Fun in Myrtle Beach

Surf and Turf on Saturday
You know the drill: Stake your claim early on the beach. Even if you venture off for a bit, you've reserved a spot you can come back to.

By afternoon, the beach can get a bit too hot for comfort. Don't stray too far from the water, though: Cool off at Ripley's Aquarium, located at Broadway at the Beach. Our favorite part is the long tunnel that runs through the big tank. If you're the touchy-feely type, there are a few separate touch pools, where visitors can get their feel of spiny critters such as sea urchins, horseshoe crabs, and stingrays. In summer, children may want to check out the Marine Science Camps; (843) 916-0888.

Head for dinner at Greg Norman's Australian Grille restaurant. Superb wines, including some reds and whites from the golfer's vineyards, complement wood-grilled Australian and Mediterranean delights such as the pepper-crusted grouper ($22.95); (843) 361-0000.

For a different dining option, try one of Myrtle Beach's many dinner theaters. We're partial to Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show. There's just something about 32 thundering horses that gets your heart racing; call 1-800-433-4401 for show times and prices.