My friend Rachel and I spent an afternoon last week at the new Shark Wake Park in North Myrtle Beach. The park features cable wakeboarding—a pretty new addition to the world of extreme sports—and Shark Wake Park is the first of its kind here along the Grand Strand. At the park, kneeboarders and wakeboarders take hold of a cable that runs around a lake in about a 1.1-mile loop. So there’s no boat! And what you pay is determined by how long you plan on being on the water and whether you need to rent the equipment or not. Now Rachel actually has…

We took to the beach last week in search of a few Myrtle Beach visitors willing to share their favorite Myrtle Beach memories with us. Not surprisingly, most of the folks we talked to were longtime repeat visitors to the Grand Strand. Also not surprisingly, several of the people that chatted with us talked to us about family memories created here. I loved hearing stories about multiple generations enjoying the sun, sand and water together and think you will, too. Enjoy!…

Great climate, less crowds and fun-filled events makes fall a great time to visit Myrtle Beach! The temperatures decrease significantly to the mid-80s and 70s in the day and nights can be in the low 60s and high 50s. The roads have far less traffic and the beach, restaurants and attractions are less crowded. With the kids back in school it is a great time for the adults to come out and play. Our September and October festivals are great times for bringing your friends and family to the beach and really enjoying what we have to offer. Post Labor…

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is the perfect place to pick up a shelling hobby. With over 60-miles of uninterrupted shoreline, you can walk for miles and explore a variety of beaches in search of the perfect seashell. While even shelling enthusiasts admit that luck and chance have a large role in determining what shells one finds on the beach, there are a few things that can certainly increase your chances. Laura Rusinko, president of the Grand Strand Shell Club, shared these tips with us last week: Have the Right Equipment While all you…

To be clear, I am not some adrenaline-seeking junkie by nature. I’m a mostly-stay-at-home mom who can’t sleep the night before taking on assignments that include riding the Slingshot—or in this case—the Myrtle Beach SkyCoaster. While it’s easy to find excitement at the Myrtle Beach Grand Prix (and I’m perfectly happy staying on the ground in a racecar), the entertainment park’s most thrilling ride is the high-flying SkyCoaster. The SkyCoaster is basically a free fall ‘swing’ that takes between one and three riders up to a height of around 100…

One of my absolute favorite things about living in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is the ready access to fresh, local seafood. There is so much to love about a meal that is sustainably sourced by local fishermen. Shrimp is probably the most-loved seafood item in all of the United States, and here in South Carolina, we serve up some of the best. From shrimp and grits to a Lowcountry Boil, the recipes are endless, but one of my favorite summer recipes is a Lowcountry Shrimp Salad. It’s light and refreshing, perfect for a picnic on a hot summer…

Labor Day became an official U.S. holiday in 1894 and honors the American labor movement and the workers who add prosperity and well-being to the nation. Always the first Monday in September, it is considered the unofficial end of summer. The summer fun doesn’t have to end though, when you vacation in Myrtle Beach! This year more than ever we offer a huge summer blowout of fun and sun end for hard working families. Did you know that part of the history of Myrtle Beach’s Springmaid Beach is that it was created for hard working textile…

A trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is a wonderful way to create family memories together. Whether you’re swimming, hunting for seashells or simply laying out, here are a few tips to make sure your visit to the beach is as fun and as safe as possible. Sun Exposure Always, always, ALWAYS wear sunscreen. Regular application of sunscreen protects against painful sunburn and sun damage. Reapply after swimming and always bring along a hat and UV-protected sunglasses. Dehydration Dehydration is a real threat that can sneak up on you in the…

The Myrtle Beach area is home to more than 1,500 restaurants and, make no mistake, Aspen Grille is on any short list of the Grand Strand’s best. Don’t just take the word of your faithful correspondent. Nearly 560 Trip Advisor reviews, almost all of them glowing, have netted Aspen Grille a 4.5-star rating, and 141 reviews on Yelp produced the same evaluation. But ratings alone don’t do Aspen justice. Executive chef and owner Curry Martin, who was classically trained in Paris and San Francisco, has designed an eclectic menu that rivals any in the…

One of the best ways to take advantage of beautiful summer days in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is by heading outdoors with a perfectly packed picnic. While taking your picnic seaside is probably your first choice when you’re in Myrtle Beach (we have 60 miles of uninterrupted shoreline), there are tons of locations great for al fresco dining. From Conway’s Riverfront park to one of our state parks to Brookgreen Gardens, picnicking options are endless along the Grand Strand. My husband and I planned a picnic lunch date on the beach recently and…