Finding open-for-Christmas fun easy across Strand

Even without any gifts left to open from Christmas Eve or morning, the holiday itself is packed with potential for other gifts that cannot be boxed, wrapped or topped off with ribbon: quality time with family and friends, and memories to savor for a lifetime, maybe even for an extra smile on a rainy or blustery day.

The menu of choices of outings includes movie theaters – with four premieres nationwide: “Concussion,” “Daddy’s Home,” “Joy” and “Point Break” – as well as piers, golf courses, bowling alleys, a dinner show with enchanting equestrian perfomances, three Broadway at the Beach-area attractions, and “Christmas Wonderland” across the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex. Rates vary per site for bowling and golfing.

Lori Lampo, senior sales and marketing manager for WonderWorks, the indoor, science-filled playground at Broadway at the Beach, said many families turn out every Dec. 25.

“Many are in town visiting local relatives for the holidays,” Lampo said, “and some are just enjoying a Christmas vacation by the ocean. There’s something really special about welcoming families on Christmas Day. We love that we can host them for a day of family fun and togetherness.”

Otis Blakeney, the general manager of Surfside Bowl Family Entertainment Center in Surfside Beach, said “a lot of families and couples” fill the 32 lanes every Christmas Day.

“People come out and have a great time,” he said.

The season begun on Thanksgiving night for “Christmas Wonderland,” a nightly outdoor festival through New Year’s Eve, has been “terrific,” said Douglas Ladnier of Little Spider Creations, who heads the various stages of entertainment.

“We have seen so many children’s faces light up with joy during our shows,” Ladnier said, “and their parents and grandparents are equally filled with the Christmas spirit while watching our performances and enjoying the festivities at the park.”

Working on Christmas evening also extends the hosts’ own way of celebrating the holiday.

“Our entire cast of entertainers,” Ladnier said, “and the staff at Christmas Wonderland, are all thrilled to be doing what we love to do most during the holiday season: Bringing laughter and joy to the hearts of everyone we meet.”

So, scan this list of some ideas for Christmas Day outings:

State parks open every single day

Also, with free park admission statewide Dec. 24-25, to close S.C. State Park Service’s “12 Days of Deals”:

▪ Myrtle Beach State Park, on U.S. 17 Business, one mile south of Farrow Parkway/South Ocean Boulevard, across from Seagate Village. Winter hours: 6 a.m.-8 p.m. through February. 843-238-5325 or www.myrtlebeachsp.com.

▪ Huntington Beach State Park, on U.S. 17, between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach, across from Brookgreen Gardens. Winter hours: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. through March 1. 843-237-4440 or www.huntingtonbeachsp.com.

Get a panoramic gaze from a pier

Besides the pier at Myrtle Beach State Park:

▪ Apache Family Campground and Pier, 9700 Kings Road, north of Myrtle Beach, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Free access on this day; and $2 parking fee. 843-497-6486 or www.apachefamilycampground.com/apachepier.php.

▪ Cherry Grove Fishing Pier, 3500 N. Ocean Blvd., North Myrtle Beach, probably 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (call to verify). $2 admission to walk. 843-249-1625 or www.cherrygrovepier.com.

▪ Springmaid Beach Pier, at Springmaid Beach Resort, 3200 S. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Free access on this day. 843-315-7100, 866-764-8501 or www.springmaidbeach.com/amenities/springmaidpier/

Broadway at the Beach-area amusements

▪ Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center (Hollywood Wax Museum, Outbreak: Dread the Undead, and Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors), 1808 21st Ave. N. Ext., Myrtle Beach, at U.S. 17 Bypass, next to Broadway Grand Prix Family Race Park, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Combination deal for all three sites, advance: $27 ages 12 and older, $12 ages 4-11, and free ages 3 and younger. 843-444-0091 or www.hollywoodwaxmyrtlebeach.com.

▪ Ripley’s Aquarium, at Broadway at the Beach, on 29th Avenue North, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., including “Festival of Trees” through Dec. 31, free with admission: $24.99 ages 12 and older (or save $2 advance online from this adult rate), $15.99 ages 6-11, and $7.99 ages 2-5, and free ages 1 and younger. 843-916-0888, 800-734-8888 or www.ripleysaquarium.com.

▪ WonderWorks, at U.S. 17 Bypass and 21st Avenue North, near Palace Theatre, noon-7 p.m. $24.99 ages 13-59, $14.99 ages 4-12 and 60 and older, and free ages 3 and younger; price includes one ropes course. Also, year-round locals’ $5 discount takes effect Jan. 1, for residents of Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick counties with photo ID. 843-626-9962 or www.wonderworksonline.com/myrtle-beach/.

Take a swing or putt, all for fun

Myrtle Beach Family Golf (www.myrtlebeachfamilygolf.com) continues its Christmas Day tradition of opening three of its eight locations within an 8-mile radius of Myrtle Beach, covering the north, middle and south part of its turf:

▪ North – Cane Patch Driving Range (not the par 3 course, nearby, on this day), 7301 N. Kings Highway, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 843-315-0301.

▪ Middle – Captain Hook’s Adventure (miniature) Golf, 2205 N. Kings Highway, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 843-913-7851.

▪ South – Midway Par 3 Golf, 3101 S. Kings Highway, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 843-913-5335.

Some other companies’ golf opportunities are:

▪ Tupelo Bay Golf Center, 1800 U.S. 17 Business S., Garden City Beach, just south of Bi-Lo at the Beach in Surfside Beach, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 843-215-7888 or www.tupelobay.com.

▪ Harbour View Par 3 and Driving Range, and Tribal Island, Tiki Adventure Golf, 901 U.S. 17, between Little River and Myrtle Beach, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 843-249-9117 or www.harbourviewgolf.com.

Wind up to wing ’em down the alley

▪ Frank Theatres’ CineBowl & Grille, at Inlet Square, at U.S. 17 Business and U.S. 17 Bypass in Murrells Inlet, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. 843-651-9400 or cinebowlandgrille.com.

▪ Little River Lanes, 300 Bowling Lane, Little River, off River Hills Drive, northwest of U.S. 17, 4-11 p.m. 843-249-0055.

▪ Myrtle Beach Bowl (formerly Waccamaw Bowling Center), 101 Gray Drive, west of Myrtle Beach, off U.S. 501, just west of River Oaks Drive and Intracoastal Waterway, 4:30 p.m.-1 a.m. 843-236-1020 or myrtlebeachbowl.com.

▪ Planet Fun! 349 Whiteville Road, Shallotte, N.C., 1-10 p.m. 910-755-2386 (2FUN) or www.planetfuncenter.com.

▪ Surfside Bowl Family Entertainment Center, 510 U.S. 17 Business N., Surfside Beach, 4 p.m.-midnight. 843-238-2695 or www.surfsidebowlingcenter.com.

Season your dinner with some jousting

“Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament,” 2904 Fantasy Way, close to U.S. 501 and George Bishop Parkway, just west of Myrtle Beach and the Intracoastal Waterway, will saddle up for a show at 5 p.m. Plus tax and processing fees: $53.95 ages 13 and older, $26.95 ages 3-12, and free children ages 2 and younger on a parent’s lap. Special offers available at www.medievaltimes.com/myrtlebeach.aspx. 843-236-4635 or 800-436-4386.

Cap off day with illuminating evening

▪ “Christmas Wonderland,” 5:30-10:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 31 at North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex, at S.C. 90 and Robert Edge Parkway. Free admission; activity wristbands $20 ages 13 and older, $10 ages 5-12, and free standard wristband for ages 4 and younger, with adult purchase; and $8 paintball challenge. Wristband covers “Nostalgic Holiday Hayride & Christmas Lights Extravaganza,” “Cirque-du-Elfe – The Wrapping Factory” with Kindar-Martin Family Circus, a 3D “Walk to the North Pole,” “Christmas Under the Sea” puppet show, and “Rudolph’s Buddies” petting zoo. 843-281-3803 or www.nmbwonderland.com.

▪ 26th annual “Holiday Festival of Lights,” daily through Jan. 3: 5:30-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, and 5:30-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays in Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission’s James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive, Charleston. (From U.S. 17 south: Cross Ashley River, then go south on S.C. 171, west (right) on S.C. 700 (Maybank Highway) and south (left) on Riverland Drive; or from downtown Charleston, take S.C. 30 to its end point, then right on Folly Road, left on Central Park Road, and left on Riverland.). Per vehicle – $15 for 1-15 guests, $40 for 16-30, and $100 for 31 or more. Mondays-Thursdays, $10 per vehicle (1-15 guests) with donation of a non-perishable food item or dog/cat food to benefit Lowcountry Food Bank. 843-795-4386 or www.ccprc.com/index.aspx?NID=1546.

▪ “Holiday Lights on the River,” 6-10 p.m. daily through Dec. 31, in Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission’s Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Road, Columbia (From Interstate 20, take Exit 63 and head right – west – on Bush River Road, left on St. Andrews Road, then left again at third traffic light to continue on Bush River Road, where park entrance is 1.5 miles ahead.) $15 carload, $25 passenger van, $40 bus. Also: train ride $2; “Winter Wonder Ride” $2, and $10 for all-you-can-slide wristband; and “Wetland Wonderland Walking Trail Hayride” $1. 803-772-3903 or www.icrc.net/holiday-lights.

This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Finding open-for-Christmas fun easy across Strand."