Myrtle Beach for Families

A local mom's guide to family fun in the Grand Strand

What To Do in Myrtle Beach

Christmas at Pirates Voyage is a Holiday Hit!

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The holidays are officially upon us in the Grand Strand and I couldn’t be happier. Whether you’re a local or visiting the Myrtle Beach area, there’s no shortage of things to do to celebrate the season!

My family and I were invited to see Christmas at Pirates Voyage and enjoy their holiday show in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

First and foremost, the website is a wealth of information about the entertainment, food, and tickets. If you’re even remotely interested in seeing the show, check it out.

The Pre-Show

The night we saw the show, it started at 6:00 PM, but they told me to come about an hour early. I assumed it was to chat about the show and take some pictures. Not at all! There’s a fantastic and FUN pre-show with singing pirates, a sea lion, and acts galore! Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!

In the seating area for the pre-show you can order drinks from the bar, get popcorn, and even take a wander around the gift shop. In fact, should you want to take home a stuff version of one of the stars of the show, you can get yourself one of these. In fact, they come in a variety of sizes!

One of our favorite acts was this pirate balancing on giant rolling pins. I was impressed enough when he was able to stand up on one. I about lost my mind when he did it on two. But when his tower got higher and higher, it was NUTS! It’s all real and the talent is through the roof!

The Show

When I talk to folks thinking of attending Pirates Voyage, the most frequently asked question is “What ages will enjoy the show? Is it a good choice for little ones?” The answers are any age and absolutely!

Joining me were my mother and two teen daughters. While they weren’t with me, we have young children in our family ranging in age from 8 to 3-months old. I’ve often wondered, myself, how they’d do. After seeing the show, however, I know they would love it!

Once you enter Buccaneer Bay, the show was about 90 minutes and it moved fast! There were zero slow parts. It’s act after act with a story driving the sequence. There are divers and zip lines. Lively music, sword fights, fire, juggling, acrobatics, dancing…it has something for EVERYONE! Some of it is quite thrilling! These guys below had me on the edge of my seat!

My favorite parts included the animals. Camels, a donkey, dogs, birds, they were all fantastic! If you want a close-up view, get seats on the lower level. The sea lions, for example, will pass right in front of you! If you’re nervous about getting too close, choose a higher seat.

The Food

Dinner was served and it was delicious! I was impressed when our server asked if we had any food allergies or dietary restrictions. I was also impressed when the food came out fast and hot. The portion were huge AND they’ll gladly wrap up anything you don’t finish for you to take home. You can see the full menu here.

The Touches of Christmas

Truly, from the moment you approach the Pirates Voyage property, you feel the Christmas spirit. The theming is beautiful! From decorations to music, there’s no doubt it’s the holidays! There’s even a beautiful living nativity complete with animals.

We had a truly wonderful time seeing the Christmas at Pirates Voyage show and it’s sure to be a holiday favorite of yours, as well! To learn more, visit their site, but don’t wait! The show is only around until January 5th with two shows a day during the busiest time of the holiday season. You can get tickets here.

The four of us left the show smiling, chattering about how great it was, and how we’d definitely go again. So family with the little kids, listen up. You need to come visit so we can do exactly that!

Thank you to Pirates Voyage for hosting us. We had a wonderful time and can’t wait to return! Performers and animals, you’re incredibly talented. The Myrtle Beach Area is so fortunate to have such high-quality entertainment!

With so many choices in holiday shows to see, Christmas at Pirates Voyage is at the top of my list!

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At Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Myrtle Beach, it’s vacation time all year long!

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Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville is a summer state-of-mind

We had the opportunity to eat at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. Whether you’re on vacation or just want to feel like you it, it’s *thee* place to head to at Broadway at the Beach for cool drinks and fresh food!

Disclosure: We were compensated with a free meal and $50 American Express gift card for one lucky ready in exchange for this review and promotion. Scroll down to learn how to enter to win!

The day we visited, it was no less than 142 degrees outside and we had been walking around Broadway at the Beach forever. It’s fun and festive, but hot and crowded. We were ready to sit down, relax, and take a real break. The very first thing this mama needed was an beverage. Behold. The Pear-A-Dise Margarita.

Just look at it. It was as refreshing as it appears! The Pear-A-Dise Margarita is a only available for a limited time and is made with prickly pear. A cactus, people. And it was exactly what I needed!

The next steps in our culinary journey was the Loaded Tots. They’re typical tater tots dressed up with queso cheese, bacon, and scallions, with ranch dressing on the side. I could have eaten them as an entree, but the family insisted I share.

 

Hurricane Myrtle is coming…but don’t panic!

One thing you’ll love about Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville in Myrtle Beach is how themed it is. From the minute you enter the door, you’re in a easy breezy tropical location. All around you are reminders of the islands including palm trees, decor (including a boat!) and, of course, the iconic music. So when Jim Cantore shows up talking about a hurricane approaching the Myrtle Beach area via a crazy path there’s no need to panic.

What? A hurricane that’s not dangerous and doesn’t pose any threat of damage? I’ll take it!

Instead of wind damage and flooding, we’re talking about a hurricane PARTY! It comes complete with a swirling “weather” system and a fun HUGE blender with a sloshing concoction that helps us hang on.

To view the “weather system” you’ll need to be indoors, as this location offers both indoor and outdoor seating. While Lake Broadway is great scenery, the kids will love a quick trip inside to see this!

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville’s Food is Ah-mazing!

Our food arrived shortly after and we dug in. I’ll share what we go.

  1. CRAB CAKESSSS! Forgive my ALL CAPS, but we’re a crab cake kind of family. When they’re an option, one of us typically gets them. This time it was one of my teenage daughters. We all sampled and they were given an enthusiastic eight thumbs up.

2. Seafood Mac & Cheese was a hit too. It comes with shrimp. but my younger daughter asked for it to be omitted. No problem, though, because there was a TON of crab!

The portions are big! More than half of these meals were brought home in to-go boxes and eaten for lunch…which is better than the PB&J I would have made for them!

3. Dad had Fish Tacos. Mahi mahi was the catch of the day and our server offered to feature it in the tacos, grilled or blackened. He went with blackened and they were very fresh and flavorful! And again – very large portions!

4. The Cheeseburger in Paradise was the ONLY option for this Parrothead and I got it with the sweet potato waffle fries. It was a big, sloppy, messy, delicious burger that had great seasoning. I enjoyed every bite. No leftovers here!

No visit to Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville would be complete without a stop at the retail store where you can choose from tons of shirts, bags, stickers, glasses, and any number of other items that will help you feel like it’s 5 o’clock somewhere and it’s time to chilllll out!

 

Thank you to everyone who entered to win a $50 American Express gift card to experience this amazing food and service for yourself! The contest has ended and the winner was randomly selected. Stay tuned for more giveaways!

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Medieval Times Myrtle Beach – Amazing New Show

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Disclosure: While all opinions and descriptions are my own, my family and I were invited guests of Medieval Times Myrtle Beach Castle to experience the show and provide a review in exchange for admission.

Medieval Times has been a headliner in Myrtle Beach entertainment since 1995 and it never disappoints. I’ve had the opportunity to attend once before several years ago and while some parts of the show were equally entertaining, many others were so much better! Let me explain.

Medieval Times Myrtle Beach – A Whole New Show!

In previous years, a king presided over the kingdom. Sadly he’s passed on and the heir to the throne was a daughter. Now, there’s a queen! A strong queen, who uses her power for good and rules with fairness and mercy. Why the change? Show attendee feedback and I love it! My daughters who joined me are teens and girl power is a real thing in their lives. Women in leadership roles are important for everyone to see and experience.

Beyond a strong female leader, the show got a major overhaul with a phenomenal new musical score, and brilliant new costumes including suits of armor, shields, and helmets. We got a very cool backstage tour which included a view of the costume racks. Impressive!

Backstage with the Queen

During our tour, our next step was to meet Queen Maria Isabella. A beautiful queen who was both gracious and full of information for us. She was showed us around the barns that house Medieval Times’ 25 horses who all live and train on the property.

Each stall is complete with a memory foam mattress and fan. You have to admit that this guy looked pretty chill. And I have to totally admit that I was 100% fangirling. I’ve been an equestrienne since I was young. My love of horses and horsemanship runs deep. My dad, though never trained, was one of the best horseman I’ve ever known. He passed away several years ago and I know he would have loved to be on this backstage tour with us.

Perhaps one of the coolest view we got was over the staging area. Our visit to the barn was while a show was going on. Here we were able to see the knights and other cast, mid-performance. To be totally honest, I likely would have a better appreciation for this area AFTER seeing the show because there are SO MANY acts. So. Very. Many! There are zero slow moments.

We only watched for several minutes, buts I can only imagine how busy this spot is throughout the course of the show. Yet, everyone made it look relaxed and easy. These folks and animals are pros.

Queen Maria Isabella has her own horse and she told us about the bond they have. In fact, she talked about how all of the riding performers have a similar relationship with their horses. “They’re like big dogs! My horse loves attention and to play!”

Watching the Show

Our final stop on the tour was the actual arena. We were seated on the lower level with the Queen at our right. We had a close-up view of where the performers come in and out of the arena. We were members of the mighty Green team.

Medieval Times Myrtle Beach Food

The price of admission comes with a full four-course meal that’s delivered to your table. Our food was seriously delicious.

Medieval Times Myrtle Beach

As in real medieval times, there are no utensils. I won’t lie, I could have used an extra napkin or ten! Kidding – our server took excellent care of us, including providing as many napkins as necessary.

Here’s what you need to know about the food and beverage situation.

1) HUGE portions. You start with tomato soup, move on to HALF a roasted chicken, potato, corn, and garlic bread, then finish with dessert. You will NOT leave hungry. And if you can’t finish it, they’ll send you home with a carryout box. Nice!

2) There are vegetarian options. When we were seated our server asked about any dietary restrictions and if we preferred a vegetarian option. During our backstage tour, we were able to tour the kitchen, which can prepare up to 4000 meals daily, and they can accommodate you. Just talk to your server.

3) Drinks are included with the meal, but you can purchase adult beverages and have them brought to your seat throughout the show. Show pictures and flags to support your team are also for purchase at your table throughout the show.

Medieval Times Myrtle Beach Performers

I mentioned it before, but the colors, costumes, lighting, musical score, and performers are phenomenal. Everyone from your toddler to grandma will enjoy it. There isn’t a boring moment.

The first time I saw the show I was nervous. In many scenes there’s fighting with swords, jousting, and tactical hand-to-hand maneuvers. I’m a peaceful person, ya’ll. I was worried for the performers’ safety and those in the audience. When a sword splinters upon impact, it’s no joke. But here’s the deal. It’s all very theatrical, happens in the middle of the area, and during the battles nets are drawn down to protect the audience.

And while the jousting and fight scenes are exciting, they’re only a small portion of the show. There are games and absolutely beautiful displays of horsemanship. The connection between the animals and riders is apparent.

We can’t recommend this show enough. If you’ve been before this year, visit again. The changes in the story line and characters make it worth the repeat trip. We left wanting more!

Learn More about Medieval Times Myrtle Beach Castle

To learn more about the castle, show times, and to purchase tickets, visit the Medieval Times Myrtle Beach Castle website. To keep up with all that’s going on at the castle and with the performers, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Thank you to Medieval Times for hosting us. We’ll treasure the memories and know your family will, as well.

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Big city bowling, food, and fun: Our visit to 810 North Myrtle Beach

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You’ve been bowling, right? How about had fantastic food? Of course! But what about a spot where these things are combined, plus so much more for the whole family, your best girlfriends, a birthday party, or even corporate event? 710 North Myrtle Beach is all of that and more.

710 North Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach bowling, bowling balls

The 710 North Myrtle Beach vibe

Let me give you some words that hit me when we first walked in. Fun music, great lighting, tons of seating, spacious, smoke-free, and options. I felt like we were really there to have a good time. But I know this family. A few of us (okay, everyone but Dad) are pretty terrible bowlers. Some of us (me) have a good attitude about it. Others (the only two left) tend to get frustrated. We usually have a two game max because of low scores and slumped shoulders, and that’s exactly what I expected today. What we got was totally different. Keep reading!

The bowling is better at 710 North Myrtle Beach

When you think bowling alley let’s think, honestly, about what that means. Usually it’s rented shoes, grimy bowling balls, small and hard plastic chairs, and no food allowed in the lanes. So what the boils down to is that you’re crowded in the seats with your friends and frequently wandering off to have a drink or bite to eat. Some of you want to keep bowling, others don’t, so that last game isn’t very fun. Now erase all of that from your mind.

At 710 North Myrtle Beach the molded plastic seats were replaced with plush, extra-large custom leather sofas. Not only are they comfortable, but they offer you space. Space between those you’re bowling with and space between you and the folks in the lane behind you.

Between the sofas are tables. A table? What? Why? Yeah, because they serve awesome food right there, in the lane.

Bowl a frame, take a bite, bowl a frame, enjoy a drink. It’s beautiful!

Score is automatically kept and the screens have funny little graphics that vary based on how you’re doing.

 

710 North Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach bowling

The seriously delicious food at 710 North Myrtle Beach

Now let’s think about typical bowling alley fare. Pizza, greasy burgers, and maybe nachos.

Long before the nice folks at 710 North Myrtle Beach asked me to come out, I checked out their menu. I saw words like “dijon aioli” and “balsamic glaze.” My mouth immediately started getting ready for these culinary delights.

Our order wasn’t light – in the quantity, quality, or calories. Life is too short!

We got the Buffalo Chicken Dip, 710 Pretzels, Loaded 710 Fries with gravy and cheddar cheese (at the recommendation of our equally awesome and entertaining server), and Fried Provolone. The ingredients were all fresh and everything was of high, handcrafted quality. Our favorite were the fries. I almost stabbed a child with a fork to get the last few gravy-soaked morsels. Worse, I was only slightly ashamed.

710 North Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach bowling, 710 North Myrtle Beach food

For those wanting a larger meal, they’ve got a menu for that. Gourmet burgers, steaks, desserts, and specialty drinks from the full bar with 16 draft lines and flying bottles will satisfy any craving. Next time I visit, I’m all about the Hangover Burger, which has bacon, egg, and cheese on it.

When chatting with the manager, I got the scoop on the food. As much as possible, it’s scratch-made, fresh, and locally sourced. That means 100% Black Angus sirloin (I literally saw balls of fresh beef ready and waiting to be shaped into your burger). They’re using chicken from Dillon. Chili is prepared daily and simmers in a pot on the back burner. Seriously, is real food prepared by a talented chef who just happens to work in a bowling alley.

The games, oh the games!

After we were done bowling and eating…and eating some more…we headed over to the game pit. In it are ping-pong tables, pool tables, cornhole games, bocce ball, skee ball, air hockey tables, and basketball hoop games. So imagine you come with a large group but bowling isn’t everyone’s favorite. No biggie. Split up. Some bowl, some play. Or suppose you want to bowl but you have to wait a bit for a lane. Crushing your friends or family in a game of table tennis passes the time easily.

Local’s bonus: If you’ve got a local ID, you can use it to play most of these games for free!

710 North Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach bowling, 710 North Myrtle Beach game pit, ping pong, cornhole

What kept our family there even longer

As we were making our way to the exit my younger daughter stopped in her tracks. “Jenga! Actually, BIG Jenga!”

On the wall, opposite the wine rack, there is an impressive collection of games. There’s a good mix of traditional board games mixed with others like (big) Jenga.

710 North Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach bowling, board games

In that area, there are long tables where you can set up and get to business. Our business included 36 rows and a small crowd, holding their breath right along with us with the removal of each block and its placement at the top. No joke, this game lasted nearly an hour! If we didn’t have plans later that day I would have demanded a rematch!

710 North Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach bowling, Jenga

What has me dying to go back to 710 North Myrtle Beach

There’s something called the “Back Alley” at 710 North Myrtle Beach. It has six lanes of bowling and private tables. It’s an amazing place to get together a group friends, have a corporate outing, or have a family gathering. The modular furniture allows you to configure it however best suits your event. Plus, black light bowling will soon be available! This place begs you to “Be Social.” You want to be there, you want to tuck your phone away to laugh and high-five your family or friends. You don’t want to leave!

Why you want to follow 710 North Myrtle Beach on social media

No joke, there’s a special running at almost any time you want to go. I’m a sucker for a good deal, so my eyes are glued to their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. My favorite (which also makes me laugh) is the Wednesday line-up. Until 8 pm, it’s Family Day where you can get four shoe rentals, four games of bowling, and four sodas for $20. Then, at 8 pm, it’s Ladies Night where there’s free shoe rental and $3 cosmos. So here’s my plan for an upcoming Wednesday. Invite my friends and their families to come bowl with us during the Family Day hours, then have the dads take the kids home to put them to bed while I stay with my girls and take in some cosmos. Sounds pretty good, right?! For a current list of promotion, click here.

710 North Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach bowling

5 things we love about 710 North Myrtle Beach

  1. The family atmosphere. Our visit started at 5 pm on a Saturday evening and there were families all around. I suspect the crowd gets a bit older as the night wears on, but unless you’re planning on having little kids there after 10 pm, you’ll be good.
  2. The food, the food, the food. My older daughter has already asked if we could go back just to eat.
  3. The skeeball machine rewards you with free games of bowling rather than 100 tickets to be redeemed for a sticker.
  4. The options beyond bowling. You can’t be bored.
  5. Our server was a pleasure. He gave us recommendations and offered suggestions with the food. He encouraged our youngest bowler, who was struggling. He chatted as much or as little as we wanted. He made our experience truly fun and saw other servers doing the same.

Ready to go? Make a reservation!

Click here to make reservations. They’re available for regular lanes, birthday parties, and Family Day. Here’s information about rates.

710 North Myrtle Beach is located at  1105 Highway 17 S. North Myrtle Beach, SC. You can give them a call at (843) 663-2695.

 

 

Note: This is a sponsored post. In exchange for an honest review with my own opinions, our family was invited to bowl and eat at 710 North Myrtle Beach free-of-charge.

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A visit to Ripley’s Aquarium and a discount on admission!

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Ripley’s Aquarium at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach has been the one attraction our family has continued to enjoy since the girls were babies. When they were small we had annual passes for years, visiting at least once a week. Now that they’re 10+ years older our trips aren’t as frequent, but no less special!

We had the chance to spend the morning at Ripley’s Aquarium last week and while so much had changed, our favorite exhibits stayed the same. In full disclosure, Ripley’s gave me complimentary tickets to visit in exchange for a honest review.

In the “new” category were the Slime and Jellyfish Planet exhibits. Both were amazing!

In the world of slime, visitors learned about creatures (and by-products) who are either slimy or enjoy it. There was loads to do and see throughout it, including lobster game and fun plaques throughout with facts that make you cringe. I’m not sure I ever wanted to know that sand is really parrotfish poop, but cool.

Ripley's Aquarium Slime

After we had our fill of slime, we bounced over to the new and spectacular Planet Jellies exhibit. If you’re familiar with the aquarium’s layout, it’s where the cafe was. Don’t worry – the cafe still exists. It’s just behind it.

Inside Planet Jellies you’ll get your fill on everything you ever wanted to know about jellyfish and more. There are several varieties, big and small, to see. For a set of girls who are in the ocean a few times a week and actively avoid these suckers, it’s neat to be able to get close without being afraid.

Jumping Jellyfish

If you’re feeling curious (or brave), there’s a touch tank where you can actually feel the upper surface of a jellyfish. There’s an attendant there to teach you about the animals and how to touch them.

Touch a jellyfish

 

Touching a jellyfish

Last, there is some practical advice. Should you be in the ocean and get stung, here are tips for alleviating the pain. Never EVER try to rinse the area with fresh water. Sidenote: Even a dead jellyfish can sting you. So should you see one washed up on the beach, leave it alone.

Jellyfish Safety Tips

One thing we’ve always loved about Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach is how there’s something for everyone, even the wee ones who sometimes hate being strapped into a stroller or tasked with holding hands. Also in the “new”category is this cool play area where they can climb, slide, and jump to use up some energy! It’s located just behind the Planet Jellies exhibit, by the new cafe area. It’s the perfect spot to grab a drink and take a break.

playarea

As you make your way downstairs, you enter the heart of the aquarium. First, you’ll visit Rainbow Rock. It’s an enormous tank filled with beautiful fish. Time it right, and you’ll be treated to a dive show. It’s funny how excited fish get at snack time!

Rainbow Reef

Just passed Rainbow Rock is the entrance to the shark tank, better know as Dangerous Reef. Step onto the motorized trail and just look around you. You’ll see sharks from every angle (yes, they’re above you, too!), fish in schools, and our favorite, a sea turtle named Gabby. She’s hard to find, though! Your budding marine biologist will want to go through over and over again!

Bonus, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the Fancy Fins Mermaid Boutique! There your little one can be transformed from a land-lover to beautiful mermaid princess, sailor, or pirate! You can have a look at package prices here.

Fancy Fins Ripley's Aquarium

I’ve saved our favorite two spots at Ripley’s Aquarium for last. First, is Discovery Center. It’s a spot where you can get up close to everything. Since my daughters were young, they’ve delighted in touching (and holding, when they got old enough) horseshoe crabs. During our latest visit, we noticed other creatures in that tank!

Discovery Center Ripley's Aquarium

Last, who doesn’t love Ray Bay? It’s where gorgeous stingrays look like they’re flying. I could sit there, watch, and listen to the music forever. It’s mesmerizing. Since the girls were little, they’d get right up close. They love rays and several times a day visitors have the opportunity to watch mermaids swim with them!

We finished our visit up in the gift shop where I couldn’t resist this little gem. Blue means I was happy. Totally accurate.

Jellyfish mood necklace

I’m leery of most attractions, skeptical of whether or not they’re worth the price of admission. I look to answer questions like, “Was there enough to see? Did we spend enough time there? Is it somewhere I’d recommend or like to return to?” Ripley’s Aquarium gets a “yes” without hesitation.

We had a fantastic time visiting and you will too. Ripley’s Aquarium a the one Myrtle Beach attraction you don’t want to miss. It’s perfect for all ages. From littles in a stroller to grandparents who may need a spot to have a seat for a bit, the aquarium has you covered.

To purchase tickets at a discount, click below. By buying online, you skip the line and start your family’s fun faster. Plus you can save even more if you plan to visit more than one of the Ripley’s attractions during your visit! [Note: In an effort to maintain full disclosure, I may receive a small commission for tickets sold via the link below.]


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