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Vacation Fun Heats Up in the Wintertime in Myrtle Beach

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Savvy snowbirds can take a relaxing winter retreat to the Caribbean without leaving the mainland. Instead of a pricy flight and stay in the islands, vacationers can save lots of money and still have lots of fun at the Caribbean Resort & Villas in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; the top oceanfront resort is America's No. 1 family beach vacation destination.

Known for its fun in the sun during the summertime, Myrtle Beach has become a haven for winter visitors in recent years. Offering a wide range of offseason activities, the Grand Strand (the 60-mile stretch of Carolina coastline that surrounds Myrtle Beach) is now a hot spot for folks looking to escape the harsh and boring winters back home for the milder climate, smaller crowds and fun events of Myrtle Beach, and the excellent accommodations and amenities of the Caribbean.

Featuring recently remodeled rooms with ocean views, an indoor waterpark with pools, hot tubs and a lazy river, and on-site restaurants, ice cream parlor and coffee shop, the Caribbean is a great place to relax and unwind in the wintertime. But for those looking to get out and see all the great things the Grand Strand has to offer, the Caribbean is within walking distance to some fun events and only a short drive from all kinds of offseason activities on the Grand Strand.

From holiday parades, shows and festivals to live entertainment events in the dead of winter, you and your crew can find plenty of things to do – both indoors for those chilly days and outdoors on those unseasonably warm spells. Perfect for couples, families and large groups, Myrtle Beach is the ideal winter getaway for recharging your batteries and having a good time. Here's a list of some of the fun things to do and see during your winter getaway to the Grand Strand:

Arts & Crafts: The Dickens Christmas Show and Festivals, the Springmaid Beach Arts & Crafts Festival, and the popular Art In The Park series are among the many shows that bring some of the top vendors to the Grand Strand during the offseason. Find the perfect holiday gift or something unique for yourself at these winter showcases.

Basketball: The Myrtle Beach Convention Center hosts two weeks of the best high school basketball tournaments in the nation. The girls take the floor first for the CresCom Bank Holiday Invitational (Dec. 17-21), followed by the boys in the 35th Annual Beach Ball Classic (Dec. 26-31).

Bonfires: Warm up by the fire at La Belle Amie Vineyard's biweekly festivals. Beginning with a Christmas Caroling Bonfire on Dec. 26 and running through January with different themes each day, La Belle Amie in Little River offers live music, food and wine to enjoy while sitting by the fire.

Dancing: South Carolina's state dance, the Carolina Shag, was born in the beach clubs along the Grand Strand and still brings thousands to North Myrtle Beach's Ocean Drive section for regular gatherings. The SOS Mid-Winter Break and the National Shag Dance Championships are held here each winter with thousand of shaggers in attendance.

Holiday events: Check out the Intracoastal Waterway Christmas Regatta (Dec. 5), Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens (Dec. 6-19), and the official Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center (Dec. 13) for a true taste of the holidays on the Grand Strand.

Shows: Myrtle Beach’s many theaters roll out their best holiday showcases in November and December, such as The Palace Theatre, The Carolina Opry, and the Alabama Theatre, but then their award-winning regular shows return to the main stage in January.

After a fun day and night out on the town, return to the Caribbean Resort for some rest and relaxation. It’s all part of what the resort and the Grand Strand have to offer visitors this winter.

 

(Posted: 11/9/15)