As we head into the summer months here in Myrtle Beach, I know our family is going to be doing a lot of our eating outdoors. From grilling out to casual dinners on the porch, summer in the south is the perfect time to take meals outside. One of favorite ways to take advantage of the beautiful beach destination we call home is to pack a picnic for the beach. Before children, my husband and I enjoyed a more ‘upscale’ beach picnic experience. We’d take our fancy picnic basket, complete with cheese board and formal utensils, for an oceanfront…

Myrtle Beach’s popular Sun Fun Festival returns this weekend, June 1-3, 2018, and with it comes the official start to the summer season here along the Grand Strand! The Sun Fun Festival was first held in 1951 and celebrated each year until 2011. Much to the delight of locals and visitors alike, the festival returned again in 2016, and the Oceanfront Merchants Association and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce are helping to host this year’s event. This is one of my favorite festivals held annually along the Grand Strand. It takes place…

The past couple years I’ve done a happy dance once May 1 rolls around. Not just because it’s around the time I’ll start swimming in the ocean, but because it marks the official start of farmers market season here along the Grand Strand. Before tourism was the number one industry in Horry County (where Myrtle Beach is located), farming and agriculture drove our local economy. While the area evolved as more and more people came to visit, it is still home to a number of outstanding farming operations that provide us with fantastic seasonal produce…

Beginning Thursday, May 24, and continuing through August 19, 2018, Brookgreen Gardens will be lighting up the night with their first ever Summer Lights Festival. We bought our tickets as soon as we were able following their announcement about this event. Considering how magical Brookgreen Gardens is around the holidays with Night of a Thousand Candles, we know this event will be something truly special. The Summer Lights Festival exhibit will be held in the Lowcountry Zoo section of Brookgreen Gardens. The exhibit was created by Chinese…

The East Coast’s largest 3-day outdoor country music festival is headed back to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, June 7-10, 2018, and there is so much to look forward to this year! With new and improved sound and video throughout the festival, along with more surprise performances, we know it will be a weekend to remember. This festival seems to grow every year, and thousands are headed to Myrtle Beach to see some of the fantastic country music artists that are lined up to perform. If you’re coming to visit (or thinking about it!), here is a…

With Memorial Day weekend just around the corner, I’ve been thinking about all the outdoor grilling that will be taking place. But Memorial Day weekend meals in South Carolina often go a step beyond just hamburgers and hotdogs. It’s a holiday often marked with plenty of barbecue! While I can’t say barbecue is the official cuisine of South Carolina, perhaps it should be. Many state officials even say that our state is the original birthplace of barbecue, dating back to early settlement of the Spanish on Parris Island who smoked swine with an…

Travel bloggers and influencers, Compass + Travel created a " East Coast vs. West Coast: Battle of the Beaches " story for CheapTickets and Myrtle Beach has been named " Best Family Beach ". Check out some of the other winners.  …

Here in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, we consider Memorial Day weekend the official start to summer. Our public schools here locally have dismissed for summer break earlier in the week, the temperatures are solidly in the 80s, and we’re ready for beach picnics and time out on the water. If you’re lucky enough to be headed into town this weekend, you might want to check out one (or more!) of the below: Military Appreciation Days Parade and Family Picnic Saturday, May 26, 2018 Myrtle Beach celebrates Military Appreciation Days during the month of…

Travel Channel has featured Myrtle Beach as 1 of 10 Cool East Coast Beaches. White sandy beaches plus restaurants, live entertainment, amusement parks, water parks plus more than 90 golf courses - make it a perfect beach destination along the east coast for spring breakers, families and retirees. Read more .…

Myrtle Beach ranks top place to say "see ya" to winter according to Expedia! Based on scenery, average temperatures, attractions and activities, Myrtle Beach garnered top spot for places to travel to in spring and into summer. Read more.    …