Understanding the impact of the travel industry is more important than ever! I’m Julie and I have been fortunate to have worked in the travel industry for more than a decade, and I’m currently the Public Relations Manager for Visit Myrtle Beach. Tourism is an amazing industry! I get to promote 60-miles of beaches, great attractions, amazing restaurants, eco-tours, artistic and educational experiences, and so much more. I encourage people to come to Myrtle Beach to reconnect with loved ones and enjoy unique experiences. It’s all happy stuff, and…

This 10,000-acre sanctuary is just minutes from Myrtle Beach Just minutes from downtown Myrtle Beach is an outstanding nature preserve with a very unique habitat. I went there with my mountain bike after learning that it is home to the rare Venus Fly Trap plant. Indeed, Venus Fly Traps are only found in the Carolinas with a high concentration of them at the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve in Horry County. I found an entrance on International Drive, between the dense residential community of Carolina Forest and the town of Conway, South…

This week, we’ll celebrate Earth Day in a different way. Normally, we venture down to Brookgreen Gardens for activities they host celebrating our planet and teaching us how we can do our part to keep it clean or we head out for a community beach sweep. But given the current circumstances, we’ll be sticking close to home and trying to incorporate Earth Day into our day-to-day life. Earth Day falls on Wednesday, April 22, this year, but we’ll be using the whole week to teach our kids what we can about doing our part. It’s the 50th anniversary of…

Add a little sunshine to your day with a Myrtle Beach Vibes playlist or performance. While you're social distancing at home, we're bringing the beach to you through a variety of Myrtle Beach virtual experiences, including music playlists and performances. Sit back, grab a beachy refreshment and enjoy these Myrtle Beach vibes. Myrtle Beach Vibes Playlists Sit back, grab a beachy refreshment and enjoy these Myrtle Beach Vibes from Carolina Beach Music from the past to today's Carolina Country Music Festival artists to some just feel good tunes in…

The threat of COVID-19 has affected millions of individuals financially across all parts of the country. In tourism-dependent communities like ours, the shutting down of bars and restaurants—while necessary—yield big blows to hospitality and tourism workers as we head into what would normally be a busy time here in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. While we’ve heard a lot of stories of hardship, we’ve also heard a lot of wonderful stories about neighbors helping one another. One company here locally, Native Sons, has started a ‘Support Our…

October is one of my favorite months here along the sunny Grand Strand. Summer heat has begun to subside along with the humidity, and it’s an all around great time to be outdoors—especially with little ones! This month also offers a ton of free festivals and events, and I’ve included five of my kiddos’ favorite October festivals below. We also have a ton of neat activities scheduled for Halloween, as well, and we’ll share those in a coming post! 1. Brookgreen Gardens Harvest Home Weekend Festival This two-day celebration of the fall season…

Saturday, October 19, 2019, will mark the 40th year that Loris, South Carolina, has hosted the ever-popular Loris Bog-Off Festival. The festival, sponsored by the Loris Chamber of Commerce, happens on the third Saturday in October every year in downtown Loris. While the fun, family-friendly event initially began as a chicken bog cooking competition, it has transformed into a huge celebration over the past four decades. The thousands of attendees that go now get to experience an entire day packed with entertainment, vendors, food, and fun for…

Fall is a great time to visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! Temperatures are comfortable, space is plentiful, rooms are budget-friendly, and there are a wide-range of spectacular special events and festivals to enjoy! In addition to the beautiful 60-mile beach, family-friendly attractions, theaters and restaurants that thrill Myrtle Beach visitors year-round, if you visit this September, October or November, you can also enjoy some very popular events. From ethnic celebrations, to music, food and fall fun, there is something for everyone! The…

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…

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…