A Family-Friendly Guide to Myrtle Beach This Holiday Season

Ashley's Note: It’s not a secret to us locals, love to share with out-of-towners that summer is not the only time to hit the beach. Wintertime may not involve the hot sun and sand, and time in or on the ocean, but there are oodles of fun, festive musts to experience over the holidays – Southern style. My family has been wowed by the holiday spirit that lights up the nights (and days that are merry and bright) over the years, and I think yours will, too!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year here at the beach, so where should you and your family spend quality time over the holidays in Myrtle Beach? We’ve made a list and checked it twice for all of family-friendly holiday events, activities, entertainment, and restaurants that cater to the kiddos.

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Family-Friendly Holiday Sights & Reindeer Games

• Walk through a holiday light show. The Myrtle Beach area is laden with light shows that you will want to make your nights here merry and bright. Try Winter Wonderland at the Beach in downtown Myrtle Beach and the boardwalk, the massive drive-thru light show in the North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex, the nationally renowned Nights of a Thousand Candles on display throughout the many acres of Brookgreen Gardens, and the free walk-through MarshWalk Wonderland of Lights in Murrells Inlet.

  Do you want to build a sand castle? No, we don’t offer a White Christmas in Myrtle Beach, but we do boast 60 miles of sandy beachfront! Forget the snow and frozen temps and embrace our warmer weather and a coastline of sand to stroll, play, and frolic on. This time of year, you can also book a horseback riding excursion on the beach.

  Take in some holiday theatre. Mostly all of our award-winning live theatres in the area transform their stages into holiday-themed theatre productions that will bring you great joy. We suggest taking a seat at The Carolina Opry, Alabama Theatre, Medieval Times, and Pirates Voyage.

  Go shopping. ’Tis the season of gift giving, so check off one and all’s wish lists with a shopping trip to one of our many shopping hubs that are also lined with entertainment venues and restaurants when you need a break. Try Coastal Grand Mall, Barefoot Landing, Broadway at the Beach, or The Market Common.

More Non-Holiday, Family-Friendly Fun

• Go out for golf. Mini golf, aka putt-putt, is king in Myrtle Beach, which is touted as the “Mini Golf Capital of the World.” For year-round, family-friendly fun, take mini golf to the next level at PopStroke, a fairly new attraction within Broadway at the Beach. The 10,000-square-foot mini golf venue, backed by investor Tiger Woods, features 36 putting holes (two 18-hole courses), an arcade, a play area, and more. Scoring is tracked with electronic iPutt balls through the PopStroke app! Or, if you’d rather take a swing at another golf option, book a bay at Topgolf, a massive, multi-level, high-tech driving range.

  Ride the SkyWheel. Ride sky-high on the SkyWheel for a bird’s eye view of the coastline and all of the twinkling holiday lights along the boardwalk 200 feet above ground. You’ll stay cozy inside one of the climate-controlled gondolas while you and your family make memories!

  Play indoors. If you’re here in Myrtle Beach when we happen to have a winter chill indoors, there are plenty of indoor playtime venues, such as Ripley’s Aquarium, where they have a Festival of Trees on display, Hollywood Wax Museum, Myrtle Beach Art Museum, and SkyZone Trampoline Park.

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Family-Friendly Restaurants

• RipTydz Oceanfront Grille & Rooftop Bar. This popular oceanfront restaurant will become your next favorite, too. The mega, multi-level venue on the boardwalk serves up fresh seafood, live entertainment, and a fun-filled ambiance. And, to ward off the cool ocean breeze, RipTydz’ open-air building becomes partially enclosed for added comfort.

  LuLu’s. Located on the waterway in Barefoot Landing, LuLu’s offers fresh-made coastal cuisine and the perfect play areas for the kids. There is a sandy beach area right off the indoor/outdoor dining room, with volleyball and water-splash games, plus there is a multi-level ropes course and arcade onsite.

  Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar. It’s never too cold for an ice cream treat, and you’ll want to dig into the crazy desserts and milkshakes at Crazy Mason, with a location in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. Choose from an overflowing list of topping combos, including some seasonal specials, stacked beyond the top of the mason jar and defying gravity.

  The Hangout. Your family will love hanging out at The Hangout at Broadway at the Beach, where the energy is high, the food is killer, and the entertainment and games will put a smile on your faces. Be ready to stand up on your table and dance to the music – it’s encouraged!

  Breweries. Spread Christmas cheer for Mom and Dad, plus the kiddos, at Crooked Hammock Brewery, Grand Strand Brewing Co, or Tidal Creek Brewhouse in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. You all can indulge in food, fun, and craft beer for grownups, along with plenty of yard games laid out at all three to keep the kiddos occupied. The breweries also welcome your furry, four-legged babies, too.

  Dave & Buster’s. It’s the ultimate arcade on steroids, where the kids will love playing on all of the latest and greatest video games and technology and winning prizes at the finish line. Dave & Buster’s also has a yummy menu of munchies, sandwiches, and more, walls of TVs playing your favorite sports teams, and a full bar.

• DinoLand Café. This family-friendly casual restaurant in Myrtle Beach offers a menu of carnivore flavorful faves, like ribs, burgers, and steaks, with a side of life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, mammoths, and lions, plus a lava mountain, a talking tree, and a flying dragon bar. Talk about an experience that will make memories!
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