Families began vacationing in Myrtle Beach (originally called New Town) more than a century ago, making their way from inland locales by horse and buggy, then ferrying over the Waccamaw River to reach the undeveloped coast. Oceanfront development began in the early 1900s. Myrtle Beach became a town in 1938 and a city in 1957. Myrtle Beach has a population of nearly 23,000 and is the largest and most developed community of the Grand Strand, with hundreds of hotels, restaurants, attractions, retail stores, and other businesses.

Surfside Beach, Garden City and Murrells, Inlet. These South Strand communities have been family favorites for generations. Surfside Beach, in fact, proudly calls itself "the family beach." Incorporated as a town in 1964, Surfside Beach (population 4,425) is an active residential community and thriving vacation destination. Along its lovely beachfront, you’ll find beach houses, hotels, condominiums, and a popular fishing pier. To the south is Garden City Beach (population 9,000-plus), an unincorporated community that straddles Horry and Georgetown counties and ends on a peninsula at the mouth of Murrells Inlet. The majority of Garden City’s vacationers stay in beach houses, with condos coming in a close second. With access to the ocean and inlet, Garden City Beach is a hot spot for fishing, crabbing, and other water sports.

North Myrtle Beach was founded more than 30 years ago when the communities of Windy Hill, Crescent Beach, Ocean Drive, and Cherry Grove united. North Myrtle Beach is home to the shag, a dance that originated here and continues to thrive in local dance clubs and at annual shag reunions. The city has nearly 11,000 residents and is also home to many fine restaurants and family amusements

One of the area’s earliest coastal settlements, Little River lies a short distance from the ocean along the Intracoastal Waterway, just below the North Carolina border. It was a popular harbor for pirates in the 1700s and Civil War blockade-runners in the 1800s. Little River (population about 7,000) has a thriving charter boat and commercial fishing industry.

One of the newest areas of Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest in located just west of the Intracoastal Waterway, between Myrtle Beach and Conway.  Since 1992, when development began in earnest, this area has exploded with growth to house more than 14,000 residents.  Development continues in this dynamic, family friendly area as new shopping, commercial and entertainment centers are built for the growing community.

Tree-lined streets, historic homes and churches, a revitalized business district, and the wondrous Waccamaw River are attributes of Conway, the seat of government for Horry County. Incorporated in 1898, Conway is home to nearly 12,000 people, a number that continues to grow as more people discover this charming city and the lifestyle it affords. Conway has much to offer visitors as well, including walking tours, riverboat cruises, antique shops, restaurants and cafes, the Horry County Museum, and numerous historic landmarks.

Aynor is located in western Horry County and has close to 600 residents. The town got its start in the early 1900s and was incorporated in 1913. In the early days, Aynor had a bustling tobacco market as well as a brickyard, cotton gin, and several mills.

Located 35 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach, Loris has a population of nearly 2,100 and is one of the fastest-growing cities in South Carolina. Loris was incorporated as a town in 1902 and is known for its friendly, small-town atmosphere.