We have the opportunity to stay at a condo for a week in Myrtle Beach - have been advised to perhaps avoid Bike Week end of May. Are there any other festivals that are well-known in the area, or weather-related best times? We just enjoy walking the beach, not necessarily getting in the water. LOVE seafood also. We've heard Darlington is close/early May (Nascar fans!)and also were considering mid-October. Any suggestions on best time to visit?

There are TWO Bike weeks. One is in the fall. Better check on that. I would think that September or October would be nice. I have been four times the first part of November. One nice beautiful time and three horrible times. One so rainy and cold that we left two days early. October might be a little chilly for beach walking.

HotWheels, we usually go down several times a year in the summer and winter and spring...but, in 2005, we went the middle of October and had a Wonderful time. The weather was beautiful...the only negative was flies. Don't ask me why, maybe beachdweller or GoTravel can chime in here.

The Bike Week you want to avoid is the one over Memorial Day weekend.

Don't know about festivals, but it seems that Taste of the Town was in October when we were there. There's also a nice winery nearby.

I wouldn't make a trip to Darlington. Maybe detour if you are driveing that way, but it's a long haul from Myrtle to Darlington just to see the track.

Have fun.

May is usually very nice, and Little River (just north of MB) has its Blue Crab Festival in May. This year it's right in between the bike weeks. Otherwise, come in early May, as the first bike week starts about May 12, the second runs through (and basically ruins) Memorial Day weekend.

Nearby Conway's Jazz & Blues Festival is in early May also.

October is, IMHO, the best month. Aileen, sorry you had such crummy weather 3 out of 4 times; that is very unusual! September stays about as hot as August, so you start to get just a little cooling in October, with temps in the 70s or 80s instead of 80s and 90s. The Little River Jazz & Shrimp Fest started last year and was great!

Here are some links to calendars of events:

http://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/Myr...ndar/index.cfm

http://www.century21thomas.com/event.htm

http://www.myrtlebeach-living.com/events.html

http://www.myrtlebeachcalendar.com/

Have a great time!

My widdowed Father-in-law prefers October for visits to Myrtle Beach. The motel rates are cheaper, the crowds are less, the ocean temperature is still in the low-to-mid 70s, and the oppressive summer heat slacks off to a comfortable 85 degrees. I vacation every October at one of the North Carolina beaches ninety miles away and find it very pleasing indeed.

October is my favorite month. The daytime high is still in the mid 80s but the humidity falls off and the ocean temp is still around 80 degrees.

Biketoberfest or Fall Bike Week is usually the first weekend in October. It is getting really big (100,000+ bikes) so I would avoid that time.

The two spring dates are as follows:

Carolinas Harley Davidson Assocation Spring Bike Week May 12-21st, 2006. Unless you are on a bike, forget the trip. 600,000+ Harley Davidsons give new meaning to the word loud.

http://www.myrtlebeachbikeweek.com/

Memorial Weekend is Black Bike Week. This group is college aged partiers. Think Spring Break on crotch rockets.

www.BlackBeachWeek.com

Just keep in mind that October is part of the hurricane season.

Thanks for the comments - they've really helped with our plans! If considering a mid-October visit, would that be near the end of hurricane season? I know we'd have to take our chances as with weather anywhere, but it sounds like an ideal time to visit.
Also - flying in from the Midwest, which airport would you recommend?
(Would perhaps attend the race in Charlotte, NC before visiting MB, if it worked easily into plans).

ttt

HotWheels,

sorry I missed your last post.

Mid-October should be great. Don't worry about hurricanes, simply because worrying does no good. Chances of a storm on your chosen week are fairly slim (although to be honest, Nov. 30 is the official end of hurricane season).

If you fly to Charlotte for a race, you can then fly to MB airport (airport code is MYR) on USAir. You might consider an open jaw series of flights and fly back from MYR (or possibly Wilmington NC, ILM, about 1.5 hours north of MB, or Charleston, about 2 hours south of MB). If you don't fly to Charlotte and want to try to take advantage of Southwest Air, they fly to Raleigh NC, which is about 3 hours north of MB.