Well when you think of the Grand Strand you have to think about Myrtle Beach. This is the city in which the Grand Strand revolves around. A city of roughly 25,000 people quickly becomes hundreds of thousands during the peak summer months. Myrtle Beach is so popular and is the largest of the beaches along the Grand Strand that in its days has become known as "the Beach". If you live outside of Myrtle Beach in another community you are sure to tell people that you are from Myrtle Beach, because it is the city people know of.

Myrtle Beach has come to be called the Seaside Golf Capital of the world, the Camping Capital of the World, and Miniature Golf Capital of the World. Myrtle Beach was in the Guiness Book of World records for the world's largest sand sculpture stretching for 86,536 feet-more than 16 miles. This came about as a challenge to the city of Long Beach, Washington who know holds the record. Just this past summer Myrtle Beach went for the largest sand castle, at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion.

The greatest attraction that brings people to Myrtle Beach is the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. But in the past 20 years so many things have made their way here that it is sometimes hard to keep up with all the attractions. There are plenty of shopping centers, amusement parks, miniature golf courses, water parks, waterway cruises, entertainment theatres, and golf courses. Whether you like dining out, playing golf, relaxing on the beach, or taking the kids to an amusement park Myrtle Beach is sure to please.

Myrtle Beach has a mixture of blue-collar workers, northern retirees, an influx of college aged students, upscale golfers, families looking for a change, and white-collar vacationers.

During the past 10 or so years the Grand Strand's 120 plus golfers and golf courses have helped make Myrtle Beach into a year 9-10 month resort. More than 4 million rounds of golf are played annually in Myrtle Beach..

Most people who come to Myrtle Beach do so because of the beach. They love the white sand, the warm waters, and the hot sunny days. About 45 percent of the 14 million Myrtle Beach visitors who come here each year are within a day's drive of here. Myrtle Beach is about halfway between Miami, Fl and New York city.

The main drag in Myrtle Beach is called Ocean Boulevard often called "The Strip" runs along the ocean. Streets that run into Ocean Boulevard run east-west and start from 30th Avenue South to 1st Avenue South then from First Avenue North to 82nd Avenue North. The south end of Ocean Boulevard has plenty of accomodations, some family owned and many company owned. In the middle of the Boulevard you will find plenty of entertainment and activities like Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum and the Myrtle Beach Pavillion. Starting at 32nd avenue you will find a residential district where summer and permanent residents live in beautiful seaside homes. From 52nd Avenue northward you will find mostly condominiums and hotels.

If you head west of Ocean Boulevard you will run into Kings Hwy also known as Business 17. Along here you will find many restaurants, beach shops, small stores, shopping centers, and regular businesses. If you continue further you run into Oak Street where you will find utility companies, and financial institutions also the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. If you were to continue even more west you would run into what we locals call Bypass 17 which is US Hwy 17 which would bring you from North Carolina down through Myrtle Beach and into Georgetown. Traffic backups are not uncommon during any hour of any day during the summer, usually from the 501 junction to 29th avenue as there are traffic lights on 10th, 21st, and 29th avenues. Between 21st and 29th avenues is where you will find Broadway at the Beach. Also along this stretch of Bypass from 501 to 29th avenue you will find Myrtle Waves, Planet Hollywood, Club Kryptonite, Tbonz grill, Burro Loco, Martins Golf and Tennis, Target, Sams Club, and many more businesses.

The beaches of the Grand Strand are public beaches which where you will find a first come first serve parking areas marked by blue and yellow signs stating public access area. If you or someone with you is handicapped you can use a wheelchair specifically designed for the beach from beach services.

There are many festivals in the area, Sun Fun Festival being the most popular, usually held in June. The Canadian American Days festival is held in March for those from the Northern states and Canada.

The Sun Fun Festival started in 1951 which was to kickoff the summer season in Myrtle Beach. It offers 4 days of fun. During this time there is national media attention on the beauty and bikini contests, parade, sand castle-building, lots of childrens games, along with musical and theatrical performances, and cookouts.

Canadian-American Days a 9 day festival is in recognition of the thousands of Canadian tourists and northerners who visit the beach every spring. It was in 1961 when the chamber of commerce decided to start an advertising campaign devoted to bringing in our northern visitors during what used to be a slow time in Myrtle Beach, now it is become less slow each and every year as more discover Myrtle Beach.