Things To Do
Date Ideas Under $30/Couple

If you plan your menu right and pick a good location, a four-course picnic on the beach is well within reach. Just think – a few slices of bread, some deli meat, chips and salsa, crackers and cheese, fresh fruit, and whatever your favorite bite size dessert may be? There are plenty of oceanfront restaurants in Myrtle Beach, but none where you can bring your own food and enjoy it while sitting on the sand with your date.

For a romantic walk out over the Atlantic, the Grand Strand has several scenic piers to choose from. The long wooden structures begin up north in Cherry Grove and dot the beach all the way down to Garden City. Most of them charge a dollar or two for a stroll because pier maintenance is not cheap, but this minimal fee gets you one of the most romantic activities available in Myrtle Beach.

A ticket to the Budweiser Thirst Inning Deck is just $8 when purchased at least a day in advance. Ticketreturn.com field is a great place to take a date for a night of minor league baseball, and Tuesdays ($2 craft beer, 6 – 8 p.m.) and Thursdays ($1 draft, 6 – 8 p.m.) are the perfect nights for budget-conscious couples to catch a game. And for added incentive, East Coast Pyrotechnics puts on a fireworks show after the game every Thursday night.

Test each others competitive nature and skill on the greens at one of the Grand Strand’s finest putt-putt courses. But don’t get too serious about your score – these little trick-laden tracks aren’t meant to determine winners and losers. Because think about it, would a true test of skill really involve hitting your ball into a tunnel or stream in order to get closer to the hole? Most courses are in the $9-$10 range.

Blockbusters, Oscar winners, romantic comedies, action adventures, thrillers – the movie theaters in Myrtle Beach have just what you need to make your date night an entertaining one. Market Common, Broadway at the Beach, Coastal Grande Mall, and Myrtle Beach Mall are all great places to see the latest on the silver screen.

There’s a classic romantic quality to be found on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, and this summer it will be the host of free live music, boardwalk performers, and fireworks every night of the week. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays there will be a concert series featuring area rock, pop, country, and blues bands beginning at 8 p.m. in Plyler Park. Wednesday nights will feature more live music from 6 – 9 along with a fireworks show at 10. And on Sundays and Fridays, go check out Boardwalk Elvis and various other boardwalk performers beginning at 8 p.m.

You can tell a lot about a person by how they react to bright explosions in the sky. Like whether they’re skittish, adventurous, prefer quieter things, or enjoy a great American pastime – you’ll know all of these things almost immediately underneath a sky of fireworks. Barefoot Landing hosts shows at 10:15 every Monday night, Broadway at the Beach lights up the night every Tuesday at 10:00, and on Wednesdays the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk will be the place to be to see a huge display. The best part? Fireworks shows are always free in Myrtle Beach.

This recent addition to the Myrtle Beach skyline is a contemporary take on the old-fashioned Ferris wheel. Step into one of the gondolas and enjoy the ride as the SkyWheel takes you and your date 187 feet up into the air for unparalleled views of Myrtle Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. For a bit of added flair, show up around dusk for their nightly light show. Tickets are $13/person.

If meandering through some of the most beautiful property on the Grand Strand while viewing sculptures, wildlife, halls of live oaks, and of course the flowers and plants of the season, then Brookgreen Gardens is your best for a relaxing date. And if all of that is not enough, check out the only accredited zoo on the coast of the Carolinas. Admission is $13/adult.