Overview
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
Right in the heart of downtown, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is one of the most popular places to visit in the city of Myrtle Beach. This oceanfront attraction is a beloved vacation staple teeming with families, food, and amusement park rides. The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk evokes childhood summer nostalgia with its timeless seaside aesthetic and attractions.
The award-winning, dog-friendly Myrtle Beach Boardwalk stretches from just south of 2nd Avenue Pier to just north of 14th Avenue Pier. While the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk itself never closes, most Boardwalk attractions are open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Seaside vacationers have the option of reserving a stay at a Myrtle Beach Boardwalk hotel and enjoying direct access to everything the Promenade has to offer. Anyone looking to visit this summertime essential destination should take advantage of Myrtle Beach Boardwalk parking locations or pay-to-park meters.
The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel is a highlight for this destination, reaching nearly 200 feet into the air and offering panoramic views of Myrtle Beach from enclosed air-conditioned gondolas. The SkyWheel is the only ride located directly on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and offers occasional sunrise flights where early birds are rewarded for their up-and-at-’em attitude with breathtaking views of the Atlantic. Night owls will enjoy evening light shows as the wheel illuminates the Boardwalk, often honoring a holiday or even showcasing a gender reveal with its LED lights.
The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Entertainment District boasts an amazing location in downtown Myrtle Beach. Along with 1.2 miles of walkable boardwalk, the downtown Myrtle Beach area is home to tons of great shops, restaurants, hotels, rides, and attractions. The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk offers family-friendly entertainment throughout the year, including a New Year’s Eve bash, summer concerts, and street performers. In 2022, an ambitious facelift began along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk as crews replaced old, worn-out boards with new, more durable ones, a section at a time.
Around the Boardwalk
Myrtle Beach visitors looking for a thrill can stop by Free Fall Thrill Park across from the Boardwalk on the Boulevard. Free Fall Thrill Park features the Myrtle Beach Slingshot, which launches riders up to 300 feet into the air at 100 mph; the Skyscraper, which spins guests 170 feet in the air at speeds up to 60 miles per hour; and the Air Strike, which spins thrill seekers up to 62 miles per hour.
Family-friendly Ripley’s attractions are located on Ocean Boulevard just across from the Boardwalk. The Believe It or Not Museum is a celebration of all things bizarre, with countless attention-catching exhibits and mind-boggling illusions. If you’re trying to avoid a downpour but still have a blast at the Boardwalk, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure is also conveniently located on North Ocean Boulevard.
Places to Eat
Strolling down the Promenade with an ice cream cone, hot dog, slice of pizza, or fish sandwich is the quintessential Boardwalk experience. When the new 1.2-mile Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade were announced over a decade ago, many established businesses decided to upgrade to an oceanfront property. Many more took vacant or failing seaside locations and opened brand new restaurants and snack shacks. Today, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk restaurants offer a variety of cuisines to choose from and refreshing drinks to sip. You can’t take to the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk with a cocktail in hand, but that doesn’t mean you can’t crack open a cold root beer and enjoy the sights.
Myrtle Beach Skywheel
Dominating the skyline in downtown Myrtle Beach since 2011, the 187-foot-tall SkyWheel was the second tallest observation Ferris wheel in the United States at the time of its completion. Soaring high above the Boardwalk, the SkyWheel is visible for miles and gives up to six riders a slow, spectacular spin over the Boardwalk in their own climate-controlled glass gondola.
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Free Fall Thrill Park
Formerly known as Myrtle Beach Thrill Rides, Free Fall Thrill Park is home to the SlingShot, located across from the SkyWheel. Along with this formidable attraction, Free Fall Thrill Park also features The Skyscraper, The Air Strike, The Shooting Star, The Sun Dance, and The Sky Bounce.
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Wicked Tuna
Hungry visitors will love the food and eat up the views at Wicked Tuna, located at 2nd Avenue Pier. Here, guests can enjoy a cold cocktail and take in the scenic Atlantic Boardwalk view from the comfort of their barstools. The oceanfront eatery is known for seafood and sushi but offers plenty of burgers, salads, and other options for guests who haven’t earned their sea legs yet.
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Gay Dolphin Gift Cove
Along with dozens of restaurants, you’ll find souvenir shops and beachwear stores conveniently located on the 1.2-mile Promenade. The undisputed heart and soul of Myrtle Beach Boardwalk stores is the Gay Dolphin Gift Cove. This family-owned and operated store was established in 1946 and still calls the original location along the new Boardwalk its home.
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Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odd-Itorium
If you’re searching for cool air conditioning and a refreshing change of pace, Ripley’s is a must. Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odd-itorium is home to a wide range of family-friendly oddities from around the world, including shrunken heads, a 6-legged cow, and scale models of the world’s tallest and shortest humans.
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Ripley’s Haunted Adventure
Guests ages eight and up can get their adrenaline pumping at Ripley’s Haunted Adventure in downtown Myrtle Beach. This bone-chilling attraction is currently Ripley’s Haunted Adventure – Laser Strike, where guests must suit up to take down zombies which have infested the building. Each guest will receive a laser gun to help them make it out alive.
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