When it comes to family fun, you never have to look far in Myrtle Beach. The popular destination along South Carolina’s Grand Strand offers one of the best beaches in the nation. But there are plenty of additional options for families looking for more than surf, sand and sun.

Alligator Adventure at Barefoot Landing -One of the largest exotic reptile parks in the world, Alligator Adventure offers live shows, nature exhibits, zoological gardens, and a serpentarium. Highlights include albino alligators, river otters, bears and Utan, the largest crocodile in the U.S.

Children’s Museum of South Carolina - Stand inside a bubble…take a ride in a magic school bus or check out the many other magical discoveries in this center of interactive learning where everyone is encouraged to touch, explore and play.

IMAX 3D Theatre - Myrtle Beach’s IMAX 3D Theatre showcases movies on a huge IMAX screen with crystal clear, 3D images and amazing sound quality.

The Lowcountry Zoo at Brookgreen Gardens - Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, this zoo features a collection of animals native to the woods, swamps and waters of the Lowcountry, plus domestic animals of the plantation and cypress aviary.

MagiQuest at Broadway at the Beach - This interactive family attraction utilizes patented technology to create a magical experience. After selecting a magic wand, you’ll be quickly trained as “Magi,” able to set off lightning bolts, control music, open treasure chests and perform heroic deeds.

Ripley’s Aquarium at Broadway at the Beach - Encounter sharks, jellyfish, stingrays and exotic fish. Other must-see exhibits include the “Dangerous Reef,” where you’ll glide along a 340-foot moving path and come face-to-face with giant stingrays, a green sea turtle and sharks.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum - Featuring more than 500 unusual and macabre exhibits, Ripley’s stimulates the mind and sense. From a roller coaster made of matchsticks to vampire skulls, these exhibits will boggle your mind.   

SkyWheel Myrtle Beach - Located along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade, this giant attraction stands at 196 feet and 18 stories high on the north side of Plyler Park and includes 42 glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled gondolas that can hold six people.

Waccatee Zoo - This unique zoo, located on 500 acres at the juncture of the Waccamaw River, Intracoastal Waterway and Socastee Creek, houses more than 100 animal species, plus a natural wildlife sanctuary and breeding ground for many migratory birds.

WonderWorks Science Center - A hands-on science attraction housed in an upside-down building, features a volcano, a lighthouse, and an Egyptian pyramid. Feel what it’s like to be in an earthquake and hurricane, fly a NASA space shuttle or fighter jet, or ride a virtual rollercoaster.

Family Kingdom Amusement Park & Water Park - Home to a legendary all-wooden roller coaster, the Swamp Fox, along with a log flume, an interactive laser dark ride called The Pistolero, and the 110-foot Slingshot, plus 33 other rides and attractions and a Kiddie Land with 18 rides for youngsters.

Myrtle Waves Water Park - South Carolina’s largest water park offers 20 acres of themed attractions and more than one million gallons of water. There is also a giant wave pool, lazy river and interactive Saturation Station.

NASCAR SpeedPark - At this 26-acre race-themed amusement park officially licensed by NASCAR, guests can experience the excitement of NASCAR on seven challenging race tracks, or enjoy an interactive arcade, two 18-hole themed miniature golf courses and kiddie rides

Pavilion Nostalgia Park - Located at Broadway at the Beach, Pavilion Nostalgia Park offers a varied collection of amusement rides, including the famous Herschell-Spillman Carousel - which dates back 100 years to 1912.

Wild Water and Wheels Theme Park - This 16-acre park is packed with more than 33 exciting rides, including high-speed flumes, waterfalls, a wave pool, Adventure River Ride, kiddie slides and other high-energy attractions.

May is the perfect time to visit the Myrtle Beach thanks to a variety of exciting events ranging from food and wine festivals to live entertainment and music.

Special events along South Carolina’s glorious Grand Strand include the Beach Blast on May 19 - a Christian music festival featuring musical guest tobyMac, Third Day, Red, as well as a long lineup of other top Christian artists, inspirational speakers, the Outcast BMX stunt team and more.

Another highlight for May includes the annual Memorial Day Weekend Parade on May 26 from 10 am til noon. The parade, filled with floats, cars, marching bands and other entertainment, runs from 27^th Ave. N. to 9^th Ave. N. in downtown Myrtle Beach.

Of course, any month offers plenty of fun along the coast of spectacular Myrtle Beach. And the area is filled with ample opportunities for championship golf with more than 100 beautiful courses.

A trip to Myrtle Beach could mean playing on one of more than 100 championship golf courses. You could experience a wide variety of shopping, from beachside boutiques to giant outlet malls. You could check out the many kid friendly attractions, or choose from myriad nightlife options.

Myrtle Beach is always more than just your average day at the beach. With an abundance of beach, an abundance of entertainment and an abundance of fun, you seemingly never run out of things to do along South Carolina’s beautiful Grand Strand! 

Westgate Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa in downtown Myrtle Beach puts you in the middle of the excitement - just a few steps from the beach and just minutes from most of the area’s popular attractions, shopping, restaurants, golf courses and hotspots.

Westgate Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa combines lavish comfort with one of the best locations on the Grand Strand. You’ll enjoy a wide variety of family style amenities.  Take a relaxing dip in an oceanfront pool or the lazy river. Take advantage of an on-site recreation center complete with whirlpool, sauna, exercise room and game room. Or experience delicious South Carolina seafood at the on-site restaurant.

For additional information and details on the spacious and luxurious Westgate Myrtle Beach Resort, go to www.westgatereservations.com.

You can still head for Myrtle Beach. But rather than your beach ball, why not bring along some golf balls. After all, Myrtle Beach is also one of America’s favorite golf destinations.

The Myrtle Beach area features more than 100 spectacular championship golf courses, including some of the most unique and picturesque layouts you’ll find anywhere. And whether you’re a beginning novice or a seasoned professional, you’re sure to find a course that suits your game.

With its seaside location, Myrtle Beach offers up a variety of oceanfront holes and scenic fairways designed by golf legends ranging from Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer to Tom Fazio and Robert Trent Jones. 

Looking for a little added adventure with the kids? You can all test your putt-putt skills on one of the almost 50 miniature golf in and around Myrtle Beach.

Golf vacation packages can be created any time of the year, tailored to any skill set. So get ready to tee it up in Myrtle Beach. Better yet, you can also enjoy amazing accommodations at Westgate Myrtle Beach Resort. For more details, go to www.westgatereservations.com today.

With immediate access to the Atlantic Ocean, along with myriad creeks and channels that feed into the ocean, there’s a vast array of salt water fishing opportunities. For those used to fishing in freshwater lakes, you can learn all you need to know by stopping into one of the area bait and tackle shops. Ocean surf fishing typically requires a different type of bait and tackle designed for fishing along the ocean bottom.

For those ready for a bigger ocean fishing adventure, you’ll also find a number of deep sea fishing charters designed for catching larger trophy fish.

In addition to the Atlantic Ocean, the Myrtle Beach area offers a variety of picturesque inland waters offering ideal fishing conditions. These include the Intracoastal Waterway, which runs parallel to the coast as well as other smaller rivers and tributaries that feed into the waterway.

The vast Intracoastal Waterway system runs from Boston to Key West. The waterway was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, taking advantage of existing rivers and other waterways and digging canals as needed to connect them.

For information about Myrtle Beach area attractions and discount vacation packages, go to http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

The U.S. News & World Report recently listed its best vacation destinations for 2011-2012. Myrtle Beach was named #7 among Best Affordable U.S. Destinations; #9 for Best U.S. Beaches; #6 for Best Family Beach Destinations in the U.S.; and #6 in the category for Best Family Vacations in the U.S.

In the 2011 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, Myrtle Beach was named the #1 U.S. Best Beach and #6 among the world’s best beaches.

The 2010 National Geographic awards named Myrtle Beach as having the third best Boardwalk in the U.S. The beach boardwalk was also listed among America’s best by Travel & Leisure Magazine.

New to the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is the SkyWheel, the largest observation wheel east of the Mississippi. Standing 190-feet high, the SkyWheel offers a phenomenal view of the city and the beach from its air conditioned gondolas. After sunset, you’ll also enjoy a spectacular light show by the SkyWheel’s computer-generated lighting system.

Of course, you can also enjoy spectacular beach accommodations at Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort. Westgate offers a wide selection of room and resort amenities including a kids’ water play area and a lazy river.

For more information on Myrtle Beach discount family vacation packages and savings on resort accommodations, visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Families can start at Carousel Park within Broadway at the Beach where youngsters can find a miniature ferris wheel as well as bumper cars and other rides. Then head over to the other side of the complex and Pavilion Nostalgia Park offers a mix of wilder rides for the teens and beyond.

At nearby NASCAR Speedpark, jump in a go-kart and experience various tracks and speeds - from the bumping and banging on the Intimidator track to smaller and calmer layouts for younger racers. There’s also an arcade and mini golf for your enjoyment.

On a hot day, head over to Myrtle Waves Water Park and check out the aqauatic thrill rides like Turbo Twister, Ripride Rocket, Snake Mountain, Arooba Tooba, Night Flight, Super Chute and Thunderbolt. Or simply relax in the Wave Pool or Lazy River.

Look to the Atlantic Ocean for thrills of a different kind - parasailing. Hop in the back of a boat, strap on a parachute and then float 50-feet high into the sky over the Atlantic for a bird’s eye view of the area.

If you prefer the ocean from sea level, you can rent jet skis and other watercraft including banana boats and pontoon boats. You can also find a scuba diving trip or a dolphin-watching tour.

For another thrill ride, check out the Skyscraper. Located in the heart of downtown Myrtle Beach, Skyscraper is a 160-foot propeller featuring twin arms that spin riders in a full circle in open air cars, spinning at speeds in excess of 55 mph and at heights of 16 stories.

Also downtown is the Sling Shot, twin towers that rise 300 feet above the landscape. Riders are strapped into an open-air car connected to bungy cords and hurled into the sky at speeds of more than 100 mph.

Family Kingdom amusement park also offers several thrill rides including The Galleon, Hurricane and Swamp Fox roller coaster, plus a log flume.

The newest ride in Myrtle Beach is the epic SkyWheel, the largest ferris wheel east of the Mississippi River.

For information on other Myrtle Beach attractions and lodging including Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort, go to http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Water Park: Check out the wave pools and exciting water slides at Myrtle Waves and Wild Water & Wheels water parks.

Mini Golf: Golf is a favorite pastime in Myrtle Beach and that includes mini golf. Choose from a wide variety of miniature golf courses with a number of fun themes.

Museums: Yes, museums can be fun; especially the Children’s Museum of South Carolina where hands-on activities allow everyone to learn while having fun.

Baseball: Take the kids out to the ballgame. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Texas Rangers’ Class A Advanced farm team in the Carolina League.

Fireworks: Pyrotechnics are a regular event in Myrtle Beach at both Broadway at the Beach and the Second Avenue Pier.

Festivals: Enjoy the 5^th Annual Beach, Boogie and BBQ festival on Labor Day weekend, complete with a Kids Zone offering bounce houses, rock walls and more.

Nature Centers: Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park offer nature centers that teach kids about sea turtles, alligators, birds and fish.

Amusement Park: Everyone will enjoy a trip to Family Kingdom where you’ll find roller coasters, rides and water fun.

Zoo: The Waccatee Zoo features an array of exotic animals - elephants, lions, tigers, camels and kangaroos - plus more common farm types the kids can pet and feed like goats and birds.

Beach: What better place to dig, play, swim, surf, and build sandcastles. Myrtle Beach is the area’s biggest sandbox and water park!

For information on discount Myrtle Beach family vacation packages and accommodations, visit www.westgatereservations.com.

While the beach remains the focal point of the Myrtle Beach area, there’s never a lack of fun, entertainment and attractions when you’re ready to get away from the surf and sand.

There’s also plenty of free entertainment, including the Hot Summer Nights Live Concert Series held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday night at the oceanfront boardwalk downtown beginning at 8 pm.

The entire family can enjoy an evening of relaxation. So kick back and enjoy music from some of the hottest Myrtle Beach area bands like Ten Toes Up, Tru Sol, Scott Pittman Band, Fireshot and others.

The concerts take place at Plyler Park on the Boardwalk now through September 3. The Boardwalk also features a wide variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment.

Go to www.westgatereservations.com for information on Myrtle Beach attractions and discount Myrtle Beach vacation packages and resort accommodations.

Now called Pirate Voyage, the all new dinner show adventure brings an exciting and up-tempo pirate tale to Grand Strand. To get ready for Pirate Voyage, the Dixie Stampede building underwent a substantial $11 million renovation. The centerpiece of the facility now includes a 15-foot, 750,000 gallon indoor pool. At either end of the pool you’ll find 30-foot pirate galleons while a third sunken pirate ship sits in the middle of the set.

Dolly Parton wrote the musical score for the new show which features pirates, mermaids and sea lions in addition to horses.

For those interested in the Dixie Stampede show, Parton’s original dinner show attraction is still operating at two locations, Branson, Missouri and Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, Tennessee near Parton’s Dollywood theme park.

For discount tickets and accommodations in Myrtle Beach, Branson or Gatlinburg, please visit www.westgatereservations.com.