South Carolina's Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach, has been a favorite sun-and-sand destination for more than a century. The beach is named for the numerous wax myrtle trees growing along the shore. The Seaside Inn, which opened in 1901, became the first of many increasingly sophisticated resorts that have made this one of the top tourist areas on the East Coast.
Myrtle Beach shares its name with the adjacent city. The beach itself bustles with all sorts of activity. Parasailers fly above the ocean, surfers hang ten on the tide, and divers explore the depths below. Pushcarts stocked with frozen lemonade and shops overflowing with T-shirts and bright beachwear are always close at hand, as are plenty of children.
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Myrtle Beach is known for its great family atmosphere, thanks to a lively boardwalk and numerous waterfront tourist attractions, including an amusement park.