Whether you’re looking for a quiet getaway or a family vacation, Myrtle Beach is a perfect option for summer travel. With more than 60 miles of beaches, restaurants to satisfy every appetite and golf courses galore, summer in Myrtle Beach has something for everyone.

1. Beach Day at Myrtle Beach

The main reason families flock to Myrtle Beach in summer is to swim in the mild waves and play along the sandy shoreline. Beach-goers enjoy water sport activities such as Jet-Skiing, deep-sea fishing, stand-up paddle boarding or simply relaxing. When you need a break from the sand, walk up to the many shops and restaurants along Ocean Boulevard.

Access to the beach is free 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

2. Broadway at the Beach 

If people-watching is your thing, Broadway at the Beach is the spot. This open-air food, shopping and entertainment complex is a big hit with visitors. Broadway on the Beach is a 23-acre complex with crowd-pleasers like Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville and the famous Ripley's Aquarium. There is also a movie theater, more than two dozen food outlets, a piano bar, dance and comedy clubs, and more. During the summer, there are firework displays every Tuesday and select Friday nights. 

3. SkyWheel Myrtle Beach

Take your beach vacation to new heights aboard the sky-high SkyWheel. Towering nearly 200 feet above the oceanfront boardwalk in the heart of Myrtle Beach, you and your family get a bird's eye view of Myrtle Beach's breathtaking high-rise skyline and Atlantic waters. Whether you take flight day or night, the experience is unforgettable.

Your memory-making is important, so we have some SkyWheel pro-tips. 

• Try the VIP Gondola. You and three guests can lounge on Ferrari leather seats while taking in the views. To commemorate your VIP experience, you'll receive a group photo. 
• If you’re planning to pop the question, book a Proposal Package, where you and your partner will undoubtedly float on Cloud Nine. 
• Looking for a unique gender reveal? The SkyWheel can help you tell the world by lighting up the sky in either pink or blue or both. 

4. Alabama Theatre 

Before hitting it big, the country music band, Alabama, performed one of its most famous early shows in Myrtle Beach. After achieving stardom, the group returned to the city where it got its start and opened the 2,000 seat Alabama Theater in the Barefoot Landing shopping complex.

The theater attracts artists, including Three Dog Night and Josh Turner. On nights when there is not a special guest performer, the theater offers performances of "ONE the Show," a variety show that includes comedy, country, gospel and rock music, among other genres. 

5. Mt. Atlanticus Miniature Golf Course

Although Myrtle Beach has plenty of options for your putt-putt golf outings, travelers say the most popular is the Mt. Atlanticus Miniature Golf Course. Like hiking up a real mountain, you'll find yourself physically ascending as you putt through the holes, which range in difficulty. The entire course features exciting obstacles with various creatures and architectural challenges. 

This not-so-miniature, miniature golf complex offers a total of 36 holes between two courses — the Conch and the Minotaur. If you get a hole-in-one on the last hole, you win free games for life.

6. Myrtle Beach State Park 

South of busy Myrtle Beach, you can explore the maritime forest nature trails inside Myrtle Beach State Park.

The park covers 312 acres of land and offers fishing piers, picnic tables and plenty of RV compatible campgrounds. Activities include surf fishing, equestrian facilities and plenty of shorelines to collect seashells and play in the calm waves.

The nature center is also a great place to visit to learn about turtles, birds and other South Carolina wildlife that call this park home. If you're looking for a less crowded beach, where you can truly unwind in nature, add Myrtle Beach State Park to your list of Myrtle Beach activities. 

7. Green on greens (on greens)

For many, Myrtle Beach is the unofficial golf capital of the world. Industry A-players like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones and Greg Norman designed many of the 80+ courses you will find around Myrtle Beach.

They include:

• Heritage Club – For a trip back in time, book a tee time at the Heritage Club. Built on two of South Carolina's historic plantations along the scenic Waccamaw River, the Heritage Club is a traditional favorite. 
• Man O'War Golf Club – If you‘re up for a challenge, Man O'War Golf Club is one of a kind. The Dan Maples design surrounds a 107-acre lake that makes it among the region’s most visually intimidating courses. It's believed that Man O'War is the only course in the world with back-to-back island greens – and it features an "island" hole on the ninth. 
• International Club – This course, blending traditional architecture and modern challenges, is on Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play." Golfers of all skill levels enjoy this Willard Byrd design – an immaculately maintained course with quick, smooth greens. 

8. Brookgreen Gardens 

We find one of the most relaxing things to do in Myrtle Beach is a visit to Brookgreen Gardens.

Purchased in 1929 by industrialist Archer Milton Huntington and his wife, Anna, as a retreat for Anna to recover from tuberculosis, the couple instead decided to open a public sculpture garden and wildlife sanctuary.

Today, Brookgreen Gardens is the oldest and largest sculpture garden in the United States, boasting more than 550 works of American sculptures. 

This 9,100-acre property is also home to the Lowcountry Zoo, which is home to an aviary, a cypress swamp, nature trails, an education center and plenty more to see and do for the whole family. This must-see sanctuary is about a 20-mile drive down the coast from Broadway at the Beach. 

9. Murrells Inlet MarshWalk 

Head south of Myrtle Beach, and you will find MarshWalk in the heart of the historic fishing village of Murrell's Inlet.

The MarshWalk boasts spectacular waterfront dining and entertainment, set against one of nature's beautiful backdrops. Come hungry and indulge in savory Lowcountry cuisine and fresh seafood, prepared by award-winning chefs.

When you’re ready to walk off all those shrimp and crab legs, enjoy a sunset walk down the wooden boardwalk along a natural saltwater estuary.

Read on to learn about our favorite restaurants (and what to order) in Myrtle Beach.