The Myrtle Beach area we all love was built on a strong foundation of southern hospitality, good cooking, and laid-back living. Hopsewee Plantation is a piece of Grand Strand history that still stands to tell the story of our area. Located near Georgetown, SC, on the Santee River, the Hopsewee house was built in 1735 and served as a rice plantation. Hopsewee Plantation is known as the birthplace of Thomas Lynch, Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence and an influential Patriot, representing the people of South Carolina at the time.…

North Myrtle Beach is, you guessed it, just north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This quaint coastal town was founded in 1968 when four small beach towns, Cherry Grove Beach, Windy Hill Beach, Crescent Beach, and Ocean Drive Beach, consolidated to create City of North Myrtle Beach. Today there are more than 15,000 permanent residents, and on any given day, there are large numbers of tourists enjoying this unique, pleasant town. One of North Myrtle Beach’s “claims to fame,” is that it’s the birthplace of the shag dance, which became the…

The Myrtle Beach area is known for its 60-mile long beach and a plethora of amazing attractions, but like most places, the region also has an interesting history. Most of the Grand Strand area resides within Horry County (pronounced O-ree), and residents and visitors are lucky enough to have the Horry County Museum at their disposal, so they can learn about the area’s rich history and partake in many educational programs. Did you know that Horry County was once home to Native American tribes, or that events from both the Revolutionary and…

Each Grand Strand neighborhood has a unique history, but the story of Atlantic Beach, South Carolina is particularly interesting. Atlantic Beach is a small (about 128 acres) coastal town about four blocks long, nestled within the city of North Myrtle Beach. When several small beach towns consolidated to create North Myrtle Beach in the 1960s, Atlantic Beach declined, wishing to preserve their history and heritage. In the days of segregation, Atlantic Beach was formed as a vacation destination for black families. Throughout those years, the…

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…

Litchfield Beach is a small and sophisticated community just 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach. Part of the greater Pawleys Island area, Litchfield has a totally separate vibe and is considered one of the Grand Strand’s 14 unique neighborhoods. The town took its name from a rice plantation that operated near the region in the 1700’s, and it has been carefully zoned to preserve its pristine beauty. Litchfield Beach was established in 1978, and it offers exclusive beach-front family vacation homes and a quiet, relaxed pace. There is a long section…

Twenty-two miles south of Myrtle Beach is a stunning barrier island named Pawleys. The southernmost Grand Strand neighborhood, Pawleys Island is one of the oldest resort towns on the east coast. In the 17 and 1800’s, plantation owners moved their families and often their livestock to the island for fresh ocean breezes and a healthier environment during the hot, humid summer months. A few of the original homes still stand in the historic district on this ruggedly-beautiful island. There are no commercial businesses on the island, as the town,…

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…

Sometimes, a destination totally lives up to its name, and that is true with Garden City Beach, a small resort town located just ten miles south of Myrtle Beach! This quaint town is as charming as it sounds, and I highly recommend a visit to this unique Grand Strand neighborhood. Along the beautiful expanse of beach, you’ll find rows of multi-colored beach houses, many of which are available for rent! In town, there are amusements, an arcade, shopping, restaurants, and the heart of the community, the Pier at Garden City! This 668-foot fishing…

Socastee, South Carolina is located just west of the Myrtle Beach airport, around the junction of highways 707 and 544 in Horry County. This unincorporated section of Myrtle Beach has become a neighborhood unto itself in the past few decades, especially since the Air Force base closed in 1994. It was once a quiet community for soldiers stationed at the base (where The Market Common is located), but now it is a thriving community, with a large commercial center and rapidly-expanding residential areas. Socastee is situated along the Intracoastal…