Greenville Zoo is home to big cats like African lions and leopards; orangutans and various kinds of monkeys; gangly giraffes, giant anteaters, red pandas and other animals sure to delight children and adults alike. Want to check it all out ahead of time? Take Greenville Zoo's online zoo tour at gis.greenvillesc.gov/zootour. You and the kids can seek out more Greenville animals with the city's Mice on Main program. Nine whimsical bronze mice are "hidden" on downtown Greenville's Main Street.
150 Cleveland Park Drive, Greenville, 864-467-4300, www.greenvillezoo.com, @greenvillezoo
HAVE AN EDVENTURE
Columbia's EdVenture is the largest children's museum in the Southeast. Kids can climb inside "Eddie," the 40-foot-tall "kid" made of reinforced molded plastic and learn how the human body works. EdVenture's newest exhibit – "Flight" – offers youngsters the opportunity to try their hand on a Boeing 777 flight simulator, handle the steering controls while sitting in a Boeing 737 Classic Cockpit, and other flight-centric activities, as well as many other educational adventures.
211 Gervais St., Columbia, 803-779-3100, www.edventure.org, @EdVenture
RELATED: A weekend in Columbia, S.C.
BROADWAY AT THE BEACH
There are lots of family entertainment options at Myrtle Beach's waterside Broadway at the Beach, including new ones like the 118-foot-tall Ferris wheel with 24 open-air gondolas and the entertainment sector's recently created historic-style warehouse district, which has a special Dave & Buster's featuring a stupefying number of electronic games to play. Ripley's Aquarium, meanwhile, has opened an indoor glass-bottom boat attraction. These join the other major Broadway at the Beach attractions including the Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center, WonderWorks, Broadway Grand Prix, jet boats, two live entertainment theaters and more.
1325 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, 843-444-3200, 800-386 4662, www.broadwayatthebeach.com, @BroadwayatBeach
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