Great Kid-Friendly Attractions During Myrtle Beach's Off-Season!

Myrtle Beach may be known for it's summertime fun, but the off-season also offers a wide variety of family-friendly activities (and less traffic, too). The area is filled with entertainment that provides hours of fun for the kids. With everything from shows to rides, these kid-friendly activities are sure to be fun for you, too!


WonderWorks

While Professor Wonder and his group of scientists were creating a contained man-made tornado at their lab in the Bermuda Triangle, they lost control of the daring experiment. The laboratory was lifted in the vortex and blown all the way to Myrtle Beach where it landed, upside down, on top of a Crab Shack. Luckily, the other experiments in the lab were not damaged and are now available for us to experience. This indoor amusement park offers dozens of activities that thrill (and educate!) both young and old. Feel how cold the water was the night the Titanic sank, play in the bubble lab, experience the winds of a Category 1 hurricane, try to make a complete revolution on the Extreme 360° Bike, lay on a bed of nails and ride the roller-coaster simulator! After you've wound your way through the 100+ exhibits WonderWorks has to offer, you'll finish off the fun with a 3 story indoor ropes course!

Medieval Times

The King and Princess cordially invite you to attend an evening of skill and competition where the most courageous knights of the realm compete for honor in a series of epic battles. Cheer your noble champion as he spurs his horse in the relay race, takes on his opponents in daring sword fights and finally rides in the perilous joust. But no 11th Century tournament would be complete without a banquet! As you watch the brave knights compete, you'll feast on simmering tomato bisque soup, golden garlic bread, tender oven-roasted chicken, BBQ spare rib, herb basted potatoes and a flaky apple turnover.

The SkyWheel

The sky's the limit! In May 2011, Myrtle Beach welcomed a thrilling new attraction: one of the largest observation wheels in the United States. This is unlike any ferris wheel you've ever experienced! After being seated in one of the 42 climate-controlled gondolas in groups of 2 to 6, you'll slowly be raised 187 feet in the air. Here, your jaw will drop at the panaromic views of the city and beaches along the Grand Strand. After the sun goes down, the SkyWheel illuminates the coastline with a breathtaking show.1 million LED lights set into the side of the wheel swirl in a variety of colors and designs to create the perfect backdrop for an iconic family vacation picture!

Ripley's Aquarium

Come find out why Ripley's Aquarium is South Carolina's most visited attraction! Explore the depths of the seas while traveling through the aquarium tunnel on a 340 ft long moving glidepath. You'll come face-to-face with dozens of sharks, snappers, sawfish, a sea turtle and a wide variety of beautiful fish swimming all around you. The aquarium's smaller tanks also feature tropical fish, piranhas, jelly fish, a Pacific Giant Octopus, poison dart frogs and more. If you're looking for a hands-on experience, be sure to stop by the Discovery Center and Friendship Flats, where you get to pet horseshoe crabs and stingrays!

Pirates Voyage

Ahoy, matey! Many years ago, dread pirates roamed the Carolina coast. Today, the crews of two fearsome pirate ships have returned and are fighting for their lost treasure! Watch as they battle on deck and in the water with daring acrobatics, thrilling sword fights, dives and even live animals. As you cheer on your crew, your captain will serve you a mouth-watering pirate feast that includes creamy vegetable soup, flaky buccaneer bread, half o' roasted cackler (chicken), the Captain's BBQ pork, buttery corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and apple pie.

MagiQuest

Upon entering MagiQuest, you find yourself in an enchanted realm where you use your own magic wand to help you in your journey to become a Magi.This indoor, multi-level attraction is like being inside a video game! As you wander through this magical land, use your wand to duel, gather wisdom from ancient wizards, slay dragons and make friends with pixies. Every Magi's experience is different based on the decisions they make and the battles they win. Each time you visit, your wand  remembers what you have done and what you have left to accomplish. Master your skills, beat the game and become a true Magi!

A visit to any of these fun-filled attractions will leave behind lasting memories that your kids will talk about for years to come. To top it all off, discounted tickets to most of these attractions can be purchased at The Official Myrtle Beach Welcome Center in Aynor! We look forward to seeing you and your family soon!

Premier Partner Highlight: Ripley's Attractions

When you're vacationing on the Grand Strand, there's an abundance of entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.  And the Ripley's venues are among the most popular of the must-see attractions! Ripley's, a Premier Partner of The Official Myrtle Beach Welcome Center, has been entertaining vacationers and locals alike for years, and you and your family are sure to have an experience you'll never forget!

Ripley's Aquarium
Sunday - Thursday 9am - 8pm, Friday - Saturday 9am - 9pm

Discover why Ripley's Aquarium is South Carolina's most visited attraction!  Each year, thousands of vacationers flock to see the wide variety of exotic fish and ocean life that call Ripley's their home.  Get a closeup look at some of the sea's most beautiful and dangerous predators as you move through a tunnel on the aquarium's 340ft glide path, where you'll come face-to-face with sharks, sawfish,  sea turtles, snappers and tropical fish.  Other tanks feature a Pacific Giant Octopus, coral, piranhas, poison dart frogs and more.  If you want to get hands-on, you can even pet stingrays and horseshoe crabs!

Ripley's Marvelous Mirror Maze
Sunday - Thursday 11am - 7pm, Friday - Saturday 11am - 8pm

Try your navigation skills in a 2,000 sq ft maze unlike any you've ever experienced!  Ripley's Marvelous Mirror Maze is designed to keep you turned around and laughing.  Hundreds of mirrors reflect dozens of pathways that lead you to tricky corners, dead ends and looping in circles.  The maze's LED lighting and digital sound take the experience to a whole new level.  If you're really looking for a challenge, use the kaleidoscope glasses, which create rainbow effects to increase your confusion and test your abilities!

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium
Sunday - Thursday 10am - 7pm, Friday - Saturday 10am - 8pm

Are you intrigued by the weird, odd and unexplained?  Then this Ripley's museum is just the place for you!  This famous attraction features a large collection of unusual artifacts from all around the world.  Over 500 exhibits display everything from shrunken heads to 9 legged-cows, transformers to a model of the world's tallest man!  This museum is sure to provide "weird, wild, wacky fun" for your whole family.

Ripley's Haunted Adventure
Sunday - Thursday 12pm - 7pm, Friday - Saturday 12pm - 8pm

Do you dare enter?  This multi-million dollar haunted house is sure to send a chill down your spine and set your heart racing!  As creepy ghouls guide you through the dark mansion, live actors, animatronics and intense special effects are strategically placed to scare and spook you at every turn.  This attraction is not for the faint of heart - enter at your own risk!




Ripley's Moving 5D Theater
Sunday - Thursday 11am - 7pm, Friday - Saturday 11am - 8pm

Ripley's Moving 5D theater provides the most incredible movie experience you'll ever encounter!  You have the opportunity to live the movie, not just watch it!  The virtual reality simulator sends you on a ride of bumps, dips and turns in seats that move in 8 different directions in sequence with the film.  To engage all of your senses, the theater also uses surround sound, special effects, 3D imaging and even smell!


Whether you visit all or one of these attractions, you are guaranteed to give your family a vacation experience unlike any other.  On your way to the coast, be sure to stop at the Official Myrtle Beach Welcome Center in Aynor to receive additional information and purchase tickets to these incredible Ripley's attractions!

Summer Days and Giveaways

  THE OFFICIAL MYRTLE BEACH

WELCOME CENTER

is offering visitors the chance to win

Weekly, Monthly and Grand Prize Giveaways for 
only ONE more Month!

Weekly Giveaway: Myrtle Beach 3 Day 2 Night Vacation

Monthly Giveaway: 50 inch Flat Screen TV

Grand-Prize Giveaway: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee –Drawn November 2012

Congratulations to our 

October Winners!

Weekly Winners: 

Mr. Johnson and Ms.Thoreson, Simpsonville, SC

Mr. and Mrs. Dreise, Chathay, Ontario

Ms. Roz-Smith and Ms. Dukes, Abingdon, MD

Ms. Bowers, Hamlet, NC

Mr. and Mrs. Purcott, Johnson City, TN

Monthly Winner: 

Mr. and Mrs. Sanders, Clayton, NC

It's not too late - come in for your chance to win!

We are conveniently located off Highway 501 in Aynor, South Carolina. 

Tips for Saving Money on Vacation Part III: Attraction Tickets

Previously we discussed saving money while getting to your vacation destination (airfare and driving), so it's time to move on to the next topic: how to save money once you get here.  Many attractions in tourist areas don't come cheap, yet experiencing the Myrtle Beach area to the fullest is a priority!  Not to worry- we have several tips to help you with tickets to the best attractions in Myrtle Beach without breaking the bank.

1.) Be sure to do your research and comparison shop!  For example, the Grand Strand has several different water parks within a few miles of each other.  Visit their websites to see what each water park has to offer.  Once you've narrowed it down, compare the discounted prices available.  This can help you decide which park will give you the most bang for your buck.

2.) Many attractions offer discounted rates for large groups.  Bringing friends along on vacation with you could give all of you the opportunity to have your dream vacation and save you a lot of money.  Of course, coordinating schedules with a larger group can be tricky.  If that's the case, make some new friends! Take the time to chat with a few people at your resort and see if they plan on visiting some of the same attractions. If they are, you can buy your tickets together and everybody comes out a winner!

3.) Be sure to take advantage of all the free activities in the area!  The beach is our biggest attraction, and it doesn't cost anything to enjoy the sand and surf.  Your resort's pool and other amenities will also provide hours of entertainment at no extra charge.  Finally, look into some of the special local events that will be going on during your visit.  Places like the Boardwalk and the Market Common have dozens of fun activities throughout the year for you to enjoy at little or no cost.

4.) Before you buy your ticket, check around for current specials.  Look for online discounts or for coupons in local magazines and newspapers. For example, Medieval Times has been known to offer a "Buy 1 Adult Ticket, Get 1 Child Ticket Free" special at certain times during the year.

5.) Many attractions offer discounts for children, military, students, AAA members and seniors.  When purchasing your ticket, be sure to ask if any of these discounts apply.  Additionally, if you are on a credit card rewards program, check to see if any of your points are redeemable for attractions in the area.  Remember to bring the proper I.D. or membership cards with you on vacation!

6.) Sit down as a family to make your vacation "wish list" of things you would like to do.  Once you have done this, set a budget to designate what you are comfortable spending.  Then pick your favorite items from the wish list until your budget has been met.  This way, you'll be able to participate in all of your favorite activities without overspending.

Finally, we have the most effective and easy way to save money on the best in local entertainment: visit the Official Myrtle Beach Welcome Center!  We offer big discounts to the most popular shows and attractions in the area.  For more information, call 1-843-358-8100.

Living History: Plantation Tours in South Carolina

While we're famous for our coastline, South Carolina offers so much more than just beautiful beaches! We have a dramatic history that spans through centuries and played a major role in America's biggest moments.  When you visit the area, you have the opportunity to step back in time and experience what South Carolina was like hundreds of years ago.  The state has dozens of Plantations that are open to the public for tour and many of them are within a 2 hour drive of Myrtle Beach!  Here are a few of our favorites:

Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet

Hundreds of years ago, what is now Brookgreen Gardens was divided into 4 rice plantations known as The Oaks, Springfield, Laurel Hill and Brookgreen (owned by the largest American slaveholder).  While little remains of these plantations, a few relics have survived the passage of time including the Alston family cemetery.  Governor Joseph Alston was the proprietor of The Oaks Plantation with his wife, Theodosia Burr Alston, daughter of Vice President Aaron Burr.  Gov. Alston and his child are buried here with a memorial to Theodosia, who was lost at sea and reportedly haunts the Grand Strand looking for her father.  While strolling along the trail, you'll also see the former sight of the plantation house, the slave village and the foundation of the spring house.  One of the Laurel Hill rice mills also remains.  The rest of the property was transformed by the Huntington's into America's first public sculpture garden during the early 1930s.  Visitors enjoy beautiful moss-draped oaks in perfectly manicured gardens, elegant sculptures, a small zoo, butterfly house and even boat tours on the Waccamaw River.

Hopsewee Plantation in Georgetown

Built several decades before the Revolutionary War, Hopsewee Plantation was owned by Thomas Lynch, Sr. and his wife, Elizabeth Alston of Brookgreen Plantation.  This prominent family played a large role in the history of the United States.  James Lynch, Sr worked with Benjamin Franklin as an adviser to General Washington while his son, Thomas Lynch, Jr., was the 52nd signer of the Declaration of Independence.  The house, decorated with 18th and 19th century style furnishings, sits on the Santee River surrounded by incredible low-country scenery and has been preserved rather than restored. Visitors can take a guided tour of the house, walk along the many nature trails, participate in a sweetgrass basket weaving class and experience an English style tea service with Southern influence at the River Oak Cottage.

Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant

Dating back to the late 1600s, Boone Hall prides itself on being one of the oldest working plantations in the United States and has been featured in films such as North and South and The Notebook.  The property is named for its first proprietor, John Boone, one of the first settlers of the Colony.  The entrance to the plantation will take your breath away as you drive down the famous Avenue of Oaks, which was planted from 1743 - 1843 and spans almost a mile.  While the plantation's original house has been lost, the property boasts a Colonial Revival plantation house that was built in the 1930s.  The grounds also feature 9 original slave cabins dating back to around 1800, a cotton gin house dating back to 1853 and a smoke house from 1750.  Though no longer growing cotton, Boone Hall produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and offers U-Pick fields (in season) to their guests. Visitors can also take a tour of the Plantation House and Slave Quarters by guides in period clothing, coach tours, garden tours and enjoy the butterfly pavilion. 

Drayton Hall in Charleston

Drayton Hall, built in 1738 and owned by 7 generations of the Drayton family, is a living piece of history.  The original Plantation House has been meticulously preserved to bring visitors a most accurate depiction of life in18th and 19th century America.  The house has withstood the American Revolution, in which it was used as a staging ground for both Colonial and British troops, the Civil War, the great Charleston earthquake of 1886 and many hurricanes!  Visitors take a guided tour of the Plantation house, learn about the Drayton family and their slaves (the Bowens), explore the grounds and visit the nation's oldest documented African-American cemetery that is still in use today.

Magnolia Plantation in Charleston

Magnolia Plantation was founded in the 1670s by the Drayton family.  This beautiful property is famous as the oldest public gardens in America, having opened for tours in the 1870s.  Areas of the garden date back 325 years and visitors enjoy gorgeous camellias, daffodils, azaleas and dozens of other species.  The current plantation home is the third to grace the site since it was founded. The core of the structure dates back to the pre-revolutionary war and guided tours of the home, which feature Drayton family heirlooms and artifacts, depict what life was like hundreds of years ago.  Guests can also tour slave quarters that date back to the 1850s, take a tram tour of the property, enjoy a boat tour along the Ashley River and visit the small zoo that features wildlife native to the area.

To learn more about these incredible plantations and the many others South Carolina has to offer, click here. And remember to stop at the Official Myrtle Beach Welcome Center to receive additional area information and discounts on hotel stays and other Grand Strand attractions!

Summer Days and Giveaways

This season, The Official Myrtle Beach Welcome Center is offering visitors the chance to win amazing Weekly, Monthly and Grand Prize Giveaways!

Conveniently located off Highway 501 in Aynor, South Carolina, stop in and register to win...

Weekly Giveaway: 3 Day, 2 Night Mini-Vacation in Beautiful Myrtle Beach

Monthly Giveaway: 50” Flat Screen TV

Grand-Prize Giveaway: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee –Drawn November 2012

Congratulations to our September Winners!

Ms. Rowe, winner of the 50" flat screen TV

Weekly Winners:

Mr. & Mrs. Chapman, Medina, OH

Mr. & Mrs. Perry, Lexington, OH

Mr. & Mrs. Shamblin, Front Royal, VA

Mr. & Mrs. Lewis, Richmond, VA

Monthly Winner:

Ms. Rowe from Farmland, OH

Premier Partner Highlight: Rioz

One of the many delights of being on vacation is eating out instead of spending hours in the kitchen. For just this reason, Myrtle Beach has hundreds of amazing restaurants to keep your stomachs full and happy.  But there's one restaurant that will get you fuller than any other while providing a dining atmosphere unlike any you've ever experienced: Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse!

When you step into the restaurant, you'll find yourself in a beautiful dining area with rich, dark woods accentuated with a warm red and gold color scheme. The lights are kept on a low-lit setting, creating a homey and inviting atmosphere that's ideal for a romantic date or a big family gathering.

Once you're seated, your server will get your drink and direct you to the salad bar - which is so much more than just salad! While you do have a wide array of your favorite lettuces and toppings to make your perfect salad, you'll also find many other delectable offerings including shrimp, fresh sushi, black beans and rice. And this is only the beginning...

Once you return to your table with your salad bar plate piled high, the real feast begins! Servers, called Gauchos, bring large skewers of meat to be cut right at your table. You'll feast on 15 different meats slow-cooked over hot coals including beef, chicken, pork and lamb.  Each cut brings its own special flavors, whether it's seasoned with parmesan, sea salt, garlic or even wrapped in bacon!  To be sure you're being served exactly what you want, you'll receive a coaster that has a red and a green side.  When flipped to green, the Gauchos will provide you with a cut of their meat.  When red, they will pass you by.  As if all of this weren't enough, they will also continue to provide your table with their famous fresh grilled pineapple, cheese bread, fried bananas, polenta and mashed potatoes. (Note: Rioz also provides a salad bar only option.)

While it's going to be difficult, be sure to save room for dessert! Rioz has a wide variety of divine choices such as Brazilian flan, turtle cheesecake, creme brule, white & dark chocolate mousse cake, papaya cream and more.

Finally, we can't forget about the offerings from the bar.  Enjoy your favorite cocktail, imported beers or try a specialty Brazilian drink, including Brazil's national cocktail called Caipirinha or refreshing Brazilian Lemonade.

Rioz is sure to provide you with a dining experience you'll always remember! On your drive in, remember to stop by the Official Myrtle Beach Welcome Center to receive additional information and Rioz coupons!