“This isn’t your Mama’s Myrtle Beach anymore!” exclaimed Dee Dee White of Covington Meetings & Events after inspecting hotels and meeting venues and attending “Monday After the Masters” in the South Carolina coastal resort city. Some parts of Myrtle Beach—such as the boardwalk and Pavilion Nostalgia Park—hearken back to the classic vacation days of yesteryear, but the city has since gone through a growth spurt. It was once strictly a summer beach destination, but attractive accommodation pricing during winter and plenty of non-beach activities have drawn off-season traffic, making Myrtle Beach a year-round destination. As an experienced group leader and meeting planner, Dee Dee declares Myrtle Beach “perfect for meetings, conventions, reunions, motorcoach tours and every type of sports group.”

What To Do in Myrtle Beach

The area has a well-deserved reputation for its status as a mecca for golfers with over 100 championship courses. Additionally, there are countless other activities available: water parks, zip lines, ropes courses, mind-boggling interactive exhibits at Wonderworks, and a NASCAR theme park. The Pavilion Nostalgia Park & Carousel Park relive Myrtle Beach’s early days, and the modern 187-ft Skywheel towers over the Boardwalk.

Nightlife includes everything from award winning shows at The Alabama Theatre (the band got their start in Myrtle Beach), The Carolina Opry, Legends in Concert and The Palace Theatre, to a Medieval Times experience, Pirate Voyage dinners and casino cruises. Broadway at the Beach features shops, the Ripley’s Aquarium with a 750,000 gallon saltwater tank, and an array of theme restaurants and nightclubs. And of course, every

Grand Strand southern hospitality shines in the myriad restaurants that cover the city. The variety is endless, with everything from pancake houses to fine dining, although seafood definitely has the highest profile. A stretch known as Restaurant Row has something to please everyone.

What Makes Myrtle Beach a Great Meeting Spot

The city is very accessible. Visitors can easily arrive by road, air and even the Intracoastal Waterway. Several small airports receive private aircraft and the Myrtle Beach International Airport enjoys plenty of commercial air lift. The new $118 million international terminal opened in 2013. Visitors who arrive by air will want to rent a car to get around.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is the center of the Grand Strand—a 60-mile strip of clean, sandy shoreline that stretches from Calabash, North Carolina, to Georgetown, South Carolina. As such, it’s a world class beach destination with every conceivable type of accommodation from luxury resorts to condominiums to family-owned beachfront bungalows. Newer properties tend to be more upscale with granite countertops, finer linens and fully appointed kitchens.

The coastal city enjoys moderate weather year round. January and February temperatures can be cool (upper 50s), but you can still enjoy a swim – most accommodations have heated indoor pools. July and August are warm (upper 80s) and humid, so it’s wise to plan beach time early and inside activities for the afternoons. Spring and fall are especially nice with temperatures in the mid-70s. From May through September, expect frequent afternoon showers. They don’t last long and knock the heat off of the day.

Our Covington Meetings & Events planners always have an eye open for spaces and places that are good sites for corporate meetings, group functions and affinity events. Myrtle Beach has 10 special event venues – beautiful Brookgreen Gardens is particularly impressive – as well as hundreds of thousands of square feet of hotel ballroom, exhibit and convention space.

Myrtle Beach used to be just a summer vacation destination, but with attractive pricing, numerous accommodation options and plenty of non-beach activities, it has grown into an excellent year-round destination for all kinds of group functions. The Covington Meetings & Events team will be happy to help you plan your next event in the Myrtle Beach area – from choosing accommodations and meeting venues that suit your group and purpose, to arranging entertainment and leisure activities throughout your stay.

 

All images courtesy of Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.