So many of our visitors vacation in Myrtle Beach every year, and we know you like to stay informed on the happenings in the area. Here are a few of the new attractions you'll see when you visit the beach this year.

Shark Attack Mini Golf

Slated to open March 1, the Shark Attack mini-golf course is at the site of the former historic Chesterfield Inn. The mini-golf course's 36 holes wind through the oceanfront site at Seventh Avenue North, creating the Grand Strand's first oceanfront mini-golf course. The Hammerhead Grille, a restaurant with a walkup window on the ocean side of the golf course, is set to open sometime later in 2013.

New Rides at Family Kingdom Amusement Park

The Family Kingdom Amusement Park welcomes four new rides this season, including a steel roller coaster called Twist 'N Shout. The Twist 'N Shout will be the park's second coaster; the wooden Swamp Fox roller coaster is already a popular ride at the park. Also new in 2013 are the Kite Flyer, a free-fall ride where riders are lying on their stomachs to get the feeling of free flight; Flying Tigers, with eight planes that whip around; and the Frog Hopper, a ride that bounces up and down. The Family Kingdom's oceanfront water park will also get a new name this season: Splashes. Family Kingdom opens for the season March 23.

Encounters: UFO Experience

This exhibit dedicated to the history of UFO's and alien encounters is set to open April 4 at Broadway at the Beach. Experiences include a simulated alien abduction as well as documents and artifacts supporting claims of alien encounters. Myrtle Beach was chosen as the location for the exhibit because of an abundance of UFO reports along the coast here. A spokesman for “Encounters” said both believers and skeptics will find interesting information at the exhibit.

If you haven't been to Myrtle Beach recently, you'll want to check out the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, which opened in 2010. The 1.2-mile span stretches from 14th Avenue North to 2nd Avenue North. Located on the Boardwalk is the Myrtle Beach Skywheel, a giant ferris wheel with 42 climate-controlled gondolas, which opened in 2011. WonderWorks, a museum for the mind, also opened in 2011 at Broadway at the Beach. You can't miss the upside-down building, and it's worth a visit when you're at the beach! Also at Broadway since 2011 is the famous Legends in Concert venue, which moved from Surfside Beach. A zipline attraction found its home at the site of the former Pavilion Amusement Park in 2012, offering two thrilling ride options. For more things to do, check out our list of 102 things to do in Myrtle Beach.