2008 Hot Retirement Towns

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
IN 1968, FOUR SMALL BEACH music. Each year, Ocean Drive hosts the Dye Course, the Fazio Course,
towns–Windy Hill Beach, Crescent two week-long Shag Festivals, in the Love Course and the Norman
Beach, Ocean Drive Beach and April and September. Sponsored by Course at Barefoot Resort; Black
Cherry Grove Beach–joined forces the Society of Shaggers (SOS), the Bear Golf Course; Crow Creek Golf
to form the city of North Myrtle events bring thousands of devoted Club; Farmstead Golf Link; and
Beach. The goal of these towns shaggers to the area. During those Possum Trot Golf Course.
located on the northern edge of two weeks, Ocean Drive is trans- The area is full of unique bou-
the Grand Strand was to provide tiques and locally owned businesses,
unmatched service, oﬀer top-notch
recreational activities and create a
“Each year, Ocean
as well as regional and national chain
department stores and restaurants.
unique, safe community for its resi-
Drive hosts two week-
The incorporated towns also oﬀer
dents and the thousands of visitors state-of-the-art medical facilities.
who ﬂock to the city each year.
long shag festivals, in
Besides quaint beach houses,
The plan was an overwhelming beautiful beaches, fabulous golf and
success, and the area is now home
April and September.”
other recreational options, Cherry
to more than 14,000 full-time Grove is known for having some
residents and is one of the most of the best ﬁshing on the Grand
popular retirement communities on formed into a huge outdoor dance Strand. Several marinas oﬀer deep-
the Grand Strand. and social club. Main Street is sea charters to ﬁsh the warm waters
The area is proud to claim itself closed to traﬃc and turned into one of the nearby Gulf Steam. For those
as the birthplace of the shag, the of- of the world’s largest dance ﬂoors. a little less adventurous, there is
ﬁcial state dance of South Carolina. North Myrtle Beach is home ﬁshing on the Intracoastal Water-
A Southern, subdued combination to a large number of golf courses, way and in the many creeks and
of swing dancing and the jitterbug, including Arcadian Shores Golf marshes that make up the landscape
the shag is danced to beach (50s era) Club; Azalea Sands Golf Club; of the area.
At A Glance
N. Myrtle Beach, SC
Population: 14,096
Average Temp: 75 F
Average Age: 48
Nearest Hospital:
Grand Strand Regional Hospital
Nearest Major Airport:
Myrtle Beach International
Airport
North Myrtle Beach Info:
North Myrtle Beach Chamber
www.northmyrtlebeachchamber.com
(877) 332-2662
PHOTO BY BARBARA PATRICK
www.RetiringToSouthCarolina.com I www.HotRetirementTowns.com I www.CoastalRetirementTowns.com
67_NMyrtleBeachSC.indd 67 1/14/08 4:29:09 PM
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8 | Page 9 | Page 10 | Page 11 | Page 12 | Page 13 | Page 14 | Page 15 | Page 16 | Page 17 | Page 18 | Page 19 | Page 20 | Page 21 | Page 22 | Page 23 | Page 24 | Page 25 | Page 26 | Page 27 | Page 28 | Page 29 | Page 30 | Page 31 | Page 32 | Page 33 | Page 34 | Page 35 | Page 36 | Page 37 | Page 38 | Page 39 | Page 40 | Page 41 | Page 42 | Page 43 | Page 44 | Page 45 | Page 46 | Page 47 | Page 48 | Page 49 | Page 50 | Page 51 | Page 52 | Page 53 | Page 54 | Page 55 | Page 56 | Page 57 | Page 58 | Page 59 | Page 60 | Page 61 | Page 62 | Page 63 | Page 64 | Page 65 | Page 66 | Page 67 | Page 68 | Page 69 | Page 70 | Page 71 | Page 72 | Page 73 | Page 74 | Page 75 | Page 76 | Page 77 | Page 78 | Page 79 | Page 80 | Page 81 | Page 82 | Page 83 | Page 84 | Page 85 | Page 86 | Page 87 | Page 88 | Page 89 | Page 90 | Page 91 | Page 92 | Page 93 | Page 94 | Page 95 | Page 96 | Page 97 | Page 98 | Page 99 | Page 100 | Page 101 | Page 102 | Page 103 | Page 104 | Page 105 | Page 106 | Page 107 | Page 108 | Page 109 | Page 110