North Myrtle Beach is a popular vacation destination located along the northern coast of South Carolina. Families love visiting this area because it offers beautiful sandy beaches, amusement parks, and an abundance of kid-friendly things to do in North Myrtle Beach.
The town is part of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of beach towns and tourist attractions – you’ll never grow bored! But after a long day of experiencing everything that North Myrtle Beach has to offer, you’ll need a comfortable place to rest your head at night. That’s where Barefoot Resort Rentals comes in!
Continue reading for our recommendations for the top kid-friendly North Myrtle Beach activities as well as more information on our incredible North Myrtle Beach vacation rentals for the whole family!
Ripley’s Aquarium
Exhibits
Ripley’s Aquarium is part of a collection of many other Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! attractions in North Myrtle Beach. This incredible aquarium contains immersive exhibits that showcase marine environments and wildlife from around the world:
The Amazon Rainforest exhibit transports visitors to the heart of the tropical Amazon River basin. It’s a steamy world of piranhas, electric eels, poison dart frogs, and other rare creatures, all set within a recreated Amazon flood forest.
The Pacific Coral Reef is the aquarium’s crown jewel, boasting a 750,000-gallon tank that replicates the vibrant Indo-Pacific coral reef ecosystem. Here, guests marvel at sharks, rays, and sea turtles through an extensive acrylic underwater tunnel.
For those fascinated by the ethereal beauty of jellyfish, the Jellyfish Gallery is a must-see. It features hundreds of jellyfish, including moon jellies, Pacific sea nettles, and upside-down jellies, all swimming in specially designed tanks that highlight their delicate grace.
The Penguin Habitat offers a delightful outdoor experience where visitors observe African black-footed penguins in their natural behaviors like waddling, swimming, and diving. The habitat includes underwater pop-up bubble windows for an engaging view.
Beyond these exhibits, Ripley’s Aquarium offers interactive encounters and tours. The Stingray Experience lets visitors wade into a shallow pool to touch and feed cow-nose rays, guided by knowledgeable aquarists. Penguin lovers can enjoy a Penguin Encounter, a personalized experience where they interact and feed the penguins while learning about conservation efforts.
For a deeper insight into the aquarium’s workings, the Behind-the-Scenes Tour reveals the unseen aspects of animal care, rescue, research, and operations. Lastly, for the adventurous, the Shark Dive offers certified SCUBA divers a thrilling plunge into the coral reef exhibit’s shark habitat for an unforgettable close-up encounter.
Alligator Adventure
Families who want to learn about reptiles and other exotic animals can visit Alligator Adventure in North Myrtle Beach. This wildlife park contains over 200 reptiles and animals. Some of the species found at Alligator Adventure include alligators, crocodiles, tortoises, snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, lemurs, monkeys, bobcats, and hyenas.
For kids, the park offers engaging exhibits and encounters. The Alligator Feeding Show, held from April to October, is a highlight where children can observe trainers feeding chicken to massive alligators. The Reptile Encounters are perfect for young herpetology enthusiasts, offering a chance to get up close with snakes, turtles, lizards, and other cold-blooded creatures.
Brookgreen Gardens
Brookgreen Gardens in North Myrtle Beach provides families with sprawling gardens, outdoor sculpture exhibits, and wildlife areas perfect for a full day of exploration. This botanical garden near Myrtle Beach covers over 9,000 acres as a National Historic Landmark.
The garden provides several family-friendly areas. The Lowcountry Zoo is home to over 200 animals native to the region, including river otters, bald eagles, deer, and alligators. For those interested in delicate, fluttering creatures, the Butterfly House is a wonder, allowing kids to walk among a variety of exotic butterflies from around the world.
Art enthusiasts will appreciate the Outdoor Sculpture Exhibits, where thousands of pieces of figurative American sculptures are seamlessly integrated into the landscape. Additionally, Brookgreen Gardens offers narrated boat tours. These tours guide families along creeks and former rice fields, offering opportunities to spot wildlife.
Throughout the year, the gardens host special events. The Harvest Home Weekend Festival, a two-day fall event, features live music, food, crafts, hayrides, pumpkin painting, scarecrow building, farm animals, and more.
The SC Red Wolf program gives guests a chance to learn about red wolves from the VP and Curator of Zoo Collections and to see the new red wolf exhibit. The Gullah Geechee Program Series explores the Gullah Geechee culture and heritage through various mediums. For kids, there are summer camps focusing on nature, art, and history, providing educational and fun experiences.
Barefoot Landing
Along the Intracoastal Waterway rests Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach. With attractions, events, dining, and shopping, Barefoot Landing provides many North Myrtle Beach kid-friendly activities.
Among the top family-friendly attractions at Barefoot Landing is Alligator Adventure, a neighboring reptile park and wildlife preserve. It’s home to a diverse array of animals including alligators, snakes, tortoises, and lizards. For those seeking entertainment, the Alabama Theatre is a great choice. Families can enjoy variety shows featuring music, comedy, and dance.
Music enthusiasts will find the House of Blues appealing. This concert hall not only hosts live music performances but also serves Southern cuisine in its restaurant. For a more relaxed experience, the Barefoot Princess Riverboat offers scenic cruises along the waterway, departing from its own dock.
Plan Your Visit
Ready to get started on your dream vacation? Browse our entire inventory of rentals in North Myrtle Beach to find your ideal accommodations!
Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show
Pirates Voyage offers families a unique show experience complete with a multi-course pirate-themed dinner. The adventure takes place in an indoor lagoon with battles between pirate ships and swashbuckling acrobatic stunts. During the show at Pirates Voyage, kids will be captivated by pirates competing in activities like sword fights, diving, and rope swinging. The action incorporates explosions, sinking ships, and other surprises.
Pirates Voyage offers a bountiful four-course pirate-themed feast with dishes fit for a crew. To start, guests enjoy a warm flaky biscuit straight from the ship’s galley, served with butter. The first course is a creamy vegetable soup chock-full of garden veggies and seasonings.
The main course includes roasted chicken quarters, with juicy meat basted in exotic spices and topped with savory barbecue sauce. There is also a spiral sliced sugar-cured ham, smoked over hickory for tenderness and unique flavor. Side dishes feature corn on the cob roasted with butter and salt, and golden potato wedges baked with herbs and butter.
No pirate meal is complete without something sweet. Guests indulge in a dessert of apple pie with a flaky crust and spiced apple filling, topped with mounds of freshly whipped cream.
Unlimited refreshing beverages like Coca-Cola, iced tea, and coffee are served throughout the dining experience. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available upon request.
Dr. Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf
Kids who love dinosaurs will enjoy the Dinosaur Adventure mini golf course. This 18-hole course surrounded by lush greenery features life-size dinosaurs like triceratops, T-rex, and Brontosaurus.
The other course is the Lost Treasure mini golf course. This course guided by mining carts takes players through volcano and mine shaft obstacles in search of gold and gems. A third mini-golf option is Mayday Golf, which has an aviation theme complete with crash-landed airplanes. These courses offer affordable North Myrtle Beach things to do with kids.
Where to Stay
With kid-perfect attractions like Ripley’s Aquarium, Alligator Adventure, Pirates Voyage and mini golf, North Myrtle Beach makes for an ideal family vacation destination. Visitors planning a trip can conveniently access these attractions by booking one of our spacious, family-friendly North Myrtle Beach vacation rentals from Barefoot Resort Rentals.
We offer multi-bedroom North Myrtle Beach rentals that can accommodate families of all sizes, making it easy to fit everyone comfortably. The rentals come fully furnished with everything families need to feel right at home, including full kitchens, living areas, laundry facilities, and more. Resort-style amenities like outdoor pools, restaurants, and shoreline access provide even more to look forward to.
Staying at our vacation rentals North Myrtle Beach places families close to all the top attractions. We provide the perfect home base to explore the area’s beaches, entertainment complexes, zoos, aquarium, mini golf, and more. With plenty to see and do just minutes away, families will make unforgettable memories during their North Myrtle Beach vacation. Contact Barefoot Resort Rentals today to get started on your dream vacation!