Myrtle Beach is a city in the state of South Carolina on the Atlantic coast. The city is one of the coastal beach and barrier island communities that make up the "Grand Strand." Its location and the numerous recreation activities have combined to make this resort town a tourist destination. Every year, motorcyclists from around the country converge there for Bike Week.
History
Myrtle Beach Bike Week brings you to the Carolina coast for a week in May and again in October to ride your motorcycle as you take in the ocean breezes. The event began as a single annual event in May in 1940, with 200,000 riders migrating to the area. It expanded in 1980 to include Black Bike Week, an event that brings 400,000 to Myrtle Beach for Memorial Day Weekend in the largest African-American motorcycle rally in the country. That event is now known as the Atlantic Beach Bikefest. In the 2000s, the Fall Rally was added in late September and early October. Some businesses in Myrtle Beach have fought to stop the event but, as of 2010, it continues, run mostly outside the city limits.
Identification
The Bike Week activities in the Myrtle Beach area are sometimes referred to as "Harley Week "as well. Motorcyclists head out on daily rides on the roads up and down the coast. Riders heading north go towards Wilmington, North Carolina, while those heading south make their way to Charleston. Along the way, you can stop to experience the area and visit plantation sites and the Charleston waterfront or stop in at the warships anchored near Wilmington. You can also choose to stay in the local area and enjoy the fresh ocean air nearer to Myrtle Beach. Each day brings a different route and new experiences.
Activities
In case you need a break from riding every day during your visit, the Myrtle Beach area has plenty of other options to keep you active. The area has more then 20 golf courses and numerous tennis courts and clubs to provide a change of pace if you need to stretch your legs and get some exercise. Beaches provide a place to walk and relax during the hours when you are not on your bike.
Lodging
Some hotels in the Myrtle Beach area do not allow you to park your motorcycle on the premises but most welcome bikers to spend the week. If you stay at a townhouse or condominium along the ocean, you can get an early start to the day with a walk on the beach. You can make it a family vacation and camp at one of the campgrounds in the Myrtle Beach area. Most of them have pools and recreation rooms to entertain the kids and keep them active. Some of the campgrounds will ask you to park your bike outside the gates rather than riding it to your campsite, so you will need to check on that before you arrive.
Features
The Poker Run adds a little variety to your daily bike rides during Bike Week. It is a contest that has riders follow a specific course, stopping at predetermined businesses and other locations along the way. At each official stop, you will receive a playing card to add to your "hand." At the end of the ride, the biker with the best hand wins a prize.
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