Myrtle Beach and The Grand Strand

Myrtle Beach Area and the Grand Strand
If you’re looking for a great destination for a group or family beach vacation, Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand is the place to be. A 60-mile span of white sand beaches that stretch from Little River to Georgetown, the Grand Strand features incredible seafood, historic tours, unique shops, cruises, two ocean side State Parks, deep sea and inshore fishing, and magnificent Brookgreen Gardens where you’ll see the world’s largest collection of American sculpture.

The hub of the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach is where the action is. With fun family beaches, over 100 championship golf courses, tennis courts, outlet malls, specialty shops, live musical theatre, nightclubs and a wealth of family attractions, Myrtle Beach is a popular South Carolina vacation destination.

Pawley’s Island
Pawley’s Island is one of the countries oldest beach resorts. The first people known to inhabit the area of Pawley’s Island were the Waccamaw and Winyah Indians. They called the area “Chicora” meaning “the land,” and this term is often used by local businesses today. Later, the island became named after the three sons of Percival Pawley who inherited all the land their father owned “from the Waccamaw River to the sea.” The breezy island soon became a summer retreat for wealthy plantation owners, as well as a refuge from malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

Pawley’s Island was the last part of the Grand Strand to be heavily developed, in addition with four miles of beach and its classic-style beach homes available for vacation rental, it’s referred to by the natives as “arrogantly shabby.” Offering many village-style shops, wonderful golf courses and fabulous dining, Pawleys Island prompts visitors to return year after year, and Brookgreen Gardens is a magnificent must-see, offering the worlds largest sculpture garden. Pawleys Island offers a laid back atmosphere and attitude benefiting its claim to fame: the original Pawleys Island Hammock.

Litchfield Beach
Litchfield Beach, a quaint, unincorporated community governed by Georgetown County, was settled by rice planters in early 1700s. The area’s name came from Litchfield Plantation, a former rice plantation in the community. In the 1960’s, modern development began. Litchfield Beach is beloved for its miles of wide sandy beaches, world-class golf courses, village-style shops and fine dining. It’s only half an hour away from Myrtle Beach, but it’s more quiet and reserved. There is one hotel on the beach, but visitors usually stay in rental houses or condos.

Murrells Inlet
The historic fishing village of Murrells Inlet has earned the title “seafood capital of South Carolina” because of the fresh seafood drawn from its waters and served at the many restaurants lining the waterfront. Murrells Inlet is also rich in history, with Native Americans, rice planters, pirates, World War II airmen and fishermen all having played a part in Murrells Inlet’s past.

Murrells Inlet offers many recreational activities in a breathtaking inlet setting, including deep sea fishing charters, boat tours, individual boat rentals, scuba diving, kayaking, parasailing and jet skiing. Two popular annual events include the Fourth of July Boat Parade and Blessing of the Inlet. The Marsh Walk, a marsh-front setting, offers spectactular scenery and wildlife.

Garden City Beach
The area of Garden City beach is an unincorporated community that straddles Horry and Georgetown counties. Garden City has access to both the ocean and the inlet, so it is great for fishing, crabbing and water sports. The majority of vacationers stay in beach houses or condos, and the community offers a marina, amusements, restaurants, a fishing pier that features live music during the summer evenings and a new Creekwalk that spans the salt marsh.

Surfside Beach
The town of Surfside Beach proudly calls itself “the family beach.” Surfside was incorporated in 1964 and is not only a lively residential community, it is a thriving vacation destination. Along its oceanfront are beach houses, condos, hotels, restaurants and a fishing pier. They also offer several recreational parks and host several annual festivals and events.

Myrtle Beach
Families began vacationing in Myrtle Beach more than a century ago, traveling by horse, buggy and ferry to spend a day in the sand and sun on the mostly unoccupied beach. Today, the city of Myrtle Beach has a population of approximately 25,000 and is the largest and most developed community of the Grand Strand.

Myrtle Beach is one of the most visited beaches on the East Coast and offers something for everyone! Favorite landmarks include Coastal Grand Mall, the largest mall in South Carolina; Myrtle Beach State Park, the oldest in the state; Broadway at the Beach, with its assortment of shops, restaurants, nightclubs and attractions; the Myrtle Beach Convention Center; the hundreds of world-class golf courses and the ribbon of hotels with beautiful ocean views. Myrtle Beach kicks off each summer season with the excitement of the Sun Fun Festival.

North Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach was founded more than 30 years ago when the communities of Windy Hill, Crescent Beach, Ocean Drive and Cherry Grove united. Each of these communities has its own charm, and generations of vacationers have returned to their favorite milieu year after year. The city has nearly 12,000 residents and is known for its family beach atmosphere, fishing piers and wonderfully wide beaches. It’s famous for being the birth place of the shag, South Carolina’s state dance, but is also home to many fine restaurants and family amusements, as well as Barefoot Landing, a popular shopping, dining and entertainment development. Popular annual events include the SOS Spring Safari and Fall Migration and the Intracoastal Christmas Regatta.

Little River

Little River is a unique town, offering a slightly slower pace of life than the rest of the Grand Strand. The community lies just below the North Carolina border along what is now the Intracoastal Waterway. Because of its numerous tidal creeks and close proximity to the ocean, Little River was a popular harbor for pirates in the 1700s and Civil War blockade-runners in the 1800s. Little River’s most popular event is the Blue Crab Festival, held each May. Arts and crafts, entertainment, and educational exhibits are featured alongside booths offering an assortment of delicious foods such as crab crakes, steamed crab, and other Blue Crab dishes.

Myrtle Beach Attractions:

1. Carolina Opry
2. Stone Theatres – Grand 14 Market Commons
3. Pelicans Baseball
4. Good Vibrations
5. Legends Golf Courses
6. Legends In Concert
7. Myrtle Beach Skywheel
8. Pirates Voyage Fun, Feast and Adventure
9. Medieval Times
10. Nascar Speed Park
11. Palace Theatre
12. Arrowhead Golf Club
13. Magiquest
14. The Marvelous Wonderettes
15. Family Kingdom

This information was gathered from the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Myrtle Beach Photography is a proud member of the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce.