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!

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!

Thanks to a tweeter on twitter, I found nice article about the Grand Strand area in U.S. Airways Magazine (yea, I know, odd).  I, for one, have not seen a U.S. Airways magazine in the past, even though I have flown with them on many occasions.

Even so, it’s not just one article, but a few good ones about the different aspects of Myrtle Beach, from golf to business to a “best of Myrtle Beach section”.  Let’s start with the fun stuff, shall we?

The named the Best Golf Hole as “The Gambler”. It’s at MBN’s Kings North course. Par 5, designed by Arnold Palmer. They say the best route is just a roll of the dice.  Best Ice Cream? Despite a mixture of good and bad reviews on the Myrtle Beach Restaurants website, Painters Homemade Ice Cream in North Myrtle holds the title for excellent ice cream.  Best Souvenirs? The Gay Dolphin on the ocean drive section of Myrtle Beach. And Collector’s Cafe brought the title for fine dining.

Now I have to throw facts out at you about Myrtle Beach. Some of these are pretty staggering.  The Grand Strand area has more than 47,000 hotel ROOMS, 1,700 restaurants, 1,800 golf holes, 15 million annual visitors and 60 miles of beaches.  Pretty nifty huh? There were also 3,387 marriage licenses issued in 2008 from Horry County, according to the article.

New Boardwalk

One of the articles even touched on the new Boardwalk that should open next summer. It will be 1.2 miles and connect the two piers in the downtown Myrtle Beach area.  The boardwalk will be broken down into three sections, a) a nature trail, b), a “nostalgic reverie with mom-and-pop shops and restaurants”, and c) the promenade, which will have larger areas for special events and concerts. This new boardwalk should add another who dynamic to the Myrtle Beach vacation. And since it is close to many Myrtle Beach hotels and condos, access to it will be quite easy for the tourists.

Some Pavilion History

Ready for a Myrtle Beach history lesson? Did you know the Myrtle Beach Pavilion was lost in a fire, not once, but twice? The first in 1920 (rebuilt in 1925) and then again in 1944.  Then in 1948, Burroughs and Chapin rebuilt it for the third time, but used reinforced concrete walls. The park was host to 40 seaside rides, including a carousel that was 1 of 15 in the United States. It also included South Carolina’s tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster.

Like I said, these articles covered quite a bit in the Myrtle Beach area and were well written. It’s good to see Myrtle Beach noted and on the map.  We don’t  just have Myrtle Beach condos and hotel rooms, but a history of golf, games, amusement and much more.

According to a story in the Sun News yesterday, tourism for the 2009 season may prove to be a very challenging year for the Myrtle Beach area. Lisa Fleisher spoke with Brad Dean, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, where he said the “number of trips taken will be down next year, and hiring levels will be much lower”.

Most of those in the hospitality industry will agree that tourism did take a blow for the 2008 season. Of course, this all depends on what particular industry you are in. I even remember a story a few months ago when even Hamburger Joe’s Restaurant in North Myrtle Beach was taking a hit. And now with bike week bikers being bummed about the new ordinances for bikers, the spring bike rally probably won’t bring as much money as it has in previous years. So yea, 2009 might be quite tough!
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It’s pretty far out of the way if you are here on vacation. Even in the off season, though, its always packed. My fiance and I drive by it every day to and from work. Every night we drive by, there are ALWAYS cars there. I’d hate to see it during tourist season! So we thought….well….is HAS to be good.

Located on Hwy. 9 outside of Little River on your way to Loris, Horry’s Restaurant packs a mean seafood punch, all while giving you that ‘down home country atmosphere.’ (Yes, the southern hospitality friendly service is included.) It is a bit out-of-the-way, but if you have heading in or out of North Myrtle Beach through Hwy. 9, you should definitely stop in for some good grub.

We strolled in one night on Friday night at about 9 p.m. (normally they are closed then, but on Friday, they are open till 10.) It wasn’t very busy then, seeing as how its far away from any part of North Myrtle Beach. We were immediately greeted with a smiling face and shown to a booth. If you are looking for a type of “high class” restaurant, then please head in the other direction. Horry’s Restaurant was obviously, (or at least it looked it) a large house at one time, now dotted with booths, chairs, and tables, followed by nostalgic pictures and random keepsakes on the walls. It wasn’t to the point of needing any repair work, but it definitely showed it’s age. You surely won’t be able to compare it to one of these new Myrtle Beach condos that monopolize the coastline, thats for sure.

After the drink order, we took a gander at the menu. Very fair prices, something you would expect from a place like this.

Their menu wasn’t huge like the chain restaurants. Most of it was seafood. The rest was steaks, and some chicken. They also had one page dedicated to the history behind the place. Nice touch Horry Restaurant! I had the chicken tenders, hush puppies, and onion rings, with my significant other having the sirloin steak.

Service was nothing short of perfect. Every time I THOUGHT of a refill, there she was, ready to top off my glass. And let me tell you, the food was GREAT. The waitress even waited around for my fiance to cut into her steak to see if it was cooked to her perfection. Indeed it was. And my meal was great too. How can you say no to deep fried onion rings and hush puppies? :) I felt like a bear ready to go into hibernation after I finished my meal.

I will definitely be heading back to Horry’s Restaurant. It is close to Aberdeen and Long Bay, so if you are finishing up a late afternoon of Myrtle Beach golf there, you can stop in for dinner.