Visitors have flocked to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for decades. This vacation spot lies on the coast of South Carolina near the North Carolina border, and has flourished over the years. For many, a vacation at Myrtle Beach signals a nostalgic return. For first timers, it's an exciting, surprise-filled opportunity to make some memories.
Beach Music and Shag Dancing
Beach music and shag dancing made Myrtle Beach famous, and today there are still plenty of places to let loose on the dance floor. Shag dancing is a form of swing, executed in a slower, more rhythmic fashion. Contests are popular, as are the twice yearly shag dance conventions in the spring and fall. Aficionados congregate from all over the country and beyond to dance and relive their youthful beach experiences. Visitors can drop by the local shag dancing venues all year round. Fat Harold's Beach Club in North Myrtle Beach is the iconic watering hole for meeting other enthusiasts, taking a few lessons, and dancing the night away.
Themed Theaters
The Alabama Theater presents a spectacular floor show featuring a variety of music and plenty of singing and dancing. The featured program in 2010 is "One," which runs until the annual Christmas show begins in November. If you love rock, gospel, country or show tunes, this is the production for you. Occasionally an evening is devoted to a guest star, such as Kenny Rogers or the Temptations. Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede offers exciting entertainment with fire, magic, production numbers and dinner. Expect an evening filled with synchronized horses, rodeo acts, singing, dancing and good old-fashioned patriotism.
Flora and Fauna
Brookgreen Gardens, located on the site of an old plantation, offers an array of themed gardens, among which are the Kitchen Garden, the Palmetto Garden, the Dogwood Garden and the Children's Garden. Original live oak trees still flourish on the grounds and over 1,000 sculptures grace the property. Also on the premises is a zoo. Some of the native animals that live at the Brookgreen Zoo are bald eagles, river otters, barred owls and alligators. In the aviary you will find egrets, ibises, wood ducks and black-crowned night herons. The zoo also features domesticated farm animals such as sheep, mules, cows, chickens and horses. Brookgreen is open year round and offers guided tours through some of their acreage and self-guided tours through the rest.
Broadway at the Beach
Broadway at the Beach is an entire vacation packed into a single location. Eateries fill the complex, from ice cream and pretzel stands to larger venues such as Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville and Hard Rock Cafe. With over a hundred shops and a variety of entertainment, Broadway at the Beach will keep you busy for hours if not days. Experience the nightclubs and other entertainment choices. Fly through the air in a zip line, go to the movies, let the kids have a blast at Carousel Park, visit Ripley's Aquarium and take in a performance at the Palace Theater. The racing fans in the family will love the NASCAR Speed Park. Return visitors who came to the Grand Strand at Myrtle Beach as children and teenagers will relive some of the magic from that era at the Pavilion Nostalgia Park.
Museums
The Children's Museum of South Carolina, located in Myrtle Beach, provides hands-on exhibits and lots of programs for the younger visitors. Gaining knowledge is so much fun in the educational centers of the museum they won't even know it's happening. Children learn all about dentistry at the Kidz Medical Center & Dr. Molar's Dental Clinic. They will squeal with delight in Bubble Mania where bubbles are bigger than they are. Electricity is the focus of It's Electric as children learn about building an electric circuit. Collin's Kids Discovery Lab Classroom is filled with plant and animal collections as well as minerals and metals. Tales for Tots is a special program featuring stories for children ages one to four most Tuesday mornings.
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