Most tourists see Myrtle Beach from only two perspectives — at ground level and at sea level. This, of course, is fine — there’s plenty of beauty on the landscape and seascape to keep millions of visitors returning each year. These visitors enjoy all the great things the Grand Strand has to offer on dry land and white sand, and the lovely Atlantic Ocean has always been our No. 1 drawing card.
But Myrtle Beach is a great place to see on all levels — especially from high above the ground looking down at all the scenic beauty. Visitors can experience the Grand Strand from a bird’s-eye view at one of the many local thin-air-oriented attractions and outfitters. Here are our five favorite ways to rise above the Myrtle Beach skyline and get a new perspective of your vacation destination:
- Helicopter Adventures: Take a whirlwind tour of the Grand Strand aboard a real-life whirlybird at this Broadway at the Beach attraction. Offering introductory helicopter rides for as little as $20 per person, Helicopter Adventures features longer tours of the coastline and Grand Strand for slightly higher rates. Helicopter Adventures has its own helipads and fleet of top-of-the-line helicopters with experienced and fully certified pilots, as well as all the latest safety equipment — so the adrenaline rush you feel will be out of awe, not fear. Be sure to snap some selfies and some scenic shots from the sky.
- Myrtle Beach Skydiving: If jumping out of a perfectly good airplane is your idea of fun, there’s no better time to scratch that daredevil act off your bucket list than during your vacation on the Grand Strand. Based out of the North Myrtle Beach Airport, Myrtle Beach Skydiving offers certified instruction and jumps for beginners and experienced divers. Take a tandem jump with minimal training and a lower cost, or sign on for a solo jump if you have the time for the additional training. Patrons can purchase a helmet-cam video of their freefall experience, as well as celebratory photos taken upon touching down.
- Parasailing: Flying high above the ocean with the sea breeze blowing through your hair is one of the top watersports experiences you can enjoy on the Grand Strand. With dozens of outfitters offering parasailing from Little River down to Murrells Inlet, you can find a fun and affordable trip just a short distance off the coast and about 100 feet in the air. Offered via solo flights or tandem tours of two or three passengers, parasailing uses parachutes pulled behind boats to lift you up where only seagulls typically soar. This is one vacation memory you will never forget.
- SkyWheel: For those with a fear of heights, this popular downtown attraction may be your best bet for catching some altitude in a safe, enclosed environment. Reaching 190 feet into the sky above the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, the SkyWheel gives passengers a bird’s-eye view of the Atlantic Ocean, the beach, the Boardwalk, Ocean Boulevard and the downtown district. The air-conditioned, glass-covered gondolas provide a comfortable ride, and the special windows allow riders to take photos without having to worry about flashes and reflections.
- Zip Lines: The growing trends of extreme sports and ecotourism have combined to bring a number of zip lines and ropes courses to the Grand Strand in recent years. In fact, there are three within a few miles of Bay View — Adrenaline Adventure on the old Pavilion site, Radical Ropes on Kings Highway and Soar + Xplore at Broadway at the Beach. For a more natural experience, check out Go Ape Treetop Adventure at the North Myrtle Beach Sports & Recreation Complex, where obstacles and zip lines are built high in the trees. The grand finale is a zip down a long line that spans a large lake.
After a long day of exploring Myrtle Beach from the sky, come back down to earth at your vacation home away from home at Bay View. With clean, comfortable accommodations, oceanfront amenities and activities, and a convenient location in the heart of downtown Myrtle Beach, Bay View Resort is the best place to land on the Strand.