There are innumerable ways for student groups to have fun — and learn — in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
That’s what eight student tour operator readers of The Group Travel Leader discovered during a four-day familiarization trip in April to Myrtle Beach and the surrounding communities of South Carolina’s Grand Strand. Hosted by the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, this trip highlighted the area’s abundance of fun attractions, first-class entertainment, educational adventures and performance opportunities for students.
During the trip, participants got to visit several hotels that cater to student groups, as well as enjoy the sun, sand and surf on the Grand Strand’s 60-plus miles of coastline. They visited some popular attractions and got a sneak peak of a new site about to open. And, along the way, they got to enjoy plenty of seafood fresh from the Atlantic.
Follow along on this itinerary to start planning a Myrtle Beach visit for your student groups.
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Day 1
Student tour operators from around the country arrived in Myrtle Beach by plane or car and had free time in the early afternoon to get settled in at Residence Inn Myrtle Beach Oceanfront, which served as their group’s home base throughout all four nights of the trip. The hotel sits directly on the beach and offers a beautiful pool deck, a restaurant and abundant seating in the lobby, all with views of the oceanfront.
After everyone had arrived, the group gathered to begin exploring Myrtle Beach. Their first stop was Broadway Grand Prix, a family fun center with seven go-kart tracks, mini golf, arcade games and midway rides, as well as stands offering funnel cakes and other treats. The group enjoyed taking a spin in the go-karts and exploring the options for student group fun around the complex.
Next, the group proceeded to Broadway at the Beach, a large retail, dining and entertainment destination, where they had dinner at Margaritaville Restaurant. After savoring the fresh seafood and Jimmy Buffet-themed entertainment, they took some time to explore Broadway at the Beach, enjoy the warm evening air and take in live music at The Hangout, a popular restaurant with a large outdoor concert lawn.
Day 2
• Breakfast and tour at Holiday Inn Surfside
• Murrells Inlet Eco-Tour
• Lunch at River City Cafe
• Brookgreen Gardens Zookeeper’s Tour
• Dinner cruise aboard the Barefoot Queen
• Alabama Theatre
The tour operators began their first full day in Myrtle Beach at Holiday Inn Surfside, an oceanfront property on the quiet southern end of Myrtle Beach, where they had a delicious private breakfast and took a site inspection tour. Next, they continued south to the waterfront village of Murrells Inlet, where they boarded a boat for a wonderful eco-cruise that highlighted the marine life and scenery of the area. After the cruise, they stopped for lunch at the Murrells Inlet location of River City Cafe, a memorable restaurant offering American favorites in a distinctive roadside setting. Next was a visit to the iconic Brookgreen Gardens, where the group toured the on-site zoo with a zookeeper. For dinner, they boarded the Barefoot Queen, a riverboat that sails on the Intracoastal Waterway, and they enjoyed a fried chicken dinner on board, accompanied by live music and beautiful views. They finished the day watching a performance of “Icon,” the signature show at Alabama Theatre.
Murrells Inlet Eco-Tour
At the south end of the Grand Strand, Murrells Inlet is a waterfront village rich in scenery and ecology, which the group experienced during the Murrells Inlet Eco-Tour. This educational cruise takes place on a pontoon boat staffed by a professional captain and an experienced naturalist. During the excursion, the crew gave passengers an up-close look at oysters, horseshoe crabs, sand dollars and other marine life that live in the area. Passengers also got some free time to explore an uninhabited beach peninsula in Garden City.
Brookgreen Gardens Zookeeper’s Tour
Also in Murrells Inlet, Brookgreen Gardens is one of the most scenic and serene settings in all the Grand Strand. Spanning some 9,000 acres, this former rice plantation is now a sculpture garden, featuring more than 2,000 works of statuary art. The gardens also have a 70-acre zoo with indigenous South Carolina animals living among the live oaks of the Lowcountry setting. The group took a private tour with the zookeeper, who pointed out fascinating details in the habitats of eagles, turtles, foxes, alligators and other creatures there.
Barefoot Queen
Located adjacent to the Barefoot Landing shopping and entertainment complex, the Barefoot Queen is an authentic, 70-foot paddle-wheeler that offers sightseeing, dinner and sunset cruises along the Intracoastal Waterway. The FAM group enjoyed a fried chicken dinner served aboard the boat, as well as live musical entertainment, beautiful natural scenery and views of some of the gorgeous homes built along the water.
Alabama Theatre
A Myrtle Beach institution, the Alabama Theatre has been entertaining groups and families visiting the Grand Strand for decades. The theater is named in honor of country music superstars Alabama, who got their start performing in a dive bar on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. The theater’s featured show, “Icon,” is a high-energy mix of classic and contemporary songs, as well as dancing, comedy and acrobatics, a live band, stunning costumes and a state-of-the-art video wall for spectacular effects.
Day 3
• Breakfast and tour at Residence Inn Myrtle Beach Oceanfront
• Ripley’s Aquarium
• WonderWorks
• Site visit at Dayton House Resort
• Lunch at LandShark Bar & Grille
• Myrtle Beach SkyWheel
• Free time on the boardwalk
• Interactive Experience Unleashed
• Dinner at The Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood
• The Carolina Opry Theater
The next day began with breakfast and a site inspection at the host hotel, Residence Inn Myrtle Beach Oceanfront. The group then returned to Broadway at the Beach to experience two of the complex’s signature student attractions: Ripley’s Aquarium, home to hundreds of aquatic creatures, and WonderWorks, an interactive science center. Next, they went to another popular student group hotel, Dayton House Resort, for a site inspection before heading to Myrtle Beach’s iconic boardwalk area, where they had lunch at LandShark Bar & Grille, took a spin on the enormous Myrtle Beach SkyWheel and enjoyed some free time walking and shopping on the boardwalk. Afterward, they got a sneak preview of a coming high-tech student attraction, Interactive Experience Unleashed, followed by a sumptuous buffet dinner at The Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood. The night ended with a show at The Carolina Opry Theater.
Ripley’s Aquarium
Tour operators got up-close views of ocean animals from around the world at Ripley’s Aquarium, one of the anchor attractions of Broadway at the Beach. Favorite exhibits include the 5,000-square-foot Penguin Playhouse, the Dangerous Reef shark tunnel and the mesmerizing invertebrates swimming in Planet Jellies. Planners also got a look behind the scenes of the aquarium’s operations and a preview of the numerous educational programs available for student groups of various ages.
WonderWorks
Another Broadway at the Beach attraction, WonderWorks is an interactive science center where young visitors have so much fun that they may not realize they’re learning. Across four floors are more than 100 exhibits and activities, all designed to teach STEM principles. Young travelers can feel hurricane-force winds, lie on a bed of nails, play laser tag, traverse a ropes course and experience interactive motion rides. Planners can also arrange for student groups to have meals on site.
Myrtle Beach SkyWheel
Towering 200 feet above the beachfront, the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel is the most iconic landmark on the boardwalk. Modeled after the classic Ferris Wheel, this larger-than-life attraction features 42 enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas that can each hold six adults. After lunch at the adjacent LandShark Bar & Grille, the group boarded the SkyWheel for a ride that gave them breathtaking views of the ocean, the beach and the boardwalk, as well as the surrounding city.
Interactive Experience Unleashed
Student groups are sure to love Interactive Experience Unleashed, a new high-tech entertainment center set to open later this year. During the FAM tour, participants got an early look at this innovative attraction, which will feature virtual reality games, several escape rooms and dozens of animatronics. A major highlight will be an interactive 7,000-square-foot laser tag adventure, which will take players through scenes including a pyramid, a pirate ship and many other imaginative environments.
The Carolina Opry
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, The Carolina Opry is a beloved show created by longtime entertainer Calvin Gilmore. With an emphasis on authentic performances, the signature show will thrill music lovers. In addition to country music from throughout the decades, the lineup also features some contemporary pop hits and even favorite songs from Broadway musicals. Visitors also enjoy the show’s homespun comedy and dance numbers from the hip-hop clogging group All That.
Day 4
• Breakfast at Mammy’s Kitchen
• Board & Brush Creative Studio
• Lunch and show at Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre
• Free time on the beach
• Dinner at Angelo’s Steak & Pasta
• Legends in Concert
The group’s final day in Myrtle Beach began with breakfast at Mammy’s Kitchen, one of the city’s oldest and most popular diners, followed by a fun and interactive craft workshop at the North Myrtle Beach location of Board & Brush Creative Studio. After finishing their projects, the tour operators walked next door to the Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre, one of the newest music theaters in the area, for a quick lunch and a condensed performance of the company’s signature show. After returning to the Residence Inn for some free time on the beach, they had dinner at Angelo’s Steak & Pasta, home of sizzling-platter steaks and an Italian buffet, before enjoying one final live music show at Legends in Concert.
Board & Brush Creative Studio
At Board & Brush Creative Studios, travelers can tap into their crafty sides to create attractive and easy-to-make home decor items with the help of experts who guide them through every step of the process. Using paint, stains and stencils, the tour operators transformed raw wood and other simple materials into unique and customized items like welcome signs and drink trays. Groups can pre-select their craft projects, so each participant gets a finished product they’ll love.
Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre
A longtime musician and entertainer who made a name for himself in popular theaters around Myrtle Beach, Greg Rowles recently ventured out on his own and, along with a team of friends and fellow musicians, opened the Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre in North Myrtle Beach. The FAM group was treated to a private sample performance of the “Music and Memories” show, which features four singers and a live band performing songs from television, radio and pop culture through the years.
Legends in Concert
The finale of the FAM tour was a rousing show at Legends in Concert, a theater where tribute artists from around the country perform as some of the most famous musicians from the 20th and 21st centuries. Accompanied by a talented live band, the singers combine musical artistry with costumes, makeup and choreography to give audiences the feeling of seeing legendary performers in person. This show featured hits by Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Steve Perry of Journey, and the Blues Brothers.
For more information on this itinerary or to plan your own trip to Myrtle Beach, contact:
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB
Zavier Jones
(843) 916-7234
