8 Great Ways to Make #myrtlememories This Summer

What better way to capture your #myrtlememories than with a photograph? Nowadays, snapping a picture is as easy as pushing a button on your phone. Whether you use an actual camera or the camera on your mobile device, you are bound to take a ton of pictures on your vacation in Myrtle Beach.

While you can take a picture pretty much anywhere along the Grand Strand, there are some great photo spots that we recommend for you and your family to visit during your visit.

•  Wild West Old Time Photo: This family-friendly attraction will take you back in time. Choose from Victorian, Civil War, Western, Gangster, or Pirate costumes. Once you choose your look, the photographer will set you up in poses that are true to the time period. One thing is for sure: your whole family will get a kick out of the resulting photo.
• The Hollywood Wax Museum: Stroll through this wax museum with your camera ready. Offering a wide array of statues of your favorite Hollywood stars, you are bound to leave this attraction with plenty of pictures. When you show your friends the picture of you and George Clooney, they may even think you actually met him.  
• “Your Face Here” Cutouts: Walking through places such as Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing, you are more than likely to find those cardboard stand-ups of pictures with the faces cut out. Here is where you come in. Take turns with your friends and family sticking your heads in the cutouts. Many laughs are guaranteed to follow.  
• The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel: Have you ever wanted to fly? Well, technically, you won’t be able to here, but you can definitely get a picture of yourself sailing high above downtown Myrtle Beach when you ride the SkyWheel. Hand your phone or camera to your friend and have them take a sweet shot of you with Myrtle Beach in the background. Totally epic.  
• Brookgreen Gardens: Though you won’t find any funny things to take pictures with here, the sheer beauty of Brookgreen Gardens will have you snapping photos left and right. Take a nice family photo in front of lush gardens or under moss-draped oaks. Who knows; it may even make a great framed photo for your living room.

There are plenty of other awesome places to take pictures in Myrtle Beach, but you will discover those organically while you are here.

Of course, souvenirs are a wonderful way to cherish your #myrtlememories, and there are a large number of places to find them. Before hitting up all of the Wings and Eagles around town, head down to Gay Dolphin on Ocean Boulevard. This classic Myrtle Beach souvenir store has been around since 1946 and is considered a Myrtle Beach Landmark. No matter what beachy souvenir you are seeking, the Gay Dolphin definitely has you covered. This store features a whopping 70,000+ items, so there is no doubt you can find something here for everyone in your family.   

Of course, give the other beachwear stores a try, too. Just try to avoid these tacky Myrtle Beach souvenirs.  

This more adult-friendly option of making #myrtlememories is easily a fun experience. I mean, who doesn’t like having a good time and sampling different types of wine, beer, or moonshine? There are quite a few wineries and distilleries peppered throughout the Carolinas, but here in Myrtle Beach, we have a handful of places that allow you to tour their facilities and sample products. 

• Duplin Winery: Since 1975, the Duplin Winery team has been producing award-winning wine in North Carolina. Recently, though, the Duplin Winery family decided to bring their wine to the beach to bring Grand Strand visitors delicious beverage and a unique experience. The Duplin Winery facility, located next to Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, is a laid back, relaxed place with friendly staff. No uptight winos here—everyone is welcome to come taste the Duplin wine, tour the facility, and have a wonderful time. You will most likely leave with a few bottles.
• Palmetto Distillery: Though Palmetto Moonshine was created in Anderson, SC, owners (and brothers) Trey and Bryan Boggs have always loved and vacationed in Myrtle Beach. That’s why they chose to open on of two of their liquor stores here on the Grand Strand. Palmetto Distillery invites you to come for a free tour and tasting (if you’re 21 and older, of course). You can also browse their gift shop which features items such as t-shirts and glasses. Be sure to take home a bottle of one of their delicious flavors. We recommend the original White Lightning; it is their most famous flavor, after all. 
• La Belle Amie Vineyard: This local winery is located in Little River, and, while La Belle Amie invites families to tour the vineyard and be entertained by live music, there is a wine tasting room for those 21 and over. Home to Twisted Sisters wine, La Belle Amie Vineyard encourages you to taste a number of their wines before purchasing. They believe that everyone has a different palate and that each wine may taste different from person to person. For $3.00 you may sample up to six wines. Sounds like a great deal and an even greater time! 
• New South Brewery: Ever been to a microbrewery? While you’re in Myrtle Beach, you can visit New South Brewery. Locally owned and operated, New South has been brewing up refreshing ales and lagers since 1998. The New South Brewery staff welcomes you to take a free tour and even taste some of their famous brews. While adults over the age of 21 can participate in tastings, well-behaved children are allowed to tour as well. Do yourself a favor and drop by this local spot in the heart of Myrtle Beach. 

Throughout Myrtle Beach you will find a variety of beachwear stores, t-shirt stores, and souvenir stores. Sure, you can buy Myrtle Beach t-shirts pretty much anywhere around here, but you are bound to walk past someone on Ocean Boulevard with the same exact shirt. To make your trip special and to create wonderful #myrtlememories, try getting customized shirts made for you and your family or whoever you came with to Myrtle Beach.

Probably the most popular option for t-shirt customization along the beach is airbrushing. Whether you are at Broadway at the Beach, the mall, or even in some large chain grocery stores you can find an airbrush station. Some of the more well-known airbrushing names in the area are:

• Fric ‘n Frac: Located at Broadway at the Beach
• Myrtle Beach Airbrush: Located inside the Grand Strand Flea Market
• Blown Away Airbrush: Located at Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing

Myrtle Beach is filled with a wide array of attractions for all ages and tastes. While some attractions may seem a little tame, others may be considered to be on the thrilling side. While you make #myrtlememories on your vacation, why not try something different? You may have always wanted to do something crazy, but never have had the chance. Well, here it is! Myrtle Beach offers these exhilirating activities:

• ​Skydiving: If you thought viewing Myrtle Beach from the SkyWheel was cool, try viewing Myrtle Beach from the actual sky! If you are adventurous enough to jump out of the plane and sail high above the Grand Strand, then check out Skydive Myrtle Beach located at the Grand Strand Airport.
• NASCAR: Do you consider yourself a speed demon? Do you tend to have a lead-foot when you are driving down the highway? If so, head on over to Myrtle Beach Speedway where you can test your inner dare devil by driving a real authentic NASCAR race car. If you’re not brave enough to be a driver, you can also opt to ride along in a NASCAR race car or a pace car. 
• Helicopter Ride: Want to heed Arnold’s advice and “GET TO THE CHOPPER?” Okay, so maybe there aren’t blood thirsty extraterrestrial beings lurking in the palmetto trees of Myrtle Beach, but there are definitely some awesome helicopter rides you can catch. Starting at $20 per person, Helicopter Adventures and Oceanfront Helicopters offer helicopter rides with breathtaking views of the city. 
• Slingshot:If you love thrill rides, then riding the Slingshot is a must when you come to Myrtle Beach.  The Slingshot shoots you up 300 feet in the air at speeds up to 100 mph. While almost anyone can ride the Slingshot, it is recommended for thrill-seekers, as a lot of people tend to scream their lungs out once the ride starts. Just a warning, but it is definitely a blast. You can also check out these other Myrtle Beach thrill rides. 
• Surfing and Scuba Diving: If you’re on Myrtle Beach on vacation, chances are you love the ocean, so why not dive in and connect with it? Many visitors to the Grand Strand live in landlocked states or far from the ocean, so vacation here is the prime time to try out things like surfing and scuba diving. For scuba diving, check out Express Watersports, and for surfing, look up Kokopelli Surf Camp or Jack’s Surf Lessons and Board Rentals. 

Of course, another fantastic way to make and physically keep your #myrtlememories is to bring the beach back with you. Maybe it’s not possible to actually bring the entire beach with you, but it is easy enough to bring parts of it. Try scavenging the sand for unique shells, or sift through for some sharks teeth.

It is common for visitors to check out local pet stores and beachwear stores for hermit crabs. Hermit crabs make great pets, but it is important to do some research before purchasing.

One sure fire way to NEVER forget your trip to the beach is to get a tattoo while you’re here. There are several tattoo parlors in the area that are delighted to make your #myrtlememories an everlasting imprint on your skin. Create your own design, or choose from the loads of artwork that line the walls at these tattoo shops. Though there are quite  few tattoo places in the area, here is a small list of just a few of the more popular ones: Elite Ink, Hero Tattoo, Dr. Ink, Karma Tattoos, Aces High Tattoo.

If you’re not too keen on the idea of something permanent, why not get a piercing? Get your belly button pierced to commemorate your bikini days along the Grand Stand, or simply get another piercing in your ear. Whatever you decide to get, these places are worth going to: Elite Piercing, Professional Body Piercing by Jackie, Dr. Piercing.
 

You know you've always passed by those little booths at the mall with the guy drawing funny versions of his “model,” but this time, why not give it a shot? There are many caricature artists at attractions in Myrtle Beach that are sure to make your #myrtlememories hilarious. 

Head over to Broadway at the Beach and have one of the artists there draw you and your friend as superheroes. Or, check out Caricatures by Pete in Myrtle Beach Mall and have your caricature drawn by one of the best artists in the area.