North Myrtle Beach is a small town in South Carolina with approximately 15,000 residents. North Myrtle Beach proudly has two claims to fame. It is the birthplace of South Carolina's state dance, the shag. It is also the hometown of Vanna White of "Wheel of Fortune" fame.

Prior to incorporation in 1968 North Myrtle Beach consisted of the individual towns of Cherry Grove Beach, Ocean Drive Beach, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill Beach. It is part of the Grand Strand, and usually advertised along with Myrtle Beach on the whole. Once there however, you'll see that it has a distinctly separate personality of its own. More laid back than it's "big sister" you'll find that it is a close knit community with lots of community involvement, pride and spirit. There is more of a true family atmosphere and a less transient feel in the area.

Closer to the North Carolina border, commercial and residential development is not quite as advanced yet as Myrtle Beach proper since the city tries to balance that growth with quality of life for their residents. As desirable available waterfront property is rapidly disappearing however, North Myrtle Beach is also taking advantage of the current real estate market and adding marinas on the Intracoastal Waterway along with upscale housing and resort accommodations to keep up with demand.

Get in

The major area airport is Myrtle Beach International (code MYR). Located about 15 miles south of the North Myrtle Beach border and east of Bypass Hwy. 17, it is served by the following airlines: Delta, Continental, Hooters, NWA, Spirit and U.S. Air. Direct flights may be difficult to find depending on the season, but flying to a major hub such as Atlanta then taking a short hop to the area should not be a problem.

Grand Strand Regional Airport is actually the closest airport to North Myrtle Beach, and serves mostly chartered or private flights.

From Interstate 95, the easiest way to town would be to take the exit for Hwy. 9 in Dillon, SC and continue south towards Myrtle Beach. Hwy. 9 will then merge with Hwy. 17, so just continue south on Hwy. 17 for the rest of the ride.

Vehicle travel will become easier once the direct connection from SC Hwy. 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) via the Main Street Connector (North Myrtle Beach Connector) is completed, but funding was only approved in June, 2005 and construction has just begun. Traveling in and out for hurricane evacuations, as well as north and south along the Strand in general will be much easier once the connector is complete.

Activities

Besides the obvious choices of visiting the beach or playing golf, there are plenty of ways to enjoy your visit to North Myrtle Beach. Summer visitors enjoy watersports ranging from deep sea or sport fishing on Capt. Juel's Charters or the Hurricane Fleet out of Little River Inlet, or jet ski rentals, parasailing, and banana boat rides through Bob's Watersports in Cherry Grove or MB Watersports in Little River. Year round from the Little River Inlet you can test your luck on casino cruises by the Southern Elegance fleet, although most prefer the SunCruz Casino. Along the Intracoastal Waterway you can take scenic or dinner cruises on the Barefoot Princess. Family activities in the area include mini-golf venues, the arcade in the Crescent Shores section at Ocean Drive Pavilion, a visit to Alligator Adventure, and the Grand Prix Family Thrill Park. There's plenty of shopping in the area, from outlet malls to art galleries and antiquing. Live theatre includes shows at the Alabama Theatre, the House of Blues, and Tribute! right on Main Street. Horseback riding is available in the Cherry Grove section at Inlet Point Plantation Stables. If you don't mind a short ride over the border to Sunset Beach, North Carolina, then don't miss the chance to visit the Ingram Planetarium. Motorcycle enthusiasts will enjoy Bike Week each May and October in addition to the Atlantic Beach Bikefest over Memorial Day Weekend. A word to the wise here; be sure to check with your hotel or resort regarding motorcycle accommodations. Many homeowner associations and hotels do NOT allow bikes on property. So check in advance in order to avoid disappointment at arrival!

Dining

There's definitely a wide variety of restaurants in North Myrtle Beach. One of the favored Italian restaurants is Umberto's located in Barefoot Landing. With authentic cuisine, a continental atmosphere and reasonable pricing you'll be swept away. Or try Martini's Continental Dining & Piano Bar for some fun! At Barefoot Landing you'll also find Greg Norman's own Australian Grille overlooking the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway with spectacular sunset views. For a more special or intimate setting, you might want to try Chestnut Hill or The Parson's Table to make a lasting impression. Logan's Roadhouse is a locals favorite for casual dining. The food and service are super for the price. For some down-home southern cooking, try the Cracker Barrel. Whatever you're hungry for, you'll find it in North Myrtle Beach.