11 Ways to Get In and On the Water in Myrtle Beach

Exercising on vacation doesn't have to mean breaking a sweat: Paddleboarding is a great way to move around while out on the water at whatever pace you feel comfortable. You can take a leisurely paddle around a cove or make your way up the coast for a longer adventure.

And you don't need any experience—or to stand up—to try. While you can try stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), many paddleboarders use their arms to glide through the water, whether lying down or on their knees. Try all three ways and pick your favorite before propelling yourself along scenic inlets or over gentle waves in the Atlantic.

Myrtle Beach area companies offer guided paddles that give you an introduction to the sport, while providing a unique way to take in nature. You can also rent boards to explore areas on your own.

Whether you're traveling with kids or you're just a kid at heart, water parks and the thrills they provide are always a vacation highlight. The Myrtle Beach area has three water parks, including a park with oceanfront water flumes and another with mini-golf and go karts for when you feel like drying off.

Even if you don't want the exhilaration of a 100-foot waterslide drop, lazy rivers and cabanas available for rent allow all or part of your group to keep the vacation relaxation levels high. Plus, plenty of water features are designed to help young children perfect their swimming skills, and professional lifeguards are around to ensure everyone's safety.

If you've never considered hopping on a jet ski, a summer vacation in Myrtle Beach is the time to try. And if you have jet skied before, you know the excitement that comes from splashing through the water at 45-miles-per-hour.

Jet Ski rentals in the Myrtle Beach area include instruction and safety equipment, allowing you cruise carefree along the Grand Strand. Or opt for a Jet Ski tour that will bring you face-to-face with dolphins.

Other tours take you through South Carolina's untouched backwaters by moss-covered oaks, bringing you up close to areas that you can only reach with the knowledge of local experts.

Fishing in Myrtle Beach is an angler's dream. That's because the area offers so many ways to cast a line. Head to Springmaid Pier, which holds the state's record catch for Spanish mackerel, or cruise out on a charter for some deep sea fishing. Other boats are available that will take you reef fishing, crabbing, and shrimping.

Even if you've never made a catch before, you can try your hand at fresh or saltwater fishing (and then grill up your bounty for dinner).

There is simply no better view of Myrtle Beach than from trailing 500 feet behind a boat, high in the sky. The area's parasailing companies give you the opportunity to fly through the air with a bird's eye view over all of Myrtle Beach and the open Atlantic beyond.

Held to strict safety procedures, parasailing outfits allow up to three people to ride alongside each other. Look close and you may spot dolphins and fish following your path. And for those who don't want to sail through the sky, boats often allow you to go along for the ride.

Scuba Diving

Exploring the Myrtle Beach area's ocean, rivers, and waterways from underneath will give you an entirely new perspective—and respect—of the water. Myrtle Beach is one of the most affordable places to try scuba diving, and the mix of fresh and saltwater, reefs, and wrecks give you a variety of opportunities to spot creatures, including angel fish, barracuda, and even sea turtles.

For those with no experience, you can start in a pool to learn the ins and outs of diving, and then decide if an open-water dive is right for you. Those with prior certification can rent their own gear, take more advanced classes for additional certifications, or join a dive to beginner or advance sites. One popular dive site is the Billy Perry Reef system, teeming with snapper, sea turtles, and tropical fish thanks to a sunken tugboat and a slew of New York City subway cars.

Myrtle Beach works to preserve its natural areas and habitats for wildlife. One of the best ways to take in the local flora and fauna is on an eco tour. Tours are available by kayak or boat, depending on the outfit and where you want to explore.

Go shelling on a barrier island, spot aquatic life, and look for birds, including egrets, osprey, eagles, and blue heron. You may even spot an alligator. Many of the tours feature marine naturalists as your guide, giving you deeper insight into the ocean, wildlife, and history of the area.

Dolphin tours are especially popular, leading you to the best possible sites for viewing the majestic mammals. Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are often so close you may get splashed.

Fun for adults and children, banana boat rides are like tubing—only better. Blast over waves at 35 miles per hour while you hang onto the boat alongside up to five others. You will get soaked, and if you fall off, that's half the fun (after all, you're wearing a floatation device).

Rides can last from 10 to 35 minutes, depending on the outfit you choose—and how long you want to get wet. Opt for the ocean or the smoother, calmer waters of the inlet.

You'll see all kinds of watercraft in the ocean and inlets of Myrtle Beach, and you don't need to own a yacht to join the locals on the sea: Boat and sailboat rentals and tours let you explore every nook and cranny of the area's waterways.

For a leisurely afternoon, opt to cruise the coast on a Caribbean-style sailing ship or rent your own catamaran or powerboat to take in the sunrise or sunset. Just don't forget to pack a picnic and look out for dolphins and sea turtles. Families with younger children can enjoy pirate-themed boat rides aboard Blackbeard's Treasure Hunter.

Whether you want a laidback paddle or an invigorating excursion up the coast, kayaking in Myrtle Beach lets you get on the water with as much or as little effort as you want. Join a guided kayak tour for a couple of hours or up to half a day to see some of the best paddle spots, or opt for a tour with a naturalist guide to learn more about the local ecosystem.

Murrells Inlet tidal marsh is one of the most popular spots to paddle given the smooth water and wealth of wildlife, including snowy egret, osprey, and pelicans. You can, of course, rent your own single or double sit-on-top kayak for paddling through the ocean, or a sit-in kayak designed for cutting through calmer waters.

No trip to the coast would be complete without a day relaxing in the sand with food, drinks, and a good book. Myrtle Beach has some of the country's nicest beaches, and the best part is the beach is always free.

Plan the the perfect beach day at your favorite spot: the energetic Myrtle Beach or North Myrtle Beach, or more laidback spots like Surfside, Garden City, or Litchfield beaches. All that's left is to pack your beach bag: towels, sandcastle tools, Frisbee, boogie board, beach chair, and sunscreen.