Longtime visitors to the Palmetto State have probably heard of chicken bog--a southern comfort food generally prepared with chicken, sausage, rice, and varying spices. Aside from South Carolina barbecue (and Grand Strand shrimp and grits), chicken bog may be one of our state’s greatest culinary contributions. Here locally, we celebrate this beloved dish annually during the Loris Bog-Off Festival. What began as a chicken bog cooking contest in 1980 has evolved into one of our community’s largest and most well-attended fall festivals. Throughout…

October is one of my favorite times of year in the Myrtle Beach area for so many reasons. The weather is agreeable (goodbye summer humidity), the beaches less crowded, and the Grand Strand knows how to host a killer Oktoberfest event. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the annual Myrtle Beach Oktoberfest event, scheduled for this Friday, October 12, 2018, and Saturday, October 13, 2018, at Grand Park at The Market Common. This is definitely one of the area’s larger festivals as it features over 50 vendors, kids activities and inflatables,…

Here along the Grand Strand, we’re no strangers to a good food festival. Depending on the season, you can find anything from Italian festivals to seafood festivals to food truck festivals and more. One of the longest-running food festivals in the area, however, is the annual Taste of the Town event. It features the opportunity to sample fare from some of the Myrtle Beach area’s finest restaurants, tapas style. This popular fall food festival is actually a fundraiser for St. Andrew Catholic School, and attendees are bound to see many locals…

The original Myrtle Beach Boardwalk was built in the 1930s and it quickly became the focal point for the developing tourist destination. For many years, the Boardwalk was graced by US servicemen stationed nearby, by entrepreneurs whose imaginations were sparked by the boardwalk and the exciting Atlantic coastline, and by tourists who attended nearby dance halls, arcades, pavilions, restaurants, and attractions. The Bowery opened in 1944, and the Gay Dolphin gift shop opened in 1946, and no doubt their customers enjoyed a stroll on the iconic…

Hurricane Florence roared away from the Grand Strand and thankfully did minimal damage to our beautiful coastline. However, the massive storm dumped more than 11 trillion gallons of water on North and South Carolina, and much of that water has made its way to some of our communities. Florence the Flood arrived quietly and filled many of our beautiful neighborhoods with silently destructive water. Early estimates show that more than 1,000 homes have been flooded, and many will not be saved. Several of these homeowners do not have flood…

The Myrtle Beach Area, known locally as the “Grand Strand,” suffered only minimal damage from hurricane Florence. While our community is grateful that the storm did not wreak much havoc on our beautiful 60-mile shoreline, we are well aware that our neighbors were significantly impacted by Florence and the subsequent flooding. In the spirit of giving to those in need, many Grand Strand businesses are extending special discounts and offers to people who have been displaced by this terrible storm. People impacted from the flooding in South…

Travel Advisory as of September 22: Due to flooding and road closures surrounding the Myrtle Beach area, driving into the area will be very difficult for the next week or two. Fly, don’t drive. If you must drive into the area, expect heavy congestion, delays and changing detours. Check www.SCDOT.org , 511sc.org or call 511 for latest road conditions. Hurricane Florence has finally moved on from our beautiful Myrtle Beach destination. While we are thankful that the physical damage to our destination seems minimal so far, we’re very aware of…

Please be advised that the Myrtle Beach area is under alert for possible Florence impact for the week of September 9th. While we're uncertain of the storm’s final path, we advise all visitors to pay close attention to all weather and news reports and to be prepared. If you have plans to visit the area this week, we recommend you contact your accommodations directly for information on their policy pertaining to hurricanes. “We encourage both visitors and residents to take great care to protect loved ones and property as we prepare for Florence,”…

The first Tuesday of every month through the end of this year, Barefoot Landing is hosting a fun ‘BFF Shop and Stroll’ Event from 4 to 7 p.m. I was excited to learn about this as I’ve been spending a good bit of time at Barefoot Landing lately. The addition of new restaurants like Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s, Taco Mundo and Blueberry’s Grill, combined with the overall outdoor renovations the complex has undergone make it the perfect place to spend a Saturday. Or a Tuesday! The once-a-month BFF Shop and Stroll encourages visitors to bring a friend to…

One of the most magical areas of the Grand Strand can be found south of central Myrtle Beach in the North Inlet-Winyah Bay Reserve. The reserve encompasses over 18,000 acres of tidal marshes and wetlands and around 12,000 acres are part of the greater Hobcaw Barony property, a tract of historic and protected land on the Waccamaw Neck. Nature enthusiasts and avid kayakers love this unique area for its rich flora, fauna, and history. And on September 5, a naturalist-guided tour will take paddlers through the creeks of the North Inlet. The North…