Did you know….?

  • Duffers play about 4.13 million rounds of golf in the Myrtle Beach area each year.
  • Myrtle Beach got its name as a result of a newspaper’s naming contest.
  • In 1901, oceanfront lots cost $25; buyers received another lot if they built a $500 house.
  • The Pine Lakes International Country Club was the birthplace of “Sports Illustrated.”
  • Magnolia Plantation and Gardens are the oldest public gardens in America (1676).

For families and golfers

Myrtle Beach has many reminders of its part in South Carolina’s history, with its museums, stately homes, magnificent gardens and commemorative statues. But most visitors remember it as a place to have fun because of its more than 60 miles of beaches, theme parks and public parks, more than 100 golf courses, 50 miniature golf courses, plentiful entertainment, great shopping and water sports.

Few places offer a combination of lots to do in a warm-weather setting. Myrtle Beach is mostly a year-round resort although at times it turns hot and humid in the summer and cold in the winter.

The primary focuses are family entertainment and golf. Families will enjoy Family Kingdom, a seaside theme park that features a wooden roller coaster and a beachfront water park, along with the usual array of games and carnival types of attractions.

Myrtle Beach also considers itself the world’s miniature golf capital with its 50 miniature courses, each elaborately themed and challenging. The IMAX 3D Theatre and Le Grand Cirque show of acrobats and tumblers add to the thrills for children. The well-maintained public parks are great places for picnics and give the kids space to run and yell without disturbing others.

It’s a safe place for all, and there are enough reasonably priced hotels and restaurants to keep a Myrtle Beach sojourn from becoming a costly family vacation.

As for adult holidays, the choices are equally numerous. Nearby North Myrtle Beach adds to the wide selection of golf courses. Prices vary from reasonable, especially if included in a packaged vacation, to expensive for courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Arnold Palmer. Regardless of price, most courses are beautiful and challenging.

Water sports cover the range of options — boat rentals, fishing (solo or with a group), scuba diving, snorkeling, waterskiing and more. Nighttime entertainment offers many choices, as well, and dining varies from family restaurants to elegant.

Myrtle Beach satisfies most who want a sun ‘n’ fun vacation, but it scores well because it offers much more.

Things to do for Venturers

  • Try parasailing. Have someone ready with a camera to capture your liftoff, glide and splash-down. Or, get out on jet skis. Myrtle Beach offers several areas to enjoy this sport.
  • This is a great place for windsurfing and kayaking, especially if you’re a novice, because the winds are constant but gentle. Obviously, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing and power boating also are options.
  • How about the thrill of driving a race car on a track? Myrtle Beach is a center for NASCAR, and there are multiple opportunities to test your skills.
  • Explore the Inland Waterways with its many inlets and access to ancient rivers, winding creeks and marshes, in a pontoon boat.
  • Saddle up and go horseback riding. Trails have beautiful views along the beach and through parks; riding is also available in North Myrtle Beach.
  • Go out on the town. Look for jazz, comedy or simply a pleasing ambience at various bars and lounges. Pick up a directory in your hotel to find out what’s current.

Things to do for Centrics

  • If golf is your game, don’t limit yourself to one day. Even if you played two rounds a day at two different courses during a three-day stay, you would miss many challenging courses with seaside views.
  • Le Grande Cirque, at the Palace Theatre, features highly choreographed performances by more than 50 acrobats and tumblers from around the world. It’s usually sold out so get advance reservations.
  • Myrtle Beach has more than 200 tennis courts at high-end resort properties and public parks. Get some lessons, too, from top teachers.
  • Join a charter fishing group. Atlantic fishing offers a chance at prized game fish so be prepared to take home big catches if you are lucky.
  • Splurge on fine dining. This is the place for that because of the variety of culinary styles and more reasonable prices than you’ll find in most big cities. Ask your hotel concierge or the front desk for recommendations.
  • Make a day of it at the NASCAR SpeedPark. It has six short tracks that vary from offering side-by-side racing in NASCAR replica cars to a Qualifier starter track that accepts kids 40 inches and taller. The park also has bumper cars, electric boats and an arcade.

Things to do for Authentics

  • Tour the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Or, discover another surprising setting: Brookgreen Gardens, south of Myrtle Beach. Brookgreen offers six separate gardens, including a children’s garden, in a huge 9,200-acre setting.
  • Have fun with your family at any of the more than 50 miniature golf courses. Each has a unique theme and offers some true putting challenges.
  • Find out what happens at the IMAX 3D Theatre. Visual effects bring you into the action in a way you probably haven’t experienced before.
  • Cast a line in the ocean off any of eight Myrtle Beach piers available for the sport. Each pier offers different scenic views and local “experts” who understand how to catch different kinds of fish.
  • Play at one of the newest attractions, the 140-acre Hard Rock Park, a creation of Hard Rock Cafe. It re-creates the sounds and spirit of classic rock music in 40 attractions, roller coasters and six customized zones.
  • Go shopping. There are more than 300 outlet stores in the area. Then, select from seemingly endless choices for dinner entertainment or at live theaters. Venues to consider include Carolina Opry, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, High Steppin’ Country, House of Blues, Medieval Times and Swamp Fox Players.

Additional Resources

For more information, consult the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.visitmyrtlebeach.com