It’s no secret ~ the South Strand is a playground for families. Millions make the trip to our beach community each year. The conversations in the car are familiar to us all:

(Dad) “Yep. That new driver I got for my birthday is gonna take at least six strokes off my game!”
(Mom) “That’s nice, honey. I’ll be at the outlet stores, so feel free to play an extra round.”
(Kids) “What are we gonna do first, though? The water park, or the roller coaster?”

We might vacation as a family, but everyone has their own agenda. Pleasing everyone is a tall order, and it’s easy to exhaust ourselves trying to do so. We decided to help mom & dad out this time around. Here are a few tips to help you be a hero to your kids next time you visit us.

Go Natural

The Carolina Coast is a natural wonder. Gorgeous beaches, beautiful parks & gardens and lush Lowcountry waterways are here for your enjoyment. Spend the day is these natural surroundings. There’s no better way to clear your mind of the everyday distractions, and your kids will remember it for years to come.

Our vacation homes are just steps away from the beautiful beaches. Plenty of activities are available to the kids ~ surfing, fishing & sailing, just to name a few. Our annual Sun Fun Festival gives them a chance to compete at building the best sandcastle ever. Hey, I still have my trophy (1st place, Summer ’93)!

The Myrtle Beach State Park, located just minutes from Surfside Beach & Garden City, is  a great way to bond with the kids (Shhh! Don’t tell ‘em it’s also really budget-friendly!). They offer camping, fishing, & guided nature tours. A great experience for the whole family, it’ll make a great topic for that “What I Did On My Summer Vacation” essay! Admission is just $4 for adults/$1.50 for kids (5 & under are free!).

Brookgreen Gardens, a huge natural wildlife preserve & sculpture garden, is just a few minutes south of our vacation homes. Have a budding young artist in your family? Bring along a sketchbook to this wonderful venue. There are over 1,200 works by 350 sculptors ~ plenty of inspiration for your creative son or daughter! Adult admission is just $12, and kids get in for just $6. Plus, these tickets are good for a whole week! Now that’s a serious bargain.

Fun Outta The Sun

Looking for an activity in a cooler climate? Need a day (or two) to let that sunburn heal (tip: it’s all about the aloe.)? Your kids are gonna love these suggestions:

Lazer FX Lazer Tag is easily one of the most fun indoor activities on the Grand Strand. Located just 20-25min north of most Beach Realty vacation homes, this is a kid-pleaser for sure. They offer birthday packages, family discounts & even an “unlimited play” price from noon-2pm in the Summer! This venue is right in the middle of “restaurant row”, so you won’t need to travel far after a game for good eats!

Kids love fantasy. How much has the Harry Potter franchise made at the box office? Exactly. Which is why we recommend you try MagiQuest. It’s one of the area’s most popular attractions, allowing you & the kids a fully interactive game experience. Return visits are offered with a discount (we assure you, you’ll be back). Follow this link & look for a coupon (right side of the page) to save even more!

Creating lasting memories for your family is what vacation is all about. These are just a few ways for you to give your kids the Summer experience they deserve. The Beach Realty family is here to help you find the best attractions, venues & deals while you stay at one of our fantastic vacation homes. Make sure to visit our blog frequently to find the best values on the beach. We look forward to hearing from you!

Tags: Brookgreen Gardens, State Park, Vacationing

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 3:12 pm and is filed under Area Lifestyle, Vacationing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.