Myrtle Beach is known as “America’s favorite beach town,” and for good reason! While many people associate Myrtle Beach as being a family destination, it offers entertainment for those young and old and in between; in fact, there are many enjoyable things to do in Myrtle Beach for adults. Rest assured that whether you want a girls getaway, or a weekend away from the kids, there are so many Myrtle Beach attractions that you simply cannot run out of things to do and see!
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How to Get to, and Around, Myrtle Beach
Nine different airlines offer direct flights to Myrtle Beach within the United States, and you can even catch a nonstop flight from Toronto to Myrtle Beach too (which seems particularly handy if you’re a Canadian looking to escape the cold). You can find the most affordable rates for flights on Skyscanner (please note that if you use this link, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you).
Of course, you could always road trip to Myrtle Beach as well, depending on how far you’d like to drive. When I was in the Great Smoky Mountains a few years ago, it would have been easy to drive down and relax in Myrtle Beach for a few days (I wish I had)! You can find the most competitive car rental rates here.
No matter how you decide to travel to Myrtle Beach, you will certainly want to rent a car to get around, as we did. With over 60 miles of coastline, there are so many different Myrtle Beach activities that you will likely want to have the freedom to bounce from one area to the next.
Pier 14 – Things to do in Myrtle Beach for Adults
Myrtle Beach Hotels
If you’re looking for the perfect place to vacation where you can find affordable beachfront accommodation, look no further than Myrtle Beach. With hundreds of Myrtle Beach Hotels and thousands of rooms, there’s certainly no shortage of places to stay! We chose to stay at the Anderson Ocean Club and Spa in their Oceanfront One Bedroom King Suite. You could have a look at it yourself here. Not only was the location perfect, and the view fantastic, but it was quite spacious too. The rooms are apartment-style with a living space and fully equipped kitchen; while Myrtle Beach has a wonderful array of dining options, it’s always nice to know that you could cook up a simple meal on your holiday if you’d like. There are also ample pools on-site and direct beach access as well so that you could wiggle your toes in the sand whenever you please. Since we were on a girls trip, we also indulged in their Awakening Spa, but more on that later. If you’re not looking for apartment-styled rooms, feel free to search all Myrtle Beach hotels here. As for me, I particularly loved knowing that I could watch sunrise from my balcony!
Catch a Sunrise – Things to do in Myrtle Beach for Adults
But, fear not, if you’re not a sunrise person, there are still so many things to do in Myrtle Beach for adults…
1. Take a Stroll on the Beach
It isn’t called Myrtle Beach for no reason! Start your morning with a stroll on the beach. The earlier the better, as there will be relatively few people, and the sound of the waves give a sense of peace and tranquility. The water is warm and inviting, so don’t be afraid to get your feet wet!
Take a Stroll on the Beach – Things to do in Myrtle Beach for Adults
2. Go on a Kayak Tour
You don’t need to be an experienced paddler to enjoy a kayak tour through the salt marshes with Black River Outdoors (trust me, I would know!). There is an abundance of wildlife to be seen and heard in Murrells Inlet Salt Marsh, from “spitting” oysters to bald eagles. The knowledgeable guides will educate you about the history and ecology of the area and what makes it so unique; our guide, Mandy, was an absolute joy! Due to the number and variety of bird species found in this area (over 300), many consider it the best birdwatching on the East Coast, and they offer various birding tours as well.
Join a Kayak Tour – Things to do in Myrtle Beach for Adults
3. Eat Well at Wicked Tuna
Need to refuel after your kayak tour? Look no further than Wicked Tuna! Honestly, our lunch at Wicked Tuna was one of the best that I’ve had — from the quality of the food, to the waterfront dining, and excellent service, Wicked Tuna far and away exceeded my expectations. They specialize in bringing you “hook to plate” food and pride themselves on having the freshest, local seafood everyday. All fish on their menu is direct from their own fishing boats and prepared on-site in their Fish House, which is just so unique. I highly recommend trying out the Dragon Egg for a starter, followed by the Lobster Tail Trio as your entree, and the Vanilla Pumpkin Cheesecake for dessert. I promise, you won’t be disappointed!
Mother-Daughter Lunch at Wicked Tuna
4. Wander through Brookgreen Gardens
According to TripAdvisor, Brookgreen Gardens is considered to be one of the Top 10 Gardens to visit in the United States and I believe it’s an absolute must when visiting Myrtle Beach. Dating back to the 1930s, “Brookgreen had a three-pronged purpose: first, to collect, exhibit, and preserve American figurative sculpture; second, to collect, exhibit, and preserve the plants of the Southeast; and third, to collect, exhibit, and preserve the animals of the Southeast.” In following through with their mission, Brookgreen Gardens went on to become the first public sculpture garden in America. Because there are so many different areas of the park to check out, your admission fee will actually provide you with access to the grounds for seven consecutive days. If you don’t know where to start, I highly recommend their daily tours. Whether you want to wander through the Huntington Sculpture Garden, say “hi” to the animals at the Lowcountry Zoo, or learn about history on one of their three nature/history excursions, there is certainly something for everyone! 5 FT Fun Fact: The Huntingtons who purchased the property in the 1930s gifted almost 800 acres of land to the State of Connecticut…and that park just so happens to be in my hometown! My family and I frequent the park to this day — what an interesting connection!
Check out those Spanish Moss Trees – Things to do in Myrtle Beach for Adults
5. Get Pampered at Awakening Spa
Is there ever NOT a good time for a massage? Didn’t think so! Awakening, the spa located in the Anderson Ocean Club, offers a variety of services from which to choose how you want to be pampered. I had an amazing deep tissue massage with a mint mud foot mask, and found Awakening Spa to be the perfect place in which to relax and find some relief from my shoulder and back pain. Begin your spa experience with some fresh fruit infused water in their relaxation room in preparation for the spa treatment of your choice. Once in the room and snuggled under a blanket on the heated massage table, I knew that it would be the perfect way for me to unwind and unplug. The masseuses applied just the right amount of pressure to ensure that we were comfortably de-stressing. Following your massage, you’ll be escorted back to the relaxation room and offered a variety of tea and snacks. If you’re looking to upgrade your experience, I highly recommend their champagne and truffle package!
What's more relaxing than a well-deserved massage?!
6. Learn about the Hopsewee Plantation
To learn a bit about the history of the area, we made our way to the Hopsewee Plantation. Incredibly, the main house was built around 1740 and has never been added to or changed significantly and, today, you can tour the house, which is full of antique furniture. Unlike most houses of historical significance, the current owners actually live in the house! I thought was so cool. We know that rice was grown at Hopsewee from 1738 to 1869, but 1850 is the most striking year to me, as the Hopsewee Plantation produced 560,000 pounds of rice on 240 acres of land with 178 slaves. 5 FT Fun Fact: Hopsewee was the birthplace of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Hopesewee Plantation – Things to do in Myrtle Beach for Adults
After touring the property, I highly recommend making your way to the River Oak Cottage Tea Room and indulging in the Full Southern Tea experience. The recipes on both their lunch and tea menu were created by Raejean Beattie (one of the current owners that I had the absolute pleasure of meeting) to reflect the tastes and traditions of the region. While everything on the lunch menu looked delicious (why hello sweet potato casserole!), we opted to go for the Full Southern Tea so that we could try everything from their savories to scones, sweets, and teas. If you want a look at the full menu, you could check it out here. Every single thing we tried was delectable, and we left completely stuffed!
Full Southern Tea – Things to do in Myrtle Beach for Adults
7. Ride on the SkyWheel
Want the best view of Myrtle Beach and its environs? Then don’t miss a ride on the SkyWheel. Not to be confused with a ferris wheel you’d see at an amusem*nt park, the SkyWheel offers panoramic views 200 feet up, from the comfort of your private gondola. It’s the perfect place for a different perspective of downtown Myrtle Beach and the beautiful South Carolina sunsets!
Check out these SkyWheel Views!
8. Go to Broadway…on the Beach!
Broadway on the Beach is one of Myrtle Beach’s most popular areas. You could find everything you need from restaurants to shopping to entertainment and more. It’s conveniently located at the heart of many Myrtle Beach attractions. It’s honestly far larger than I expected, so I definitely recommend factoring in ample time to wander the boardwalks, go for a wine tasting or two, and have a nice meal. While it might seem a bit kitschy, it’s definitely one of the great things to do in Myrtle Beach for adults and kids alike.
Broadway on the Beach – Things to do in Myrtle Beach for Adults & Kids Alike!
9. Check out The Market Common
Picture your local mall: a variety of stores and food options all under one roof. Now, picture those same stores located outdoors in a charming, park-like setting with food options to suit almost every taste. The Market Common is that place! It’s like stepping into a storybook setting, and after you shop ‘til you drop, you can fill your belly at one of the many restaurants. We chose to try out Crepe Creations and do not regret that decision one bit! We tried a variety of sweet and savory crepes that were beyond delicious. Although they were filling, I couldn’t resist going into Peace, Love, and Little Donuts afterwards when I walked by the inviting, hippie-themed donut shop! All of the donuts are made in front of you and there’s an incredible array of flavors. While I may have gotten a half a dozen different flavors (let’s pretend I didn’t just admit that!), I highly recommend the Heath Wind & Fire and S’mores donuts.
No regrets from my little donut indulgence…
10. Enjoy a Sunset from Pier 14
One of the very best ways to pass the time waiting until dinner is to find a good vantage point to watch the sky turn shades of pinks and oranges as the sun goes down. Pier 14 is great place for that! We spent quite a while gazing at Myrtle Beach with the backdrop of a colorful sky, enjoying the relative peacefulness as day became night.
Watch the Sunset over Myrtle Beach
11. See the Legends in Concert
Have you ever seen some of the musical greats like Elvis and Whitney Houston in concert? Well I have, in concert together no less! Ok, not really, but perhaps the next best thing: Legends in Concert! Throughout a lively evening, and thanks to the very talented impersonators of Legends in Concert, we were introduced (or reintroduced in some instances) to music from Barry White, Garth Brooks, The Blues Brothers, Whitney Houston, and The King…Elvis Presley! It was a lively evening and an entertaining way to spend the night.
Legends in Concert – Things to do in Myrtle Beach for Adults
Map of Myrtle Beach
While Myrtle Beach is very easily accessible, I decided to pin on the map below the most enjoyable things to do in Myrtle Beach for adults so that you could best plan how to utilize your time. As always, please feel free to ask me any questions in the comments below!
What to Pack
Myrtle Beach has lovely weather year-round! Depending on the time of year you visit and the Myrtle Beach activities in which you’d like to partake, I recommend checking out my “137 Travel Essentials” packing list to ensure that you don’t forget anything.
Travel Insurance
I hope you don’t go on your getaway without travel insurance! If you do, you better think again. Travel insurance is arguably the most important thing to have on hand (after your passports and visas). I’ve had to use my travel insurance multiple times on the road, even though I’m healthy. You never know when something might happen; take comfort in knowing that whether your flight gets cancelled or you wind up sick and in the hospital, you will be covered. I recommend World Nomads Travel Insurance for each and every one of you travelers. You can get a free quote here.
Pin “11 Enjoyable Things To Do In Myrtle Beach For Adults” for Later!
**Big thanks to Visit Myrtle Beach for showing me a great time! As always, all opinions are my own.**
