Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is returning to the “new normal

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is back. Sun seekers are hitting the beaches, golfers are working on their drives and visitors are enjoying the appeals that each year attract some 20 million people.

- Victor Block

Like other destinations around the country which are gradually returning to the “new normal,” there are differences from the way things were only months ago. But any inconveniences pale when stacked up against what the area has to offer.

Given the choice of more than 100 excellent golf courses, Myrtle Beach is a magnet for both low-handicap players and duffers. Beyond the fairways and greens, augmenting the sun and sand are history-rich towns, reminders of southern plantation life and captivating cultural tidbits.

Myrtle Beach sits near the middle of the “Grand Strand,” the name given to a dozen towns strung along South Carolina’s Atlantic coastline. Each has its own intriguing story to tell.

Myrtle Beach has the greatest concentration of hotels, restaurants, shopping and nightlife. Much of the action takes place along the bustling 1.2-mile boardwalk. Overlooking the scene is the SkyWheel, which transports passengers 187 feet into the air and provides a bird’s-eye view over the surroundings.

GEORGETOWN was a major Colonial sea port when it was officially founded in 1729. Some gracious homes that line oak tree-canopied streets were built before the Revolution. Exhibits at the Rice Museum relate how the rice culture evolved in South Carolina and brought extreme wealth to many planters.