The small town of Aynor, South Carolina, lies about 30 miles inland from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and is celebrated locally for its friendly sense of community and its large annual Harvest Hoe-Down Festival. Aynor was incorporated as a town in 1913 and served as a hub for the production of turpentine, tobacco, and cotton in its heyday. The “Little Golden Town” still feels largely agricultural, hosting events like the Golden Town Market (with everything from fresh produce to homemade goods) from June 1 to August 31 on Main Street. If you’re…

One of my favorite day trips to recommend to Myrtle Beach area visitors is a drive in to Conway, South Carolina. Conway is a historic river town located just about 15 miles inland from downtown Myrtle Beach. Conway is the county seat for Horry County (the county that encompasses the majority of the Grand Strand) and is ripe with history and culture. Founded in 1732, many of the homes in downtown Conway are well over 100 years old. In addition to the architecture, the town’s other oldest residents are its beautiful live oak trees which decorate…

Long before Myrtle Beach was valued as a vacation destination for visitors, the towns slightly inland from the coast were the centers of activity in Horry County, South Carolina. The historic town of Loris began as a railroad town serving the lumber industry in the late 1880s, and is located just a short drive inland from the coast on the northern end of the Grand Strand. Not far from the North Carolina border, Loris offers a quintessential Southern experience for those enjoying small-town life and charm. And with a small Southern town comes…

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and a vacation to the Myrtle Beach area is a great gift for any dad! With tons of options for golf, fishing, dining and more, it’s easy to plan an itinerary focused on solely on your special guy. Here are eight fun ways to celebrate in Myrtle Beach this Father’s Day: Golf. The Myrtle Beach area is definitely the golf capital of South Carolina, and there’s no denying we love our time spent on the green. You can book a round of golf for dad at a number of amazing courses created by world-famous architects…

The Myrtle Beach area, commonly called the Grand Strand by locals, is comprised of 60 miles of coastline and a number of quaint neighborhoods and communities that each offer something unique to the larger seaside destination. On the northern end of our coast is Little River, South Carolina, the oldest town along the greater Grand Strand. Little River is a picturesque fishing village about 20 miles north of busier Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and both residents and visitors seem to love its slower pace and peaceful setting. The town is…

One of Myrtle Beach’s most popular (and historic) events, the Sun Fun Festival , is scheduled for this coming weekend, May 31 through June 2, 2019, in downtown Myrtle Beach. The Sun Fun Festival marks the official start of the summer season here along the Grand Strand, and is a favorite event among locals and visitors alike. The first Sun Fun Festival was held in 1951 and while many things have evolved over the years, the ‘fun’ part remains the same. This year’s Sun Fun Festival will be held in downtown Myrtle Beach at Plyler Park (1309 North…

While the Myrtle Beach area is well known for its sun and sand, it’s perhaps a little less well known for its fantastic shopping. But shopping we have! It’s always a wonderful surprise for visitors to our area searching for vacation souvenirs or an outfit for a night out on the town. From local boutiques and national retailers to shopping outlets and malls, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has a little bit of everything when it comes to ‘retail therapy.’ Here are a few of our favorite spots for shopping this summer: Coastal Grand Mall 2000 Coastal…

May is one of my favorite times of year here along the Grand Strand. Not just because it’s around the time I’ll start swimming in the ocean, but because it marks the official start of some of our larger area farmers markets. 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 has evolved as tourism has thrived, it is still home to a number of outstanding farming operations that provide us with fantastic seasonal produce, meat products, eggs,…

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…

Before you head out to enjoy the 60 miles of coastline in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, rethink the way you pack your beach bag. By packing only the necessities and by packing them smartly, you’ll cut down on the time it takes to get to the beach and enjoy it more once you’re there. Roll your towel and/or blanket tightly. Slide it into your beach bag vertically, so you’ll be able to pull it out of your bag first. Heavier items are best suited for the bottom of your beach bag. Things like a book and water bottle should go in first. Keep items…