Terry’s Top 10: Thrill Rides in Myrtle Beach

Carousel Park at Broadway at the Beach is designed for little daredevils who don't mind a little excitement. From the carousel ride to the mini-ferris wheel, and from the choo-choo train to the bumper cars, the young kids can show what big boys and girls they really are by hopping on board the kiddie rides. For the less adventurous tykes, parents are allowed to ride along to ensure smiles instead of tears.

On the other side of the Broadway at the Beach complex, the Pavilion Nostalgia Park provides a place for bigger kids (including adults who never grew up) to get a small sample of the old amusement park that stood downtown for decades. Popular rides include the swings, the pirate ship and the carousel were moved from the old Pavilion to add some thrills to the entertainment and shopping complex.

Although the rides come in the form of go-carts instead of roller coasters, NASCAR SpeedPark gives patrons the thrill of the race NASCAR-style. The park offers a variety of different tracks and speeds, from the bumping and banging on the Intimidator track to smaller and tamer layouts for younger racers. There's also an arcade and putt-putt course for those who prefer to have fun in the slow lane.

For thrill-seekers who like their fun on the wet and wild side, Myrtle Waves Water Park is the perfect place to cool off while getting their heart rates up. Ride the Turbo Twister, Ripride Rocket, Snake Mountain, Arooba Tooba, Night Flight, Super Chute and Thunderbolt - all included in the regular admission price - or chill out in the Wave Pool or Lazy River. It's a great place to make a big splash for a little cash.

If you prefer to get your water-filled thrills in the ocean instead of manmade pools and slides, parasailing may be the sport for you. Stand on the back of a boat while a parachute is strapped on your torso then float high into the sky over the Atlantic Ocean as the boat propels you into the clouds. The view is great, and so is your heart rate as you are pulled along the coastline 50 feet in the air.

The same outfitters who offer parasailing also rent jet skis and other watercraft that can get your heart racing. Banana boats, pontoon boats, scuba trips and dolphin-watching tours are fun for all, but only the truly adventurous should climb aboard the jet skis and ride the water Harleys around the ocean. Jumping the waves and doing doughnuts in the ocean are unique experiences not for the faint of heart.

Located in the heart of downtown Myrtle Beach is the Skyscraper, a 160-foot propeller featuring twin arms that spin riders in a full circle. The open-air cars leave patrons suspended in air before spinning at speeds in excess of 55 mph and to heights of 16 stories. See why there's more screaming coming from this machine than a Girl Scout troop at a Justin Bieber concert.

Also located downtown on the Boulevard is the Sling Shot, the aptly named ride that makes grown men cry. The colorful twin towers that rise 300 feet above the horizon are visible from miles, and the screams are audible from the same distance. Riders are strapped into an open-air car connected to bungy cords and are hurled into the sky at speeds in excess of 100 mph. Bring a change of pants.

With the old Pavilion and new Hard Rock Park closed for business, Family Kingdom in downtown Myrtle Beach keeps the family tradition of amusement parks alive with a variety of rides for fun-seekers. The Galleon, Hurricane and Swamp Fox roller coaster are just a few of the popular rides, plus a log flume and an oceanfront water park provide thrills for those who want to get wet.

The 190-foot Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, which opened in May, is the largest ferris wheel east of the Mississippi River and offers nightly light shows to add some beauty to the fun.