Must Do in Myrtle Beach: The Complete Guide Beyond the Beach
Myrtle Beach things to do beyond the sand include Broadway at the Beach, the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, and Brookgreen Gardens. Most first timers assume a Myrtle Beach trip means sunbathing, mini golf, and not much else, and while there’s genuinely a lot of that here, the Grand Strand also holds wine tastings, sculpture gardens, and a legitimate professional symphony most visitors never hear about.
What Are the Best Things to Do in Myrtle Beach for Adults?
Myrtle Beach genuinely surprises visitors expecting nothing but family arcades and mini golf once they look slightly beyond the main boardwalk. La Belle Amie Winery in North Myrtle Beach’s Little River area delivers a genuinely relaxed wine tasting experience, family owned and home to the “Twisted Sisters” wine label, and it transports visitors far enough from the boardwalk’s crowds that it can feel like stepping into a completely different destination. Crooked Hammock Brewery offers a similarly adult-focused hangout, pairing craft beer tastings with a backyard setup for cornhole, table tennis, pub trivia, and live music. For a more refined evening, the Long Bay Symphony brings professional orchestra performances to the area, with seasonal lineups covering everything from Gershwin celebrations to Broadway tributes, while the GTS Theater hosts full musical productions for visitors wanting a proper night at the theater rather than beachfront entertainment.
Broadway at the Beach or Barefoot Landing: Which Should You Visit?
| Feature | Broadway at the Beach | Barefoot Landing |
| Size | 350 acres | Smaller, more compact |
| Restaurants | 20+ including Wahlburgers, Margaritaville | Casual dining options |
| Attractions | 25, including Ripley’s Aquarium, Hollywood Wax Museum | Playground, carousel, outdoor stage |
| Vibe | Bustling, full-day destination | Casual, laid back lakeside stroll |
Broadway at the Beach ranks as the single most comprehensive entertainment district in Myrtle Beach, spanning 350 acres arranged around a central lake, with more than 20 restaurants, 80 specialty shops, and 25 attractions including Ripley’s Aquarium and the Hollywood Wax Museum. It genuinely rewards a full day, and travelers wanting a quicker meal often head to Wahlburgers or similar casual chains before browsing the shops for souvenirs. Barefoot Landing, located up in North Myrtle Beach, follows a similar lakeside layout but on a considerably smaller, more casual scale, with a playground, carousel, and outdoor stage rounding out its dining and shopping offerings. Travelers with a full day to spare and wanting maximum variety should choose Broadway at the Beach, while those wanting a shorter, more relaxed lakeside stroll after dinner should head to Barefoot Landing instead.
Is the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel Worth It?
Yes, for most visitors, though it’s genuinely not for everyone. Standing roughly 200 feet tall across 20 stories, the SkyWheel delivers sweeping views over both the ocean and downtown Myrtle Beach from its 42 enclosed, air-conditioned gondolas, with each ride lasting about 10 to 15 minutes across four full revolutions. The wheel never combines separate groups into the same gondola, so a group of friends or family gets their own private car for the ride. A VIP gondola option adds a glass-bottomed floor and leather bucket seats for a longer flight, and special sunrise, proposal, and gender-reveal flights are also available. One honest caution worth taking seriously: if you’re genuinely afraid of heights, this is one Myrtle Beach attraction worth skipping entirely rather than pushing through, since the height and open visibility can be genuinely uncomfortable for anyone with real acrophobia.
Is Brookgreen Gardens Worth Visiting?
Yes, and locals consistently name it among the top must do in Myrtle Beach experiences, even when visitors don’t originally have it on their list. Spanning roughly 9,000 acres between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, this sculpture and botanical garden holds the largest collection of American sculpture in the entire country, more than 2,000 pieces, alongside a native wildlife zoo and low-country trail. A single admission ticket stays valid for 7 consecutive days, effectively letting you treat the property like several separate parks rather than a single rushed visit. The butterfly house runs seasonally from April through October, and special events like the Spring Garden Festival and the holiday “Night of a Thousand Candles” add further reason to plan a visit around the calendar if timing allows.
What Is There to Do in Murrells Inlet?
Murrells Inlet, a quaint fishing village roughly 20 minutes from downtown Myrtle Beach, has earned a reputation as the unofficial seafood capital of South Carolina, and it delivers one of the more distinctly adult evenings available in the entire area. The Murrells Inlet Marshwalk lines the water with shops and restaurants offering genuinely beautiful sunset views, and dining at a spot along the Marshwalk while the sun goes down ranks among the most memorable low-key evenings you can have here. Golfers should also note the area holds a real concentration of courses, making Murrells Inlet worth combining with a round of golf earlier in the day before heading down for dinner and sunset.
What Dinner Show Should You See in Myrtle Beach?
| Dinner Show | Theme | Notable Detail |
| Pirates Voyage | Pirate ship, acrobatics | Owned by Dolly Parton, who wrote the music |
| The Carolina Opry | Variety, musical entertainment | Long-running Myrtle Beach staple |
| Medieval Times | Jousting, knights | Full dinner and tournament format |
| Polynesian Fire Luau | Polynesian culture, fire dancing | Tropical themed evening |
Myrtle Beach’s dinner show scene genuinely rivals what you’d find at other major tourist destinations, and Pirates Voyage stands out as a particularly strong pick, combining acrobatics and stunts on a full pirate ship set with a genuine sense of competition, as guests root for one of two rival pirate crews throughout the show. It’s worth knowing this show is owned by Dolly Parton, who also wrote the original music featured throughout the performance. Medieval Times offers a similarly immersive format built around jousting and knightly tournaments, while the Polynesian Fire Luau leans into a tropical theme with fire dancing for guests wanting something different from the pirate and medieval options. The Carolina Opry rounds out the lineup as a longer-running Myrtle Beach entertainment staple built around variety and musical performance rather than a single narrative theme.
Is a Dolphin Cruise Worth It in Myrtle Beach?
Generally yes, but with real, honest expectations set in advance. Several companies run dolphin cruises of varying lengths throughout the day, and while some tours advertise dolphin sightings as close to guaranteed, the reality genuinely depends on timing. Morning cruises consistently deliver better sighting odds than evening cruises, and certain months, including August, see fewer dolphins near shore since warmer surface water pushes them further out to cooler depths. Weather matters just as much: choppy conditions and high winds can turn a sunset cruise into a rough, disappointing ride, occasionally cutting the trip short before it even reaches open water. Most operators offer a free return ticket if your group doesn’t spot dolphins, a fair backup given how much sighting odds depend on factors outside anyone’s control. Regardless of dolphin luck, the boat ride itself along the Intracoastal Waterway and out toward the Atlantic genuinely delivers a scenic, worthwhile evening on its own.
How Do You Save Money on Mini Golf in Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach has earned a genuine reputation as the Mini Golf Capital of the World, with more than 50 courses scattered throughout the area, ranging from pirate-themed layouts to volcano and castle designs. Given how many courses compete for business here, coupon books and brochures offering discounted rates are genuinely everywhere throughout town, so paying full price for a round of mini golf is rarely necessary. Checking with your hotel or resort for included or discounted mini golf access is also worth doing before booking a separate outing, since many properties bundle at least one free round into a stay.
What Amusement Parks and Water Parks Are in Myrtle Beach?
Family Kingdom Amusement Park, located a few blocks south of the main boardwalk, packs more than 35 rides into its grounds, including the wooden Swamp Fox roller coaster and a Log Flume water ride, alongside dedicated kiddie rides for younger visitors. Admission itself is free for anyone not planning to ride, with wristbands or individual credits available for those who do, and purchased credits never expire, making it a genuinely flexible option for groups with mixed interest in riding. Myrtle Waves Water Park, South Carolina’s largest, rounds out the warm-weather attraction lineup with a wave pool, lazy river, multiple water slides, and a FlowRider for a controlled surfing experience, operating seasonally with a range of ticket and season pass options.
Final Thoughts
Building the right list of things to do in Myrtle Beach for adults comes down to mixing the classic boardwalk attractions with the destination’s genuinely underrated grown-up side. Pair a morning dolphin cruise with an evening at Murrells Inlet’s Marshwalk, use Brookgreen Gardens’ 7-day ticket to spread your visit across the trip, and grab a coupon book before committing to full-price mini golf. Whether it’s a wine tasting at La Belle Amie or a night at Pirates Voyage, must do in Myrtle Beach experiences reward travelers who look past the beach umbrella and mini golf clichés for the destination’s genuinely surprising range.
FAQs
How many days do you need in Myrtle Beach?
Four to five days lets you properly balance beach time with entertainment districts like Broadway at the Beach, a Brookgreen Gardens visit that takes advantage of its 7-day ticket validity, and at least one evening dinner show or wine tasting.
Is Myrtle Beach good for a girls trip?
Yes, with a genuine mix of shopping, dining, and adult-focused experiences like wine tasting and dinner shows rounding out beach time nicely, alongside enough variety in restaurants and entertainment districts to keep a multi-day trip feeling fresh.
What is Myrtle Beach known for?
Myrtle Beach is known for its long stretch of Grand Strand coastline, its title as the Mini Golf Capital of the World with more than 50 courses, and a genuinely wide range of family entertainment districts alongside more adult-oriented experiences like wine tasting and live theater.
Is Myrtle Beach State Park worth visiting?
Yes, particularly for travelers wanting a quieter, less developed stretch of beach compared to the busier downtown shoreline, with camping sites, fishing, forest trails, and a summer sea turtle patrol program adding genuine value beyond just beach access.
