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The appeal of Myrtle Beach in the fall can be summed up in twowords: no crowds. Barring the occasional hurricane, an autumn jauntto West Virginia's most revered vacation Mecca presents a goldenopportunity for people who truly revel in beach life. And beforethis fall arrives, Myrtle Beach business types fervently hope, theNAACP's boycott of South Carolina should be a thing of the past. TheNAACP has called upon the public to cease its patronage of SouthCarolina because of the Confederate flag that flies over the statecapitol in Columbia.
'The publicity's not been good and it's caused us some loss,'Ashby Ward, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce,said in a telephone interview.
He estimated that Myrtle Beach has lost 26 conventions and/orgroup meetings because of the boycott, translating into an economicloss of not quite $1 million. While that may be a drop in thebucket, considering that Myrtle Beach tourism brings in $2.1 billionannually, that does not mean the chamber takes the boycott lightly.
'Our chamber passed a resolution last October calling for theremoval of the flag from the dome and putting it in some otherlocation,' Ward said. 'The tourism industry statewide has beenalmost unanimous to ask the governor and legislature to take thisdown.
'We expect in April and May, it will be over and done. ... Thelegislature will begin addressing the removal of the flag. There aretwo or three good proposals that seem to have the favor of bothsides.'
So, assuming that things are resolved to everyone's satisfaction,vacationers can plan a fall trip to Myrtle Beach with a clearconscience.
Myrtle Beach in the fall gives vacationers nearly all of theperks of the summer high season without any of the hassles. It'swarm, but not stifling. With average air and water temperatures of77 and 73 degrees, respectively, you can bask in the sun's rayswithout summertime's saunalike atmosphere. (But you still shouldapply sunscreen, of course.)
Runners and walkers can do their thing in relative comfort, nothaving to worry about dodging masses of sunbathers. Those who aremore sedentary can bask in the pleasure of plenty of room fortowels, chairs, coolers and other oceanside paraphernalia. Thenearest person may be several hundred feet away, rather than mereinches, as is customary in the summer. There's a lot to be said forpersonal space.
And while you may not want to set foot in a hot tub in July orAugust, you definitely should give it a try in October, when thelate-afternoon nip in the air makes it an especially deliciousprospect.
The lack of crowds ensures that there are plenty of choiceaccommodations available, often at reasonable prices. An efficiencyroom with oceanfront balcony at the Myrtle Beach Martinique, forexample, costs around $150 per night during peak season. The rate onthe same room drops to $84 per night after Labor Day, and then to$58 by Oct. 15. Wait until Nov. 26, and you can get it for $46 anight.
Dining out, a tedious and sometimes unpleasant undertaking duringMyrtle Beach summers, transforms into an agreeable and downrightleisurely pastime in the fall. Waits are almost nonexistent and youare free to savor your meals without undue pressure to make a speedyexit on behalf of the masses still in line. It is the perfect timeto try those places you can't get near in June, such as thelegendary Drunken Jack's in Murrells Inlet. Or, go for something offthe beaten path, such as the fondue-themed Melting Pot. It'sromantic yet relaxed, and you won't leave hungry.
Myrtle Beach boasts its fair share of chain operations such asthe House of Blues, the Hard Rock Cafe and the NASCAR Cafe, andthese too are much easier to patronize in the fall. Once you getpast all of the hype, you might find a surprisingly good down-homemeal (NASCAR Cafe) or a concert by national acts such as Paula Cole,Southern Culture on the Skids, Queensr che and Method Man (allartists who were scheduled at the House of Blues in March). Or, youmight be disappointed by the lame turnout that the Official All-Star Cafe attracted last October for one of the year's biggestsports events, the World Series.
Shoppers can peruse to their heart's content at the variousmalls, outlets and shopping complexes, including Broadway at theBeach and Barefoot Landing. Broadway at the Beach, for example,houses The Gap and other usual suspects as well as a handful ofunique boutiques. It also features an IMAX Discovery Theater, whereyou can take in the high-tech cinematic glory of 'Mark Twain'sAmerica' or 'Alien Adventure' undisturbed by unruly kids and overlychatty adults.
With over 100 golf courses, Myrtle Beach also presents a plethoraof places to tee off. Those who also enjoy watching golf can enjoytwo tournaments in the fall months: the Toyota Skills ChallengeChampionship in October and the Ingersoll-Rand Senior TourChampionship in November.
Although fall may not be the traditional time for a beachvacation, Myrtle Beach offers so much to do that it's virtuallyimpossible to be bored. For information, visit the Myrtle Beach AreaChamber of Commerce's Web site at www.mbchamber. com or call (843)626-7444.
To contact staff writer Marina Hendricks, use e-mail or call 348-4881.
