The crown jewel of the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach sits in the center of a 60-mile crescent of beautiful beaches. For years, the area's tranquil qualities have drawn tourists from around the world, and have made Myrtle Beach one of the top retirement destinations in the country.
Myrtle Beach was given its name from the indigenous wax myrtle shrub that thrives in the area's sandy soil. The first documented landing in the area was in 1526 by the Spanish sailing out of Hispaniola. However, the conquistadors did not find the area to their liking and left shortly there after, preferring the more southern latitudes of Florida for their base of operations. By the late 1800s the strand of natural beaches had become a favorite of inland residents of both the Carolinas, though at the time, accommodations were rustic to say the least, and other than fisherman and nearby rice planters, few made the area home. But all that has changed.
Today, Myrtle Beach is the 13th fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States, with just over 20,000 full-time residents, a good portion of which are retired.