If you think you’ve covered Myrtle Beach from A to Z, try mixing it up a little bit with our top 10 most interesting facts.
1 – The ranking Myrtle Beach received in a ranking of summer beach destinations. The poll taken by TripAdvisor in 2014 named Myrtle Beach the top family vacation destination … but you probably already knew that.
1.2 – The length in miles of the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, an oceanfront walkway that also provides easy access to some of the best attractions, shopping, restaurants and entertainment on the Grand Strand. Stretching from Bandito’s Cantina on the north end to Second Avenue Pier to the south, the Boardwalk bypasses the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, the historic honkytonk The Bowery and Plyler Park, where concerts, fireworks shows and festivals are held throughout the year.
17 – The main highway that runs north-and-south through the Grand Strand. Also known as Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach and Ocean Highway in Pawleys Island, this US highway splits in Myrtle Beach, forming 17 Business and 17 “Bypass”, as it is known to locals, and in Murrells Inlet.
60 – Number of miles of white sand beaches that make up the Grand Strand. Stretching from Ocean Isle Beach just over the state border in North Carolina down to the historic port city of Georgetown, SC, the Grand Strand consists of everything in between the crescent-shaped coastline known as Long Bay.
77 – The average annual temperature in Myrtle Beach, which is a pretty comfortable place to set your thermostat. Sure, it get hot at the peak of summer (highs in the 90s, lows in the 70s) and chilly in the dead of winter (highs in the 50s, lows in the 30s), but the Grand Strand boasts moderate temperatures almost year round and lots of sunshine.
104 – The total number of golf courses within a 30-mile radius of the Grand Strand, which is more golf than you can swing a club at. The diverse terrain of the area – from maritime forests and tidal marshes on the coast to dense hardwoods, sand hills and Carolina bays farther inland, golfers can play a variety of landscapes. The list of designers features some of the greatest golfers and architects in the business, including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Pete Dye. Spoiler alert: That comes to 1,872 holes.
1,700 – The estimated number of restaurants on the Grand Strand, and that’s a lot to chew on. From seafood restaurants serving the freshest catches from local waters to oceanfront bars and grills serving hot food and cold drinks to beachgoers, the Myrtle Beach area offers a wide range of dining options. Wake up to a tall stack of pancakes, grab a quick chili dog for lunch and go out for a fine-dining experience at night – all on the same block.
1938 – The year Myrtle Beach officially became a city, making this little corner of the Carolina coast a mere infant compared to older sister cities Charleston, SC, and Wilmington, NC, both of which were founded more than two centuries earlier. Originally known as New Town, Myrtle Beach got its new name in a local newspaper contest. The name comes from the abundant Wax Myrtle shrubs that are native to the beachfront.
89,600 – The number of accommodations units available to vacationers to choose from. Featuring oceanfront hotels, golf villas, posh resorts and family-sized condos, the Grand Strand has the perfect vacation home away from home to fit your party.
500,000 – The number of visitors who come to the Grand Strand every year … and counting.
(Posted: 9/24/14)
(Photo Courtesy: travelchannel.com)
