Thrill Seekers, Motorcyclists, Golfers…& Corporate Groups All Welcome
Exploring Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Site Visit By Marlane BundockIf you haven't been to Myrtle Beach, S.C., or haven't been there in the past five years, then 2008 is the perfect year to familiarize yourself with this entertainment mecca of the South.
A trip late last year brought me back to the area commonly known as The Grand Strand to see just what's new for groups. And the city is rocking and rolling with excitement with one of the biggest attractions known to the state opening this spring in the heart of Myrtle Beach—the new Hard Rock Theme Park. The world's first and only rock 'n roll theme park, and first new major theme park to be built in the United States in nearly a decade, is holding its grand opening in June.
To capture the pre-opening excitement, park officials created a temporary exhibit on site to showcase the facility's offerings and what visitors can expect. The approximately 50-acre park will boast more than 50 rides and attractions, including a roller coaster known as Led Zeppelin - The Ride. After taking the pre-opening exhibit tour and talking to those around me, it was clear that no genre of Rock n' Roll will be untouched and that all generations will want to see, feel and hear what the park has to offer. For groups, the attraction will have several performance venues, event spaces and package discounts.
The theme park's diverse appeal speaks to the essence of what makes Myrtle Beach so unique. Its wide range of attractions, events and opportunities resonates with a broad range of folks who are known to flock to the area, including families, golfers, boaters, motorcyclists (the area is known for its bike rallies), and—my personal favorites—shoppers and culinary enthusiasts. But, wait, a new category is being added to the list, according to Danna Lilly, CMP, director of sales for the city's convention and visitors bureau, who said corporate groups are increasingly finding that both the area's newly built luxury resorts and its traditional, more value-priced resorts, suit today's business meeting needs.
Well suited for small corporate groups is
Island Vista, an oceanfront condo/hotel nestled within one of Myrtle Beach's most affluent—and more secluded—residential communities called The Golden Mile.
The family-owned property finished a complete renovation in 2006, and its new ambiance holds onto its original inn-like charm while providing more upscale offerings. Sophisticated tropical décor and architecture with a British West Indies flair is found within the 149 guest suites that range from one- to four-bedrooms. Inside each, you'll find an atmosphere of comfortable luxury with a full kitchen, dining room and living room finished with rich, plush fabrics and carpeting, granite countertops and oceanview balconies—a setting I found perfect for that morning cup of coffee and evening glass of wine.
The 2,200-square-foot, flexible meeting room can accommodate 200 guests, theater style, is equipped with audio/visual for presentations and is decorated in neutral tropical hues and antique casings from the original inn. A custom chandelier in antique gold leaf, featuring hand-blown gold dusted glass, is suspended from the tray ceiling while cypress wainscoting adorns on the walls.
Dining is both elegant and relaxed within Island Vista's 2,500-square-foot restaurant, The Cypress Room. A wall of floor-to-ceiling windows provides a widescreen and up-close view the the Cypress Room porch, the hotel's Great Lawn and the ocean—all of which draw you outside for an evening event to watch the moon's glimmer over the great Atlantic.
No corporate destination is complete without golf, and Myrtle Beach offers approximately 100 courses. Yet, one of my favorite sections of the Strand may offer some of the most scenic and most award-winning courses. The Waccamaw Golf Trail is located 20 minutes south of Myrtle Beach, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the scenic Waccamaw River to the west, and encompasses the townships of Murrells Inlet, Litchfield and Pawleys Island. The collection of 12 golf courses that make up the Waccamaw Golf Trail includes Pawleys Plantation and the Litchfield Country Club, where I found well-manicured greens set amid ancient moss-draped oaks and tidal rivers. Meeting spaces and accommodations are found at both courses with the Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort offering more than 19,000 square feet of meeting space.
Off the course, the Waccamaw Golf Trail offers award-winning restaurants, a treasure trove of unique shops, historic points of interest, tranquil beaches and a wide assortment of resort amenities and accommodations. Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park are among the region's many year-round natural attractions that appeal to golfers and non-golfers alike.
