joesource,

MB receives about 14 million visitors per year. I don't know about other cities, but for a city with a 25,000 permanent population, that's a lot of tourists getting crispy every Summer. The MB chamber of commerce (an unbiased source, of course) lists MB as the 3rd most popular driving destination in the US.

SAnParis, if you ever get tired of the Parson's Table, or even better, Stars; grit your teeth and venture down to some other great restaurants (yes, great restaurants in MB): Collectors Cafe, Thoroughbreds, Rossi's, Martini's (in NMB), Aspen Grille, Benny Rappa's (also in NMB), or Blue Water Bistro. Actually, as you may know, you can take Carolina Bays Parkway, Highway 31, from Little River and avoid nearly all of us terribly tacky MB folks.

driving destination? They must be counting all the people from the northeast who drive through on their way to Florida.

We took our kids to Myrtle Beach last summer. We hadn't been in more than 10 years. We stayed at the far end of North Myrtle Beach but visited the Grand Stand a couple of times. It had changed tremendously, some good and some bad. I think it is a great beach destination with young children because there are lots of things they enjoy. The beaches themselves have always been nice, and that is another thing that separates them from Branson (Patrick). I think the biggest negative change was the amount of traffic. I remember back in the early 80s, when I used to go more frequently, you could go back and forth between Myrtle and N. Myrtle a lot faster than now. We also found that eating out could take a long time at some places. My personal take is that it is somewhat like Vegas. There is a lot of cheese, a lot of crowds, and many people hate it while others love it. However, when you take if for what it is and don't have the wrong expectations you can have a very good time. It will never compare to Charleston (my favorite SC spot), but it isn't all that bad either.

I have to chime in here...I did not care for MB...but i dont really care for gray sand and that includes the sands of Sea Island(Ga) which my family has visited numerous times.Its the whole Atlantic side really...Of course you cant compare Sea Island to MB just like you cant compare the Four Seasons to Motel 6..That said, I have to admit that when I visited MB we stayed at the north end in a timeshare.....not good.Perhaps I would have a different perspective......

Perhaps more opinions based on objective facts, like those of Dan Woodlief and Capri767, would allow people reading this thread to better predict whether they would like or dislike the MB area.

Capri767, I had never seen powder white sand before visiting Seaside on the Florida panhandle. I have to admit, it makes beach sand on the eastern seaboard seem, well, gray. And if that's a major turn-off, white-sand-seeking beach goers should hit the gulf instead. (Incidentally, we brought home a small bag-full of it the first time. Hmmm, I wonder how many bags it would take to make our shore a little whiter here in MB? :-)

Dan, you are so right about the traffic between NMB and MB. Actually, we have noticed increased traffic in NMB itself. The problem? There's only one road: Highway 17. MB itself has nearly solved its traffic problems, with several parallel North-South roads: (from West to East) Highway 31, 17 By-Pass, Grissom Parkway, Oak Street (that's a local secret I shouldn't have disclosed), 17 Business, and Ocean Blvd.

If the top 3 US tourist destinations are Disneyland, LV and Myrtle Beach, I am so not normal.

Tina - I think it just depends on how you like your beaches. If you prefer beaches in a more natural state, and not lined by high rises, you're not going to like MB, or a lot of other beach areas in the US. If you think all the tourist stuff is a hoot, and if you like golf, you'll rave about it. Different strokes.

According to Loney Planet"Savannah, Charleston & the Carolina Coast", the Grand Strand takes the number 2 position as the most visited family or beach destination in the US (next to Florida).

karens, there are only small areas in Myrtle Beach that are highrises.

Again, The Grand Strand has two State Parks both oceanfront.

The Myrtle Beach State Park has several miles of unspoiled oceanfront http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com...il.Asp?Pid=795

Huntington Beach State park, also oceanfront with several miles of beach access also very lovely.
http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com...l.Asp?Pid=1020

Pawleys Island (my family has a house on the island so I'm familiar with the area), Litchfield Beach, Surfside Beach don't have high rises. Pawleys prohibits anything but single family homes.

In the city limits of Myrtle Beach, only a 7 mile area has any high rises. New building is restricted to certain heights.

None of the residential areas have high rises which encompasses a much larger area of Myrtle Beach (again I'm talking oceanfront).

Windy Hill and North Myrtle Beach may have some issues but Cherry Grove is single family housing or low rise condos.

I certainlly did not intend to offend anyone. If I have regardign this posting, I apologize.

Myrtle Beach is not my cup of tea, but I do venture there from time to time for the House of Blues, golf, restaurants and outlet malls. To me, the biggest drawback is the traffic. It can be maddening -- even with the new bypass. But, to each his own. I guess it's like the old Yogi Berra saying, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

tinathetoad,

it got under my skin a bit that you *despised* MB. BUT, more important than that, you have a right to express your opinion, and your post provided an opportunity for all to share info on this topic.

EXACTLY!!!!

I visited Myrtle Beach once 20 years ago and was very disappointed. I'd rather drive the few extra hours and go to South Florida . One reason I wouldn't return to MB or Panama City is I can't stand the cigarette butts in the sand that seems to be so common.

It is nice that there is something for everyone...I'm not a big fan of MB just like I wasn't a big fan of Ocean City, MD when I lived in MD because of the high rises and traffic. That being said, there are attractions that other beaches don't have and the beaches themselves are usually nice. I prefer smaller and less built up - but that's just me.

Summer04,

you are very wise to avoid MB. As you can imagine, absolutely nothing has changed in the 20 years since you last visited.

hey beachdweller, you anywhere near 15h Avenue South in North Myrtle?

iceeu2,

not at the moment--just kidding. Actually we lived near 20th Avenue South in NMB when we first moved down here, so I'm pretty familiar with the area. We are now about 5 miles south of that.

beach dweller, the reason I was wondering what area you are in is because I would like to find someone to spiff up the beach shack once in a while or when we let "friends" use it and leave it a mess. Thought you might know someone.

iceeu2,

I understand that. Unfortunately, our property management co. contracted the cleaning service(s) when we rented it out. And when we lived there, we didn't hire anyone. Finally, I would call the property co. for you (they were great, White Realty), but the cleaning services were really hit or miss.

Oh and one more thing, beachdweller..you and the wife shag?

The very first time I came to the area with my now DH (who is also from NC)(we live in North Georgia now)..was for SOS.

DH shags..I don't..we always go to the OD Pavilion, Fat Harold's and Duck's and check out the places when we are there.

So see what you people who hate Myrtle Beach miss.......GREAT dancing!