Need a Break from the Sand? Why Your Family Will Love "The Track"
You know that moment on a family vacation? You’ve had a few glorious, sun-soaked days at the beach. You've built the sandcastles, jumped the waves, and breathed in that wonderful, salty ocean breeze. But suddenly, the kids have a little too much pent-up energy, and the adults are looking to mix things up.
That’s exactly where we found ourselves recently. We were hosting friends down at Oceans Edge, making for a lively group of four adults and four kids. To break up our beach days, we decided it was finally time to check out The Track - Myrtle Beach (located at 9589 North Kings Highway). We’d been wanting to try this hidden gem since we first started sharing our beach home, and let me tell you—it certainly did not disappoint!
Here is our honest review, along with a few parent-tested tips to make your visit absolutely stress-free.
The "Why": Mixing Up the Vacation Routine
While the beach is the star of the show, planning a high-energy activity off the sand is a fantastic way to prevent vacation burnout. It gives everyone a fresh adventure, tires the kids out, and creates the kind of laugh-out-loud bonding moments you’ll be talking about for years.
What to Expect: Bright Lights, Fast Karts, and Cold Water!
When you walk into The Track, the entry funnels you right through the arcade. The kids were instantly hooked by the flashing lights and cheerful noises! One of the first things we noticed as parents was how incredibly clean the entire facility was, which always puts my mind at ease.
We opted for the 2-hour armbands, which provided incredible value for our group.
The Deal: For our visit, it was 30 dollars per person for guests 4 feet 8 inches and taller, and 15 dollars for those under 4 feet 8 inches. This included unlimited rides on the go-karts, blaster boats, kiddie rides, and even gave us some arcade credits! (Parent Hack: Be sure to double-check their website before you go, as pricing and inclusions can vary by season!)
Here is how we maximized our morning:
1. Go-Kart Variety keeps it Fresh We started on the Mighty Myrtle track and had an absolute blast, but then we moved over to the Wild Woody—and that one was even better! Having multiple, multi-level tracks meant the older kids (and adults) never got bored.
2. The Rookie Karts for the Little Ones A couple of the kids in our group weren't quite old enough to drive the faster karts. Thankfully, they have a dedicated "Rookie Karts" area. It’s much slower and incredibly safe, but it still gave the younger ones the thrill of driving themselves. Seeing their proud little faces steering the wheel was truly memorable.
3. Warning: The Blaster Boats are BRISK! It was a hot, sunny Carolina day, so we headed to the Blaster Boats. Think bumper boats, but your steering wheel has a squirt gun attached! Let me tell you, that water is shockingly cold. It was far more refreshing than I bargained for!
Pro-Tip: Wear light, quick-drying clothing. You will get absolutely soaked. Even if you are just watching from the sidelines, be careful—the water cannons can easily reach the bystander areas!
4. The Arcade Reality Check We capped off our morning in the arcade. The kids eagerly burned through the credits on their cards, which led to a reload... and another reload. As parents, we all know the drill: you spend a small fortune on arcade games just so the kids can excitedly exchange their hard-earned tickets for a plastic spider or a piece of candy they'll lose in the car five minutes later. But honestly? The joy and laughter were worth every penny.
A Quick Note on Staffing and Timing
Our best parent hack for The Track? Go right when they open. We walked right onto almost every ride.
One minor drawback we noticed was that the park seemed a bit short-staffed. We were visiting in the off-season, so some of the ride operators had to hustle back and forth between different attractions to load guests, which caused a few minor lines to build up. However, they worked hard with a smile, and I'm certain on a busy summer day, they will have a full crew running the stations. Going early completely mitigated this for us!
The Perfect Morning Wrap-Up
After two solid hours of racing, splashing, and gaming, everyone was happily exhausted. The Track is incredibly convenient—just a quick 20-minute drive south down Highway 17 from the condo. On the way back, we stopped at Barefoot Landing, which offers a fantastic array of easy, family-friendly lunch spots.
By the time we pulled back into Oceans Edge, we were ready to relax. Sinking into the comfortable furniture in our spacious living room, getting the wet clothes straight into the in-unit washer, and taking a quiet moment on the balcony was the perfect end to a busy morning.
If you are looking for a fun, off-beach excursion during your stay, we highly recommend giving The Track a spin!
Ready to plan your next family getaway? We’d love to host you and your loved ones. Check our availability and start planning your North Myrtle Beach vacation today!