You don’t have to go all the way to L.A. to see the stars. A vacation to Myrtle Beach and a trip to its latest attraction will do. Opened in the summer of 2014 just across from Broadway at the Beach, the Hollywood Wax Museum features two floors of wall-to-wall celebrities. Rub elbows with the legendary musician Johnny Cash, get up close and personal with actress Julia Roberts, and snap some selfies with actor Johnny Depp – all under one roof.
Myrtle Beach’s seafood is among the best anywhere. The Lowcountry cuisine is as memorable as it gets. Our produce is the freshest around. In other words, when you come here you will eat some of the greatest meals of your life. But sometimes you just need a pizza, you know? Lucky for all the foodies, the Grand Strand boasts our fair share of the Italian-American staple, and we’ve rounded up five of our favorite spots to grab a slice or two.
Calling all cowboys and equestrians, both amateur and pro: the beach beckons! Well, scratch that — not during the summer months. While horseback riding on the Grand Strand’s beaches is permitted late November through February, during the busy season it is forbidden — understandably, since crowds + often skittish half-ton animals = not good stuff. So if you’ve got the urge to saddle up, where to go?
Sure, it’s fun to hang out on the beach on a sunny day, but it’s also good for you in numerous ways. And because many of us have indoor jobs these days, it’s more important than ever that we make time for the great ball of fire. Also, did you know that Myrtle Beach gets more than 2800 sunlight hours per year and averages 218 clear days? Take a look at these sunshine benefits, throw the bathing suit in the car, and come reap the rewards of a few days in the Myrtle Beach sun. I’m So Happy There are more scientific ways to explain this, but the sun makes us more happy by initiating a process that includes things like Vitamin D, endorphins, ultraviolet radiation, serotonin, melatonin, and plenty of other things that aren’t easy to pronounce. Strong Bones Not everyone wants to be a muscle-bound meathead, but you should aim to have sturdy bones since they can help fight certain cancers. Popeye ate spinach to help stay fit, but your regimen could just include a week in the sun a couple times a year. The Winter Blues There aren’t many actual winter months in Myrtle Beach, which makes it a great destination if you’re in need of a natural treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder. It’s pretty normal for people who live in less sunny places to get a little blue during the cold months, so there’s no shame in travelling to a sunnier destination to cheer yourself up a bit. Makes Kids Taller Researchers at Bristol University in England compiled all sorts of data from a huge period of human existence and found that taller people live longer, while other commonly-referenced studies have shown that taller people make more money, sometimes as much as ten percent more. So, since the sun has an important effect on your child’s height, why not take them to the beach? They’ll thank you now and later. Helps with Multiple Sclerosis Sunlight is a good way to lessen the symptoms of MS, mostly due to the Vitamin D effects. Experts recommend 10 – 15 minutes of “all over sun” on an average day of UV rays, which means that even less time is needed on a hot summer afternoon in Myrtle Beach. Rise and Shine Getting out into the sunlight early in the day helps build a strong circadian rhythm, which is the built-in 24-hour cycle that all of our bodies go through. This means that you’ll sleep better and rise at a healthy time each day. That’d be nice, right? Kills Bad Bacteria Certain skin conditions are known to be lessened by direct exposure to the hot sun. These include psoriasis, acne, eczema, and fungal infections on the skin. A short amount of time (20 – 30 minutes) is recommended for psoriasis, while atopic eczema find improvement with longer stays. Helps Lessen Body Odor Who knew that sunlight helps sterilize your armpits and can eliminate most forms of body odor? This isn’t a topic that needs to be discussed, but who wouldn’t love to have less body odor? Lowers Cholesterol Sunlight converts cholesterol into hormones, and when you’re spending too much time indoors, the opposite happens. Regular trips to a sunny place are a much more exciting way to deal with high cholesterol than trips to the doctor and prescription medication, don’t you agree? Regulates Body Temperature If you’re a person who is normally a little bit too warm or cold, spending more time in the sun can help even out your natural body temperature.
Finally, here comes the sun! As the weather begins to warm up on the Grand Strand, the list of things to do gets a little bit longer every month. March will see St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, South Carolina’s largest car and truck show, the annual Can-Am Days festival, and several exciting shows at Myrtle Beach’s premier live entertainment venues. Check out this list, book a room at a great rate, and start your Spring off in the sun!
In 2014, the average daily hotel room rate in Myrtle Beach was $20 less than the national average. And if you’re thinking of flying here, there’s no better time to do it than now. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, MYR is the cheapest airport in South Carolina by far, and round-trip flights to the Grand Strand are nearly $170 less than the national average. With an average flight cost of just $228, Myrtle Beach International is much more budget-friendly than Charleston ($400), Florence ($411), and Columbia ($501). Pair those numbers with yearly average daily room rates – Myrtle Beach ($92), Charleston ($132.44), U.S. ($113.42) – and the Grand Strand is one of the most budget-friendly (and beautiful!) places around. “Ensuring affordable transportation and providing quick and easy access is paramount to attracting new visitors to the Myrtle Beach area,” said Brad Dean, president and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. “We’re pleased that our airline partners continue to provide our visitors and residents with non-stop flights and low-fare options.” The DoT’s numbers are based on total ticket value and price paid at the time of purchase.
