You don’t need to go down to Florida or California to enjoy the sun and the beach.
Sometimes, the best destinations are closer to home than you think.
In this case, that spot is Surfside Beach, South Carolina.
It’s one of the many South Carolina beaches comprising the Grand Strand, a long strip of beach.
Named “The Family Beach,” Surfside Beach invites everyone from around the world to partake in its sizzling sunlit beaches.
In 2016, the town council named Surfside Beach as an autism-friendly travel destination.
It’s the first town of its kind, cementing its family-friendly reputation.
So, if you’re hard-pressed to find a summer spot to bring your folks, consider Surfside Beach.
You might find what you’re looking for.
Do you want to know more about Surfside Beach? Check out this list below.
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The Surfside Pier remains one of the city’s premier attractions, despite suffering extensive hurricane damage in 2016.
However, Surfside Beach is pushing through with restoration, so expect the place to return to its former glory soon.
After all, the pier always gets back up after severe adversity since they’ve rebuilt it three times since 1953.
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In the meantime, the pier continues to welcome visitors to enjoy the delightful view of the deep blue ocean.
Many nearby restaurants and shops are also open to serve travelers’ needs.
You can also take a stroll along the short pier section available to the public.
Visit the Surfside Pier at 11 Ocean Blvd S, Surfside Beach, SC 29575.
Before diving into the ocean, you might want to dip your toes at the Wild Water & Wheels water park in Surfside Beach.
The enormous park offers numerous rides and activities for adults and children alike.
For example, you can join your kids at the 30 water slides, or you can take them to the mat and speed slides.
Wild Water & Wheels’ centerpiece is its 950-foot lazy river, which everyone can enjoy.
You can also bond with your family at the adults-only pool while the kids splash around at the kids’ play areas.
If you’ve had enough water, you can play mini-golf or race your kids at the go-kart track.
There are even carnival rides if you still want thrills.
Visit Wild Water & Wheels at 910 US-17 BUS, Surfside Beach, SC 29575.
This family-owned flea market should give all of you bargain hunters out there an unmissable hangout in Surfside Beach.
Since 1975, Hudson’s has offered special deals for curious tourists looking for unique trinkets or souvenir items.
They’ve also given space to vendors looking to sell their stuff.
Today, Hudson’s Surfside Flea Market spans 70,000 square feet, offering 400 spaces for vendors and buyers alike.
Some notable amenities include the Market Place Church, where people can pray before driving to work.
Hudson’s success has transformed it into a significant attraction in the city, earning the title “Best Flea Market on the Beach” every year.
Visit Hudson’s Surfside Flea Market at 1040 US-17 BUS, Surfside Beach, SC 29575.
Before hitting the beach, you might want to check some exciting décor you can bring home.
You can find these items at Surfside Beach’s Old Time Pottery store, which sells furniture, rugs, and kitchenware, among others.
You can even buy floral arrangements and wall art there.
If you’re looking to furnish your home, you’ll never go wrong at the Old Time Pottery store.
Their wide selection and crazy deals should leave you no choice but to buy everything you need.
Visit Old Time Pottery at 1870 US-17 BUS, Surfside Beach, SC 29575.
You might think Surfside Beach only has beaches, but you’re wrong.
The seaside town also has many entertainment options for the landlubber, like the bleeding-edge Surfside Bowling Center.
The bowling alley’s 32 pro-quality lanes will make sure that you’ll never run out of fun with friends or family.
In case you do, you can always dump coins in the 30 arcade machines and prize games.
You can also enjoy live entertainment while eating freshly grilled burgers and drinking ice-cold beer.
Visit the Surfside Bowling Center at 510 US-17 BUS, Surfside Beach, SC 29575.
If you need more thrill in your ocean adventures, you might want to hit up Shoreline Water Sports and learn extreme sports like parasailing or jet skiing.
Sometimes swimming on the beach might not be enough, after all.
Besides parasailing, Shoreline also offers banana boat rides for six people, which means everyone in the family can enjoy the ride.
If you want, you can also avail of their photo package.
Shoreline’s pro photographers will take all the pictures for you, so you can just focus on having fun.
Afterward, they’ll save the photos on an SD card for you to share with family and friends.
What’s a vacation without an album full of pictures?
Visit Shoreline Water Sports at 409 Ocean Blvd S, Surfside Beach, Sc 29575.
If it rains on Surfside Beach for some reason, take shelter at the Beach Beads & Glass Studio.
What can you do there?
First off, you can try making your own jewelry, which you can give yourself or a loved one.
Otherwise, you can browse the store for souvenirs you’d like, such as bracelets or premade jewelry.
If you think you can make your own accessories, the store sells materials like string or wire.
Likewise, the owner teaches special classes on making unique jewelry.
This activity should be enough entertainment for an afternoon with friends, families, or significant others.
Visit the Beach Beads & Glass Studio at 1918 Highway 17 N, Surfside Beach, SC 29575-6102.
The H. Blue Huckabee Recreation Complex is another excellent Surfside spot for landlubbers of all ages.
You can go there with friends or family to play baseball at the complex’ three ball fields.
If you just want to work out, you can go to the Johnson Civic Center to join an aerobics or dance class.
Otherwise, you can enroll in arts and crafts classes.
The complex also holds special events during the year, such as a volleyball competition, a family festival, and Easter egg hunts.
So, if you’re in town for these events, you’ll be missing out if you don’t attend.
Visit the H. Blue Huckabee Recreation Complex at 499 Spanish Oak Dr, Surfside Beach, SC 29575.
Surfside Beach also has a museum for visiting history buffs.
Inside the museum, you’ll find various nostalgia pieces like classic cars, disused road signs, and other memorabilia to remind you of days gone by.
While the museum might not be as spacious as the others, you can still marvel at the extensive collection of artifacts on display.
Maybe you might even consider buying some souvenirs at the gift shop.
Visit the Nostalgia City & Museum at 1301 Hwy 17 South, Surfside Beach, SC 29575.
As the state’s “Family Beach,” Surfside lives up to its name through attractions like the All Children’s Park.
This park contains full amenities designed for children.
So, don’t be afraid to bring your child here.
They’ll have a lot of fun while making many new friends.
You can get them to the park’s two playgrounds, or you can enjoy the outdoors with them at the picnic area.
Visit the All Children’s Park at 616 10th Avenue S, Surfside Beach, SC 29575.
Sometimes going to the beach might not be worth it because of the blazing heat.
In that case, refresh yourself with the dessert treats at Sweet Peppers & Hot Ice Cream.
Since 2000, the ice cream shop has provided shelter for Surfside travelers who want to get away from the sweltering sun.
The shop also makes sure to maintain good relationships with its vendors, ensuring that you can always buy affordable ice cream or milkshakes, among others.
Feel free to check out their menu to discover your new favorite.
Visit Sweet Peppers & Hot Ice Cream at 1611 US-17 BUS, Surfside Beach, SC 29575.
This family-owned burger joint is Surfside’s solution to getting hungry at the beach.
An offshoot of North Myrtle Beach’s Hamburger Joe’s, the Surfside branch offers the same freshly grilled burgers to fill your appetite.
Likewise, you can also eat your fill of their fries and piping hot wings.
Or you can pair that delicious food with a nice cold glass of beer.
If you’re feeling fancy, you can also try out their cocktails.
Visit the Famous Hamburger Joe’s at 1410 Highway 17 South Surfside Beach.
If you suffer from chronic pain or other conditions, you won’t enjoy your time at Surfside Beach to its absolute fullest.
Don’t worry, though.
Align Chiropractic & Massage should fix up whatever ails you and allow you to make the most of your trip.
The clinic offers treatments for short-term pain and options for long-term wellness.
If you suffer from neck and back pain, migraines, and sciatica, you can get treatment at Align.
Similarly, the clinic also treats patients with golf injuries or victims of car accidents.
Visit Align Chiropractic and Massage at 640 US-17 BUS, Surfside Beach, SC 29575.
Check out our Harbor Light Batting Range if you want to experience an affordable and entertaining pastime.
It’s a place where baseball and softball players may use cages to hone their swings.
If your kids are into the sport, this is a fantastic location to take them.
Although bats are free to use, players must purchase tokens to use helmets.
Cage speeds range from 40 to 75 mph for baseball, 50 to 55 mph for fast-pitch softball, and 30 to 35 mph for slow-pitch softball.
Surfside Beach and its neighboring areas feature waves for surfers of all skill levels.
Check out Eternal Wave Surf Shop if you need to rent surfboards, wetsuits, or any other equipment.
Since 2001, this surf store has been family-run.
The many popular labels available at Eternal Wave include O’Neill, Nobody, Fox, RVCA, Zap Skimboards, and many more.
You may also buy new or used surfboards in bulk, suitable for everyone from novices to seasoned surfers.
A unique way to experience the thrill of the open road and the open sky, the slingshot combines the best features of cars and motorcycles.
Experience riding a slingshot at Alpha Slingshot Rentals.
It opened its doors for business in 2018.
It is a family-run company that provides affordable access to Slingshots and Can-Ams.
Enjoy cruising Surfside Beach and the surrounding areas in affordable flair with a Slingshot rental from this shop which offers some of the best deals on the Grand Strand.
The open-air seating allows you to enjoy the breathtaking scenery.
Who wouldn’t want to be the envy of everyone in Surfside on one of the Can-am models available at Alpha Slingshot?
Oceans Edge Salon & Spa is the place to go if the services you need are related to luxury and comfort.
Its expert stylists and massage therapists will work their magic to make you look and feel like a new person.
In recognition of its superior quality, this establishment has been named the Grand Strand’s best salon for 2022.
A complimentary drink and a warm, welcoming atmosphere will greet you as soon as you step through the salon door.
Permanent waves, cosmetics, color services, esthetic services, and waxing are just some of the salon and spa services available at Oceans Edge.
In addition to hair cuts and styling, it provides chemical smoothing treatments, hair extensions, and corrective services.
You’ll find a magnificent antique shop called Bounty Hunters Emporium in Surfside Beach.
Here, you won’t need to go elsewhere to satisfy your antique needs.
Quilting fabrics, handcrafted goods, collectibles, and antiques are all here.
You won’t find higher-quality versions of these items near the prices.
It also has friendly and knowledgeable staff.
The store is immaculately presented and maintained at all times, so you won’t have trouble browsing the store’s offerings.
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Just 20 minutes away from Surfside Beach, Ripley’s Aquarium should deliver an afternoon of fun and learning to kids and adults alike.
Inside the aquarium, you’ll get to see stingrays and sea turtles glide across the waters.
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You’ll also be inches away from colorful exotic fish, swimming alongside eels, barracudas, and sharks.
The aquarium’s resident animal experts will share their knowledge through entertaining tours and interactive activities like touch tanks.
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Moreover, you can also witness a colony of penguins live their best lives in Ripley’s Penguin Parade.
If you need more thrills, you can also join the Dangerous Reef adventure.
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In this activity, only three inches of glass keeps nasty marine predators from making a meal of your foot.
Visit Ripley’s Aquarium at 1110 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.
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While visiting Myrtle Beach, make the most of your trip by spending time at Myrtle State Park.
The park offers ample space for beach camping, so bring your tents with you.
Fall asleep to the cold breeze and the rhythm of the waves crashing on the shore.
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If you don’t want to stick to the beach, you can go hiking on miles of trail or fish at the pier.
Myrtle Beach State Park also lets you ride horses on the beach, though with some requirements.
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At the same time, you can visit the Nature Education Center, where your kids can learn more about nature and wildlife.
If not, you can always bring them to the playgrounds.
Visit Myrtle Beach State Park at 4401 South Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29575.
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Surfside Beach is “The Family Beach” for a reason.
It promises a rollicking adventure for everyone in the family.With miles of beach to explore and experiences to enjoy, the city should be another welcome addition to your bank of memories.
Its neighbor, Myrtle Beach, also has its fair share of attractions.
Wherever you choose to go, the one thing you can be sure of is a delightful journey.
Discover the world.
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