Myrtle Beach Attractions Open Year Round

By Julia Diem Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

Just because hot summer days are gone doesn't mean the fun has to be! Myrtle Beach is not simply a summer destination, because many attractions remain open all year long! Whether you are a snowbird here for the winter or an off-season visitor looking to enjoy all Myrtle Beach has to offer, look no further for year-round fun.

When is the off-season?

The off-season in Myrtle Beach is generally November through February. While these are the coolest months here on the coast, temperatures tend to reach highs of 60s and even 70s on the warmest days. Even on cooler days, the strength of the sun provides warmth during the day.

Why should I visit in the off-season?

The off-season is a great time to visit Myrtle Beach because there are fewer people visiting than in the more popular summer months, which means less or no wait at your favorite restaurants and attractions. Fewer visitors and cooler weather also mean lower prices on accommodations as well as some local attractions. Click here to find a Myrtle Beach hotel deal for you.

When you visit during the summer, you may find it hard to pull yourself away from soaking up the sun. Visit in the off-season for a guilt-free exploration of all the fun the town of Myrtle Beach has to offer! Outdoor activities or those that involve walking are often more enjoyable in cooler weather, such as strolling Brookgreen Gardens, the Market Common, or Barefoot Landing.

Please be advised that events are subject to change. Please contact each attraction you are interested in visiting for the most up-to-date information including hours, availability, and prices.

Check out our roundup of Myrtle Beach attractions and places of interest that are open throughout the year.

Live Entertainment

Voted as the “Best Live Entertainment Theatre” by the Sun News Reader’s Poll, the Alabama Theatre continues to be a favorite among visitors and locals alike – and it’s not hard to see why! This local venue is home to the wildly popular “One The Show” and “The South’s Grandest Christmas Show." Additionally, Alabama Theatre hosts several guest performers throughout the year. Alabama Theatre is located at Barefoot Landing and is just a short drive from north-end resorts including Ocean Creek Resort.

The Carolina Opry proudly boasts four high-quality shows under one roof, offering plenty of variety throughout the year. Shows include “The Carolina Opry," “Time Warp," “The Carolina Opry Christmas Special” and “Thunder & Light." This theater is just a short drive from The Caravelle Resort.

For an evening that involves both entertainment and dining, Medieval Times is a great choice. Cheer on your knight while enjoying a feast that you must eat with your hands! This live performance is perfect for anyone looking for a show that involves action, suspense and tasty food. Medieval Times is located near the Intracoastal Waterway and is just minutes away from many Myrtle Beach hotels. Pirate's Voyage also offers dinner and a show, in the world of pirates!

Museums

Experience three attractions under one roof at the Hollywood Wax Museum. As the name suggests, the wax museum is the main draw of this venue and visitors won’t be disappointed with the vast array of figures which include idols like Marilyn Monroe, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, and the king himself – Elvis, to name a few. Other attractions include Hannah’s House of Mirrors and Breakout – a zombie apocalypse experience. Tickets may be purchased for all three or individually. The Hollywood Wax Museum is located near Broadway at the Beach.

WonderWorks offers over 50,000 square feet of space and more than 100 interactive exhibits appropriate for guests of all ages. Popular exhibits include "Extreme Weather Zone," "Physical Challenge Zone", " “Imagination Lab," and “Space Discovery.” Other favorites include the Hurricane Shack, Wonder Wall, and Giant Piano. WonderWorks also offers an indoor ropes course and laser tag as well as an outdoor zipline and obstacle course. WonderWorks is located at the Broadway at the Beach complex.

Get up close and personal with oddities from around the world at the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, located in downtown Myrtle Beach. This out of the ordinary attraction offers 12 themed galleries with exhibits that include shrunken heads, an authentic vampire repelling kit, and a 6-legged pig – to name just a few. This museum is truly home to the world’s most unique and strange exhibits – believe it or not and is just steps away from the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk.

Need to occupy a few younger guests? If so, bring them to the Children’s Museum of South Carolina for endless hours of fun! The Children’s Museum offers more than 50 hands on exhibits, arts and crafts, games and activities, and even special events throughout the year. Popular exhibits include “Bubble Mania," “South Carolina Fossil Hunt," and the “Kidz Medical Center." EdVenture Children's Museum is a newer installment to the abundant fun for kids in Myrtle Beach. This museum features exhibits revolving around space travel, the human body, and puppet shows!

If you love art or just want to expand your horizons, visit the Franklin G. Burroughs - Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum, which is located just a short walk away from Crown Reef Beach Resort and Waterpark. This museum features a variety of exhibitions and events throughout the year. Their permanent collection includes Bishop Maps and Prints Collection and The Barbara Burgess and John Dinkelspie Collection of Southern Art.

Shopping

There are plenty of major shopping areas in Myrtle Beach that remain open year-round including The Market Common, Broadway at the Beach, Tanger Outlets, Barefoot Landing and Coastal Grand Mall. Whether you just want to browse or are looking to do some serious shopping, you can do so year-round in Myrtle Beach!

Attractions

Head underwater and make a few new nautical friends at the Ripley’s Aquarium! This Broadway at the Beach attraction is the state’s most popular aquarium and it’s not hard to figure out why. This two story attraction includes exhibits like “Rainbow Rock", “Ray Bay," and the famous “Dangerous Reef” which takes guests on a glide-path trip under a tank filled with sawfish, eels, and sharks. The aquarium also offers an all-new penguin exhibit, touch tanks, an interactive discovery center, gift shop, and on-site café.

If you want to get a bird’s-eye-view of Myrtle Beach, you can head to the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel just about any time of year as they typically only close down for about one week in the winter for some maintenance. The enclosed gondolas are heated (and air-conditioned!) so you don’t have to worry about the temperature to enjoy one of Myrtle Beach’s most popular attractions.

Who says nature is only beautiful in the summer? Experience all of mother nature’s beauty at Brookgreen Gardens, just south of Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet. This scenic outdoor exhibit offers more than 9,000 acres of lush gardens scattered with the largest outdoor exhibition of American figurative sculpture in the United States. Brookgreen also offers on-site dining, a local wildlife zoo, and several events throughout the year, including the ever-popular Night of a Thousand Candles around the winter holidays. It’s a year-round attraction that is well worth the short drive from Myrtle Beach!

We cannot forget our most valued gem, our beaches! Our beaches remain open year-round. So, grab a beach chair, some coffee and a good book and lounge in the sun all winter long!

This is just a sampling of the wide array of places open year-round in Myrtle Beach.

Where should I stay in the off-season?

Like most of Myrtle Beach's awesome attractions, our resorts also stay open year-round. Besides oceanfront views, family fun, and comfortable accommodations, perhaps best of all, our resorts offer the best deals of the year during the off-season - making your vacation even more affordable than in the summer. If you are looking for fun on-site as well as around town, look no further than these top picks for off-season resort stays.

Crown Reef Resort and Waterpark

Who says waterpark fun is only for summer vacation? Crown Reef Resort and Waterpark, located on the coveted, quieter, south end of Myrtle Beach, encloses its 4-story oceanfront waterpark during the off-season. At Crown Reef, waterpark fun doesn't stop when summer comes to a close. Bring your family here for the fun of the summer even in the cool of the winter.

Captain's Quarters Resort

Captain's Quarters is a kid-friendly and parent-approved resort, featuring year-round entertainment! Step inside the Level 6 Entertainment Center on the sixth floor and experience a full-size bowling alley, gaming, plus a bar serving up fresh food and drinks. Close your evening with family game night at Level 6, or dedicate a rainy afternoon indoors to fun for the whole family!

Check out more Myrtle Beach attractions!