Summer is winding down, which means school will soon be back in session. But that doesn’t mean those lessons have to be taught within four walls or taken on a computer. No matter if you’re homeschooling or implementing remote learning, it’s time to ditch the desks and turn your next Myrtle Beach vacation into an edu-vacation. From out-of-this-world experiences to unique wildlife encounters, your kids can trade those textbooks for a more hands-on approach to learning at Myrtle Beach’s top attractions.
Nature’s Classroom
There’s no better way for you and your kids to learn about coastal wildlife and ecosystems than to step outside and let nature become the classroom. Myrtle Beach State Park (view video) features opportunities for walking trails and bird watching. Venture along the Sculptured Oak Nature Trail and view some of the last sections of the maritime forest. Your kids will enjoy the entertainment of one of their self-led scavenger hunts as they learn all about the plants and creatures inhabiting this region. Explore more of the coastal wildlife at Huntington Beach State Park (view video). Walk along the boardwalk and keep your eyes peeled for alligators and loggerhead turtles. As one of the Southeast’s top bird-watching sites, it’s the perfect place to view a variety of birds during the spring and fall migrations. The park offers a Coastal Exploration Program and from March to November, you can join a staff educator for alligator viewings, trekking along nature trails, and learning more about Atalaya Castle, a National Historic Landmark.
History, nature, and art come to life at the beautiful botanical gardens known as Brookgreen Gardens (view video). Take in the magic of the fluttering butterflies landing softly on your shoulder in the Whispering Wings Butterfly Exhibit and visit all the animals of the Lowcountry Zoo. Dig into a variety of hands-on activities and projects in the Children’s Discovery Room before venturing out on a nature walk. Let your senses be your guide as you wander along the Children’s Nature & Sensory Trail, stopping at different interactive stations along the way. After you’re done exploring, grab a book and spend some time reading in one of the magical storybook houses in the Enchanted Storybook Forest.
Interactive Lessons
Of course, science experiments can be exciting, but take the hands-on portion of learning to another level at Myrtle Beach’s top educational attractions. Visit Wonderworks (view video), an indoor science-focused amusement park, where your kids can use their imaginations with over 100 interactive exhibits. With six Wonder Zones to explore, they take an astronaut training challenge in the Space Discovery Zone and tickle the ivories with their toes on the giant piano in the Light & Sound Zone. They can even create a bubble big enough to fit in and lay on a bed of nails in the Physical Challenge Zone.
Let their minds take flight at the Edventure Children’s Museum in Market Commons. Here they introduce aviation and astronomy through interactive exhibits incorporating science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts. Your children can learn the inner workings of an airplane engine, experience a moon landing, test their piloting skills in a flight simulator, and throw a penny in the coin vortex “gravity well” to see centripetal force in action.
Step away from the tablets and check out the STEM-based activities at Fun Warehouse including learning about sound waves, tinkering around the inside of an arcade machine, and understanding how self-powered light-up roller skates work. They also offer other edu-tainment activities including laser tag, roller skating, and inflatables.
Want to build teamwork skills and put your mind to the test? Race against the clock to complete a mission at Backstage Escape Games at Broadway at the Beach. You’ll work together as a team using hints to solve puzzles and riddles, but hurry, your group only has 60 minutes to get out!
(Not Your Typical) Class Pets
If your kids are fond of caring for and studying their class fish or turtles, they’re going to love all the wildlife encounters they can have in Myrtle Beach. They can swap the beta fish for a whole school of fish at Ripley’s Aquarium (view video). It’s not every school day you can be entertained by jellyfish, come within inches of a shark, pet a stingray and hold a horseshoe crab. Be sure to check out the brand new Penguin Playhouse where you can get up close and personal with these unique birds when you crawl into the 360-degree glass tunnel. There’s even a nursery where you can say hello to the newest baby penguins. Get a sneak peek of what the penguins are up to here! Your kids will not only have the opportunity to interact and learn all about sea life but how they can help conserve and protect the ocean these creatures call home.
After diving into the deep blue, make your way to the lagoons of Alligator Adventure (view video) by Barefoot Landing. Known as the Reptile Capital of the World, alligators aren’t the only animals you’ll encounter here. You’ll discover turtles, snakes, crocodiles, flamingos, bobcats, hyenas, squirrel monkeys, and much more. Their wildlife shows combine education and fun. In the Alligator Handling and Lecture, you and your kids will learn lots of interesting facts about alligators and even have the opportunity to pet one. Find out how to identify a venomous versus a nonvenomous snake in the Snake Handling show. Plus, catch 15 ft alligators leaping into the air in the jaw-dropping live feedings. Talk about an unforgettable show and tell! After you’ve explored all the exhibits, make sure to stop by and snap a picture of Utan, King of the Crocs. This crocodile weighs in at about 2,000lbs, is 18 ft long, and although never tested, is estimated to have a bite force of about 5,000lbs of pressure per square inch. Now that’s a ferocious reptile!
Speaking of big reptiles, head over to Dino Park at Broadway at the Beach to encounter prehistoric reptiles that roamed the Earth millions of years ago. Enter this Jurassic world where you’ll experience over 20 life-size animatronic dinosaurs in their recreated habitat. While learning about these extinct creatures, your kids can dig up a dinosaur fossil, play around in the dino ball pit, and even ride on a T-Rex!
Book Your Edu-Vacation Today!
When it comes to finding the right place to stay, Brittain Resorts & Hotels has plenty of family-friendly oceanfront resorts to fit any size group and budget. Each of these resorts offers unique amenities, indoor and outdoor pool decks, lazy rivers, on-site restaurants, and more. Your kids can race down the Pirate Plunge water slide at the Caribbean Resort, splash around the Shipwreck Water Park at Ocean Reef Resort, or twist and turn down the water slide at the newest Grande Cayman Resort. Check out the rest of our family-friendly resorts and find our current deals on accommodations here.
Some of the best lessons learned are through experience. Make every day a field day when you book your edu-vacation to Myrtle Beach with Brittain Resorts & Hotels!