3 days in Myrtle Beach

Day by day

1. Day 1: Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade and Family Kingdom Amusement Park

   Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade, Family Kingdom Amusement Park and SkyWheel Myrtle Beach, then Mini golf on Kings Highway in the evening.

   1. Breakfast

      Breakfast: Shrimp and grits

   2. Morning

      Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade

      A boardwalk of about 2 km runs along the dunes between the 14th Avenue Pier and the 2nd Avenue Pier.

   3. Late morning

      Family Kingdom Amusement Park

      Buy a wristband if your children will ride more than a handful of times.

   4. Lunch

      Lunch: Calabash-style seafood

      Seafood restaurants along Kings Highway and in Calabash itself, about 40 minutes north.

   5. Afternoon

      SkyWheel Myrtle Beach

      The observation wheel on the Boardwalk rises about 57 metres above the beach, with enclosed, climate-controlled glass gondolas that make three rotations per ride.

   6. Snack

      Snack: Hushpuppies

   7. Evening

      Mini golf on Kings Highway

      Play after dinner in summer, when the courses are cooler and lit up; many offer a cheaper second round the same day.

2. Day 2: Broadway at the Beach and Myrtle Beach State Park

   Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach State Park and The Market Common, then Murrells Inlet MarshWalk in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Broadway at the Beach

      Park once and walk the loop around the lake; summer weeknight fireworks are free to watch from the boardwalks.

   2. Late morning

      Myrtle Beach State Park

      South of the city centre, South Carolina's first state park, opened in the 1930s, protects one of the last stretches of maritime forest on the Grand Strand.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Seafood buffet

      Restaurant Row and Kings Highway; go hungry and check whether crab legs cost extra.

   4. Afternoon

      The Market Common

      Visit on a summer evening for outdoor concerts and events that are often held on the green.

   5. Snack

      Snack: Boiled peanuts

   6. Evening

      Murrells Inlet MarshWalk

      Arrive an hour before sunset, walk the full length, then pick a deck table for dinner.

3. Day 3: Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach and Brookgreen Gardens

   Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach and Brookgreen Gardens, then Variety shows at the Carolina Opry and Alabama Theatre in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

      The aquarium's highlight is Dangerous Reef, an underwater tunnel with a moving walkway where sand tiger sharks, sawfish and sea turtles pass overhead.

   2. Late morning

      Brookgreen Gardens

      Admission is usually valid for several consecutive days; save the creek boat tour for a second visit.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: She-crab soup

      Seafood restaurants on the MarshWalk and in Murrells Inlet.

   4. Evening

      Variety shows at the Carolina Opry and Alabama Theatre

      Christmas shows from November are a local tradition and sell out early.

Before you go

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Central Myrtle Beach and the Boardwalk keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, North Myrtle Beach ($$) suits families, quiet stays, beach and couples. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 21–28 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.9 hours in December to 14.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Myrtle Beach
• 2 days in Myrtle Beach
• 5 days in Myrtle Beach

Questions travellers ask