Outdoor Adventures in Myrtle Beach!

Calling all outdoor lovers and adventure travelers: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is not just America’s favorite beach destination. With 60 miles of coastline, backwater creeks, marshes and sandy beaches, visiting Myrtle Beach in the fall offers outdoor adventure for the whole family. Average temperatures in the low 70’s extend the summer vacation season into fall and make Myrtle Beach the ideal destination for outdoor sports and wildlife enthusiasts.

Here are some of the great outdoor activities that the Myrtle Beach area has to offer:

• Sail, Surf, Dive – Enjoy the mild fall weather in the South! Sailboat and Jet Ski rentals are offered up and down the Grand Strand. For those looking to descend below the water, there are several historical shipwrecks that can be explored while scuba diving. Other above-water activities along the beach include parasailing, surfing, boogie-boarding, windsurfing and kite surfing.

• Kayak, Canoe, Tube – Rent a boat to explore the Waccamaw River in Conway. Visitors to the Riverwalk can partake in a number of activities from canoeing and kayaking to pontoon and fishing boat rentals. Or, check out Black River Outdoors for a unique guided kayak eco-tour of the tidelands of South Carolina.

• Fishing – Fishing within the Myrtle Beach area can be enjoyed from one of eight fishing piers located along the beach, as well as from backwater creeks between Georgetown and Little River – where the crabbing is also great! More serious anglers can board a boat for bottom fishing, or venture all the way to the Gulf Stream, just 60 miles offshore, for true deep-sea sports fishing experiences.

• Running Enthusiasts – Visit the Grand Strand in October for the Myrtle Beach Triathlon (October 8th) and the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon (October 23rd). Athletes will enjoy Myrtle Beach as one of the most exciting triathlon venues in the sport. Closed bike and run courses highlight the incredible effort the city and county have put forth for this event. The Mini Marathon is expected to bring in 6,000 runners and walkers.

• Carolina Wildlife – Experience the “Green Strand” with a visit to the Brookgreen Gardens Sculpture Garden and Lowcountry History and Wildlife Preserve, containing acre upon acre of native plants and animals. Amplify your visit to Brookgreen with Springfield tidal creek excursions and Trekker back-roads excursions.

• Natural Beach – Adventurous beach lovers will not want to miss Huntington Beach State Park, boasting a lagoon, maritime forest, salt marshes and three miles of the most well-preserved beach in the area. The lush park environment provides prime habitats for wildlife including alligators and more than 300 recorded species of birds. This is also a great spot for camping in the Myrtle Beach area.

The Myrtle Beach area, popularly known as the Grand Strand, stretches from Little River to Pawleys Island, comprising 12 distinct cities along the South Carolina coast. Home to world-class golf, 60 miles of sandy beaches, an assortment of entertainment and family attractions and Southern hospitality, the Myrtle Beach area presents the quintessential vacation experience.

For additional information on the Myrtle Beach area, visit www.visitmyrtlebeach.com or call (888) Myrtle-1.

Don’t Miss Canadian-American Days

From March 12-20, 2011, the Myrtle Beach area is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the annual Canadian-American Days by welcoming Canadian and American visitors with a lineup of fun events, giveaways, discounts and concerts taking place throughout the destination. Attendees can choose from a variety of events and activities, many free, including band concerts, the festival celebration expo, St. Patrick’s Day parade and dance, and much more. Discounts and special offers are also available for area attractions, restaurants, golf and services.

Canadian-American Days draws as many as 100,000 Canadian visitors and snowbirds. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce introduced Canada Days in 1961 to attract Canadian families during their spring school break. The name was changed to Canadian-American Days in 1963. It is regarded as the first international festival organized in South Carolina.

The 50th-annual Canadian-American Days will feature a variety of events. Highlights include:

• 2011 RBC Presents Canadian-American Days Festival South of the Border Concert Series featuring No Strings Attached and The Top Hat Matching Orchestra, Monday, March 14 – Inlet Square Mall, 10125 Highway 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet. Free, but tickets are required.
• 2011 RBC Presents Canadian-American Days Festival South of the Border Concert Series featuring The Burlington Teen Tour Band, Tuesday, March 15 – Inlet Square Mall, 10125 Highway 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet. Free. Concert time to be announced.
• 2011 Battle at the Beach presented by RBC Bank, 9 AM tee time, 11 AM shotgun, Wednesday, March 16 (register by March 9) – Third-annual Canada vs. U.S.A. Friendly Competition for the RBC Cup, four-person scramble format. Greens fee, cart fee and prizes included. All tournament profits will be donated to Myrtle Beach Haven. Prestwick Country Club, 1001 Links Road, Myrtle Beach. Fee $135 per person, $450 per foursome. For more information to register, call Brett Calhoun at (843) 444-3800.
• 18th-annual South Strand Wildlife and History Day, 10 AM – 3 PM. March 17 – Enjoy family-friendly entertainment, exhibits and activities. The Taste of Murrells Inlet, a culinary extension of the event, will boast specialties from some of the finest restaurants in the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina.” Huntington Beach State Park, 16148 Ocean Highway, Murrells Inlet. Adults: $5, S.C. senior citizens: $3.25, children 6-15: $3 and children five and under: free. For more information, visit www.SouthCarolinaParks.com or call (843) 235-8755.
• 2011 RBC Presents Canadian-American Days Festival Expo, 10 AM – 2 PM Thursday, March 17 – This festival expo celebrates Can-Am Days and features exhibitors, live entertainment by No Strings Attached, The Top Hat Marching Band and The Burlington Teen Tour, as well as drawings for prizes from exhibitors. Coastal Grand Mall, 2000 Coastal Grand Circle, Myrtle Beach. Free and open to the public.
• 2011 RBC Presents teh 282nd Army Band, 7 PM Friday, March 18 – Surfside United Methodist Church, 800 13th Avenue North, Surfside. Free but tickets are required. Tickets available 10 AM – 2 PM March 17 at the 2011 RBC Bank Canadian-American Days Celebration Expo, Coastal Grand Mall.

The Myrtle Beach area, popularly known as the Grand Strand, stretches from Little River to Pawleys Island, comprising 12 distinct cities along the South Carolina coast. Home to world-class golf, 60 miles of sandy beaches, an assortment of entertainment and family attractions and Southern hospitality, the Myrtle Beach area presents the quintessential vacation experience. For additional information on the Myrtle Beach area, visit www.visitmyrtlebeach.com or call (888) Myrtle-1.

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.