South Carolina's Grand Strand ­ An RVing Paradise

Welcome to The Grand Strand, 60 miles of sandy white beaches along the beautiful, blue Atlantic Ocean. With over 7,000 campsites and an average of 215 sunny days per year, the Grand Strand is an RVing paradise and has earned the title of the No. 1 Family Beach in America.

The Strand includes Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Little River and several smaller communities that create a playground for fun, excitement, and relaxation for nearly 14 million RVers and other visitors all year long. The Grand Strand has a storybook history. Dozens of books have been written about lost Indian tribes, pirates and roaming ghosts.

The area's first inhabitants were Waccamaw and Winyah Indians. Kings Highway (US Hwy. 17), the major thoroughfare through the Myrtle Beach area, began as an Indian trail long before Europeans settled along the Grand Strand. Later, this trail became the route from the northern states to Charleston and Savannah. While much has been written about Native Americans, documented facts about local tribes are scarce. Physical evidence such as arrowheads, pottery, and other artifacts continues to turn up, adding to the knowledge of their existence and way of life.

In the 1700s, scores of pirates took to the high seas to intercept cargo vessels on the trade routes along America's coast. The South Carolina coastal waters were especially productive for pirates, and the coves and inlets along the Grand Strand provided great hiding places for these marauders. Pirates who became local legends include Edward Teach, called "Blackbeard" because of his coal-black beard, and Drunken Jack, who was left behind on an island with a huge stash of stolen rum and reported died with a smile on his face.

Before the Civil War, plantation owners turned Pawleys Island into one of the first summer resorts on the Atlantic coast. Historic beach cottages and other landmarks still stand there.

Ghost stories from this area of South Carolina have been told and retold over hundreds of years, and as different storytellers add their own embellishments, the stories have changed over time so there are often several versions of the same story. The most enduring ghost stories are of Alice Flagg, ghost of the Hermitage, and the Gray Man.

Alice roams beside the waters of Murrells Inlet, searching for a ring she received from a young man her family did not approve of. As the story goes, Alice lay in bed ill with a fever. Her brother discovered the ring on a ribbon around her neck, became enraged, and flung it into the inlet. To this day, people say Alice haunts the streams and creeks around the inlet, searching for the ring.

The story of the Gray Man also involves a tragic love story. A soldier returning home to marry his sweetheart, the Gray Man met with a tragic accident and was killed. His spirit lived on, however, and appeared to his betrothed to warn her of an approaching hurricane and save her life. Since that time, many people have reported seeing the Gray Man before a hurricane and heeded his ghostly warning to seek safety.

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach was incorporated as a town in 1938 and became a city in 1957. Its name comes from the wax myrtle, a shrub that grows abundantly in the area. RVers and other guests come to enjoy the wide beaches, the Atlantic Ocean, and an incredible range of activities, entertainment, golf, shopping and dining.

The first tourists to Myrtle Beach were a party of Spaniards from Hispaniola, who landed about 50 miles north of present day Myrtle Beach in 1526. They eventually established the first European settlement in the U.S. about 30 miles to the south. That settlement, San Miguel de Cauldape, was abandoned the following year, and the group returned to Hispaniola.

In the next three centuries, the region's population grew slowly. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, people began to vacation in the area, although it was quite rustic. Houses and camps were sparse, and there were only few permanent residents at the turn of the century. But drawn by the ocean, sand and trees, people began to call Myrtle Beach home as the 1900s progressed. Today, Myrtle Beach is a well-known destination for vacationers from around the country, Canada and abroad.

North Myrtle Beach

In 1968, four small beach towns ­ Windy Hill Beach, Crescent Beach, Ocean Drive Beach and Cherry Grove Beach ­ located on the northern edge of the Grand Strand joined forces to form

the City of North Myrtle Beach. Their goal was to improve services to residents and tourists, create a safe beach community, and offer superb recreation and vacation facilities.

Ocean Drive Beach ­ known by the locals as the "OD" ­ is the birthplace of the Shag, the official South Carolina State Dance. The OD hosts two week-long "migrations" of shaggers every year in April and September. The events bring thousands of devotees of this unique dance to Main Street to shag, party and visit with old friends.

The shag is a smooth, cool, dance that started in the late '40s and early '50s. The dance was born on the beach and combines fancy footwork and smooth moves, and it has been called a cross between the jitterbug and swing dancing. Some locals refer to the shag as a "peacock" dance because of all the attention given to the male. The dance is basically done from the waist down ­ there's little upper body movement. If you take your eyes off the dancers' feet, you might miss something.

Main Street is a great place to shop at unique boutiques and shops. Stroll down the street to the Horseshoe, a local landmark, and step out on to the sandy beaches that North Myrtle Beach is famous for. Ocean Drive is located in the heart of North Myrtle Beach and is where to find many national retailers and fast food restaurants.

The Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach offers some of the best fishing opportunities on the Grand Strand. Several marinas in Cherry Grove offer charter boats and deep sea fishing in the Gulf Stream off the Atlantic Coast. Boats can also be rented for the day for fishing the Intracoastal Waterway and the creeks and rivers accessible from it. The Cherry Grove Pier offers excellent fishing and has everything RVers need for fishing. You can even rent a fishing pole and have them help you rig it!

Little River

Known as a quaint fishing village, Little River provides a day trip getaway filled with history and charm. A short drive from the lights and action of the Grand Strand, Little River offers a quiet, southern hospitality alternative to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With a mild year-round climate conducive to golf and outdoor activities as well as festivals and community events, it's no wonder visitors to this area return year after year.

Rich in local history, Little River is one of the oldest settlements along the coast, with fishermen and farmers coming to settle in the late 1600s and 1700s. The area was named by Indian tribes who called the harbor "Mineola", meaning little river. Shipwreck survivors and pirates used the small, protected harbor as a safe haven for rest and repairs. Names like Captain Kidd, Blackbeard and Ann Bonney are all a part of local lore.

Through the years, Little River has reluctantly played host to pirates, smugglers and blockade-runners in the Civil War. But road building in the 1920s and the use of cars and trucks to carry people and goods caused sea traffic and trade to diminish and finally disappear. Today, Little River is a strong community with a diverse population. On the waterfront, you may meet families whose ancestors have lived in Little River dating back for centuries.

Little River is widely known for it's deep-sea fishing, charter boats and commercial fishing. One of the sights of the day is to watch fishing and shrimp boats going out in the early morning for the day's catch, with the sun coming up and mist rising from the calm inlet waters. Local festivals such as The Blue Crab Festival and The Shrimp and Jazz Festival bring thousands of visitors to enjoy these family-oriented events.

Held annually in May, Little River's Blue Crab Festival is heralded nationally as one of the country's top events paying tribute to the famous blue crab. The weekend event features some of the nation's top artisans, entertainers, seafood and of course, blue crab. The First Annual Little River Shrimp and Jazz Fest will be held October 8 and 9 in 2005 on the waterfront and will feature live jazz and other musical entertainment, shrimp cooking demonstrations and contests.

Sights To See ­ Things To Do

The oldest theme park on the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach Pavilion, features the Carolinas' longest flume, an antique car collection and a teen nightclub. Cool things down at Myrtle Waves Water Park, featuring state-of-the-art wave pools, tube rides and more.

Roller-coaster fans will want to make the trip to Family Kingdom, home to a 30-year-old wooden coaster, the beach's largest with a 62-foot freefall drop.

Broadway at the Beach offers 350 acres of entertainment with 100 specialty shops, 20 restaurants, 15 attractions (including Ripley's Sea Aquarium and an IMAX Theater), and 10 nightclubs.

Myrtle Beach Grand Prix is where family members can put the pedal to the metal. Children as young as 6 can participate in safe speed thrills, and Grand Prix North has a kiddie park with rides for youngsters 1 to 6.

Myrtle Beach is a Mecca for miniature golfers too, with nearly 50 courses, many presenting elaborate challenges. Jurassic Golf bills itself as "a prehistoric putting adventure"; Broadway at the Beach's Dragon's Lair heats up with a 30-foot-long, animatronic fire-breathing dragon; and Myrtle Beach Grand Prix's course features waterfalls, caves, sunken ships and flames that explode out of misty fog.

Nightlife can mean walking along the ocean piers in the moonlight, or more show-biz dazzle. Venues include Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede and the Fantasy Harbour-Waccamaw complex, home to Magic on Ice.

Nature-lovers can breathe the fresh ocean air and revel in the spectacular coastal scenery at nearly every turn on the Grand Strand. Barefoot Landing, nestled between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic, provides a special place to soak up the atmosphere with waterfront dining, factory outlet shops and family entertainment along with miles of boardwalk and floating docks.

And history buffs can take river cruises that follow the same routes 18th-century pirates Blackbeard and Captain Kidd sailed.

With 120 championship golf courses, the Myrtle Beach area offers virtually an unlimited choice for golfers. But while the area is known as the "seaside golf capital of the world," (over 4 million rounds of golf were played there in 2003), it offers far more than golf to entice sports enthusiasts-baseball (the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, an Atlanta Braves Class-A team), auto racing (professional and amateur on a half-mile oval track every Saturday, April-September) and fishing (eight piers along MB's 60 miles of beach and deep sea fishing). And for a little sports history trivia, Sports Illustrated magazine was conceived in 1953 at MB's Pine Lakes International Country Club.

Visiting the Beach

The coastal waters of South Carolina are teeming with seashells. In fact, more than 700 species live in the coastal waters. Common local shells include whelk, angel wing, ark, pen shell, auger, cockle, slipper shell, jingle, coquina and olive shells. Starfish, sea urchins, and sand dollars also can be found on area beaches.

Searching for fossils is another popular pastime. The most common fossils found on area beaches are shark's teeth, which are usually black or dark brown. Fossilized sharks teeth are millions of years old. Other fossils found in the area include animal bones, horses' teeth and fossilized shells.

The best times to look for shells and fossils are on an outgoing tide, during a new or full moon, and after a storm. Tide charts and information about moon phases can be found on the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce website.

When visiting The Grand Strand, RVers should be aware that it is unlawful to drive or operate a motor vehicle on the beach or within public marsh areas, and glass containers are prohibited on the beach. Open containers of beer or alcohol are prohibited in any public place including streets, sidewalks and in beach areas. It is illegal to cut, break or otherwise destroy sea oat plants, beach grass or sand fencing. Sleeping on the beach or at a beach access is not allowed, and it is also illegal to build a fire or use a propane-fired grill or other cookers on the beach.

Pets are not permitted on the beach 9 am-4 pm from June 1st to September 1st. They must be on a hand-held leash not to exceed six feet. In Georgetown County, dogs are allowed on public beaches if accompanied by the owner or keeper and on a leash.

Getting There

Interstate RVers can use I-95 or I-20 to reach U.S. Highways 17 and 501 and SC Highways 9 and 544 to get to the Myrtle Beach area. Once you arrive, finding your way around the Grand Strand is easy. Ocean Boulevard and Kings Highway (also known as Business Hwy. 17) run north and south along the Grand Strand parallel to the Atlantic Ocean.

RVers can find ample camping along the Grand Strand. Myrtle Beach State Park (843-238-5325) is located in the heart of the Grand Strand and boasts a great beach, fishing pier, 350 camping sites, cabins, picnic shelters, activity center, nature center and hiking trails. Huntington Beach State Park (843-237-4440) includes the historic castle Atalaya, once the winter home of sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband. The diverse natural environment of the South Carolina coast can be observed at the freshwater lagoon, salt marsh, nature trails and a fabulous stretch of beach. The park has 186 camping sites, picnic areas with shelters and nature programs.

Ocean Lakes Family Camp Ground, (800-722-1451) offers beach-front camping, eight fresh water lakes, a Four Seasons Center with heated pool, and a 17,000-square-foot recreation center, plus nearly 900 campsites, 250 rentals units and over 2,000 annual lease sites. Ocean Lakes was voted National RV Park of the Year in 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003.

Lakewood Camping Resort (877-525-3966) is a family campground set on nearly 200 acres along a half-mile stretch of sandy beach between Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach. With 1,900 campsites, luxurious facilities and unspoiled natural beauty, Lakewood Camping Resort offers harmony and Christian fellowship, passed down two generations by the Perry family, who still own and manage the facility. Lakewood was voted National RV Park of the Year in 2000 and 2001.

WillowTree Resort (866-207-2267), 12 miles from the ocean, provides a relaxing setting for RVers with swimming, hot tub, playground, fishing, hiking and biking trails.

Additional campgrounds along The Strand, with over 7,000 total spaces, provide ample RVing opportunities for almost every RVer and in any season. For more information, visit www.campmyrtlebeach.com. In addition, for information on Little River, all 866-817-8082 or visit www.Littleriverchamber.org.

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