Myrtle Beach to Host Canadian-American Days

Myrtle Beach welcomes Canadian and American visitors to the Grand Strand March 14-22, 2009, for the 48th-annual Canadian-American Days, which promises a full lineup of great live events, giveaways, discounts and concerts. Sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and RBC Bank, 2009 Canadian-American Days is expected to draw approximately 100,000 Canadian visitors, as well as snowbirds from Northern states. Founded in 1961 as Canada Days, this immensely popular event is regarded as the first international festival organized in South Carolina.

A variety of fun-filled events have been scheduled for 2009 Canadian-American Days, including:

• 26th-Annual National Shag Dance Championships, March 12-14, 2009: More than 50 couples are expected to compete for the national title at Studebaker’s in Myrtle Beach.
• 2009 RBC Bank Presents the Royal Canadian Artillery Band & Seaforth All Girls Marching Band Concert, March 14, 2009: The legendary Royal Canadian Artillery Band and the highly talented Seaforth All Girls Marching Band combine forces for an amazing concert at the Surfside United Methodist Church in Surfside Beach.
• 2009 RBC Bank Presents the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, March 15, 2009: One of only six Canadian Forces brass and reed bands, the Royal Canadian Artillery Band performs at the Myrtle Beach Community Church in Myrtle Beach.
• 2009 RBC Bank Canadian-American Days Kickoff Celebration Expo, March 16, 2009: Join the official kickoff of Canadian-American Days with live entertainment, exhibitors, prizes, giveaways and refreshments at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach.
• Out of Winter Into Spring: The Courage to Live Undivided, March 17-19, 2009: Renew your “heart and spirit” at this beach retreat at Sea View Inn in Pawleys Island.
• 15th-Annual South Strand Wildlife & History Day, March 18, 2009: Live entertainment, interesting exhibits, activities such as birds of prey and reptile demonstrations, and The Taste of Murrells Inlet (a culinary extension of the event) highlight South Strand Wildlife & History Day at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet.
• 2009 Battle of the Beach, March 19, 2009: The first-annual Canada vs. U.S.A. golf tournament for the RBC Cup will take place at Pine Lakes Country Club in Myrtle Beach.

2009 Canadian-American Days will also feature the 21st-Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival on March 14, 2009; Festive Brass Concert on March 15, 2009; Conway Loves Canadians-Americans Day on March 19, 2009; 2009 Run to the Sun Car Show March 19-21, 2009; and Fireworks at Broadway at the Beach on March 21, 2009. In addition, many Myrtle Beach attractions will offer discounts on select days during 2009 Canadian-American Days such as Ripley’s Aquarium, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, Ripley’s Moving Theater, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Fantasy Harbor, The Carolina Opry Theater, Legends in Concert, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction, Scenic Waccamaw River Boat Tours, Le Grand Cirque, The Magical Spirit of Ireland, “One” The Show, Good Vibrations and Alabama Theatre, among others. Visit www.CanAmDays.com for details.

Westgate Myrtle Beach Provides Ideal Accommodations
Seeking comfortable and affordable accommodations during your stay in Myrtle Beach for 2009 Canadian-American Days? Look no farther than Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort. Guests of the award-winning Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort enjoy a relaxing beach atmosphere, along with a variety of onsite amenities such as a large outdoor pool, whirlpool, pool bar, outdoor lazy river, children’s water play area, sauna, recreation center, exercise facility and game room, as well as an onsite golf director who will be pleased to assist you with a golf vacation that meets your needs. The resort’s onsite restaurant, Seaside Cafe, serves breakfast and dinner daily. Enjoy your favorite cocktail, live entertainment and spectacular oceanfront views at Coconut Willy’s pool bar. In addition, Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort is centrally located within 2 miles of numerous area attractions such as Broadway at the Beach, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Waves Water Park and Ripley’s Aquarium. For more information about Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort and other Westgate Resort properties, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.

About Westgate Resorts
The largest privately owned timeshare company in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the United States, Westgate Resorts features luxury resorts in premier travel destinations throughout the United States such as Orlando, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Williamsburg, Virginia; Park City, Utah; Miami, Florida; Branson, Missouri; Mesa, Arizona; and Tunica, Mississippi. Founded in 1982 by David A. Siegel, Westgate Resorts boasts affordable luxury vacation accommodations and exchange opportunities through exclusive affiliation with Interval International, which offers worldwide travel solutions at more than 2,000 resorts in 65 countries. For more information about Westgate Resorts, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.

Myrtle Beach: The Ideal Spring Break Destination

South Carolina’s Grand Strand stretches 60 miles from the quaint fishing village of Little River along the North Carolina border to the Tidelands of Georgetown and encompasses Myrtle Beach, a bustling year-round resort area known as the “Jewel of South Carolina.” The Myrtle Beach area enjoys a mild annual average temperature of 64° F with an average of 215 sunny days each year and boasts white-sand beaches, eclectic attractions, word-class dining, great shopping opportunities such as Broadway at the Beach, outdoor recreational opportunities and more than 100 championship golf courses – making it the perfect destination for Spring Break in 2009.

Getting to and Around Myrtle Beach
Ideally located just one mile inland from the Atlantic Ocean, the Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) provides easy, one-stop and connecting flights to more than 350 destinations worldwide. By car, U.S. highways 17 and 501, as well as S.C. highways 9 and 544 provide direct access to the Myrtle Beach area. Veterans Highway (S.C. 22) links U.S. 501 West of Conway and U.S. 17 North of Myrtle Beach. Interstate travelers use interstates 95 or 20 to arrive within close proximity of Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach Attractions
The Myrtle Beach area offers visitors hundreds of fun-filled activities for an amazing Spring Break vacation getaway. Whether your preferences include riding a roller coaster, zooming around a racetrack, observing wildlife and nature, or chilling out on the beach or at a water park, Myrtle Beach provides your ticket to fun. Not-to-be-missed attractions include Alligator Adventure, Ripley’s Aquarium, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Waves Water Park and more. The Myrtle Beach area is also considered the “Miniature Golf Capital of the World” with approximately 50 miniature golf courses to choose from such as Jungle Lagoon Miniature Golf and Hawaiian Rumble Miniature Golf. Popular day trips from Myrtle Beach include Huntington Beach State Park, Hopsewee Plantation and Brookgreen Gardens.

Myrtle Beach Golf
The abundance of championship golf courses throughout Myrtle Beach – along with beautiful weather year round – combine to make for the ideal Spring Break golf getaway. A golfer’s paradise, the “Seaside Golf Capital of the World” offers beautiful courses designed on former rice plantations by some of the world’s top course designers such as Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, Greg Norman and Arnold Palmer. Nearly one-third of the Myrtle Beach area’s golf courses are rated with four stars or higher in Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” and seven courses are ranked among the “Top 100 Public Courses in America.”

Myrtle Beach Live Entertainment
From comedy to country music to celebrity impressions, from bluegrass to gospel to old-time rock – you can experience the best in live entertainment in Myrtle Beach! These amazing shows feature award-winning casts, high-energy productions and lighthearted comedy. Some shows even include fabulous country feasts. Popular Myrtle Beach live entertainment venues include Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, Alabama Theatre, Palace Theatre, Carolina Opry, House of Blues, Legends in Concert and Medieval Times.

Myrtle Beach Dining
The Myrtle Beach area features approximately 1,800 restaurants, many of which specialize in fresh seafood and Lowcountry specialties. Myrtle Beach, as well as North Myrtle Beach, Little River and Murrells Inlet (“Seafood Capital of the World”) are all known for their quality seafood restaurants. In addition, a variety of themed restaurants can be found at Broadway at the Beach such as Joe’s Crab Shack, Planet Hollywood, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville and Key West Grill.

Myrtle Beach Shopping
Surf, sand, amusement parks and golf aren’t the only activities in Myrtle Beach. A vibrant shopping destination, Myrtle Beach lures travelers for whom shopping is the No. 1 priority, as well as those for whom shopping is only a part of their fun-filled day. Myrtle Beach abounds with retail options from boutiques to factory outlets to mixed-use shopping and entertainment complexes such as Broadway at the Beach that tempt every imaginable budget, taste and style.

Myrtle Beach Accommodations
A multitude of comfortable and affordable accommodation choices are available in the Myrtle Beach area. For instance, the Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort is centrally located within 2 miles of numerous area attractions such as Ripley’s Aquarium and Broadway at the Beach. In addition to a relaxing beach atmosphere, the family-friendly Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort boasts a large outdoor pool, whirlpool, pool bar, outdoor lazy river, sauna, recreation center, exercise facility and game room, as well as an onsite golf director who will be pleased to assist you with a golf vacation that meets your needs. For more information about Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.

As you can see, Myrtle Beach offers everything for an enjoyable and rewarding Spring Break 2009! So what are you waiting for? Book your Myrtle Beach Spring Break vacation getaway today!