Check out the cool and exciting things you can do when the sun goes down during your next vacation to Sandy Beach Resort and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Here is a comprehensive list of things to do in Myrtle Beach.
Two inducted into Myrtle Beach Golf Hall Of Fame
Jun 04, 2010
MYRTLE BEACH - Men who paved the way for Myrtle Beach’s commercial golf success and reputation as a premiere golfing community joined the ranks of the Myrtle Beach Hall of Fame on Thursday morning.
During the enshrinement at Pine Lakes Country Club, Burroughs and Chapin and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday officials recognized the late George W. “Buster” Bryan and former PGA President George Shaal as members of the second class of inductees.
Bryan, who passed away in 1968, is credited with starting the first Myrtle Beach golf-vacation-hotel packages in the 1960s, after he and his business partner and fellow hall of famer General George Hackler built the Caravelle Resort. Bryan started Golf-O-Tel, which consisted of eight golf courses and eight hotels. Bryan is also credited with helping to bring golf writers to play at courses in Myrtle Beach the week before The Masters, so they would write about their experiences to tout the Grand Strand as a golf destination.
Fellow hall of famer, Cecil Brandon, accepted the plaque on behalf of Bryan’s family on Thursday.
Shaal was president of the PGA America from 1992 to 1993, and has held various local and regional posts in his time as a golf professional. He started his career as an assistant pro in Myrtle Beach in the early 1970s. He is also inducted into the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame, and is credited with bringing the Senior PGA Tour Championship to Myrtle Beach.
“It’s a rich community,“ said Shaal on Thursday. “The relationships go deep and broad. It’s just heart-warming to be here with all of these good friends that I’ve learned from, worked with, been partners with. It’s a mountaintop experience,“ he said.
Sun Fun Festival kicks off today in Myrtle Beach
Jun 04, 2010
MYRTLE BEACH – The Myrtle Beach area officially kicks off the summer season Friday, as the 59th Annual Sun Fun Festival begins. Vendors will be open from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Friday, with live music and jet-ski demonstrations going on.
The festival’s events take place at Grand Park across from The Market Common on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. The fun lasts all summer long with numerous free, family-friendly events, concerts and much more, promoted under the Sun Fun Festival Celebration of Summer promotion, sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Sun Fun Festival will feature live entertainment, celebrity meet-and-greets, H2X Racing’s 2010 Tour of personal watercraft racing and demonstrations on Grand Park Lake, food and arts/crafts vendors, fireworks, Miss Sun Fun/Miss Sun Fun Teen pageant, to name a few activities. Here are some of the highlights of exciting events:
· Outdoor Concert Featuring Uncle Kracker, June 5 – National recording artist Uncle Kracker will perform live. Free.
· Celebrity Meet and Greets – Sterling Knight, “Chad” on Disney’s Sonny with a Chance, Kim Zimmer, “Reva” on CBS’ Guiding Light, and Booboo Stewart, “Seth” in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Free.
· Kids Zone Games, June 5 – A bouncing good time with inflatable rides, games and more. Free.
· H2X Racing’s APBA National Jet Ski Championships, beachfront between Damon’s Grill (2985 S. Ocean Blvd.) and Springmaid Beach Resort (3200 S. Ocean Blvd.), June 4-6 – Personal watercraft racing and freestyle competition as part of the American Power Boat Association’s national tour. Competition free to spectators.
· 2011 Miss Sun Fun and Miss Sun Fun Teen Pageant, Socastee High School, May 30 – A Myrtle Beach tradition, the pageants began in 1960 to symbolize one of the largest annual festivals in the Carolinas. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Admission $15.
· Sun Fun Beach Run, North Myrtle Beach, June 5 – Take your pick of a 5K run/walk or a 1-mile fun run sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and city of North Myrtle Beach in cooperation with the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce and North Myrtle Beach Recreation Department. Free.
· Sun Fun Festival Fireworks Extravaganza, June 5 – Free.
The Grand Strand’s summer festival season begins with the Sun Fun Festival and ends with the Beach, Boogie & BBQ Festival Sept. 3-4. Both festivals will take place at Grand Park across from The Market Common on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. Festival events and concerts are free and family-friendly, with a great lineup of live entertainment, activities and much more.
For more information, visit http://www.SunFunFestival.com or call (843) 626-7444/(800) 356-3016.
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber hosting travel and tourism week
Apr 27, 2010
MYRTLE BEACH - The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is joining hundreds of cities, states and businesses nationwide in the annual salute to travel and tourism in America. May 8-16 marks the 27th annual National Travel and Tourism Week. The cities of Conway and Myrtle Beach and town of Surfside Beach have issued declarations for the week. Each year between 14 million and 15 million tourists visit the Myrtle Beach area.
The MBACC is celebrating the week with activities and promotions for those visiting the Grand Strand. As in past years, MBACC members will receive “Thank You for Visiting” static cling decals to place on business or vehicle windows.
The chamber’s visitor centers in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet will serve complimentary refreshments during the week. The Myrtle Beach International Airport visitor center will host live music periodically throughout the week and offer refreshments during these times:
May 10, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Tim Peterman, steel drums
May 11 and May 12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Joan Burton, guitar
May 13 and May 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Doug Fankhauser, variety
The MBACC will host a Tourism Industry Update 10 a.m.-12 p.m. May 12 at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel. Chad Prosser, director, S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, will present South Carolina’s Tourism Action Plan, and Dr. Don Schunk, research economist, BB&T Center for Economic and Community Development, Coastal Carolina University, will present the Tourism Economic Impact Study.
TourismWorksForUs.com will feature new testimonial videos and Coastal Carolina University’s Tourism Economic Impact Study. Discounts will also be posted to thank the community for supporting tourism.
National Travel and Tourism Week was established as National Tourism Week in 1983 when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution designating the week to be celebrated in May 1984. In a White House ceremony, President Ronald Reagan signed a presidential proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with “the appropriate ceremonies and activities.” By January 1986, industry leaders had formed a permanent full-time office at the U.S. Travel Association to sponsor the event and expand tourism awareness into year-round programs.
2010 National Travel and Tourism Week Facts
(Source: U.S. Travel Association)
-Travel and tourism is a $1.7 trillion industry in the United States. If one dollar bill equaled a second of time, then $1.7 trillion would equal more than 54,000 years (2008 data).
-Travel and tourism generates $111 billion in tax revenue for local, state and federal governments. If 111 billion one dollar bills were placed end-to-end, they would circle the world 422 times (2009 data).
-Travel and tourism industry is one of the country’s largest employers, with 7.4 million direct travel-generated jobs and a payroll totaling $186 billion. One of every nine American jobs is dependent on travel and tourism (2009 data).
South Carolina Tourism Facts
(Source: U.S. Travel Association study prepared for the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism)
-Domestic travelers directly spent nearly $9.9 billion in South Carolina during 2008, up 1.7 percent from 2007.
-Domestic travel-generated employees in South Carolina earned more than $2.0 billion in payroll income during 2008, a 1.3 percent increase from 2007.
-Domestic travel expenditures directly generated 113,800 jobs within South Carolina in 2008, a decrease of 1.2 percent over 2007. These jobs generated by domestic travel spending in South Carolina composed 5.9 percent of the total state nonagricultural employment in 2008.
-On average, every $86,733 spent by domestic travelers in South Carolina during 2008 generated one job.
-Domestic travel spending in South Carolina directly generated nearly $1.5 billion in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments in 2008, up 1.4 percent from 2007. The total tax revenue increase is partially driven by higher state sales and use tax rates started June 1, 2007.
Local Tourism Facts
-Horry and Georgetown counties combined generated $9.2 billion in retail sales in 2008-2009, accounting for more than 6.6 percent of the state’s retail sales (source: S.C. Department of Revenue).
-Both counties generated more than $10 million in admissions taxes in 2008-2009, roughly one-third of the state’s total admissions tax collections (source: S.C. Department of Revenue).
-Both counties generated more than $15 million in accommodations taxes in 2008-2009, more than one-third of the state’s total accommodations tax collections (source: S.C. Department of Revenue).
-Tourism generates, directly or indirectly, most of the jobs in Horry and Georgetown counties. In 2008 this included more than 33,000 jobs in accommodations and food services, more than 20,000 jobs in retail and nearly 8,000 jobs in arts, entertainment and recreation (source: S.C. Employment Security Commission).
Myrtle Beach's got FAME
Apr 13, 2010
FAME, Arts & Film are taking center stage in Myrtle Beach in the form of an inaugural Arts & Film Celebration Week April 24 through May 2.
The outdoor FAME (Food, Arts, Music and Entertainment) Festival will kick off the weeklong event from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on April 24 on Broadway Street between 4th and 6th Avenue North, Myrtle Beach. Artists will be selling artwork, musicians and dancers such as local singer Gabbie Rae and Area 51 will perform on the Main Stage at 5th Avenue North, local restaurants will serve goodies and Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant will be pouring wine and beer. Also look for children's activities such as face painting and fire truck demos, as well as strolling mimes and stilt walkers. All proceeds from the event, according to organizer Karen Holck, will be donated to the Myrtle Beach community. For additional info, visit www.myrtlebeachfamefestival.com, or on Facebook search for "FAME Festival of Myrtle Beach."
Another highlight of the week will be the Arts & Film Celebration from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 1 at the former Myrtle Square Mall site. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Rivoli Theatre are teaming up to bring in R&B and jazz bands, including blues guitarist Buddy Guy, that will perform live; celebrity meet-and-greets including Catherine Bell of Lifetime's "Army Wives" and Alex Meraz of "Twilight: New Moon"; children's character meet-and-greets, plus face painting and balloon artists; a lineup of outdoor movies; food, art and craft vendors; and fireworks.
For updates and additional info, call 626-7444 or visit www.myrtlebeachareachamber.com.
Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/04/12/1417796/myrtle-beachs-got-fame.html#ixzz0kzOqNMu4
North Myrtle Beach native Tilghman Speaks with Tiger Woods
Mar 25, 2010
Kelly Tilghman is comfortable being on the air. As a Golf Channel anchor and PGA Tour tournament play-by-play announcer, the North Myrtle Beach native spends a lot of time in front of cameras.
She's accustomed to interviewing others, but she spent much of Monday on the other side of the microphone as the interviewee, after being one of only two reporters to question Tiger Woods Sunday in his first interviews since his accident in November and subsequent confessions of infidelity.
"By nature I'm an interviewer and not an interviewee," said Tilghman, who was selected by Golf Channel executives to conduct the interview. "But it does come with the territory, especially this uncharted territory with Tiger."
Tilghman's television and radio appearances began with segments on CBS' "Early Show" at 7 a.m. and NBC's "Today Show" at 7:30 a.m. She also appeared on the Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio, the E Network with Ryan Seacrest and two major Canadian stations. The Golf Channel turned down or put off dozens of additional interview requests.
Tilghman and ESPN's Tom Rinaldi were limited to a maximum of six minutes each; she managed to fire 21 questions at Woods in that time.
"You wanted to cover as much territory as you could without cutting him off and interrupting his thought," Tilghman said. "It was a short turnaround from the time I found out to the time we went to work with him, but quite honestly these questions have been formulating for months."
CBS was offered up to six minutes but declined, stating the network didn't want to comply with Woods. Tilghman said there was no way she would have passed up the opportunity, regardless of any time limit.
"I think any window is open right now considering how the public has been pining to hear from him," Tilghman said. "The Golf Channel received the opportunity, and they were very excited about it. When they called me, I considered it a great opportunity."
During Woods' interview with Tilghman, he expressed remorse and regret for the hurt he has caused his family, friends and those who looked up to him, and said his actions can partially be blamed on his feeling of entitlement because of his fame and accomplishments. "I hurt so many people by my own reckless attitude and behavior," Woods told Tilghman. "...The truth is very painful at times and to stare at yourself and look at the person you've become, you become disgusted."
She asked Woods if he ever thought he should end the infidelity. "I tried to stop, and I couldn't stop," he said. "It was horrific."
Tilghman, who regularly spoke or exchanged messages with Woods prior to his accident, believes the Woods she talked to Sunday is a more humble person, though he still has an unrelenting will to succeed.
"It's going to be a long road for him, but I believe it's a road he'll stay on," Tilghman said. "I heard him very much speaking the language of therapy and rehabilitation, and when we started talking about golf you could see the competitor was still inside him. ... This is a guy who was built to win."
Woods told Tilghman: He'll continue his therapy and doesn't know how much that will allow him to play this year; people in his inner circle were unaware of his actions; he's now wearing a Buddhist bracelet for protection and strength; he will talk to his children about his shortcomings as they grow older; and he misses the guidance of his father, Earl, who died in 2006.
Woods told Tilghman he believes the legacy he has sought is still salvageable and attainable.
"I felt that golf was a vehicle for me to help a lot of people," Woods said. "My dad had always said something that I never really quite understood until these times. In order to help other people, you have to first learn how to help yourself. Going into a treatment center for 45 days I learned a lot. I learned how to help myself and that's the way I can help others down the road."
Tilghman doesn't believe Woods is done speaking to the public and media from the heart.
"He knows it's coming and he has to answer more questions, and he may pick a forum to go deeper," Tilghman said. "I think he was using this as a small step to return to the golf world and open up communication with the public."
Myrtle Beach businesses give sky tram proposal a ‘thumbs up’
Mar 15, 2010
MYRTLE BEACH — Grand Strand residents and visitors could soon get a panoramic view of Ocean Boulevard if city leaders sign off on a special transportation project.
The Myrtle Beach Downtown Redevelopment Corp. wants to build a tram, or a horizontal ski lift, along the oceanfront.
Doppelmayr CTEC of Salt Lake City brought the idea to the table and asked city leaders to consider it.
David Sebok, the corporation’s executive director, said he thinks it could do wonders for the city’s tourism. He said the aerial tram is already used in other cities that offer an oceanfront atmosphere.
“It’d just be a fun thing to ride,” Sebok said. “It’d be a convenient thing for people that maybe want to walk part of the boardwalk, but they’re tired and wanna get back to their hotel so maybe they’ll take a chair lift ride.”
Sebok said the idea is being visualized as a structure, possibly on 9th Avenue North, that’ll connect to the Train Depot to Ocean Boulevard and then one along the new boardwalk.
“We are looking at the possibility of several lengths,” he said, “The ideal ride length for something like this is around 1,200 feet which is a quarter of mile and lasts about 10 minutes.”
Seboke said the idea is to connect the super block area with the beach while accommodating those who have a harder time walking along downtown.
“If I had my wish, we would have two or three or four of these things in the downtown area over the next couple of years so that we can re-establish downtown as the place to go when you come to the Grand Strand not the only place, but it’s the place you know, take a picture of yourself on the aerial tram,” he said.
Joseph Saad, owner of Burger Paradise on Ocean Boulevard, said he’s already impressed with the city working to complete a much-needed boardwalk and hopes it keeps up the good work by adding another attraction.
“It’s a very good idea because it’s going to bring a lot of business to the area and that’s what we need since we lost the bikers,” Saad said, “so let’s replace it by something else and hopefully this will bring a lot of people to the area.”
Sebok said there are a lot of things the Myrtle Beach Downtown Redevelopment Corp. must consider before giving the idea the official OK. He said they have to consider potential negative impacts, such as blocking a view in the city or whether the idea as a whole is objectionable or too commercialized.
