Tourism News
New things to do in Myrtle Beach in 2023
We’ve taken the legwork out of the search for new things to do in Myrtle Beach in this convenient 2023 guide. While Myrtle Beach has long been a favorite vacation destination, thanks to its pristine beaches and robust variety of things to do, it’s the area’s ever-evolving attractions that keep visitors coming back year after year. Sure, you’ll want to carve out time during your stay to check out long-time favorites, like the area’s variety of mini golf courses, water parks, shopping centers, and more, but, as the saying goes, “variety is the spice of life.” Whether you live locally, visit frequently, or you’re planning your first trip to the area, you won’t want to miss these new-in-2023 Myrtle Beach attractions, the Grand Strand’s best new restaurants, and more.
WHAT’S NEW IN MYRTLE BEACH FOR 2023
These new Myrtle Beach restaurants and attractions opened in late 2022, meaning you may have missed them during your last visit, or they’re planning to open in time for the upcoming vacation season. Be among the first to check out these new things to do in Myrtle Beach in 2023:
New Myrtle Beach Attractions in 2023:
Arts & Innovation District in Downtown Myrtle Beach – The “Arts & Innovation District” in Downtown Myrtle Beach is currently undergoing a major revitalization effort, including construction of new restaurants, a gym, retail shops, and an apartment complex. As part of the efforts, the Broadway Theater is also being renovated into a modern performing arts center.
Ripley’s Aquarium: New Exhibits – This spring, longtime Myrtle Beach favorite Ripley’s Aquarium will introduce a host of new exhibits and attractions. Be on the lookout for updates about the new Sloth Valley Habitat, which allows guests an up-close encounter with these beloved creatures, and daily Penguin Parades, where the colony of African penguins takes a daily waddle around to greet guests and visit their fellow creatures.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium: New Attractions – The Ripley’s Odditorium is also getting some updates with attractions like the new Illusion Lab, where guests can experience mind-bending optical illusions to make them question reality; Crazy Golf, an innovative mini golf course featuring epic lighting, selfie-worthy shots, and even zip-lining holes; Mirror Maze expansion to include even more of the endless hallways and infinity rooms visitors have come to love; and Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, a murder mystery manor where guests must solve the clues to determine whodunit before becoming the murderer’s next victim.
Stars and Strikes – This 52,500-square-foot bowling alley and entertainment center opened earlier this year, bringing an all-new attraction to the Coastal Grand Mall. Guests can choose from a variety of exciting activities, including augmented reality bowling, ax-throwing, indoor bumper cars, laser tag, arcade games, and virtual reality games.
Surfside Beach Pier – Closed since sustaining major damage during Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the Surfside Beach Pier is slated to be completed and fully functional by mid-2023. The new pier features concrete construction and will include retail and dining space.
Surfworks Surf Park – Wavegarden is opening a brand-new surf park in Myrtle Beach in 2023. Surfworks is the first surf park in South Carolina, and features man-made waves for the ideal environment for visitors to learn to surf or quickly improve upon their skills.
New Myrtle Beach Restaurants in 2023:
900 Prime Steakhouse – Construction on the new Lake View Commons Shopping Center is underway, with a new restaurant, 900 Prime Steakhouse, slated to open in the spring of 2023. This fine dining restaurant will be operated by the same restaurateurs who own Sea Blue. Guests can expect an upscale environment with traditional steakhouse fare.
Blue Drum – Located on the Intracoastal Waterway in Myrtle Beach, Blue Drum is a new seafood restaurant slated to open in March of 2023. This brand new eatery will feature fresh seafood, craft cocktails, and public boat docks for those visiting by sea. Stay tuned to Blue Drum’s Facebook page for the most up-to-date information regarding their grand opening.
Fire to Table by Fat Boys – In May of 2022, a husband and wife duo with extensive restaurant experience opened Fat Boys Smoke Pit and Oyster Bar. But within a few months of opening, they rebranded the restaurant as Fire to Table by Fat Boys and expanded their menu to include a wide range of locally sourced, seasonal dishes that had previously been available only as daily specials. This Murrells Inlet escape has become a fast favorite thanks to its delicious cuisine and unique atmosphere, featuring a beautiful outdoor patio nestled beneath a Spanish moss-laden live oak tree.
Terrazza 19 – The Grand Dunes Golf Course underwent a months-long renovation that was completed in September of 2022, including upgrades to the clubhouse with the addition of the new Terrazza 19 restaurant. This tapas bar is open to the public, offering guests small plates, shareables, and craft cocktails and featuring stunning views of the Intracoastal Waterway.
New Stores in Myrtle Beach in 2023
Chubbies – Chubbies is open at Tanger Outlets on U.S. 17 near North Myrtle Beach. The popular men’s clothing brand specializes in shorts, swim trunks, and brightly colored casual clothing.
ICYMI: NEW ATTRACTIONS FROM 2022
Whether you haven’t been to Myrtle Beach in a few years or you’re just interested in checking out the latest and greatest area attractions, check out these new or renovated restaurants, attractions, and hotels from 2022 that definitely still deserve a spot on your vacation itinerary.
New in 2022 Restaurants:
Bubba’s Fish Camp & Smokehouse Grill – Recently opened in 2022, Bubba’s Fish Camp & Smokehouse Grill is located across from Broadway at the Beach on 21st Avenue North in Myrtle Beach. This new casual venue is the sister restaurant to the longtime-favorite Bubba’s Fish Shack, and serves up seafood and in-house smoked meats.
Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar – This longtime Myrtle Beach staple, previously located in 810 Bowling, moved to a standalone location in the Market Common shopping center. Customers can now order the same unique milkshake creations they know and love, but without the extensive wait times, thanks to the shop’s new larger location.
Heirloom Bistro – This eclectic farm-to-table restaurant opened in April of 2022, and features “tiered price fixed menus” for a unique and ever-changing dining experience. Located in Northwood Plaza, this restaurant has received excellent reviews since opening—reservations are strongly recommended.
Southern Hops Brewing Company in Murrells Inlet – This Florence, SC-based brewery expanded into the Grand Strand last summer with the opening of their new location in Murrells Inlet. Southern Hops Brewing Company offers handcrafted beer and locally sourced dishes, set to the laid-back vibes of live local music.
The Hangout – Featuring an expansive menu and live music year-round, The Hangout has set itself apart as a fun, well, hangout for families in Myrtle Beach. Located at Broadway at the Beach, The Hangout is a 40,000-square-foot destination that features unique family entertainment, including dancing and contests, unique art installations, a massive Pez dispenser collection, courtyard games, fire pits, and more. The menu includes a mix of seafood, burgers, and more made from scratch in the high-tech kitchen.
New in 2022 Attractions:
K1 Indoor Race Track – The K1 Indoor Kart Racing track opened in April 2022 in North Myrtle Beach. Located in the former Bi-Lo grocery store building on Main Street, K1 features all-electric go-karts, which can reach top speeds of 45 mph.
Landmark Resort: Water Park Upgrades – Landmark Resort‘s H2Oasis Water Park received a $3 million overhaul, which includes the addition of three full-size waterslides, a kiddie slide, and a splash zone play area. The new waterpark, located on Ocean Boulevard at the resort, officially opened in August of 2022.
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Updates – The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk received a facelift just prior to the 2022 summer season. Section by section, crews replaced the wooden boards with a more durable composite material. Following the resurfacing, visitors can now see nine different colored boards on the iconic boardwalk.
New in 2022 Hotels & Resorts:
Hotel Blue Renovations – The fan-favorite Hotel Blue Resort located on the south end of Myrtle Beach received a $1 million facelift with updates to kitchens, furniture, and elevators throughout the property for the 2022 season.
SpringHill Suites Oceanfront by Marriott – A new SpringHill Suites Myrtle Beach Oceanfront by Marriott opened in spring 2022 on the oceanfront in Myrtle Beach. Two towers formerly part of the Breakers Resort were demolished to make way for the new state-of-the-art resort, which features 26 floors and tons of great amenities.
ICYMI: NEW ATTRACTIONS FROM 2021
Thanks to the pandemic, many people’s travel plans were disrupted and there’s a good chance you might have missed these new Myrtle Beach restaurants and attractions that opened back in 2021. Don’t worry, even just two short years later, they’re still as fresh and exciting as ever!
New in 2021 Restaurants:
Byrd’s Famous Cookies – Headquartered in Savannah, GA., Byrd’s Famous Cookies opened a location at Broadway at the Beach in 2021, offering a variety of cookie options along with other treats and gifts.
Crooked Hammock Brewery – This dog- and family-friendly brewery opened its kitchen at Barefoot Landing in 2021. The atmosphere offers outdoor relaxation with hammocks, games and more, while the kitchen offers a variety of elevated bar food, including nachos, burgers, and sandwiches. The Island Bar features 360-degree views of Barefoot Landing. Brewery tours are also available.
Grand Strand Brewing Company – Part of the city’s new Arts & Entertainment District surrounding Nance Plaza in downtown Myrtle Beach, this brewery features local beers and includes a cozy outdoor beer garden that is both kid- and dog-friendly.
Landshark Bar & Grill: New Location – Barefoot Landing is now home to a second Grand Strand location of Landshark Bar in Grill! The restaurant is located lakeside near the southernmost entrance and features indoor and outdoor seating, an outdoor stage hosting live music, and a waterfront bar and patio seating overlooking Barefoot Lake. Fan favorites from the LandShark Bar & Grill menu include street tacos, salads, seafood, handmade burgers, signature cocktails, LandShark beers, and an extensive lineup of frozen concoctions. The original Landshark Bar & Grill location is at the base of the Myrtle Beach Skywheel.
New in 2021 Attractions:
Barefoot Landing: New Stores – Barefoot Landing, a massive shopping and dining complex in North Myrtle Beach, welcomed several new shops in 2021. Haven’s Marketplace is a home décor store with plenty of furniture and accessories to spruce up your home. The golf lover in your life will certainly appreciate a gift from Mulligan Golf Gift Store. Sea Bags offers a variety of unique bags made from recycled sails. Stop by Shining Sol Candle Co. to check out their selection of wooden wick soy candles. Spice & Tea Exchange has a palate-pleasing array of spices and teas to browse. Toy Kingdom is the newest toy store at the complex.
Broadway at the Beach: New Stores – Several new merchants joined Broadway at the Beach in 2021. Fresh-Up, an eatery that features smoothies, juices, bubble waffles, and other treats, is located next to Yamato Steakhouse. Retro Active, a longtime staple at Broadway at the Beach, has added a sister store called Retro Active 2! This store is located next to Build-A-Bear Workshop and has pop culture and music from the ’90s through today’s favorites. It’Sugar opened a Sour Patch Kids Store inside their space that features the iconic sweet and sour candies and novelties.
Charles Bach Theatre – Charles Bach’s Wonders Theatre is located on The Avenue at Broadway at the Beach, and features Charles Bach’s Wonders Magic Show and Steve Falcon’s Comedy Hypnosis Hour, among others. The theater is open nightly throughout summer.
SelfieWRLD – The No. 1 trending selfie museum, SelfieWRLD opened in Coastal Grand Mall in 2021. This fun, high-energy museum is full of interactive art installations to capture your best selfie.
Skywheel Updates – The Myrtle Beach Skywheel celebrated its 10th birthday in 2021 by undergoing renovations that included refreshing the interior and exterior of each gondola and upgrading the lighting system.
The Funplex – The Funplex is a tropical-themed amusement park located between 14th and 15th Avenues North on Ocean Boulevard, and includes a roller coaster, rides, a walk-up bar, and an arcade.
