Big kids in Myrtle Beach are done with sandcastles and ready for something they can brag about. The good news: the Grand Strand has more genuine adventure per mile than almost any family destination on the East Coast. The challenge is knowing which spots actually deliver vs. which ones look good in photos but bore a 10-year-old in 20 minutes. Here's the sorted list.
Racing and Thrill Rides
This is where Myrtle Beach genuinely shines for the 6–12 crowd. Go-kart culture is embedded in the strip.
Broadway Grand Prix is the real deal — multiple tracks with different difficulties, including tracks that let kids actually race at meaningful speeds. Budget $100–150 for a family of four with multiple track runs. Buy multi-race packages rather than paying per race. The 4.3-star rating reflects a consistently good experience. If your kid has ever watched racing and wanted to try it, start here.
The Track - Myrtle Beach offers go-karts and additional activities for $80–130 for a family of four. 4.3 stars. Located on the north part of the strip, which means shorter waits than the main Broadway area on busy summer days.
Free Fall Thrill Park on N Ocean Blvd delivers the kind of outdoor ride experiences that older kids want — real drops, real speed, real bragging rights. Budget $60–100 depending on which rides your kids choose. Pay per-ride if they only want specific attractions rather than bundling everything.
Sandy Harbor Family Fun Center mixes outdoor rides with go-karts, mini golf, and an arcade. 4.6 stars. Budget $80–120 for a full visit. Multi-activity packages beat per-ride pricing.
Climbing and Physical Challenge
Kids Climb Free on N Kings Hwy has a perfect 5-star Google rating and is positioned as a climbing and amusement center. Budget $40–70. Check the Facebook page for hours — newer business. For a kid who gets excited about climbing walls, this is worth tracking down.
LuLu's Beach Arcade and Ropes Course combines a ropes course with arcade games — the aerial challenge first, then the reward. 4.4 stars. Budget $70–110 for a family of four. Combo packages combining both elements offer better value than buying separately.
Fun Walls Kids Climbing & Arcade in North Myrtle Beach combines climbing walls and arcade in a single venue. Budget $50–80. Call 843-361-0047 to confirm hours.
Big Air Trampoline and Adventure Park earns 4.8 stars from 1,422 reviews. Open trampoline areas, dodgeball courts, foam pits, and climbing walls. One-hour sessions for two kids and two adults: $80–120. Book online — summer sessions sell out.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park delivers the national-brand trampoline experience: well-maintained courts, dodge ball arenas, slam dunk zones. 4.4 stars. Budget $80–120. Book at skyzone.com/myrtlebeach.
Tech and Immersive Experiences
Zero Gravity at Broadway at the Beach has a 5-star rating and the kind of gravity-defying ride format that older kids want to text their friends about afterward. Budget $50–90 for a family depending on activities. Free parking at the Broadway complex.
Myrtle Beach Virtual Reality puts kids in VR headsets for experiences that range from space exploration to underwater environments. 4.6 stars. Budget $80–120 for two adults and two kids. Best for ages 8+. Younger kids sometimes struggle with headset fit.
Soar + Explore at Broadway at the Beach delivers immersive flight simulation — the sensation of actually flying. 4.5 stars. Budget $60–100. Weekend-only hours, so check before planning.
Interactive Experience Unleashed on N Kings Hwy is a hands-on interactive tech experience where kids are active participants rather than spectators. 4.5 stars. Budget $50–90. Verify operating days at interactiveexperienceunleashed.com.
Stars and Strikes at Coastal Grand mall bundles bowling, laser tag, arcade, and a restaurant under one roof. 4.3 stars. Budget $80–130 for a family including food. Laser tag is the sweet spot for the 8–12 crowd here.
Backstage Mirror Maze at Broadway at the Beach runs 30–60 minutes and costs $40–60 for a family. 4.2 stars. Short and cheap — the laughs are real and it makes a good between-activity filler.
Museums and Hands-On Learning
Ripley's Believe It or Not! is the museum kids actually want to go to. 6,635 reviews at 4.2 stars — one of the most visited paid attractions in Myrtle Beach. Family admission: $80–100. Ripley's combo tickets bundle multiple Myrtle Beach venues at a discount. Buy online.
EdVenture Myrtle Beach is a hands-on children's museum with science stations, a child-sized town, and creative building exhibits. 4.2 stars. Family admission: $60–80. Better for ages 6–9 than older tweens.
Arcades Worth the Spend
Boardwalk Arcade on N Ocean Blvd is the quintessential beach boardwalk arcade experience. 4.5 stars. Budget $40–80 depending on how deep they go. Set a per-child token budget before entering.
Fun Plaza is a few steps away on the same strip. 4.4 stars. Budget $40–80. Same rules apply — buy tokens in bulk packs for better per-game value.
Garden City Pavilion Arcade & GiGi's Grill is a beach pavilion institution in Garden City Beach. 4.4 stars. Budget $60–100 including food from GiGi's Grill. The authentic beach pavilion atmosphere earns points that chain arcades can't buy.
Outdoor and Water
Myrtle Waves Water Park has the full slide spectrum — from slides sized for 6-year-olds to serious thrill rides that big kids and teens actually care about. 4.2 stars. Budget $120–160 admission plus $40–60 food for a full day. Buy tickets online in advance. Arrive at opening.
Lowcountry Zoo at Brookgreen Gardens gives kids up-close looks at native SC wildlife — river otters, alligators, birds of prey. 4.6 stars. Zoo-only: $60–90 for a family. Combined with Brookgreen Gardens: $100–140. Worth the full day if your kids are animal-focused.
Savannah's Playground is free and earns a 4.9-star rating from 2,597 reviews. Even big kids who "don't do playgrounds" end up spending time here — the equipment is substantially better than standard. Cost: $0. Bring water and sunscreen.
North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex is a 163-acre complex with trails, athletic fields, and open space. 4.7 stars. Free general access. If you're traveling with a sports-obsessed kid who needs to run, this is the place.
Star Academy North Myrtle Beach rounds out the indoor options for families based in North Myrtle Beach. 4.8 stars. Budget $50–80.
The Honest Rankings by Age
Ages 6–8: Savannah's Playground (free), EdVenture ($60–80), Sandy Harbor ($80–120), Backstage Mirror Maze ($40–60), Big Air ($80–120).
Ages 9–12: Broadway Grand Prix ($100–150), LuLu's Ropes Course ($70–110), Myrtle Beach Virtual Reality ($80–120), Soar + Explore ($60–100), Myrtle Waves ($160–220 full day). These are the ones they'll still be talking about next month.