Towns

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is home to exploding tourism, golf, dining and shopping, as well as a consistent award winner for Best Place to Vacation, Best Place to Retire, and Best Investment… but I want to tell you about a town rich in history. A well-loved area and traveling route for English colonists and Indians for hundreds of years, received a new vision when Burroughs & Collins redeveloped the land in the early 1900s. Until then, the beaches of Horry County were relatively bare due to their inaccessibility and the farming economy. B&C built the first oceanfront hotel in 1901, and at the time oceanfront lots sold for $25 and purchasers received an extra lot if they built a house valued at more than $500. The town’s history lies in the goal of building resorts and golf courses throughout the area, and the early 1900s saw a huge growth in both, eventually adding the Intracoastal Waterway and Airforce Base to further Myrtle Beach’s opportunities of infrastructure and establishment. Over the years Myrtle Beach has been the birthplace of Sports Illustrated Magazine, the Shag, and the heart of the uninterrupted 60 miles known as the Grand Strand. With tremendous opportunities for investment, retirement and industry, Myrtle Beach is an incredible value. 

Link to www.visitmyrtlebeach.com

Surfside Beach

Affectionately named, The Family Beach, Surfside Beach is nestled between the bustling Myrtle Beach and the quaint Murrells Inlet. Since officially incorporating in the 1960s, Surfside has become a vacationer’s favorite, having the best of both worlds. With award winning schools and easy access to everything the Grand Strand has to offer, Adrianne and I love Surfside so much that in 2010 we made it our home too.

Link to www.surfsidebeach.org

Garden City

Garden City Beach has been a destination for families for generations. I help countless folks move here who say they wanted to capture the magic of past vacations. The Garden City pier is a great place for fishing and also listen to local bands while enjoying a cocktail. My kids love playing in the arcade and crabbing from the pier along the causeway. If you’re looking for a great beach town getaway, Garden City should be near the top of your list to check out.  

Link to www.visitgardencitybeach.com

Murrells Inlet 

What started as a quaint fishing village on the Horry and Georgetown county line, has blossomed into the Seafood Capital of South Carolina. Explore the Marshwalk, fish or kayak the Inlet, enjoy world class dining and settle into a more relaxed lifestyle. Featuring Brookgreen Gardens, the 9100 acre sculpture garden, Lowcountry Zoo and botanical garden, voted a Top 10 Public Garden by Coastal Living Magazine. Murrells Inlet is easily a watercolor picture of Lowcountry Living. (Photo by Austin Bond)

Link to www.murrellsinletsc.com

Pawleys Island

Pawleys Island is 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach and only 70 miles north of Charleston. Previously home rice plantations, Pawleys Island is know for being arrogantly shabby- upscale but unsophisticated. Pawleys Island is a geographical island that is only accessible by the north and south causeways. This exclusive island is the quintessential beach community with unspoiled beaches. As the area grew, the “mainland” area between highway 17 and the Waccamaw River is also considered Pawleys Island. The communities here offer a slower pace in an area rich with history and southern charm.

Link to www.townofpawleysisland.com

Conway

The town Adrianne and I call home, and the county seat to one of the largest counties East of the Mississippi River and the home of Coastal Carolina University. Conway features the Riverwalk, winding the Waccamaw River, and massive live oak trees which have seniority to the streets that are forced to shift for them. If you want sidewalks, boutiques, quaint restaurants and quick access to Beach living while maintaining quiet living, Conway is the place to be! 

Link to www.conwayscchamber.com and www.conwayalive.com 

Aynor

The Little Golden Town of Aynor is a delightful small town West of Conway. Founded as a farming town, Aynor is a place where everyone knows your name and invites you to sit on the front porch for a glass of sweet tea. Home of the Aynor Harvest Hoedown Festival and the ‘Ned Burger’, as well as some of the best real estate value around. The school system in Aynor is arguably the best in the county, and Highway 22 makes for a quick trip to Northern beaches, while living in a rural community.

Link to www.townofaynor.net

Longs

Inland of North Myrtle Beach is an unincorporated community that is currently booming with growth: Longs, South Carolina. Longs was not much more than the intersections of Highways 9 and 905. Now, it’s the home of dozens new developments and communities along with multiple golf courses. Dollar for dollar, Longs is one of the best options for folks who move here who desire space, affordability and still want to be near the coast. 

Loris

One of the northern most towns of Horry County, Lorishas the tremendous advantage of being close enough to the North Carolina border to make an easy commute, while also having a direct route to North Myrtle Beach and Cherry Grove. Loris is a town rich in history and built on the textile and farming industries. Lately Loris has seen grown and revitalization becoming a quaint town with shops and restaurants, beautiful neighborhoods, golf courses and businesses. Enjoy the Loris Bog Off Festival each October while also appreciating convenience of McLeod Loris and Seacoast hospitals.

Link to www.lorischamber.com

Little River

Along the Intracoastal Waterway and just before the North Carolina border is a fishing village with a golf habit, Little River. Little River is not a beach town. Its just behind the coast and very popular with families who enjoy a day out on the boat and retirees who stay active on the links. Vereen Memorial Gardens is a family favorite park with walking trails to enjoy while you’re in Little River.

Link to http://www.littleriversc.com/

North Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach is a beach town that knew it was going to grow and created the infrastructure to handle it. In my opinion, the beach accesses are the best in the area with most of them having plenty of parking and public restrooms. With a population of 17,000 people, North Myrtle Beach includes shopping, golf and hundreds of restaurants and entertainment businesses associated with a thriving tourism economy. 

For investments, North Myrtle Beach rivals its southern neighbor Myrtle Beach for returns on vacation rentals. With a housing inventory that includes high rise resort style condos and raised beach homes, North Myrtle Beach is a great investment to add to your portfolio and a great place to call home.

Link to www.explorenorthmyrtlebeach.com

Pawleys Island

Pawleys Island is 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach and only 70 miles north of Charleston. Previously home rice plantations, Pawleys Island is know for being arrogantly shabby- upscale but unsophisticated. Pawleys Island is a geographical island that is only accessible by the north and south causeways. This exclusive island is the quintessential beach community with unspoiled beaches. As the area grew, the “mainland” area between highway 17 and the Waccamaw River is also considered Pawleys Island. The communities here offer a slower pace in an area rich with history and southern charm.

Link to www.townofpawleysisland.com