MYRTLE BEACH:
It's Grand on the Strand
Called the “Grand Strand” by locals and veteran visitors, Myrtle Beach has evolved from a seasonal resort town into a year-round, multi-faceted destination and residential community, welcoming more than 13 million visitors annually and boasting a permanent area population of about 250,000. Of course, the beach and weather have played a big part in the area's success, with additional lures like abundant world-class golf (more than 100 courses and counting), star-studded entertainment, super shopping, and creative cuisine also playing feature roles.
The greater Myrtle Beach area stretches for 60 miles along the South Carolina coast, and is actually made up of several distinct communities. While Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach attract the most visitors, other oceanfront draws include Atlantic Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach, and Pawleys Island. Away from the coast, charming inland possibilities include Aynor, Conway, Little River, and Loris.
Originally published in Skylights Magazine
A LITTLE HISTORY
Modern Myrtle Beach actually has a long and storied past. Kings Highway, a major Myrtle Beach thoroughfare today, began life as a Native American trail long before European settlers arrived. It later became the major road linking Savannah and Charleston to the northern U.S..
The area (especially around nearby Georgetown) eventually became the center of the nation’s colonial rice empire, with sprawling plantations sprouting up in the 1800s. This history is still alive at Hopsewee Plantation, Georgetown’s Rice Museum, and Brookgreen Gardens. Before the Civil War, plantation owners turned Pawleys Island into one of the Atlantic coastline’s first summer resorts, and some of the area's historic beach cottages still exist.
In the early-1900s, Burroughs & Collins Company, a timber-turpentine firm with extensive oceanfront holdings, began developing the Myrtle Beach area (then called “New Town”) as a resort community. The company built the first beach hotel, the Seaside Inn, in 1901. Back then, oceanfront lots sold for $25 and buyers received an extra lot if they built a house valued at $500 or more!
The county paper ran a contest to name the area, and the wife of the founder of Burroughs & Collins won with the name of Myrtle Beach--so chosen because of the many wax myrtle trees growing wild along the shore.
Development continued through the 1950s, with the opening of the Intracoastal Waterway in 1936, exposing many boaters to Myrtle Beach. However, the pivotal 1960s really put the area on the map, with dozens of new golf courses luring many duffers. The 1970s saw new construction top $75 million and a tripling of the population.
The growth continues today. This year will see the development of the world’s only Hard Rock Park, the Market Commons (a mixed-use retail and housing village), and a major $200 million airport expansion to welcome all those visitors (including many who checked golf clubs).
A WHOLE LOT OF GOLF
Quite simply, golf remains a major driving force in Myrtle Beach--more than four million rounds are played annually. From oceanfront holes to moss-draped fairways, designers like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones, Greg Norman, Gary Player, and Pete and P.B. Dye have all left their signatures.
The grand game also influences 19th hole activities. The possibilities include restaurants like Greg Norman’s Australian Grille and Murray Bros. CaddyShack (“Eat, Drink and be Murray”), dayspas to soothe sore muscles (like He’s Not Here), and lots of shopping options (including two huge Martin‘s PGA TOUR Superstore locations), Myrtle Beach means golf 24/7. And we aren't just talking about the 18-hole mega-courses. Myrtle Beach is also considered the miniature golf capital of the world, with more than 50 courses featuring man-eating dinosaurs, lava-spewing volcanoes, pirate ships, and more.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
With growth rivaling golf, the theater and entertainment scene is reaching for the stars. Eight modern showplaces feature music, dance, comedy, dinner shows, special seasonal offerings, and many celebrity concerts.
The options currently include: The Alabama Theatre (a regular show, plus lots of concerts); The Carolina Opry Presented by Calvin Gilmore (the best in Carolinas music and more); Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede & Dinner Show (including 32 horses); House of Blues (big name concerts and regular shows like the Sunday Gospel Brunch); Legends in Concert (Elvis and Little Richard are in the house); Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament (a night of knights); and Le Grande Cirque at The Palace Theatre (more than 50 world-class acrobats, jugglers, and performers take center stage).
“I love living in the area and making music here,” says country music legend Calvin Gilmore, whose Carolina Opry has been on the Myrtle Beach entertainment scene since 1986. “It’s a great combination of big city amenities and small beach town atmosphere.”
SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP
From boutiques to factory outlets to sprawling mixed-use shopping and entertainment complexes, shopping doesn't wait for a rainy day in Myrtle Beach, home to Barefoot Landing (more than 100 shops, 15 waterside restaurants, and several attractions); Broadway at the Beach (350 acres of shopping, dining, and entertainment); quaint Pawleys Island Hammock Shops; several huge malls and more.
And with more than 1,800 full-service restaurants in the area, visitors never go hungry. Seafood is seen on many menus and restaurant-lined Murrells Inlet is known as “The Seafood Capital of the World.” Those with an appetite for other types of cuisines will find barbecue, home-style Southern cooking, international fare, and a booming restaurant platter that ranges from behemoth buffets to a burgeoning upscale dining scene.
From great golf to great grub, the Myrtle Beach area continues to evolve into a destination suiting every taste. The Grand Strand is truly a grand destination.
PSST....
zzzz…
Caravelle, 600 units (340 renovated), $$, 6900 N. Ocean Blvd, 877-784-6835, www.thecaravelle.com. Kid-friendly with new water playground, lazy river, and pools.
Island Vista, 149 units, $$$, 6000 N Ocean Blvd, 843-449-6406, www.islandvista.com. Luxurious oceanfront suites with award-wining dining and amenities.
The Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, 230 rooms, $$$, 8121 Amalfi Place, 877-913-1333, www.marinainnatgrandedunes.com. This new luxury hotel is right on the Intracoastal Waterway. Eat at WaterScapes.
Myrtle Beach Marriott at Grande Dunes, 407 rooms, $$$, 8400 Costa Verda Dr., 843-449-8880, www.myrtlebeachmarriottresort.com. Oceanfront and business friendly. On-site spa and great pool.
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mmmm…
Louis’s at Pawleys, $-$$ (lunch-dinner), Pawleys Island, 843-237-8757, www.louisatpawleys.com. Louis Osteen cooks up creative cuisine with a southern accent. The adjacent Fish Camp Bar is a great place to meet locals.
SeaBlue Tapas Restaurant & Bar, $$ 501 Hwy. 17 N., North Myrtle Beach, 843-249-8800, www.seablueonline.com. A tasty example of upscale Myrtle Beach dining (enjoy several small portions).
Sea Captain’s House, $-$$ (lunch-dinner), 3002 N. Ocean Blvd., 843-448-8082, www.seacaptains.com. Located in a beach cottage that was built in 1930, this oceanfront spot (think seafood with a view) has been a tradition since 1962.
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ahhhh…
Brookgreen Gardens, $, 1931 Brookgreen Dr., Murrells Inlet, 800-849-1931, www.brookgreen.org. The world’s largest sculpture garden.
Family Kingdom Amusement Park, $$, 843-626-3447, www.family-kingdom.com. Myrtle Beach’s only seaside amusement park features the legendary Swamp Fox wooden rollercoaster.
The Hammock Shops, 10880 Ocean Hwy., Pawleys Island, 843-237-8448, www.thehammockshops.com. Home of the world-famous Pawleys Island rope hammocks (and Louis’s at Pawleys--see above)--this is shabby chic shopping (and dining) at its best!
He’s Not Here, 513 W. Broadway, 843-839-5595, www.hesnothere.biz, This “barberspa” caters to men, but women are welcome (and appointments for all are highly recommended).
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Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1200 N. Oak St., 888-MYRTLE 1, 843-626-7444, www.myrtlebeach.travel
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HOTELS: Standard double room, excluding tax
$ = under $100 $$ = $101-$225 $$$ = $225 and up
ATTRACTIONS: One day adult admission
$ = $15 and under $$ = $16-$30 $$$ = $31 and up
RESTAURANTS: One dinner entrée
$ = under $15 $$ = under $25 $$$ = $26 and up
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Spirit Airlines now flies non-stop from Myrtle Beach to Atlantic City, Boston, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale and New York, with convenient connections available to Las Vegas. Myrtle Beach is also connected to the Caribbean through Fort Lauderdale.