With the signs of spring making their presence known, Myrtle Beach begins to wake up.
The city, waking up from its hibernation, seemingly begins moving again in early March when college and high school students from across the country make Myrtle Beach their must-go destination.
Hannah Gerhart, Bailey O’Keefe, and Paige Casterline were strolling down Ocean Boulevard on an overcast, but balmy Monday morning, March 16. The trio of friends are students at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania.
“Myrtle Beach is well-known where we’re from,” Gerhart said. “We’ve been looking forward to this trip for months. We’ll be here all week.”
They all said they look forward to eating and shopping while they are in town.
With the spring season upon us, tourism promoters are becoming creative.
The Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Visit Myrtle Beach has launched a promotion called “Make More Myrtle Moments.” It allows visitors who buy three nights of accommodations to get one free. If you buy five nights, you get two free.
More than 45 lodging properties are participating.
“Visitors are looking for more time, more value and more reasons to travel right now,” said Stuart Butler, president of Visit Myrtle Beach. “’Make More Myrtle Moments’ delivers all three, encouraging travelers to slow down, stay longer and truly experience everything our 60 miles of beaches and 14 unique communities have to offer.”
While the chamber works to attract potential visitors, others are encountering the spring breakers who are already here, at the street level.
“We begin to see big crowds at the beginning of March,” said Elizabeth Metts. She works the front desk at the Caribbean Resort at 3000 Ocean Boulevard.
“They come from all over and I’m really glad to see spring break get here,” Metts said. “In the winter I don’t work as many hours because there are not as many people here, but when spring break starts, I get plenty of hours. I go to a full-time schedule. I’m happy to see the spring season and everyone coming to Myrtle Beach.”
As Metts spoke, international high school students Brennan Lee and Max Gerundin stood in the lobby of the Caribbean. The two run the 1,500 meter and 800 meter track events. They are from Ottawa, Ontario and came to Myrtle Beach to train at the track and field events held at Myrtle Beach High School’s Doug Shaw Stadium. Leslie Estwick is one of five coaches who brought 40 high school students to Myrtle Beach, with Lee and Gerundin. “We’ll be in town for five nights,” Estwick said.
Track and field is not the only game in town.
Three mini-buses sat on Ocean Boulevard Monday morning. They came to Myrtle Beach from Putnam, CT.
“We have 34 players here for five nights,” said Bob Hetu.
He and four other coaches were herding their players onto the buses.
“We’re going over to the Cal Ripkin Experience baseball complex to play baseball,” Hetu said.
