this list, we’ve narrowed it to the top 5 below. These serious attractions are for the unafraid adrenaline-junkie teens and adults who seek out thrills wherever they go. Buckle up, you’re in for the ride of your life

Myrtle Beach gift shops and souvenir stores offer all the essentials for beach days, plus keepsakes and apparel to treat yourself or loved ones back home. The city’s storefronts are filled with BOGO deals for T-shirts, cups, and hats—perfect mementos of your trip. But the best souvenirs to buy in Myrtle Beach are the ones you can use right away, like sand toys, a new water bottle, a towel, or a pair of designer sunglasses. 

Finding gifts for a babysitter, your kids, or the dog sitter isn’t a chore when it’s fun. Luckily, shopping in the Grand Strand is one of the most entertaining things to do in Myrtle Beach. Good gifts to get during your stay at Myrtle Beach can be found at local shops and beachwear stores that offer pottery, flip-flops, bags of saltwater taffy, personalized key chains, and other decorative doodads. For fancier, more expensive presents for friends or family, head to the area’s shopping districts to shop for upscale clothing, specialty toys, home goods, golf accessories, and self-care items.

If you’ve forgotten a souvenir, and your vacation ends soon, don’t fret. Myrtle Beach hotels and resorts have everything, including convenience stores with novelty hats and mugs. Plus, gift shops at Myrtle Beach attractions and restaurants offer all kinds of branded drinkware, magnets, shot glasses, and T-shirts.

Consult our handy list of the best Myrtle Beach gift shops to simplify your shopping and find the best souvenirs, and get back to enjoying your vacation, stat:

Hotels near the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex make the perfect home base for families and athletic clubs looking for fantastic and convenient lodging. The fields and facilities at the Sports Complex are designed for nearly any contest, including softball, baseball, tennis, field hockey, and soccer, and it includes parks and a nature preserve, so staying nearby is a smart move for athletes or anyone who loves an active vacation near outdoor entertainment. 

Selecting accommodations by proximity is important, but the hotels near this North Carolina sportsplex have more to offer than their great location alone. Any of the properties on this list is the best hotel for sports teams because each is mere minutes from the fields and offers a variety of suites and condos to accommodate your family, the coaching staff, or your team’s top players. Some include full kitchens so you can prepare and feed healthy meals to your team before big competitions, and everyone gets a good night’s rest in the spacious, private bedrooms. Sparkling blue pools and bubbling hot tubs welcome everyone ‘home’ after a long day of events, and having easy access to this family-friendly shoreline is ideal for making the most of days off. 

Whether you’re seeing these venues in person or viewing North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex, Ripken Experience, or Grand Park Athletic Complex in photos, it’s easy to tell how much the Grand Strand prizes its well-designed sports facilities, and this sports complex is one of the best. Expect nicely appointed batting cages, perfectly manicured fields and walking trails, and clean picnic shelters, and the area hotel hosting your stay nearby won’t disappoint. 

Even though it’s well over 100 acres, the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex isn’t in a remote area. There are many things to do in North Myrtle Beach, including visiting Barefoot Landing, a fabulous attraction with shopping and dining. The North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex is also a great source of entertainment for downtime. Guests of pet-friendly hotels love visiting the dog park there, and the three playgrounds, walking and biking trails, and wake park with a floating obstacle course offer plenty of fun options for all.

Ball clubs and spectators looking for hotels near the Triple Crown Sports Tournament, Global World Series, or any upcoming national or regional contest, find these accommodations to be just what they need. Even families staying at hotels near the OrthoCarolina Sportsplex choose to finish their vacations on the coast near Myrtle Beach to enjoy all that the area offers. Before booking your stay in the Grand Strand, check out lodging options in North Myrtle Beach:

Start your day with a fantastic breakfast in Myrtle Beach indulging in mouth-watering hash browns, eggs, fluffy pancakes, and other delectable recipes. The seafood breakfasts Myrtle Beach is known for, including seafood omelets and Benedicts, are treats for diners looking for a fresh combination of local ingredients and classic morning fare. 

While some hotels offer free breakfast, there are many restaurants worth venturing out to, and most are conveniently located near the area’s resorts. When you’re looking for a place open for breakfast at 5am, head to one of the 24/7 restaurants to eat anytime. These spots cater to the early risers and late-nighters, offering hearty portions of waffles, eggs, biscuits and gravy, and grits.

When your stomach is growling for a tasty meal first thing in the morning, check out this list of the 10 best breakfast restaurants in Myrtle Beach:

Make the most of a rainy day in Myrtle beach with entertaining things to do indoors that make waiting out a popup shower or storm more fun. If you’ve caught a rare drizzly day or a downpour’s in the forecast, you won’t have to sit in your hotel suite while the weather passes. There are tons of things to do in Myrtle Beach to make rainy days some of the most entertaining. 

Rain can be a blessing in the Grand Strand because it gives you an excuse to experience all the best indoor activities, like shopping, going to the movies, and exploring the local museums. Visitors joining us at the end of summer will find these attractions especially useful, as it typically rains the most in August in Myrtle Beach, but nearly every month sees a few showers. They don’t last long, so you won’t have to prepare for an all-day soaker, but keeping a few rainy-day activities on the sidelines never hurts. If you need a rain jacket, you can find one at a sporting goods store or even a local boutique to stay dry going to and from the activities you have planned. 

When it rains in Myrtle Beach, take advantage of the occasion and get in some quality time with your family or friends. Pose with your favorite celebrities at Hollywood Wax Museum, experience a natural disaster at WonderWorks, or knock down pins at the local bowling alley. Whether you’re here for a group trip, a family vacation, or a couples getaway, there are plenty of places to visit to make the best of bad weather. 

Rather than feeling out of sorts about what to do when it rains in Myrtle Beach, you need only to look around! Myrtle Beach offers kid-tested, family-approved indoor entertainment options surrounding the local resorts and hotels. We know you know what to do in the Carolina sunshine—watersports, swimming, and sunbathing—so here’s what to do in the rain in Myrtle Beach:

Myrtle Beach surfing lessons teach you the basics so you can spend beach days riding waves and having fun on the water during your vacation. If you think you’re too old to learn to surf, think again. You’re never too old to build new skills, and surfing is a low-impact, enjoyable sport most adults can learn. Younger children, ages 5 to 7, can start grasping surfing fundamentals and learn water safety, but it’s best if kids are 8 to 10 years old when they start learning to surf solo. Myrtle Beach surf schools offer private lessons and group classes to meet any learner’s comfort level on the water, and many host summer camps to get kids started. Myrtle Beach is better than good for anyone learning to surf because the ocean swells in this region are gentle, allowing beginners to practice getting up on their boards, holding their surfing stances, and other fundamentals. 

Designated surf schools and camps in Myrtle Beach are the best places to learn to surf because the knowledgeable, CPR- and First Aid-certified instructors make lessons safe and fun. Most teachers are longtime surfers with many tips and tricks to help beginners get the hang of it. Students do not need to own their own boards to enroll in surfing lessons in Myrtle Beach because rentals are included in the lesson rates. 

Choose from private surf lessons in the Grand Strand with one-on-one instruction or select a group session to learn alongside fellow newbies. Expect the number of participants at surf lessons in Myrtle Beach to be at or below a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio, with most classes held to fewer than 15 learners. Classes can fill up fast in the summer, so reserve your spot as soon as your hotel in Myrtle Beach is booked.

Surf Lessons for Kids in Myrtle Beach

If you’re looking for new things for kids to do on vacation, Myrtle Beach surf lessons and camps offer unforgettable experiences. Instruction for children includes the fundamentals of proper foot placement and paddling techniques, plus ocean safety. Summer camps are located near oceanfront hotels in Myrtle Beach, making drop-offs and pickups convenient. The options for half-day or all-day camps and private surfing lessons for kids make it easy to fit sessions into your itinerary and still have plenty of time to enjoy other attractions. Take a trip to Myrtle Waves Water Park to let your child practice on the wave simulator.

Check out these three places offering surf lessons in Myrtle Beach to make your vacation extra adventurous: