(Left to right) Myrtle Waves; Surfside Beach Pier.
For the young (and young at heart) our area water parks offer hours of family-friendly fun in the sun. Myrtle Waves, located on U.S. 17 Bypass in Myrtle Beach, may be the best known and largest with its popular ten-story-tall Turbo Twisters and all new for 2024 Wild Water Race mat slider attraction. Family Kingdom’s Splashes Water Park, once the only oceanfront waterpark in the area, closed, as did Surfside Beach’s Wild Water and Wheels. For hardcore adrenaline junkies, the Shark Wake Park in the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex offers cable-driven kneeboards, wakeboards, water skis, and tamer, little-kid friendly activities on its own freshwater lake. Many hotels also offer smaller waterparks perfect for families with little ones. The Landmark Hotel’s $3-million H2OASIS, open March – October for guests, is an inviting Staycation option for families who might especially enjoy access to their 10,000 square-foot water park.
Stay tuned for updates on the $71 million Wavegarden, adjacent to Broadway at the Beach, set to open in 2026.
Boat, Fish, Cruise – the options are nearly limitless!
For water enthusiasts, many flock to pleasure boating, dolphin and sunset cruising, and fishing, which offer ideal ways to explore the area’s natural water features. Guided trips are readily available, and many marinas provide boat rentals, ensuring accessible and budget-friendly DIY outings. Also, two boat clubs offer memberships for more frequent boating without owning a vessel.
The Intracoastal Water way, area rivers, and inlets offer safe pontoon boating for beginners, shielded from the ocean’s strong currents and waves. Even without a SC fishing license, anglers can enjoy saltwater or freshwater fishing when on a licensed fishing charter. Fishing on your own, however, does require state licensing. Fishing licenses are available at area big box retailers, such as Walmart and Bass Pro Shops.
Fishing is so popular on the Grand Strand’s piers, it attracts both novices and seasoned anglers. Many piers offer rentals for those who travel without their own gear. Fishing charters by boat are available for those seeking deep-sea adventures, aiming for trophy and/or game fish like Mahi-mahi, Wahoo, tuna, and grouper.
(Left to right) Inlet BrewBoat; Shark Wake Park.
After many years and delays after the devastation caused by 2016’s Hurricane Matthew, the all-new Surfside Beach Fishing Pier has re-opened, giving anglers and beachgoers a much-anticipated attraction to replace the beloved original. It comes with restaurants and an Ice cream shop. The Grand Strand boasts some 10 fishing piers along its 60-mile stretch.
Sunset, happy hour, and dolphin cruises provide relaxed on-the-water entertainment, many with onboard bars, bathrooms, and snacks available. Murrells Inlet’s Pie-Eyed Parrot offers a variety of daily cruises, including its most popular, the “Ultimate Sunset Happy Hour” cruise. In North Myrtle Beach the Barefoot Queen riverboat offers sightseeing and dinner cruises, including live entertainment, showcasing stunning views of the Intracoastal Waterway.
A dozen or so sunset coastal cruises may be found from Georgetown to Calabash, and in Conway, cruises are available along the scenic, cypress-lined Waccamaw River. A Pedal Pub, named the Inlet Brew Boat, along the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk allows for boating, BYOB drinking (beer and wine only) with a USCG-licensed captain steering. Most all of these cruises offer late afternoon/early evening boating and imbibing where someone else does the driving.
