Top 5 Things to do Outdoors with Kids on the Grand Strand

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Teaching your children the wonders of the great outdoors can be tricky in the cell phone and video game era. You want them to have the same nature-rich experiences you had as a child but they seem more interested in texting friends and listening to their era buds. A Grand Strand vacation may be just the trick to igniting your kids’ interest in the great outdoors. With so many fun activities for the whole family, you can enjoy being outside with your little ones and make some lasting vacation memories. Here are five fun things to do with kids in the Myrtle Beach area:

Beach: OK, so this one may seem obvious but modern kids do not seem to have the same appreciation for playing in the sand and surf like the older generation. Take the short stroll to North Beach's scenic and secluded stretch of beach and bring along lots of toys. Frisbees, footballs, kites and boogie boards are like gold on the beach, and you can always head back to North Beach's pool deck for a relaxing dip in the pool. Watch the kids splash and play while you cozy up to the swim-up bar.

Broadway Grand Prix: Kids with a need for speed can get their fix at this popular go-kart track. Located across from Broadway at the Beach, Broadway GP includes several unique tracks and go-karts for taking a high-speed spin around the courses. An indoor arcade, snack bar and gift shop are great for taking a break, and a putt-putt golf course and ride park provide a nice change of pace from the race track. 

Family Kingdom: Myrtle Beach's only oceanfront amusement and waterpark are perfect for letting the kids have a good time. Best of all, there's no admission charge, so adults can tag along and watch the little ones have a blast, or join in the fun if you are brave enough to ride the roller coasters and other thrill rides. But, you had better hurry before all the fun is put on pause for the season. Splashes Waterpark closes after Labor Day and Family Kingdom is open daily until Sept. 13, and then only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 3.

Fishing: The fall season is prime time for fishing on the Grand Strand and a great way for parents to bond with their kids. Go surf fishing on the beach or head to one of the many piers in the area. Apache Pier is just a couple of miles south and Cherry Grove Pier is on the north end of the Strand. All local piers have tackle shops where you can purchase bait and licenses or rent gear and get the inside scoop on what fish are running. For an all- or half-day excursion, book a trip on a deep-sea fishing voyage at one of the many outfitters in Little River. Crabbing is another popular fall activity that is perfect for smaller children.

State Parks: If you want to give your kids a true appreciation for the outdoors, the Grand Strand has two oceanfront state parks that are perfect places to get back to nature. Myrtle Beach State Park is located on the south end of Myrtle Beach and features hiking trails, a fishing pier, picnic shelters and a nature center that offers guided tours of the wildlife and wilderness in the park. Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet displays the beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Salt marshes, tidal creeks, sand dunes and a Spanish castle are among the many sites, and visitors can see alligators, sea turtles and rare birds of prey.

Your kids will have a new appreciation for the outdoors, after experiencing these great locations! 

 

(Posted: 9/2/15)