Hard Rock Park Opens In Myrtle Beach, S.C. On April 15

Myrtle Beach, S.C. (PRWEB) April 13, 2008 -- The long-awaited Hard Rock Park opens April 15, just off Highway 501, the main artery for tourists heading to Myrtle Beach. Excitement about the area's first "theme" park is high and the park expects to draw more than 40,000 visitors each day.

Hard Rock Park is the latest entertainment option to hit Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand. With the beach the main attraction, Myrtle Beach also offers more than 100 golf courses, abundant shopping venues and live entertainment theaters. The area is also home to one of the East Coast's best amusement parks, the seaside gem, Family Kingdom.

Family Kingdom is perched at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean offering spectacular views of the Grand Strand and easy access to the white, sandy beach. More than 40 years ago, when Family Kingdom was built, seaside amusement parks were commonplace and virtually every beachfront resort town from Maine to Florida had one.

But today there are fewer than twenty oceanside parks along the entire East Coast, making Family Kingdom all the more special. As the amusement anchor for the Myrtle Beach oceanfront, Family Kingdom is a thoroughly modern park in every important sense, yet it still manages to project a welcoming atmosphere of days-gone-by and the nostalgic charm and character of historic seaside carnivals.

Its oceanfront location is unique; its wholesome atmosphere is appealing to families (the area's core visitors); and its status as Trip Advisor's "#5 Amusement Park" in the country (outside Orlando) distinguishes it from all other coastal attractions between Virginia and Florida.

Family Kingdom is home to the legendary Swamp Fox wooden roller coaster, as well as the largest Ferris wheel in the state of South Carolina. More than thirty other rides and attractions are available for all ages. It offers a complete amusement park experience with midway games, family entertainment and traditional park temptations such as funnel cakes, cotton candy and corndogs.

So it's not hard to foresee a surge in visitors to Family Kingdom as Hard Rock Park entices more new visitors to come to town. With its focus on the music world, plus a hefty $50 charge just for admission to the park, Hard Rock will not be for everyone.

But Family Kingdom offers a great alternative. Family Kingdom's "no general admission" is a budget-friendly policy that enables families to stroll the midway affordably, buying tickets by the ride or saving even more by purchasing all-day wristbands that allow for unlimited rides.

Family Kingdom even sweetens the deal with a "Combo Pass" for $32.35 per person that includes unlimited access to park rides, plus admission to Family Kingdom's very own water park located just across Ocean Boulevard from the amusement park. With the Combo Pass, families can experience the thrill of riding a big roller coaster or the massive Ferris wheel, and also spend a day at the only area water park right on the beach.

Family Kingdom Water Park features three serpentine water flumes each with a drop of greater than a 100 feet, two speed slides and two intermediate slides, all with a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean. A Lazy River measuring more than 400 feet meanders around splash pools and beside a waterfall. Splash pools feature two rain trees, a multi-tiered waterfall and eight kiddie slides.

When Hard Rock Theme Park bursts on the scene on April 15, it's sure to make the top 5 list of what to do in Myrtle Beach for many returning and new visitors to this beachfront town. And right up there next to it will be Family Kingdom, the affordable family-fun venue whose tag line for 2008 is that "Nothing Rocks Like Family!"

For more information about Family Kingdom, got to www.family-kingdom.com.

###