And at Myrtle Beach Boardwalk in South Carolina, you can find all the traditional oceanfront fun and games, great restaurants and bars, live music and theater shows, watersports and fishing. The group founded the area’s first colony just south of the Cape Fear River, but disease wiped out the settlement within a year of its establishment. The National Shag Dance Championships started in Myrtle Beach in 1984 and is the longest continuously running shag dance contest in the United... or uncover more great South Carolina trip ideas on: Discover writers share all of the places, activities and adventure that South Carolina has to offer. This beach is situated in the center of a large stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. On the tour, you'll visit their amazing facility to meet an incredible array of big cats, apes, and even Bubbles the elephant, as well as the liger. There are 88 golf courses to enjoy in the area. As you can imagine, Myrtle Beach averages less than an inch of snow per year (that’s flakes; rarely accumulation) – and if it does actually snow, it falls in January or February. We have reviews of the best places to see in Myrtle Beach. The name Myrtle Beach comes from the thousands of wax myrtle trees that used to line the beach, not the showy crape myrtles that many think of. 1. Top 10 Things To Do In Myrtle Beach . Myrtle Beach reclines on South Carolina’s Atlantic coast, with a 60-mile string of beaches known as the Grand Strand. Miniature Golf– Myrtle Beach does not fall short of miniature golf courses. So, while you’re dreaming of your next visit to one of the East Coast’s top beach destinations, check out these 10 fun facts about the Myrtle Beach area: Ready to start dreaming about (and maybe even start planning) your next fun-filled getaway to the Grand Strand? 10. Legendary country music supergroup Alabama began its march to stardom — and eventually the Country Music Hall of Fame — in 1973 as the house band at downtown Myrtle Beach’s The Bowery, which is still open today. Many people don’t know what to expect or how things will be handled. Everyone’s Welcome in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Here's what you might not know about the Grand Strand: 1. The Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau says that the tourism industry is the largest business sector in Myrtle Beach. Featuring a 5,200-seat grandstand and a 1.5-mile course, it later became a NASCAR track, a golf course and driving range, and home to the old Myrtle Beach Mall. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. The practice facility is the area’s best (so take advantage and warm up), and the clubhouse restaurant is excellent. The Myrtle Beach area is bigger than you think. The Official Website of the South Carolina Office of Tourism | © 2020 South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Fishing. Add to that golf courses, fishing spots, and a sizzling nightlife scene too, and there’s The illustrious magazine Sports Illustrated was founded in Myrtle Beach, at Pine Lakes Country Club in 1954 by Henry Luce. And that means you really have 10 months out of the year open to choose from when you book your stay with us! From the hiking trails of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the beaches of the Grand Strand, see for yourself all of the adventure that South Carolina has to offer. 9. The beloved 1989 sleeper cult-classic movie "Shag" was set in Myrtle Beach and was filmed there. From Splashes Waterpark and Family Kingdom right next door, to jet skiing and parasailing right on the sand. Cursing your ancestors for not buying? While many people associate Myrtle Beach as being a family destination, it offers entertainment for those young and old and in between; in fact, there are many enjoyable things to do in Myrtle Beach for adults. Before I tell you about my experience, there’s some things you should know about about the area. Long Bay — with its crescent-shaped coastline that runs from the Cape Fear River in North Carolina to Georgetown on the Grand Strand’s southern end — was a popular spot for pirates in the early 1700s. Dealing with probate isn’t fun for anyone. Other movies to be shot on location on the Grand Strand include “Chasers” (1994), “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken” (1991) and “Swimming” (2000), along with TV shows “Dawson’s Creek” and “Eastbound & Down.” Recently, significant portions of “Magic Mike XXL” (2015) were filmed in downtown Myrtle Beach. 3. Now home to Fuddruckers and Captain Hook’s Adventure Golf, the tract of land located between 21st and 27th Avenues North just inland from Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach was originally known as Washington Park, and was home to a harness-racing horse track that opened in 1938. In the Myrtle Beach area, making each day count is easy as the area offers access to thousands of restaurants, attractions and entertainment options. Stick your toes in the sand. Sometimes the best thing to do in Myrtle Beach is to try another type of beach experience. Built in 1901 at the bargain price of $3,800, the Seaside Inn was Myrtle Beach’s first hotel. One of the biggest cats in the world lives in Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach is the mini golf capital of the world. If you are on a hunt for a vacation that has limitless of activities to keep your kids and the entire family busy without the need of breaking the bank, then I suggest you take into consideration Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The sparkling Atlantic Ocean offers mild temperatures here in Myrtle Beach, so run right in without fear of being too cold. 1. Arrive Early, Stay Late: TPC Myrtle Beach isn’t a garden variety golf course. From a wide span of Atlantic Ocean beaches to fun and entertaining attractions and shows, Myrtle Beach really has something affordable and tons of excitement to offer. Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display. 8. Best of all, each of our oceanfront Myrtle Beach resorts is just steps away from the ocean. South Carolina accommodations are famous for their beauty and Southern charm. 5. Swimming. Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade 4,169 reviews "It is a very relaxing walkway leading to lots of fun activities and restaurants with fabulous ocean views and a soft breeze and wonderful.aroma of the ocean.Many gift shops along the way..We like the Gay Dolphin f..." "We just walked around and rode the sky wheel(which was great!) Shopping. Sources: City of Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, 2104 N Ocean Blvd. South Carolina’s beaches are beautiful, and the seafood you can get in the state’s coastal towns is not to be missed. Sports Illustrated magazine was born in Myrtle Beach. 7. Located on the oceanfront near Pavilion Park at present-day 8th Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard, the hotel had no electricity or indoor plumbing. 2. Visit The Breakers Resort’s website today for a virtual visit that will help you prepare for your much-anticipated real one coming down the road! 2. We give you permission to be a little extra cocky today. With more mini golf courses per square mile than anywhere else, as well as being the home of the U.S. The band went on to win eight Grammys over the course of its storied career. A few of my family favorites are Jurassic Golf and Dragon’s Lair. Longtime “Wheel of Fortune” letter-turner Vanna White was born in North Myrtle Beach, as was The Golf Channel reporter Kelly Tilghman. It would be remiss for you to visit the area and only explore one of the 12 communities – there’s a lot to s… The Shag, a swing dance wildly popular in the 1950s and 60s, originated in North Myrtle Beach. The National Shag Dance Championship competition also is held there every year. Plan your Palmetto State adventure today. Myrtle Beach is renowned as being the Miniature Golf Capital of the World. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a desirable location for active adults who want to retire near the water. 21. While there, the group finalized its plans to release the popular sports publication, and a plaque memorializing the event can still be seen near the clubhouse on the grounds today. The area has more than 100 golf courses, and there's bound to be one that fits every golfer's taste. If you are dealing with the probate process in Myrtle Beach, the process can feel confusing, overwhelming, and stressful. The roughly $150 million plan will redevelop the mall into an outdoor shopping center called “The District.” The District will be more than just a shopping center. Splashing in a water park. But for just $2 per night, Seaside Inn guests got three square meals, a roof over their heads and easy access to the beach — the same attraction that lures people back to our stretch of the Carolina coast more than a century later. Other area accolades include the title of No. Myrtle Beach gets pretty hot in July and August, which is a big concern if you’re in a golf-focused area like Myrtle, so you should shoot for the three months before and after. 6. Golfing. With our comfortable oceanfront accommodations and the wide-ranging amenities found on-site, we’ve got everything you’ll need to enjoy the perfect beach getaway once our vacation days are upon us again. The Shag, a swing dance wildly popular in the 1950s and 60s, originated in North Myrtle Beach. By continuing, you agree to the use of these cookies. There are plenty of courses to take on any challenge and a fun outing for the whole family. Imagine Living in Myrtle Beach... More than 14 million visitors per year know the Grand Strand as a vacation destination. If you did know all of these then give yourself a big pat on the back and make sure to tell everyone you know that you rock at your knowledge of Myrtle Beach. By Kitty Bean Yancey. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in December. With its 60 miles of white-sand beaches and oceanfront hotels, thousands of restaurants and shopping outlets, and more than 100 golf courses and attractions, it’s easy to see why so many people love the Myrtle Beach area. Read more from some of South Carolina’s locals and discover what’s happening in the Palmetto State. Estimates are that almost 20 million visitors come to this area each year. Myrtle Beach gets about 52 inches of rain per year, while the annual average in the United States is about 38 inches. The Myrtle Beach Mall is located just north of the city of Myrtle Beach. Our site uses cookies in order to function and improve your experience. In fact, the band borrowed its name from a sign that used to serve as the backdrop to The Bowery’s stage. If you have a probate property in Myrtle Beach, here are a few things you should know! Mrs. F.E. But there's more to Myrtle Beach than that famous, fun, gorgeous stretch of coast. 1 summer destination by TripAdvisor in 2014. You might know that Myrtle Beach has a gorgeous, long, white sand beach, warm water you can swim in all day, and more seafood buffets than you know what to do with. Visit The Beach Head over to Myrtle Beach State Park, which offers a respite from the activity of Myrtle Beach. The courses are whimsical and fanciful and just plain fun, with crazy themes and outlandish holes. Myrtle Beach is known for being a tourist’s paradise in the summertime, complete with water parks, neon lights, and enough chain restaurants to make a mall food court blush. The liger, a tiger and lion hybrid cat, lives at T.I.G.E.R.S., the Institute for Greatly Endangered Species. Notorious buccaneers including legendary English swashbuckler Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard, used to hide out in the local inlets and attack ships transporting treasure. After moving to South Carolina, why not make time to visit the state’s famous beaches, including Myrtle Beach, Kiawah Island, Hilton Head and Folly Beach… The very first state park in South Carolina was Myrtle Beach State Park, and it still remains one of the most gorgeous state parks in the U.S. today. In 1973, a group of Time Inc. executives visited the area by way of the old train line out of Conway, and they made a visit to the links at Pine Lakes International Golf Club — Myrtle Beach’s first golf course. It was my first time visiting the area, but I was on a press trip with several other journalists so we all got to explore the area together and let me tell you, there is plenty to see and do in Myrtle Beach. You’ll get a beautiful view of all of Myrtle Beach. South Carolina is the perfect vacation destination for every family. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on Tripadvisor: See 485,984 traveller reviews and photos of Myrtle Beach tourist attractions. With all of the things to do and see in a city, deciding how to spend your time can be an agonizing decision. In fact, visitors and residents alike have over 50 courses to choose from. No trip to the ocean is complete without a visit to the boardwalk, for cotton candy and amusement park rides, hot dogs and haunted houses. It was inspired by the many wax myrtle trees growing on the coast (rather than crepe myrtle, which is a popular misconception). The Palmetto State's culinary scene is famous for quality and originality, from unique Gullah cuisine to our thriving farm-to-table movement. Regular visitors to the Myrtle Beach area know that the Grand Strand — with its 60-plus miles of beautiful Carolina coastline and a wide range of fun and family-friendly activities on tap — is a great place to visit. And, you could get another plot of land for free if you built a house on the first plot. Myrtle Beach offers myriad activities. The sun shines in Myrtle Beach about 218 days each year, which is slightly more than average for the country. Here are ten things to do in Myrtle Beach to make your vacation one to remember! Myrtle Beach also claims to be "The Golf Capital of the World." 1. You can still find a beach music band and people happy to teach you the shag's basic steps most nights somewhere on the Grand Strand. The term "Grand Strand" comes from an old definition of "strand" meaning the area of land that borders a body of water. But it’s also super fun—especially if you enjoy heights! Just know that May is bike month, so beware. Don’t forget to check out our bargains and specials page for some great rates on your Myrtle Beach spring break vacation. 10 Things To Do In Myrtle Beach. 2. The name Myrtle Beach comes from the thousands of wax myrtle trees that used to line the beach, not the showy crape myrtles that many think of. Taking a spin in a gondola on the SkyWheel. Summers tend to be rainy and hot for Myrtle Beach's climate, with the most uncomfortable months being July and August. This serene state park has plenty of nature trails, picnic tables, playgrounds, secluded beaches far from hotels, and a … Blackbeard eventually met his demise in Cape Fear. Here are my Top 10 Things to do in Myrtle Beach with Kids. Gather inspiration with trip ideas for planning your next South Carolina vacation. Home prices that don’t break the bank. With hundreds of restaurants, top-rated hotels, exciting attractions and dozens of golf courses it’s not hard to see why families continue to come back to … 3. With an incredible 60 miles of uninterrupted beach, the Myrtle Beach area is certainly grand. Take a swim. 1 Hot Spot for Winter Meetings (Convention South magazine), inclusion among Huffington Post’s Best Restaurant Cities, and a spot in the Top 10 Places to Retire in S.C. (Movoto). The area’s first “tourists” were Spanish settlers who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with Spanish explorer Lucas Vazques de Allyon. But even among the locals, there are still plenty of fascinating things to discover about the area. 2. 2. 2. It's hard to imagine when you stand on the beach and see high rise hotels stretching in either direction as far as you can see, but the oceanfront was essentially empty before 1901, when the Seaside Inn, the very first hotel in the area, was built. Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach have been two of the most family-friendly vacation destinations for decades. Also in 1901, a plot of oceanfront land cost $25. Touch The South Carolina Sky On The Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel. Myrtle Beach lies right in the middle of this famously spectacular crescent of beach that runs from Georgetown County almost to the N.C. state line. A placard celebrating the magazine's start can still be found there. The Grand Strand hosts more than 14 million visitors each year — part of the reason it was voted America’s No. (Of course, future tourists found much better fortunes.). In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, there are plenty of reasons to get out and explore or slow down and relax. Because of its picturesque beaches, top-notch shopping, world-class entertainment, and an impressive seafood scene, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is … The 1989 movie “Shag,” which starred Phoebe Cates, Bridget Fonda and Scott Coffey, was set in and filmed in Myrtle Beach. All Rights Reserved. Pro Mini Golf Association's Masters' Tournament, Myrtle Beach earns the title. Myrtle Beach lies right in the middle of this famously spectacular crescent of beach that runs from Georgetown County almost to the N.C. state line. Burroughs — the wife of the founder of development company Burroughs & Collins, which played a huge role in developing the area — won the contest with her name choice. 4. Other locals to go on to fame include actors Anthony James (“Unforgiven”) and Christopher Jones (“Forrest Gump”), as well as actresses Madison Iseman (“She Will Be Free”) and Melissa Wyler (“Legally Blonde 2”). See some of their amazing cats on display at Preservation Station, their exhibit at Barefoot Landing, or spend the entire day at the incredible daylong Myrtle Beach Safari tour. Myrtle Beach is known as “America’s favorite beach town,” and for good reason! 1. Take a guided Myrtle Beach kayak tour. They feature amazing creations, such as fire-breathing dragons, pirate ships, mountains spouting molten lava and even a Mayan temple. It’s the quintessential seaside destination, with its lively, fun-filled boardwalk, amusement parks, waterparks, and top-notch seafood restaurants. Start things off on a high (make that high-energy) note with a cruise through the open-air bars clustered near the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, with their people-watching patios and party-time vibes. That’s a long way of saying, enjoy the experience from beginning to end. Download your free guide or request a copy by mail below, and start planning your one-of-a-kind South Carolina adventure today. Sandy Beach Resort has not only a great oceanfront location, but a prime Myrtle Beach location for our guests to enjoy all the great things to do in Myrtle Beach. Spanish explorer Lucas Vazques de Allyon but it ’ s stage South Carolina is a desirable for. 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