Litchfield Real Estate 7.5 MB 23

Welcome

Dear Valued Guest,

Welcome to your Litchfield Real Estate Vacation Home and thank you for choosing to stay with us.

We want you to have a great vacation. It is important to us that you find your accommodations pleasant and enjoyable. If there is anything that we can do to make you more comfortable, please don’t hesitate to call our office for assistance.

This directory has been designed to provide you with the services we have available here at Litchfield Real Estate, as well as the surrounding area.

We hope that you will return again…and again.

Kind regards,

The Staff & Management Litchfield Real Estate

Photo Courtesy of Angela Fellenz Photography

Guest Information

AIRLINES

The following Airlines serve Myrtle Beach and/or Charleston Airports.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

For maps and area information, contact the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce at 843-546-8436.

EMERGENCY

For a medical emergency, call 911. In the event of an emergency that threatens property or injury, call our office at 843-237-4241 and use our emergency pager system.

FAX MACHINE

You may send and receive faxes at our office. The fax number is 843-237-1513 and the charge is $1.00 per page for the first five pages and 25¢ per each additional page. UPS Store in Pawleys Island also offers this service. Their phone is 843-237-7951 and fax number is 843-237-7967.

HEALTH CLUB

Tidelands HealthPoint Center, a full service health club, is located on Highway 17 across from our office and offers reasonable guest rates. Please dial 843-237-2205 for more information.

MAIL

Mail may be received at our office. Be sure to use the name of your rental home. For Federal Express or UPS our physical address is 12980 Ocean Hwy., Pawleys Island, South Carolina 29585.

Guest Information

PARKING

Please be aware that you are a guest in someone’s home and park in designated areas. We cannot be responsible for items left in vehicles on rental property.

PET POLICY

For the convenience of our guests we now offer select pet friendly beach homes. Our pet friendly beach homes require a non-refundable pet fee that ranges between $200-$300, depending on the property. This covers the cost to maintain the cleanliness and most sanitary accommodations to be made available to the next guest arriving. For our beach homes that do not permit pets, we ask that you please respect our policy and the owners wishes.

RESERVATIONS

You have first refusal for the same week next year, subject to owners weeks. Reservations must be made by 5:00 p.m. Thursday of your vacation week. A $100 deposit ($200 Oceanfront) will hold your rental for the corresponding week in next year’s season. Please contact our office.

SALES OFFICE

To inquire about Real Estate sales in the area, contact our office and ask for the Sales Department.

Television Channels

Operating Instructions

ALL OUR VACATION RENTALS ARE PRIVATELY OWNED. PLEASE REMEMBER YOU ARE A GUEST IN SOMEONE’S HOME AND TAKE CARE OF THE UNIT ACCORDINGLY.

AIR CONDITIONING

Please keep air conditioning set at a reasonable temperature (70°–72°) when you first arrive. It may take awhile for the unit to cool down. Please allow 24 hours before calling our office for service.

KITCHEN APPLIANCES

If you have trouble with any kitchen appliances, please call our office and we will have a maintenance person respond as soon as possible.

Personal Safety Tips

• Take only what you can carry when touring and only necessary cash or Travelers Checks.

• We encourage you to not leave valuables in your car or trunk. Do not believe a locked car door or trunk will make your valuables safe.

• Always find out who is at your door if someone knocks. Put your chain lock/bar back in place before opening your door to strangers.

• Do not leave valuables on the beach unattended.

Area Attractions

CELEBRATIONS AT BROADWAY AT THE BEACH CELEBRATIONS

Three Clubs in One! Broadway at the Beach. Call 444-3500 for more information, or visit our website www.CelebrationsNitelife.com.

Malibu’s Surf Bar

Myrtle Beach’s nightly beach bash. Malibu’s DJ blends the beach’s laid back atmosphere with elaborate lighting and mind blowing music technology to give you the world’s biggest indoor beach party. Come out early and enjoy live music on Malibu’s outdoor Tiki Bar.

Oz...The Experience

Enter into an amazing new nightlife experience...where imagination takes flight as the entire venue transforms its look, feel and design right before your eyes. You can find yourself under the lights of Paris or on the rings of Saturn. This venue will have a differently themed feel, look and design night to night. Come see the magic and an out-of-this-world experience with the One, the Only, Oz.

The Patio

Malibu’s Patio Bar is located on the patio adjacent to Malibu’s Surf Bar and is an island oasis right in the middle of Celebrity Square at Broadway at the Beach. The Patio bar has a full-service bar serving up all your favorite beverages along with some cool refreshing signature tiki bar cocktails. Enjoy Live Music, Cornhole, Jumbo Jenga, and Ring Toss.

COASTAL SCUBA

We are a full service PADI dive facility which offers all certifications from non-divers and up. The waters of Coastal South Carolina are full of all kinds of exciting marine life, and on our dive trips you will encounter fish of all shapes and sizes, as well as a variety of other exciting creatures. Training for all skill levels, Wreck Diver, Deep Diver, Boat Diver, Underwater Hunter, Underwater Photographer, and Underwater Naturalist. Daily Dive Charters for groups and individuals, swimming lessons for adults and children.

KIDS ADVENTURE PROGRAMS, Try SCUBA No experience necessary, PRIVATE POOL PARTIES, KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND PARENTS NIGHT OUT!!! Great Adventures start at $40 and take about an hour and ½. We have a full retail gift shop. Call for more information 843-361-3323 or 1-800-249-9388. Visit us at www.coastalscuba.com.

Area Attractions

DEEP SEA FISHING

Coastal Scuba also offers Deep Sea Fishing with the Little River Fishing Fleet. CATCH of the Day! Come join us. Parents, couples, grandparents and children are sure to love our half-day trips; they are the perfect complement for any vacation. We offer awesome Gulfstream excursions and sport fishing charters ... perfect for BIG Fishing adventures. Boats depart from the Little River Waterfront. Our brand new land locked store is in North Myrtle Beach at 1903 Hwy. 17 South. CALL US FOR MORE INFORMATION 843-249-1100 or 1-800-249-9388. Visit us at www.LittleRiverFleet.com.

OCEAN WATER SPORTS

Splash into the Atlantic on a Banana Boat. Soar above the ocean in comfort and safety on a Parasail Flight. Fly solo, double or triple. Our morning trips offer the best chance to see sea turtles and dolphins. Open Easter through October, since 1981. Reservations recommended, group rates available. Located on the beach directly in front of Family Kingdom Waterpark. Ocean Blvd. 4th Avenue South, Myrtle Beach. Call 843-445-7777 or visit us at www.parasailmyrtlebeach.com.

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

PLACES OF WORSHIP

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

North Myrtle Beach Assembly of God

3646 Sea Mountain Hwy., NMB

....................................................... 399-8116

BAPTIST

Bible Baptist Church Hwy. 15 & 9th Ave. S., MB

..................................................... 448-7498

Central Baptist Church 950 38th Ave. N., MB

626-5090

First Baptist Church 500 4th Ave. N, MB 448-3155

First Baptist Church of Surfside 711 16th Ave. N., Surfside 238-0206

First Baptist Church 200 Hwy. 17 S., NMB 249-2448

First Baptist Church of Murrells Inlet

3891 Hwy 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet ..................................................... 947-0847

First Free Will Baptist Church 67th Ave. N., MB....................... 449-6711

Garden City Baptist Church 501 Pine Ave., Garden City 651-3663

Grand Strand Baptist Church

2280 Glory Blvd., MB. 236-2233

Lakeside Baptist Church

11th Ave. N., NMB

...................................................... 249-2162

Ocean View Baptist Church

7300 N. Kings Hwy., MB

..................................................... 449-3384

Salem Missionary Baptist Church 11112 Freewoods Rd., MB 650-0031

Sandy Grove Missionary Baptist Church

1008 Carver St., MB 448-3281

Socastee Baptist Church

3690 Socastee Blvd., MB 293-2762

Victory Baptist Church

950 38th Ave. N., MB 626-5090

CATHOLIC

Our Lady Star of the Sea

1100 8th Ave. N., NMB .......... 249-2356

St. Andrew Catholic Church

37th Ave. N. & Hwy. 17, MB

..................................................... 448-5930

St. Michael’s Catholic Church

542 Cypress Ave, Murrells Inlet 651-3737

CHRISTIAN

The Christian Church

1226 Burcale Rd., MB 236-1121

Christian Science Church

408 66th Ave N, MB 449-5496

Surfside Christian Church

340 N. Azalea Dr., Surfside 238-4779

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Myrtle Beach Church of Christ

4500 Wild Iris Dr., MB ........... 448-8071

Grand Strand Church of Christ

2212 Glenns Bay Rd., Surfside Beach ....................................................... 650-9711

CHURCH OF GOD

Covenant of Life

2706 Wiley Dr., NMB.............. 272-6676

First Church of God

700 35th Ave. N., MB 448-9069

EPISCOPAL

Episcopal Church of the Resurrection 8901 Hwy. 17 Bypass, Surfside 215-4500

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

801 11th Ave. N., NMB 249-1169

Trinity Episcopal Church 3000 N. Kings Hwy., MB 448-8426

FULL GOSPEL

Today’s Harvest Church 1100 33rd Ave. S., NMB .......... 272-5718

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Living Faith Church 4513 Hwy. 17 Bypass S., MB ...................................................... 293-1000

LUTHERAN

Holy Lamb (LCMS) 2541 Forestbrook Rd., MB .... 236-1344

King of Glory Lutheran Church 805 11th Ave. N., NMB ........... 249-3954

LUTHERAN

Risen Christ Lutheran Church (LCMS) 10595 Hwy. 17, Briarcliffe Sect., MB 272-5845

Shepherd of the Sea 2637 S. Hwy 17, Garden City 651-7377

St. Philips Lutheran Church (ELCA) 6200 N. Kings Hwy., MB 449-5345

METHODIST

First United Methodist Church 901 N. Kings Hwy., MB 448-7164

Little River United Methodist Church 1629 Hwy. 17, Little River ...... 249-2329

St. Paul’s Waccamaw United Methodist Hwy. 17, Litchfield ................... 237-2294

Socastee United Methodist Church 5575 Dick Pond Rd., MB ........ 650-3373

Surfside United Methodist Church 800 13th Ave. N., Surfside .... 238-2734

Trinity United Methodist Church 706 14th Ave. S., NMB 272-5236

NAZARENE

Church of the Nazarene 612 4th Ave. S., MB 448-3290

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Garden City Chapel & Retreat 316 N. Dogwood, Garden City 651-2223

New Harvest Church 9526 Hwy. 707, MB 215-3470

OTHER

Avatar Maher Baba’s circle of friends 10177 N. Kings Hwy, MB ....... 273-0709

Faith Wesleyan Church 10615 Hwy. 90, NMB 399-2273

Grand Strand Community Church 3820 Holmestown Rd., MB ...................................................... 650-3878

Greater True Light Ministries 485 Robert Grissom Pkwy., MB ...................................................... 946-9418

Ignite Myrtle Beach 4808 N. Kings Hwy., MB 449-5401

Midtown Vineyard Church 504 27th Ave. N., MB 445-9000

Seventh Day Adventist Church 900 62nd Ave. N., MB 449-9150

St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox 3301 33rd Ave. N., MB 448-3773

Tabernacle Church 530 N. Azalea Dr., Surfside Beach ...................................................... 839-2510

Temple Beth Elohim of Georgetown 230 Screven St., Georgetown ...................................................... 325-0389

Temple Emanu-El 406 65th Ave. N., MB 449-5552

PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS

Lakewood Pentecostal Holiness 6585 SC-707, MB 650-2818

PRESBYTERIAN

Faith Presbyterian Church 805 79th Ave. N., MB 449-7972

First Presbyterian Church 1300 N. Kings Hwy., MB 448-4496

Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church 410 6th Ave. S., NMB 249-2312

Surfside Presbyterian Church 8732 Hwy. 17 S. Bypass, NMB ..................................................... 650-2020

Trinity Presbyterian Church USA 2061 Glenns Bay Rd., Surfside ...................................................... 650-0313

SYNAGOGUES

Temple Emanu-El 406 65th Ave. N., MB 449-5552

AREA ATTRACTIONS

Atalaya (Murrels Inlet)

Atalaya Rd, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 • atalayacastle.com

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

16148 Ocean Highway, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 • huntingtonbeachstatepark.net

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 mid1800s. 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 • 843-545-7020 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 coal-black 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

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.