This week marks twenty years since our first visit to Myrtle Beach, SC. It was January 23, 1999. The weather was warm, it was raining cats and dogs, and we were just married a few hours earlier that day. Since then, we have gone back to Myrtle Beach every couple of years in winter. The weather is great most of the time, and there are no crowds! We have noticed it gaining popularity in the winter months, but I’m sure it doesn’t compare to the summer season – which I’m not interested in finding out! I’d love to share with you our favorite places that we have visited over the years!
- Ripley’s Aquarium – One of my absolute favorite things to do is visit aquariums, and this one is fantastic! There are numerous interactive and educational exhibits throughout the aquarium. A unique moving sidewalk winds through the Dangerous Reef exhibit, and you feel as if you were exploring the ocean without the SCUBA gear! Another favorite spot is Ray Bay. Tip: Spend an extra $3 for a few shrimp to feed these beautiful creatures. You’ll be glad you did. Another tip: If you are a homeschooler in NC or SC, bring your School ID card for an unadvertised substantial discount!
- WonderWorks – a unique museum experience! Try physical challenges such as lying on a bed of nails, riding an extreme 360 degree bike, test your balance on the indoor glowing ropes course, and several other fun exhibits, including a 6D extreme theater! Activities abound for all ages! Tip: They are currently having homeschool days at the museum that offers a discount for NC and SC homeschoolers in January & February 2019.
- While you are at WonderWorks, check out the Soar & Explore outdoor zip line and ropes course! This was the first zip experience my family has tried, and can’t wait to try another one! I’m happy with being the photographer. Tip: You will have to wait until the spring, as they are currently closed for renovation.
- Pirate’s Voyage – A dinner experience like no other! Enjoy acrobatics, pyrotechnics, sea lions, nativity animals (around Christmas time), and a 4-course meal! You can also get there early for a fun pirate pre-show. Tip: While I haven’t seen big discounts, you can get a discount code online, or in a coupon book when you arrive in Myrtle Beach for a few dollars off each ticket. It’s our family’s favorite, and we have found it’s worth it!
- Medieval Times is another fun dinner show. Step back in time to cheer for your favorite knight in a tournament featuring horses, jousting, falconry, and more! My friend at Schoolin’ Swag recently wrote a detailed review you should check out! Tip: They are currently offering a Winter Savings through 3/3/19, so it’s a great time to go for a unique dinner experience.
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum is filled with strange oddities from all over the world! Stand next to a model of the world’s tallest man, see strange animals, art, and many other unusual things you can not see anywhere else!
Tip: Ripley’s offers great combo tickets, so plan to choose a few for a savings!
Skywheel is one of my favorite quick, fun things to do. The Skywheel is a climate-controlled glass gondola (on a giant Ferris wheel) that will give you breathtaking views of the beach. We have seen messages written in the sand, hotel lights at nighttime, and has great ocean views! Tip: It is awesome day or night! Discounted tickets are available in most coupon books.
- Speaking of wheels, Wheels of Yesteryear is a hidden little gem for any car enthusiast. My husband and son were impressed at the collection of cool cars from back in the day.
- Miniature Golf – there are so many courses to choose from! We have tried several, and they are all a little different. The weather is normally nice enough for us to enjoy a game before heading home! Tip: Check the coupon books for available discounts.
- Hollywood Wax Museum is a great place to get one-of-kind photos with your favorite stars! The models are so life-like! The included laser escape was also a hit with our kids. Tip: They do have a combo ticket available that includes a mirror maze and Outbreak.
- Rockin’ Jump – was a new place we enjoyed this year! It is a trampoline park with a cool rock climb, as well as a challenging ninja course. Rockin’ Jump is a fun indoor activity while you wait out the weather if necessary. Tip: Discounted Homeschool Jump is hosted the fourth Wednesday of the month from 12pm to 3pm, September through May.
- Your Hotel! We have stayed at several hotels in Myrtle Beach. We intentionally include some down time and not to fill every minute with activities on our vacation. Many hotels have indoor water parks, lazy rivers, bowling alleys, and beach access. One year we rented movies, another time we played all day in the sand (in November). On our last visit, we discovered a group of feral cats living under the deck, enjoyed sitting around the fire pit at night, and my son and I even enjoyed listening to karaoke at the hotel. The winter months offer fantastic rates at all the hotels.
Bonus Tip: We are not much for shopping while on vacation, (although they have many outlet stores), I do manage to make a stop at Teacher’s Touch while we are in the area. It’s a school supply store with games, math manipulatives, art supplies, posters, workbooks, and many other things that homeschool moms love. It is not a homeschool curriculum store, but I have found fun things to use with my kids over the years. Be sure to check it out!
This time of year can drag on for us homeschoolers. One of the best remedies is to stop and do something fun! So take a couple of days to spend time with your family, take a field trip, and make memories! You will come back feeling refreshed and ready to tackle what’s left of winter!
Great ideas! We also went to Myrtle Beach for our honeymoon. I hope to go back soon and try the Pirate’s Voyage!