On behalf of the Staff and Management of Best Western, we would like to welcome you and to sincerely thank you for choosing us to serve your lodging needs. We value your patronage and it is very important to us that your stay will be a comfortable and enjoyable one. We take great pride in providing our guests with the utmost in professional and personalized service.
This directory is provided to familiarize you with the many services we offer as well as acquaint you with the Pawleys Island area.
If there is anything we can do to make your visit with us more enjoyable, please feel free to ask our staff members.
We hope you have a great stay and we look forward to your next visit.
United Airlines ..................................................................................... 1-800-241-6522
Chamber of Commerce
For maps and area information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 843-546-8436 or visit www.georgetownchamber.org.
Check-Out / Check-In
Check-out time is 11:00 a.m.
Check-in time is 3:00 p.m.
Coffee Service
Coffee service is available in the lobby area 24 hours a day.
Continental Breakfast
We offer a complimentary continental breakfast from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Monday through Sunday in the lobby area.
Credit Card Information
We accept American Express, Visa, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover and MasterCard.
Laundry
For our guests’ convenience we have a coin operated machine on-site. If dry cleaning is needed, there is a dry cleaner very close to the property, please see the Front Desk for details.
Emergency ...................................................................................... TOUCH 0 or 9 + 911
In the event of an emergency, medical or otherwise, please contact the Front Desk for immediate attention.
Executive Offices
Our executive staff is readily available to answer your questions or offer assistance.
Exercise Room
Our exercise room is fully equipped for your fitness needs. Your room key will open the lock. Open 24 hours.
Guest Information
Ice and Vending Machines
Ice and vending machines are located on the first and second floor.
Mail and Messages ................................................................ TOUCH 0 (Front Desk)
..................................................................... or TOUCH 300 and follow the prompts
Mail and messages received at the hotel may be collected at the Front Desk by either calling or stopping by.
Meeting Rooms
Meeting rooms are available from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. To make arrangements, please contact the Hotel Manager or the Front Desk.
Parking
Complimentary parking is available for all registered hotel guests. The hotel cannot be responsible for items left in the vehicles on the hotel property.
Pet Policy
Pets are not permitted. The Front Desk will be glad to help you make other arrangements for your pet.
Reservations
Reservations may be made nationwide by dialing our toll-free number 1-800-780-7234, or contact the Front Desk for assistance.
For personal assistance in group accommodations, please contact our Sales Department or Front Desk.
Swimming Pool
Our swimming pool hours are 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No glass permitted in the pool area. Swim at your own risk, as there is no lifeguard on duty.
Telephone Services
Guest Rooms TOUCH 0
Local Calls (FREE) .............................................. TOUCH 9 + Area Code + Number
Local Information ................................................................................. TOUCH 9 + 411
Television Channels
Safety and Security
Your safety and the security of your personal property are of the utmost concern to those of us who welcome you as our guest. We urge you to take advantage of the following suggestions.
Double Locks and Chains
For additional security, utilize the dead bolt lock provided on your door upon entering. This will prevent the door from being opened by a regular room key. As an additional precaution, please secure the safety chain lock.
Admittance
Do not admit persons to your room without first making identification. A “peep hole” is provided in your door for your convenience. If there is any doubt about the person’s true identity, please contact the Front Desk.
Keys
Do safeguard your key. Be sure to leave it with the cashier upon departure. Do not leave it in the room or in the door. Do not give your key to others.
Fire
Please familiarize yourself with the location of the nearest fire exit stairway. In the unlikely event of a fire, please move quickly but calmly to the stairs. Avoid the use of the elevators. Report fire or smoke to the Hotel Operator.
Fire Safety Procedures
We hope these procedures will help to contribute to your comfort and well-being during your stay at our Hotel.
Like all buildings, hotels can have fires. Plan what to do when you check in. You won’t have time to plan during a fire.
First, find two exits nearest your room. Be sure they are unlocked and unblocked.
Then, count doors between your room and exits, so you’ll have a reference point if it is smoky.
When you hear an alarm, act, don’t investigate.
If the fire is in your room, get out and close the door. Once out, report the fire.
If the fire is not in your room, leave if you can. First, feel your door. If it is cool, open it slowly and go to the nearest exit. Crawl in smoke. Fresh air will be at the floor. Take your key so you can get back in if you can’t use the exits.
Never use an elevator during a fire. They could stop at the fire floor.
If your door is hot, don’t open it. Your room may be the safest place to be. Seal all cracks with wet towels. Shut off fans and air conditioners. Signal at your window. Call the Fire Department and wait to be rescued.
Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips
WARNING
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas, and exposure can be fatal Your room is equipped with a carbon monoxide detector.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure may include:
Headache
Fatigue
Weakness
Nausea
Shortness of breath
Confusion
Vomiting
Blurred vision
Dizziness
Loss of muscle coordination
Collapse
Loss of consciousness 1
What to do if a carbon monoxide alarm is sounding or if you experience any symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure:
• Never ignore a carbon monoxide alarm that is sounding.
• Immediately move outside to fresh air.
• Advise the hotel front desk.
• Call 911, emergency services, or the fire department.
• Do a head count to check that all people in your party are accounted for.
• Do not reenter the premises until the emergency services responders have give your permission.2
Source of symptom list: Consumer Product Safety Commission & Mayo Clinic.
Source of recommended responses to sounding alarm or symptoms: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
MYRTLE BEACH HISTORY
The Myrtle Beach area is rich in culture and tradition. Continual efforts are taken to preserve the past and commemorate it through landmarks, museums, and tales of bygone days.
• Kings Highway began as an Indian trail long before Europeans settled along the Grand Strand. Later, this trail became the route from the northern states to Charleston and Savannah.
• The area’s first inhabitants were the Waccamaw and Winyah Indians who named the region Chicora, meaning the land.
• Early attempts by European explorers to settle the Grand Strand were disastrous. Spaniard Lucas Vasques de Allyon founded the first colony in North America here in 1526, but the settlement was ravaged by disease, and the inhabitants perished within a year.
• During the 18th century, pirates found the waters off the Grand Strand a paradise for their wild revels. The infamous Blackbeard regularly terrorized the Carolina shores before his gory death in 1718. Captain Kidd himself is thought to have buried some loot near Murrells Inlet.
• English colonists formed Prince George Parish and laid out plans for Georgetown, the state’s third oldest city, in 1730. Surrounded by rivers and marshlands, Georgetown became the center of America’s colonial rice empire.
• Before the Civil War, plantation owners turned Pawleys Island into one of the first summer resorts on the Atlantic coast. Just a few miles north of Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet is the source of the area’s most endearing ghost stories, including that of a young woman who died brokenhearted: Alice Belin Flagg (1833-1849).
• Until the 1900s, the beaches of Horry County were virtually uninhabited due to the county’s geographical inaccessibility and poor economy.
• Near the turn of the century, the Burroughs & Collins Company, a timber turpentine firm with extensive beachfront holdings, began developing the resort potential of the Strand. In 1901, their company built the beach’s first hotel, the Seaside Inn. At that time, oceanfront lots sold for $25, and buyers received an extra lot free if they built a house valued at $500 or more. The beach community was called New Town until the Horry Herald newspaper held a contest to officially name the area. Mrs. F.E. Burroughs, wife of the founder of Burroughs & Collins Company, won the competition with Myrtle Beach, a name she chose for the many wax myrtle trees growing wild along the shore.
MYRTLE BEACH HISTORY
• In the 1920s, a group of businessmen began building an upscale resort called Arcady at the north end of the community. Arcady featured the present Pine Lakes International Country Club, the Strand’s first golf club and birthplace of the magazine Sports Illustrated, as well as the legendary Ocean Forest Hotel.
• Several major developments took place along the Strand during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1936, the Intracoastal Waterway was opened to pleasure boats and commercial shipping. During the 1940s, the Air Force Base was established and used for training and coastal patrols during World War II. The base was officially closed in 1993. The Pavilion was built in 1949, followed closely by the installation of the organ and the carousel at that site. These unique pieces which were brought to the Grand Strand in 1954 are still in place.
• Myrtle Beach was incorporated in 1938, and in 1957 became a city.
• Hurricane Hazel demolished buildings and trees along the Strand in 1954, ironically clearing the way for new, larger hotels and homes. During the rebuilding phase of the 1960s, the golf boom began and has continued to this day with new courses being built each year.
• The Myrtle Beach Convention Center, which houses the South Carolina Hall of Fame, was opened in 1970. Throughout the ‘70s, new construction topped $75 million and the permanent population tripled.
• In the 1970s and ‘80s construction of attractions, homes, retail shops, and other amenities increased steadily, introducing another boom in the early ‘90s that currently attracts millions of visitors and thousands of new residents to the area each year.
Courtesy of Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
PLACES OF WORSHIP
North Myrtle Beach Assembly of God 3646 Sea Mountain Hwy., NMB 399-8116
Atalaya, meaning “watchtower” in Spanish, was built near the Atlantic Ocean in northeastern South Carolina by industrialist and philanthropist Archer M. Huntington and his wife, the sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, and now lies within present day Huntington Beach State Park. The location was chosen as a milder winter retreat for the health of Anna Huntington, who suffered from tuberculosis from the mid-twenties to the mid-thirties. The 40,000 square foot home covers nearly one acre — the living quarters consisting of 30 rooms around three sides of the perimeter. The studio includes a 25-foot skylight which opens onto a small, enclosed courtyard where Mrs. Huntington would work on her sculpture. The exteriors of many of the windows feature hand-wrought iron grills designed by Mrs. Huntington were installed along with shutters for protection against hurricane winds. This exquisite home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992 and can be enjoyed with self-guided audio or docent-lead tours.
Huntington Beach State Park (Murrells Inlet) • 843-237-4440
Pristine beaches, the finest bird-watching on the East Coast, the chance to see endangered plants and animals up close and endless options for outdoor activities make this 2,500 acre state park located at the southern end of the Myrtle Beach Area a great item to add to your itinerary. Get your lines wet with ocean jetty fishing, access the inlet, marshes and back bays via a boat ramp, get the blood running on a two mile or ¼ mile hiking trail, and stay the night camping.
Myrtle Beach State Park (Myrtle Beach) • 843-238-5325
4401 South Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 • myrtlebeachstatepark.net
You would never ex pect to find an oceanfront 312 acre state park in the heart of one of the east coasts major tourist destinations. Donated in 1934 by Myrtle Beach Farms, this state park offers nature tours, engaging programs and educational programs surrounding the natural resources of the park. Nature trails, equestrian trails, bike paths, an ocean fishing pier, and tent and RV camping in the oceanfront woods just 300 yards from the beach are just the beginning.
Pawleys Island Historic District (Pawleys Island)
321 Myrtle Ave, Pawleys Island, SC 29585-6215
One of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast, Pawleys Island has developed an old-time charm that still remains from its roots in the early 1700s. Remaining today are 12 residences in the historic district, which date from the late 1700s to the mid-1800s. In the historic district, signs describe brief histories of the antebellum homes. Known for its shoeless, carefree, laid-back life style, Pawleys locals and visitors alike enjoy activities which include crabbing in local creeks, fishing, ghost stories, lounging in hammocks and an abundant stretch of wide beach and sand dunes. Pawleys Island abounds with simple virtue. Pawleys Island is a barrier island nearly four miles long and for the most part only one house wide. The island, set apart from the mainland by a exquisite salt marsh, can be accessed by two short causeways – a physical marker of entering a time long gone, filled with peace and contentment.
AREA ATTRACTIONS
Museums
Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum (Myrtle Beach) • 843-238-2510 3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC • myrtlebeachartmuseum.org
The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand’s only art museum. Since 1997, it has stood as a beacon of culture for residents who visit from Horry and Georgetown counties, as well as for thousands of visitors from throughout our state, country and world.
Georgetown County Museum (Georgetown)
120 Broad Street at The History Center • georgetowncountymuseum.com • 843-5457020
Preserves and displays of over 300 years of history and culture. Get a close look at Native American artifacts, relics of local plantation culture (clothing, toys, slave bills). Learn about the rice culture and the lumber industry. 60 minutes, $2-$4
Horry County Museum and L.W. Paul Living History Farm (Conway) • 843-915-5320 805 Main Street, Conway, South Carolina 29526 • HCGMuseum@horrycounty.org
The Horry County Museum currently serves the people Horry County and its visitors through the presentation of exhibits on the history, prehistory, and natural history of the county at the museum’s main location. The majority of the museum’s collections are stored at the Main Street location and include a highly acclaimed photographic collection as well as historic artifacts documenting the unique history and culture of Horry County. The L.W. Paul Living History Farm, is a branch of the Museum.
Kaminski House Museum (Georgetown)
1003 Front St., Georgetown, SC, 29440 • kaminskimuseum.org • 843-546-7706
A beautiful waterfront colonial home open to the public. From the promise of the colonial period to the difficulties of the Civil War and Reconstruction to the current day, the site serves as a backdrop to the growth and changes in the Georgetown area. 60 minutes. $7 - Group discounts available.
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum (Mount Pleasant)
40 Patriots Point Rd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 • patriotspoint.org • 843-884-2727
Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum strives to preserve the living history of our nation’s bravest men and women while telling their stories in honorable, educational and engaging ways. Explore a fleet of National Historic Landmark ships, including the USS YORKTOWN, Cold War Memorial and the only Vietnam Support Base Camp in the U.S.
The Gullah Museum (Georgetown)
123 King Street, Unit 7, Georgetown, S.C. 29440 • gullahmuseumsc.com • 843-527-1851
The Gullah Museum and Gullah O’oman Shop educate visitors about the history of the Gullah people inhabiting the southeastern Atlantic coastal region of the United States. The Gullah still practice their own language, cuisine and observances. In the heart of Pawleys Island, the museum and shop are a must stop shop stop for handcrafted items in the Gullah tradition – sweetgrass baskets, artisan quilts, Gullah clothing and toys.
VISITOR AND LOCAL INFORMATION
Legends of the Grand Strand
The South Carolina coastal waters were especially productive for pirates, and the coves and inlets along the Grand Strand provided great hiding places for these marauders. Pirates who became local legends include Edward Teach, called Blackbeard because of his coalblack beard, and Drunken Jack, who was left behind on an island with a huge stash of stolen rum (and died with a smile on his face).
We love our ghosts – especially the good ones, which most of them are. The most enduring ghost stories are of Alice Flagg, ghost of the Hermitage, and the Gray Man. Alice roams beside the waters of Murrells Inlet, searching for a ring she received from a young man her family did not approve of. As she lay in bed ill with a fever, her brother discovered the ring on a ribbon around her neck, being enraged, and flung it into the inlet. The story of the Gray Man also involves a tragic love story, as a soldier returns home to marry his sweetheart. Riding on horseback, he has an accident and is killed. His spirit, however, lives on, and he is able to warn his lover of an approaching hurricane and save her life. Since that time, many people have reported seeing the Gray Man before a hurricane and heeded his ghostly warning to seek safety.
Beach-Going Wheelchairs
In Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Surfside Beach, beach-going wheelchairs are available for use free of charge. These chairs are sturdy and come equipped with an umbrella and large balloon tires for maneuvering through soft sand.
In Myrtle Beach, beach wheelchairs are available at the following lifeguard stands: 77th Ave. N.; 72nd Ave. N.; 54th Ave. N.; 24th Ave. N.; 8th Ave. N.; 8th Ave. S.; 20th Ave. S. (wheelchairs); 21st Ave. S. (handicap access) these locations also offer handicap parking. For more information, call 918-1000
In North Myrtle Beach, wheelchairs are available M–F at the Recreation Center on Possum Trot Road. Call 280-5584 to reserve one. Handicap beach access at the following locations: Main St.; Sea Mountain Hwy.; 4th Ave. N.; 6th Ave. S.; 9th Ave. S.; 15th Ave. S.; 17th Ave. S.; 21st Ave. S.; 27th Ave. S.; 39th Ave. S. 46th Ave. S.
In Surfside Beach, wheelchairs are available by calling 913-6368. Handicap beach access at the following locations: 3rd Ave. N.; Surfside Drive at Surfside Pier; Melody Lane.
Shag Dancing
A dance described as “Southern tradition of style and grace,” the shag was born decades ago along this stretch of Carolina coastline. Here shagging is a phenomenon, transcending age and bringing together thousands of enthusiasts seeking to perfect its laid-back, seemingly effortless moves. The shag is so much a part of the culture, it has been declared South Carolina’s official dance.
A close cousin of the 1930s craze called the Big Apple, the shag has been the subject of a movie, books, and countless magazine and newspapers articles. And although the jazz sounds of the 1930s helped to create the acrobatic Big Apple, we Southerners slowed it down and smoothed out a bit.
Much more than a dance, the shag is also a feeling – of friendship, and of sand, salt, and surf combined with smoothly worn hardwood floors. It’s the unhurried moves of a dance that knows no age barriers, a way of life set to rhythm and blues, an opportunity to re-live youth.
Seashells and Fossils
More than 700 species of shells live in the waters of South Carolina. Among the most common are whelks, angel wings, arks, pen shells, augers, cockles, slipper shells, jingles, coquina, and olive shells. Starfish, sea urchins, and sand dollars also can be found on local beaches.
When sand dollars are alive, they have a dark, fur-like covering. When they wash up on the beach, the sun bleaches them white. Sand dollars are extremely fragile.
The most common fossils found on area beaches are sharks teeth, which are usually black or dark brown. Fossilized shark’s teeth are millions of years old. Other fossils found in the area include animal bones, horses’ teeth and fossilized shells.
The best times to look for shells and fossils are on an outgoing tide, during a new moon or full moon, and after a storm.
VISITOR AND LOCAL INFORMATION – Local Laws
State Laws
Seat belts must be worn at all times in a moving vehicle.
Open containers of beer, wine, or liquor are prohibited in vehicles or any public place including streets, sidewalks, and beach areas. Vehicle headlights must be on if operating windshield wipers due to rain or poor road conditions.
Motorcyclists are required to use headlights at all times.
Right turns may be made on a red light throughout the state, except where a sign denotes “No Right on Red.” Remember, stop before turning and give way to traffic already in the intersection.
Fireworks
Discharging of fireworks is illegal within the city limits of municipalities along the Grand Strand.
Cruising
Cruising is regulated by the Myrtle Beach Police Department between 3rd Ave. S. and 21st Ave. N. on Ocean Boulevard from 2 a.m. - 6 a.m. March 1 - Oct. 1.
Driving
It is unlawful for any person to drive or operate any motor vehicle on the beach or in public marsh areas.
SHEP
Established in 1996 by SCDOT (South Carolina Department of Transportation), SHEP (State Highway Emergency Program) now serves motorists traveling Interstates in the Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill, and Greenville/Spartanburg urban areas.
Prepared to handle a variety of situations, SHEP responders make minor repairs to disabled
vehicles, assist with traffic control and incident management, and provide first aid until emergency medical services arrive. For assistance, dial *HP on your cellular phone, ask for SHEP.
Myrtle Beach - Dogs in public must be on a leash at all times. No animals are allowed on the beach or Ocean Boulevard from 13th Ave. S. to 21st Ave. N. in Myrtle Beach during any time of the year. No dogs are allowed on the beach 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., May 15 - Sept. 15. Pet owners are responsible for removing pet waste from any public property, including beaches. Horses and riders are allowed on the beach within the city of Myrtle Beach from the third Saturday in November until the end of February, in groups of six or fewer. No “staging” is allowed within the city limits (access to the beach is through Myrtle Beach State Park), and riders must clean up droppings west of the high tide line.
Sea Oats
It is illegal to cut, break, or otherwise destroy sea oat plants, beach grass, or sand fencing. sea oats provide nature’s first line of defense against shore erosion. They build up the dunes by trapping sand blown inland from the beaches. Please leave the beach as you found it.
Swimming
Swimming is not permitted beyond 50 yards from the beach or over shoulder depth, unless otherwise stated by the lifeguard. Jumping or diving from piers is prohibited. Swimming within 50 yards of a pier is prohibited. Only canvas rafts may be used in the ocean. Rafts must be equipped with safety ropes. It is illegal for anyone to wear a thong bathing suit.
Package Stores in SC are identified with large red circles. Hours are 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. daily, except Sundays and holidays. Legal drinking age is twenty-one.
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about beach do’s and don’ts:
• Only canvas rafts with ropes are allowed in the ocean.
• Littering is punishable by a $200 fine. Offenders may be required to assist officials in cleaning up litter.
• Sleeping on the beach is not permitted from 9:00 p.m. until sunrise.
• No solicitation is permitted on the beach.
• Boaters and wind surfers must refrain from operating in the swimming areas which extend fifty yards from the high tide line.
VISITOR AND LOCAL INFORMATION
Did You Know?
Ocean water temperature along the Grand Strand beaches is about 20 degrees warmer than New York ocean water during the summer months and approximately 10 degrees warmer during the winter months.
Annual Averages
(Based on 30 years of data)
• Sunny days - 215
• Days when maximum temperature is more than 90˚ Fahrenheit - 46
• Days with .10 inches of rain or more - 117
• Average air temperature in Fahrenheit - 64˚
• Average water temperature in Fahrenheit - 66˚
• Average relative humidity at 1:00 p.m. - 56%
Myrtle Beach, through private contractors, provides lifeguards on the beach from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. in season. Lifeguards use a flag system to inform swimmers on ocean conditions.
Green Flag Safe Conditions
Yellow Flag Caution, rough currents or unfavorable winds
Red Flag ......................................................................................................... Danger, swimming prohibited
Traditional Foods
Butter Beans
Flat beans, like lima beans, shelled before cooking, butter beans are often served with rice.
Calabash-style Seafood
This name comes from the Southern method of dredging fish in cornmeal and frying.
Chicken Bog
Strictly speaking, this is a rice pilau (pronounced perloo) or pilaf, which combines rice, meats and chicken broth.
Country Style Steak
Thinly sliced or cubed round or sirloin steak which has been dipped in batter and fried.
Country-style Vegetables
Vegetables which are native to Southern soils, such as corn, okra, tomatoes, beans and peas that are cooked slowly with a bit of fatback or bacon to flavor and are also highly seasoned.
Grits and Maters
Coarsely ground corn cooked to a mushy softness and served with stewed tomatoes.
Hushpuppies or Corndoggers
Fried pieces of cornmeal dough seasoned with onion salt or minced onion and most often served with fried fish. Originally, “hush puppies” came from the leftover cornmeal used for frying the fresh fish at the campsite near the edge of the water. The name is derived from the original use of these morsels thrown to the dogs (puppies, to Southerners who never go into the wilderness without at least one “puppy”) to keep the animals at bay while their human counterparts ate the fish.
Pig Pickin’
The meat of a pig is slowly cooked over hot coals in a pit and basted until the meat, dripping with juices, falls off the bones.
She-Crab Soup
A cream-style soup, not unlike bisque, always with crabmeat or crab roe or red crab eggs, flavored with cayenne pepper and sherry.
