Riptide 7.5 MB 23

ON VACATION

The Riptide Beach Club staff welcomes you, and we sincerely hope that your stay will be a pleasant and enjoyable one.

Attached are several important pieces of information, which should be read carefully so as to familiarize yourself with your resort and allow us proper feedback.

You will find that our staff will be glad to assist you with any additional information that you may need.

Once again, WELCOME to your home away from home. Relax and enjoy yourself!

Resort Information

OFFICE HOURS

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

SATURDAY: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

HOURS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DURING OFF SEASON.

CHECK IN 5:00 p.m. CHECK OUT 10:00 a.m.

POOL HOURS: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

** ABSOLUTELY NO PETS ARE PERMITTED IN UNITS OR ANYWHERE ON RIPTIDE BEACH CLUB PROPERTY **

IN CASE OF AN AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 843-497-3914 AND OUR ANSWERING SERVICE WILL ASSIST YOU, OR DIAL 911 FOR IMMEDIATE MEDICAL, FIRE, OR POLICE ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

At the Riptide Beach Club, we are determined to provide you, our Homeowners and Guests, with the ultimate vacation. With your help, we can make this happen! Upon your arrival, we encourage you to fully inspect your unit. If you have any questions, concerns, or requests, please notify the front desk promptly so that we can take care of your needs as quickly as possible.

ATTENTION:

Riptide Beach Club is not responsible for money or valuables left in your unit, on the pool decks, or on the beach. Safe deposit boxes are available at the front desk on a first come, first served basis. For your additional security, we also urge you to lock the dead bolt in your unit, as well as the balcony door while out and during your sleeping hours.

Resort Information

DAILY SERVICES

Replacement towels are provided and trash is removed from each unit daily. If at any time you require fresh linens, please call the Front Desk during office hours to ensure your needs are fulfilled. We apologize, however the after-hours service is available for emergencies only and will not be able to respond to linen requests.

GRILLING

Grilling is only permitted in designated areas. (Ask our staff for locations.) Utensils are available to sign out at the front desk. You are responsible for cleaning the grill when finished. Please remember to turn off the gas after use (at the tank and the temperature control knobs).

POOL AND HOT TUB HOURS

Posted hours are from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. As a courtesy to your fellow owners, please observe “quiet time” when occupying these areas after dark and before sun-up.

HEALTH CLUB FACILITIES

Guests over 16 years of age are allowed to use the health club facilities located in the D building. The code for the door is 2806. NO EXCEPTIONS.

LAUNDRY ROOM

These facilities are located on the 4th floor of B building and the 1st floor of D building. You can obtain change for the machines as well as purchase laundry detergent and fabric softener at the front desk.

PARKING

Parking is available in the on-site lot with a blue parking pass only. Those with the secondary or guest vehicle white passes must park in the parking garage at the corner of Ocean Blvd. and 28th Avenue North or in the overflow parking lot behind the parking garage on 28th Avenue.

VENDING AND ICE MACHINES

Soda machines are located on the 1st floor of C building and in the health club area of D building. Please do not fill coolers from the ice machines. Green’s Discount Beverages at the corner of 29th and Business 17 sells bags of ice for this purpose.

Resort Information

CHECK-OUT PROCEDURES

If you plan to depart earlier than office hours, please check with the front desk the day prior to settle any phone bills, lost key fees, and to return all beach towels and other signed out items. All dishes should be left clean, bed and bath linens should be stripped and piled together, and all trash should be gathered neatly and left in the kitchen area. Please lock the unit & drop the keys off at the front desk. If office is closed, put them in the after hours slot in the office door.

LOST KEYS

Anyone who loses their room key will be charged a $70.00 NONREFUNDABLE fee in accordance with the policy you signed upon arrival. Please do not ask us to waive this charge, which covers the cost of the locksmith to re-key the lock in the event of a loss.

D.H.E.C. RULES FOR POOLS AND JACUZZI

1. NO SOLO SWIMMING

2. NO RUNNING

3. NO BOISTEROUS OR ROUGH HOUSING

4. NO PERSON UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS SHOULD USE THE POOLS OR JACUZZI

5. NO SPITTING OR BLOWING NOSE IN THE POOLS OR JACUZZI

6. NO PERSONS WITH COMMUNICABLE DISEASES ALLOWED IN THE POOLS OR JACUZZI

7. NO PERSONS WITH SKIN, EYE, EAR OR NASAL INFECTIONS ARE ALLOWED IN THE POOLS, JACUZZI, OR ON THE SURROUNDING DECKS

8. NO ANIMALS OR PETS ALLOWED IN THE POOLS, JACUZZI, OR ON THE SURROUNDING DECKS

9. NO GLASS ALLOWED IN THE POOLS, JACUZZI, OR ON THE SURROUNDING DECKS

10. NO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13 YEARS OLD ARE ALLOWED IN OR AROUND THE POOLS WITHOUT A PARENT OR GUARDIAN; THE GUARDIAN MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE

Resort Rules and Regulations

RIPTIDE BEACH CLUB RULES:

1. Please give your friends and family the resort phone number and your unit extension because our after-hours answering service does not have a list of registered guests.

2. DO NOT feed the seagulls from the balcony.

3. Hanging clothes or towels from your balcony railing is prohibited.

4. Please DO NOT pour grease, or dispose of diapers or wet wipes down the sinks or commodes.

5. DO NOT reserve lounge or pool chairs by draping towels over them and then leave the area.

6. DO NOT allow children to play on the elevators or luggage carts.

7. Absolutely NO GRILLING on your balcony! For your safety and the safety of others, grilling is allowed in designated areas only.

8. Absolutely NO FIREWORKS from balconies or on Riptide property! Private fireworks are illegal in the city of Myrtle Beach.

9. Absolutely NO YELLING, SITTING ON RAILING, OR CLIMBING FROM THE BALCONIES!

10. No unnecessary noise is permitted after 11:00 p.m. in any commons area of the resort. If a disturbance is caused or anyone becomes a nuisance, please call the non-emergency police line so the problem can be resolved. (843-918-1382)

Telephone & Internet Information

~ Telephone & Internet Information ~ Riptide Front Desk

From your Unit:

For An Outside Line: In case of EMERGENCY: From Outside the Resort:

Unit to Unit Calling: Dial extension # only

Voicemail Alert

Your phone will ring one short ring periodically to alert you of

a voicemail

Voicemail Access

Dial 55 from your unit phone and follow the prompts

WHILE YOU'RE AWAY:

Once you are settled, we recommend you

contact friends and relatives who may need to

through our automated switchboard after hours.

Toll free and local calls may be dialed at no charge. Any numbers with a prefix not listed below will be charged to you at a minimum of $.05 per minute. (This includes dial-up internet.) If you are not sure of a local number, please speak to the front desk prior to connecting to avoid any unwanted charges for which you will be held responsible. Local Area Code: 843

903,

995, 997

Resort Map

BUSINESS 17/KINGS HIGHWAY

SOUTH NORTH Omega Green's Pancake Discount 28TH House Beverages 29TH

ADDITIONAL AVENUE AVENUE RIPTIDE

PARKING NORTH NORTH

PARKING GARAGE (SHARED)

SOUTH

OCEAN BLVD

GRAND PARKING RESORT MAINTENANCE REGISTRATION EXT: 4911 OFFICE LAUNDRY SALES ROOM, EXT: 4913 RESTROOM,

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., MB448-7498

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., Surfside238-0206

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 City651-3663

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., MB449-3384

Salem Missionary Baptist Church 11112 Freewoods Rd., MB650-0031

Sandy Grove Missionary Baptist Church

1008 Carver St., MB ... 448-3281

Socastee Baptist Church

3690 Socastee Blvd., MB293-2762

Victory Baptist Church

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

CATHOLIC

Our Lady Star of the Sea

1100 8th Ave. N., NMB249-2356

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., Surfside238-4779

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Myrtle Beach Church of Christ

4500 Wild Iris Dr., MB448-8071

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., MB448-8426

FULL GOSPEL

Today’s Harvest Church 1100 33rd Ave. S., NMB272-5718

Living Faith Church

4513 Hwy. 17 Bypass S., MB ......................................... 293-1000

LUTHERAN

Holy Lamb (LCMS)

2541 Forestbrook Rd., MB236-1344

King of Glory Lutheran Church

805 11th Ave. N., NMB249-3954

PLACES OF WORSHIP

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., MB449-5345

METHODIST

First United Methodist Church

901 N. Kings Hwy., MB448-7164

Little River United Methodist Church

1629 Hwy. 17, Little River249-2329

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

Socastee United Methodist Church

5575 Dick Pond Rd., MB650-3373

Surfside United Methodist Church

800 13th Ave. N., Surfside238-2734

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, MB273-0709

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., MB449-5401

Midtown Vineyard Church

504 27th Ave. N., MB 445-9000

Seventh Day Adventist Church

900 62nd Ave. N., MB449-9150

St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox

3301 33rd Ave. N., MB448-3773

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., MB448-4496

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 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%

Average Water and Air Temperatures

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, “hushpuppies” 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.