GETTING THERE: The two discount airlines that provided nonstopflights to Myrtle Beach -- Hooters Air from Baltimore and SpiritAirlines from Reagan National -- have suspended the serviceindefinitely, and airfares have skyrocketed. United offers dailynonstop service (flight time is about 90 minutes) from WashingtonDulles; round-trip weekend fares are typically about $365, althoughsales for weekday travel sometimes drop it to $220. US Airways offersSaturday and Sunday nonstop service from Reagan National, with faresof about $270 round trip. Several airlines offer connecting service,but fares are no cheaper, and the routing is time-consuming.
Amtrak trains get you to the terminal in Florence, S.C. (in abouteight hours), with fares starting at $108 round trip (add $202 eachway for roomette); buses connect there for the 65-mile drive toMyrtle Beach.
Greyhound offers bus service from both Washington and Baltimore,an eight- to 12-hour ride, for $127 round trip.
If you drive (about eight hours), I-95 south into South Carolinais the most direct route; from I-95, Route 501 south brings you tothe center of Myrtle Beach.
GETTING AROUND: Rental cars and taxis are available at MyrtleBeach International Airport; some hotels run shuttle service. Thereis local bus transportation, 'the Lymo' (843-488-0865,www.golymo.com), but it won't get you to most golf courses.
GOLF PACKAGES: The Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce says there are47,000 hotel and motel rooms in the area, and many of them offer golfpackages.
The Crown Reef (2913 S. Ocean Blvd, 877-435-9125,www.crownreef.com) offers seven golf packages. The standard packageruns around $86 daily per person double. It includes breakfast andgreens fees but not golf cart fees. At the Breakers Resort (21stAvenue and North Ocean Boulevard, 800-952-4507, www.breakers.com/sph), a four-night package for two people in a room with a side-balcony view of the ocean runs $333 per person, including breakfastand greens fees but no cart.
WHERE TO EAT: There are many choices here, from fast food (lots)to the white tablecloth variety (some) to chains (Hooters has fourlocations). There are many sports bars as well; we had a pretty goodsteak at the Liberty Tap Room (4651 N. Kings Hwy., 843-839-4677) forabout $25. On the upper end, the Library (1212 N. Kings Hwy., 843-448-4527) sports an extensive wine list and a full dinner price ofabout $70, and Thoroughbreds, in what is called Restaurant Row (9706N. Kings Hwy., 843-497-2636) has a big steak dinner for a tab of $60or so.
GOLF: You can set up your own tee times through a system thatlinks about 100 courses: Tee Time Central, 800-882-0684, www.mbn.com.
WHAT ELSE TO DO:
Shopping. There is lots of this up and down Kings Highway, much ofthe discount variety. The Broadway at the Beach complex (Route 17Bypass between 21st and 29th avenues, 800-386-4662,www.broadwayatthebeach.com) has more than 50 shops. Tanger Outlets(www.tangeroutlet.com) has two locations. Myrtle Beach also has BassPro Shops Outdoor World (10177 N. Kings Hwy., 843-361-4800,www.basspro.com), and there are two Martin's PGA Tour Superstores(Route 17 Bypass at 29th Avenue and 2310 Hwy. 17 S. in North MyrtleBeach, www.martinspgatoursuperstore.com).
Shows. There are several theaters, which see some touring Broadwayshows, individual stars and homegrown productions. Among them:Alabama Theatre at Barefoot Landing (800-342-2262, www.alabama-theatre.com); Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede dinner and show (Routes17 and 17 Bypass, 800-433-4401, www.dixiestampede.com); Carolina Opry(Routes 17 and 17 Bypass, 843-913-4444, www.cgp.net); Palace Theaterat Broadway at the Beach (Route 17 Bypass and 21st Avenue North, 800-905-4228, www.palacetheatremyrtlebeach.com); Medieval Times (offRoute 501 at the Intracoastal Waterway, 888-935-6878,www.medievaltimes.com/castleSC/home.htm).
Sports. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans (843-918-6002,www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com), the Atlanta Braves' Single A affiliate,play at their park at 21st Avenue North and Central Parkway; game-day tickets are $4.50 to $9. Deep-sea fishing, parasailing and otherwater sports can be found in Murrells Inlet at the south end of theStrand. Camping and pier fishing are available at Myrtle Beach StatePark (4401 S. Kings Hwy., 843-238-5325, www.discoversouthcarolina.com/stateparks/Parkdetail.Asp?Pid=795), also at the south end; parkadmission $4.
Rides and attractions. The Family Kingdom Amusement Park (843-626-3447, www.family-kingdom.com) and affiliated Oceanfront Waterpark(843-916-0400), both open in spring and summer, are at Third Avenueand Ocean Boulevard. The seaside Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park(843-913-5200, www.mbpavilion.com), at Ninth Avenue and OceanBoulevard, is also a seasonal attraction. Across the street areRipley's Believe It or Not! museum and Ripley's Haunted Adventure,which operates seasonally. Ripley's Aquarium (843-916-0888) is inBroadway at the Beach. The Myrtle Beach Speedway (843-236-0500,www.myrtlebeachspeedway.com) features professional and amateur racingon Saturday nights, April 8 through Sept. 15.
INFORMATION: For a free copy of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber ofCommerce's 'Stay & Play,' an extensive guide to the area and itsattractions, call 800-496-8250 or go to www.myrtlebeachinfo.com.Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday (800-845-4653, www.golfholiday.com) putsout a free vacation planner as well. More information on Myrtle Beachis available from Myrtle Beach Live, www.myrtlebeachlive.com, andMyrtleBeach.com, www.myrtlebeach.com.
-- Tom Wilkinson and Margaret Roth
