Myrtle Beach: Practicalities

US- or Hwy-17 (also called Kings Highway) is Myrtle Beach's main traffic thoroughfare, while the parallel Ocean Boulevard is lined with hotels and motels. Greyhound buses from Charleston and Wilmington come in at 511 7th Ave N (closed 1-3pm daily). Minimal transportation in the beach areas is provided by Coastal Rapid Public Transit buses (75¢-$2.10 one-way; tel 843/626-9138). Great American Trolley runs a route around the center beach area and out to the Myrtle Square Mall and Broadway at the Beach (July-Sept 8.30am-midnight; closes 10pm Oct 1-15; $2 each way; tel 1-800/395-6629).

If you want burgers, standard diner meals, "surf 'n' turf" in a themed bar or any one of a zillion varieties of ethnic fast food, you'll have no problem finding places to eat. Well-prepared seafood can be had at the classier Sea Captain's House at 3200 N Ocean Blvd (tel 843/448-8082), or at a number of similar establishments in Murrells Inlet; for a Mediterranean meal and a view of art, stop by the Collector's Café , 7726 N Kings Hwy (tel 843/449-9370).

As for nightlife , Celebrity Square at Broadway at the Beach, between 21st and 29th avenues off the Hwy-17 bypass (tel 843/444-3200), is a compact area of bars and clubs, while the House of Blues , Barefoot Landing, 4640 Hwy-17 (tel 843/272-3000), attracts top national rock, reggae and roots talent. More kitschy are the glut of country music variety shows ; the longest-running is the Carolina Opry , Hwy-17 N (tel 843/238-8888), where powerful singers belt out corny, family-oriented rock'n'roll, country and bluegrass with a couple of hymns thrown in for good measure. Next door at the Dolly Parton-owned Dixie Stampede (tel 1-800/433-4401) you can see a lighthearted, surreal take on the Civil War with some impressive horsemanship, all while chowing down on a huge dinner without utensils.

Myrtle Beach

• Myrtle Beach
• Practicalities

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