Myrtle Beach anchors the Grand Strand — a spectacular 60-mile arc of beach along the South Carolina coast that draws roughly 14 million visitors a year, making it the most visited beach resort on the US Atlantic seaboard. The beach itself is wide, flat, and gently sloping — excellent for families, with warm summer water and minimal wave action in most conditions.
Beyond the sand, Myrtle Beach is an entertainment destination in its own right: the 1.2-mile Boardwalk and Promenade, the 187-foot SkyWheel Ferris wheel (with air-conditioned gondolas), Ripley's Aquarium, Broadway at the Beach shopping and dining complex, and over 100 miniature golf courses within the region. It's unpretentious, abundant, and enormously popular with families and budget-conscious travelers.
The Grand Strand beach is wide and flat with a gentle slope — ideal for young children wading in the shallows. Summer waves typically run 1–2 feet, occasionally 2–3 feet during coastal storms. The water reaches 78–82°F from June through August, among the warmest on the East Coast thanks to the warm Gulf Stream influence. No sargassum seaweed — Myrtle Beach is north of the main Atlantic sargassum drift zone.
Sea nettles (jellyfish) appear in some summers, particularly July and August in warm, low-salinity nearshore water. They're an occasional nuisance rather than a consistent hazard — check local beach reports for current activity. Rip currents can develop during coastal storms — always observe the beach flag system and swim near lifeguard stands.
Myrtle Beach has more golf courses per capita than anywhere else in the world — over 100 courses within an hour's drive. Top tracks include TPC Myrtle Beach (a true PGA TOUR-quality layout), Caledonia Golf & Fish Club (consistently rated South Carolina's best), True Blue Plantation, and Barefoot Resort's four courses. October through April is the prime golf season — courses are less crowded and rates are lower, and the mild Lowcountry weather is perfect for 36 holes a day.
The Grand Strand has been home to the Waccamaw tribe for thousands of years — the Waccamaw River and Waccamaw Neck take their name from the original inhabitants. Spanish explorers charted the coast in the 1500s, calling it "Long Bay." The area remained sparsely settled until the railroad reached Conway, SC in the 1880s, opening the coast to development. "Myrtle Beach" was officially named in 1900 by Adeline Cooper, who chose the name for the wax myrtle shrubs blanketing the dunes.
The town's most legendary cultural moment: Alabama — now one of the biggest country acts in history — played their first professional gig at The Bowery bar on Ocean Boulevard in 1973. They were so broke they drove a converted school bus. The band served as the house band at The Bowery for years, sleeping in a motel and honing their sound before signing with RCA in 1980 and releasing "Tennessee River." The Bowery still operates today.
Myrtle Beach Air Force Base — now The Market Common shopping and residential district — was an active Cold War B-52 bomber base from 1956 until 1993, when it was one of the first bases closed after the Cold War. The distinctive 1950s infrastructure is still visible throughout the development.
"He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven." — Psalm 107:29–30Live seaweed levels, surf, water quality and hotel deals — updated daily. Free.
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