Myrtle Beach is one of the most rapidly growing family and holiday destinations in the United States today. As of 2012, Myrtle Beach draws about 15 million visitors each year as well as many thousands of new residents. Fondly called “The Grand Strand” by both visitors and locals, Myrtle Beach’s population has grown over 35 percent in the last ten years. As we move into the year 2012 and beyond, this all-new Myrtle Beach continues to ramp up its attractions, events, and quality dining and accommodations. Following is a look at what is expected for the Myrtle Beach for 2012.

The Grand Park Athletic Complex

The The Grand Park Athletic Complex is slated to open its doors in early 2012. Three full sized multipurpose fields and two junior sized multipurpose fields along with a roller hockey facility will comprise the new complex.

Adrenaline Adventures Parks

In the spring quarter of 2012, the new Adrenaline Adventures Park will be erected in the place of where the Pavilion Amusement Park was once situated, on on some acreage at the end of south Myrtle Beach. The park will host zip-line courses for young people and adults alike. Two distinct themes are planned for these amusement parks: a “Shabby Shack” theme and a “Tiki-style” theme ala Swiss Family Robinson.

Myrtle Beach Golf Courses get new greens

For the avid golfer out there, the Barefoot Dye and Barefoot Love golf courses are getting new greens in 2012, switching to Champion Ultra-Dwarf from Bent grass.  Some courses have already made the switch and have received rave reviews because of the change.

The Myrtle Beach Art Museum Year-Round 15th Anniversary

The Franklin G. Burroughs/Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is having a 15-year anniversary that will last for the whole year of 2012. The “I Heart Art” celebration is meant to get people engaged in the art world in a variety of ways and is planned as a highlight for myrtle beach for 2012.

Pat Boone Family Theater

The Pat Boone Family Theater plans a winter 2012 debut. The theater, built on the prior site of the NASCAR Cafe, will now host 600 people for concerts and a range of other entertaining shows including comedy shows, gospel concerts, and much more. The Pat Boone Museum will be on-site and will showcase memoribilia from Boone’s entertainment career, which started in the 50s and continues with great success today.

South Carolina Warriors

The SC Warriors are a Myrtle Beach based semi-pro basketball team that play as a part of the ABA. Warriors home games are in Little River and the basketball season goes on through March of 2012.

New Electric Vehicle Charger Stations

The “Plug In California” non-profit organization has placed EV (Electric Vehicle) charger stations around the Grand Strand area. Eventually, 80 stations are planned across the state. Each station can charge two vehicles at once.

HWY 17 Interchange: Back Gate

This new Interchange will remove the traffic light and help allow for unimpeded movement on HWY 17. This is expected to lower unnecessary traffic delays. A new U-turn,on the Northern end of the Interchange, will be part of the project.

Boat Ramp At Kings Road

The Kings Road Boat Ramp, parking lot, and public restrooms is a two million dollar project expected to be ready for use in myrtle beach for 2012.

ITAP Park

The Technology and Aerospace park is a 460 acre large technology park at the Myrtle Beach International Airport and will be completed in 2012. The Market Common district hosts the ITAP public park entry. Guests can enjoy eclectic shopping and eateries, and are only a mile from the Atlantic Ocean.

Airport Extended

Since more Myrtle Beach visitors than ever arrive via air in 2012, the airport has started an expansion that includes new aviation and passenger terminals. The passenger terminal will grow to 12 gates in size, allowing for increased speed and efficiency in handling Myrtle Beach International Airport visitors.

The Springmaid Pier

The Springmaid Pier is being revamped for myrtle beach for 2012. The pier restaurant, Barnacles, will undergo a facelift and will add additional seating areas outside. A new bar that serves drinks plus a full menu will be added outdoors as well. New live music is planned weekly. The “Hurricane Simulator” attraction will be added, as will a massive chair in which guests can take photos.

New Target

Myrtle Beach will welcome a Target store in 2012. The SayeBrook Town Center, located close to US 17 and SC 544, will include homes as well as shopping like the new Target. Target is projected to be around 135,000 feet in size.

Peaches Corner Restaurant Restyling

The Peaches Corner Restaurant, a historic landmark in the area, will undergo some changes in myrtle beach for 2012. The remodel will include a fresh facade and a massive spinning peach perched upon the building. A new countertop will show dozens of years of Myrtle Beach history in photographs.

Want to learn more about items in this article?  See the original about the upcoming changes to Myrtle Beach or see another blog post we have about renting a condo in 2012.

Yep, the internet is growing faster than any tech buffs could ever imagine, and with the recent announcement that Myrtle Beach is top Googled destination, it’s no wonder there are so many Myrtle Beach websites out there.  Here are a few you may not even know about!  These websites we picked out were based on INFORMATION only. They may not have the best design out there, but the info is amazing.

Myrtle Beach Remembered

www.myrtlebeachremembered.com

If you like nostalgia, then this is your spot! It’s a simple website with one main page, but is full of everything that Myrtle Beach used to have to offer (and things that are even still around).  It has plenty of information about each of the different attractions and restaurants that used to dot the area. The author put quite a bit of work into this site and it is worth checking out, even just for a minute, especially if you are local.

Fun Beaches

www.funbeaches.com

One of the largest and most thorough directories to EVERYTHING Myrtle Beach that we can find. Wikipedia can’t hold a flame to this site.  The owner still actively updates it with new information as well. You can get lost in here, finding different websites you didn’t think existed. Contains information from lodging to campgrounds to fishing piers to state parks to live entertainment. There is even an article on the best place to find sea shells! Don’t forget to check out the message board as well.

The Digi-tel

myrtlebeach.thedigitel.com

News FOR the community BY the community. If you are looking for an alternative news source for the Myrtle Beach area, this is the ticket.  What makes this site appealing is how clean and easy-to-use it is.  They didn’t try to cram as much information in and put 30 links in their navigation bar.  A simple, unique, modern web design. The best part is how users can interact with the site but submitting news of interest.  It brings the “people” back into news.

City Data

www.city-data.com/city/Myrtle-Beach-South-Carolina.html

If you are statistics kinda person, you won’t find a better source for information about the Myrtle Beach area —  or North Myrtle Beach, for that matter. We are talking basic information from population and medium income to more advanced statistics like temperatures to natural disasters, even air quality, religious designations. At the bottom, it even shows the “most common last name for deceased individuals.”  Granted some of these statistics are a bit old (5 years in some spots), but even so, it’s a very interesting read.

Myrtle Beach Bay

www.myrtlebeachbay.com

Another website like Fun Beaches mentioned above that has a good diverse list of things to do and places to see in Myrtle Beach. It is not a comprehensive list, but you sure will have plenty to do on your vacation here! It contains information on restaurants, mini-golf, pet friendly hotels, and even sandcastles. Be sure to check out the blog too for other little tid-bits.

Myrtle Beach Restaurants

www.myrtlebeachscrestaurants.com

The name is in the title! If there is a restaurant in Myrtle Beach, you better believe this site has a review on it! Amazing user interaction and participation on this website, which makes it a perfect spot for getting honest reviews from PEOPLE. It is very user-friendly as well, breaking down restaurants by food type and area.  What makes it better is that you do not need an “account” to submit a review. You can just pick the restaurant, review it and be on your merry way!

Myrtle Beach Jet Ski Rentals Directory

http://www.myrtlebeachjetskirentals.net

This was a nice hidden gem that we found, during a mission to find a customer some information on jet ski rentals in Myrtle Beach. For vacationers, finding a place to rent a jet ski in the Grand Strand can be a daunting task, but this website not only allows you to see WHICH companies offer rentals, but their current RATES as well. This allows for the visitor to make an informed decision on which jet ski rental company fits them best.

Of course, if you have any other submissions for websites, please comment below and let us know!

Who doesn’t love pirates? Every kid dreams of sailing the open sea and finding a shipload of treasure on a deserted island. Now that Johnny Depp’s made swashbuckling cool for all ages, it’s about time somebody came up with a way to combine a hearty meal with a little maritime mayhem – making this a top Myrtle Beach attraction!

Leave it to Dolly Parton to figure out how to satisfy our need for chicken and barbecued pork with generous sides of pistol-bracing, cutlass waving, plank-walking and, of course, mermaids. The new Pirates Voyage dinner theater in Myrtle Beach opened in June of 2011 for “Fun, Feast & Adventure.” Dolly gutted her Dixie Stampede location and brought in crews to do a complete renovation. The result is an exterior that looks like it was lifted off the streets of Tortuga and an eye-popping set featuring a 15-foot deep lagoon and three pirate ships.

Dolly came up with an original score for the show, which features live animals, acrobatics, underwater choreography and lots of swashbuckling action. The audience cheers and boos as the crews of the Crimson and the Sapphire clash in a battle that spreads across the decks and into the ships’ rigging, the water and even the air. The audience’s response helps decide the winner, so not even the cast knows at the outset which side will win.

In the days of Blackbeard and Anne Bonney, ships were known for the number of cannon they had on board, not for their delicious dinner menus. Luckily, Dolly Parton understands that a good host needs both. Some dinner theaters seem to think if the show’s good the food doesn’t have to be, but the food at Pirates Voyage could draw crowds even without a show. Unless you call ahead and ask for a vegetarian meal you will be served creamy vegetable soup, bread, half a chicken, barbecued pork shank, fried shrimp, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and apple pie. It’s probably not authentic pirate fare, but that’s probably not really Johnny Depp’s hair, either. Who cares? It’s all good fun.

Adults pay $41.99 for dinner and the show. Children four to eleven pay $21.99; children under four pay regular child’s fare if you want a seat for them. If they can sit on a lap they’re free. Pirates Voyage is wheelchair accessible and they have special headsets available for people who think they may have trouble hearing the show.

Check out more Myrtle Beach attractions or visit the Pirate’s Voyage website.

Come visit May Fest in Myrtle Beach! The fun and festivities run from April 30 to May 28 starting off with a beach music festival. Look forward to seeing Chubby Checker, The Spinners, The Embers, The Catalinas, Atlantic Groove, and The Craig Woolard Band perform in downtown Myrtle Beach between 8th and 9th avenue North. Learn from the best as Paula Deen puts on a cooking demonstration at the Alabama Theatre on May 14.

Taste the finest local cuisines at the Coastal Uncorked Food and Wine Festival May 8-15 and learn what true southern cooking really is. Don’t miss the Coastal Uncorked Golf Tournament on May 12 at Myrtle Beach National South and West courses. Take a ride on the Coastal Uncorked May Fest Tasting Trolley May 13 -15. At $75 a ticket you’ll enjoy two days of food, wine, and beer as your trolley takes 10 various stops around Myrtle Beach. Finally finish off your May Fest with the Coastal Uncorked Finale Gala and Food Challenge. Before the challenge begins enjoy tasting tables from local restaurants, drinks, and a silent auction. Then prepare yourself to see seven of Myrtle Beach’s finest chefs battle it out in an iron chef style competition. We hope you don’t miss out on another amazing kick off to summer with May Fest!

Not sure what to do for New Year’s Eve in Myrtle Beach?  We’ve put together a quick list of things to do and fireworks to see.  Times listed are approximate and are subject to change. Please feel free to click on the links we’ve provided if you need to contact a specific establishment directly.  We wish all of you a safe and healthy New Year!!

New Year’s Eve 2010 Fireworks Display in Myrtle Beach

• 8:00 PM @ Celebrity Square - Broadway at the Beach – 1322 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
• 6:00 PM @ Barefoot Landing – 4898 Hwy 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

Things to Do in Myrtle Beach for New Year’s Eve 2010

• Hard Rock Cafe New Year’s Eve Bash – 9:00 PM –   (Tickets are $22.30 + tax)
• Margaritaville’s New Year’s Eve Party – 9:00 PM –  (Tickets are $10)
• North Beach Plantation NYE Gala – 9:00 PM –   (Tickets are $99 + tax. Price Includes dinner and Champagne toast)
• Comedy Cabana’s NYE Extravaganza – 7:30 PM  and 10:00 PM – (Tickets are $25 for the 7:30 pm  show or $40 for the 10:00 pm show)
• Grand Dunes New Year’s Eve Gala – 7:30 PM – Marina Inn At Grand Dunes –   (Tickets are $135 + tax. Price includes meal and open bar for the duration of the event)