Best Moving Company in Myrtle Beach

If you’re planning a trip to the Grand Strand for Black Bike week, now is the time to get serious.

The annual motorcycle rally happens Memorial Day weekend and brings thousands of people to the Myrtle Beach area.

It’s officially known as the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival, but is more commonly known as the Atlantic Beach Bike Week or Black Bike Week.

This year, Black Bike Week will run from May 24-27, although many people decide to stay longer. Several members of the Black Bike Week Facebook group have posted they have rentals secured for the upcoming event. Now is a good time to book, before lodging fills up and prices increase.

Benjamin Quattlebaum, the Atlantic Beach town manager, said the town has not formally adopted Black Bike Week 2024 but expects the council to do so in February. He said the motorcycle rally should run as normal and the event schedule will be released later this year.

There are many hotels, condos and Airbnbs located along Ocean Boulevard from the south end of Myrtle Beach through North Myrtle Beach. The Black Bike Week website has a list of hotels they recommend. The group recommends these hotels because they are biker friendly, have parties and are usually along Ocean Boulevard.

There are also biker friendly campsites available if you prefer to stay outside. Myrtle Beach State Park and Barefoot RV Resort are over halfway booked as of publication.

There are parties, live music and other forms of entertainment. It’s a bike rally so people enjoy driving around on their motorcycles. You can check the Atlantic Beach website for planned events, but there are also impromptu parties that you can join.

Since there’s several months until the bike rally begins, there’s still tons of planning left. You can join the Black Bike Week Facebook group. It is active and has several niche group chats to join. You can also check the Black Bike Week website or the Atlantic Beach website.

Black Bike Week is one of three annual motorcycle rallies in Horry County. Harley Bike Week, also known as Bike Week, will be from May 10-19.

There also is another Bike Week fall rally held from Sept. 30 through Oct. 6.

A couple of African paradise islands have been on the radar of avid world travelers for some time.

Mauritius and the Seychelles are bucket list honeymoon locations, while the Canary Islands and Tunisia’s Djerba island rank as two of the most popular holiday destinations in all of Africa.

For those who want to avoid the crowds and discover someplace new, Africa also boasts some “almost famous” islands with awesome beaches, unique wildlife, and amazing outdoor adventures on both land and sea.

Here are eight of those places:

Nosy Be means “Big Island” in the Malagasy language. Which is more than a little ironic when you realize it’s tiny compared to neighboring Madagascar. But the paradise island does loom large when it comes to nature.

Lokobe Natural Reserve on the island’s south side preserves an ancient rainforest and various creatures that call it home, from the turquoise-colored panther chameleon and the Madagascar owl to several lemur species including endangered black lemurs and tiny mouse lemurs. Best way to explore the park is via pirogue canoe with a local guide.

The island’s warm tropical offshore waters offer Nosy Tanikely Marine Park and 20 other dive sites, plus a chance to swim with the whale sharks that migrate through the area in October and November.

Nearly all of Nosy Be’s hotels lie along white-sand strands on the west coast, including the family friendly Andilana Beach Resort and the rustically romantic Le Grand Bleu.

Getting there: The easiest way to reach Nosy Be from outside the region is Ethiopian Airways and its four-hour, nonstop flights from Addis Ababa.

The largest island in a five-island tropical archipelago of the same name along Mozambique’s Indian Ocean coast, the Ilha do Bazaruto is renowned for towering sand dunes, wild beaches and upscale resorts.

Shellfish Bay on the island’s windward side shelters one of East Africa’s most spectacular beaches, a crescent of white sand framed by 100-meter dunes.

As the cornerstone of Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, the island is also home to a wide variety of indigenous wildlife, from the crocodiles and wading birds that frequent freshwater lagoons on the leeward side of the coastal dunes, to five types of sea turtle, East Africa’s largest dugong population, and rare marine species like the guitarfish and rhino ray.

Bazaruto Island Resort, the island’s top digs, can arrange scuba diving and snorkeling, sailing on traditional dhow boats, guided 4x4 wildlife safaris, sandboarding on the dunes and other outdoor activities.

Getting there: A 90-minute nonstop flight from Johannesburg to Vilanculos on Airlink and then a one-hour boat transfer.

Swahili culture survives and thrives on this island off Kenya’s northeast coast. The waterfront crowded with triangular-sailed dhows, Lamu Town resonates with the sound of craftsmen building new wooden boats and the call of the muezzin from ancient mosques.

A small but interesting museum and ancient fort are the town’s main attractions, but visitors can also arrange a half-hour boat ride to explore the ruins of 15th-century Takwa on nearby Manda Island. Lamu’s best beaches are on the island’s windward side, around a 30–40-minute walk via Shela village.

Stay at Lamu House, a chic little boutique hotel in town, or way out on the beach at Kizingo Eco Lodge.

Getting there: A three-hour bus ride from Malindi to Mokowe, and then a short water taxi to Lamu Town; or a 80-minute flight from Nairobi on JamboJet.

Black sand beaches, twisted lava landscapes, and a notorious active volcano set this Cabo Verde island apart from its neighbors off the coast of West Africa.

Rising more than 9,000 feet (2,800 meters) above the coast, Pico do Fogo has blown its top 30 times since the 15th century when Portuguese explorers became the first humans to set foot on the island. A local guide is recommended for the 4.5-mile (7.8 km) trek to the summit.

Nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status, São Filipe with its cobblestone streets, brightly painted sobrado homes is one of Cape Verde’s oldest and best-preserved Portuguese colonial towns.

One of the mansions provides a nostalgic venue for the Hotel Savana with its sea views and swimming pool. Or crash at Casa Marisa in the volcanic caldera.

Getting there: A half-hour flight from Praia on Cabo Verde Airlines.

A French possession since 1638, Réunion lies in the southern Indian Ocean around 420 miles (680 km) east of Madagascar and not far from Mauritius. With coconut palms, sugarcane fields and a Creole dialect, the island feels more like the French Caribbean than Africa.

The island is ringed by more than 20 miles (30 kilometers) of beaches, ranging from popular urban strands like white sand Plage de L’Hermitage to the more secluded, black sand Plage de l’Etang Sale.

The rugged volcanic highlands can be explored on numerous hiking trails, while down at the coast, Saint-Denis and other towns offer excellent French cuisine, live Creole music, and stylish oceanfront hotels like the Blue Margouillat.

Getting there: Four airlines offer nonstop service (11-12 hours) from Paris Orly to Réunion. There are also flights from Johannesburg, Mauritius and Antananarivo.

Rising in the middle of the River Nile at Aswan, this elongated island is said to derive its name from being shaped like an elephant’s tusk. Despite the appearance of modern hotels and restaurants in recent decades, much of Elephantine still looks, acts and feels like rural Egypt.

Ruined temples dating to around 3,200 B.C.E. — and an ancient stone nilometer for measuring the river’s water level — reflect the island’s importance during pharaonic times. Located inside a traditional Nubian-style home, the Animalia Museum offers insights on Elephantine’s human and natural history.

Yet the coolest thing about Elephantine is lounging in a waterfront café, on the balcony of a guest house, or your room at the island’s Mövenpick Aswan Resort, watching wooden sailing feluccas flit up and down the Nile and gazing at Aswan’s exotic skyline on the other side of the river.

Getting there: Felucca or ferry from the Aswan waterfront after a domestic flight on Egypt Air.

The epitome of under-the-radar, the Bissagos (Bijagós) Archipelago has been lauded in Vogue and features on the itinerary of a few small cruise companies that ply the West African coast, yet the 88-island group still largely undiscovered by the globetrotting masses.

Pristine mangroves, mudflats, savannah grasslands, tropical forest and surprisingly diverse animal life (that includes rare ocean-going hippos) earned the archipelago UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status in 1995. Bissagos should be on the bucket list of every serious birder.

Overnight accommodation is sparse and largely limited to the Ilha de Bubaque, where modest abodes like Cajou Lodge and EcoLodge Ponta Anchaca cater to travelers making landfall on the remote outer edge of Africa.

Getting there: If you’re not on a cruise ship, the only way is via water from Bissau city, a journey that can take anywhere from 90 minutes to six hours depending on the boat.

It doesn’t exude the exoticism of nearby Zanzibar, but the large Tanzanian isle outshines its neighbor when it comes to pristine, palm-shaded beaches and out-of-this-world diving.

Pemba’s 30 plus dive sites are celebrated for its healthy coral gardens with an abundance of macro creatures, sheer underwater walls that plunge into the black, and offshore waters with large pelagic fish and migrating humpback whales in July and August.

Afro Divers and Dive 360 Pemba at Manta Resort — both of them at Pemba’s north end — are PADI certified.

Getting there: Slow, intermittent ferries from Zanzibar, Tanga and Dar es Salam, or a 25-minute puddle jumper from Zanzibar on FlightLink airlines.

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MYRTLE BEACH — Myrtle Beach appears poised to land another oceanfront resort.

For the second time in less than a year, city officials are discussing a project that would yawn from the oceanfront to the third row.

Myrtle Beach City Council on April 9 gave initial approval to a $120 million resort that’s expected to be built at 23rd Avenue North. A rendering of the resort identified the project as Hilton Garden Inn and Home2Suites.

Council members voted to create a special planned unit development area for the resort on 2.7 acres of land. A second vote is needed to approve the project.

Plans for the 255-room resort show a hotel that’s 24 stories. It will have a parking lot across Ocean Boulevard that is intended to be a mobile check-in and a 60-foot-tall parking deck with about 290 spaces on the third row.

Kelly Mezzapelle, a senior planner with the city, said the neighboring Boardwalk Beach Resort is 14 stories on the oceanfront and has a 25-foot-tall second row check-in building.

Jeff King, the developer, said the new resort’s plans call for swapping an alley on the north end of the proposed tower to an existing alley on the south end that would double the alley width to 40 feet.

The plans also call for the developer to allot 1.5% of the construction cost for public improvements.

Mezzapelle said the details of the improvements are still being ironed out but may include additional parking spaces on Withers Drive, providing for streetscaping from Ocean Boulevard to Kings Highway, and improvements at the 23rd Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard intersection to slow traffic.

She added the plans haven’t been finalized for changes to the street-end parking at 23rd Avenue North. She said 14 hybrid spaces will be eliminated for the tower construction. There are 20 public parking spaces there that garnered the city $30,000 in revenue last year. King has proposed having a landscaped area around the public parking spaces or converting the area into a park.

The city is still ironing out other details such as allowing King to place two signs on two sides of the tower as opposed to the one sign that is allowed in city codes.

Additionally, Mezzapelle said, there are 16 protected trees on the third row where King hopes to build a parking area. She said there are no landmark trees on the lot, allowing the developer the option of saving some trees and planting new trees at another to-be-determined location.

King said the resort will have about 28 employees and there should be ample employee parking spaces on the property.

The agreement calls for permits to be pulled within three years of adopting the planned unit development and for construction to be complete within three years of the permits being issued.

Late last year, City Council supported plans for a 267-room, 210-foot tall Margaritaville resort six blocks south of the Hilton Garden Inn and Home2Suites location.

The Margaritaville resort is planned for 17th Avenue North and Withers Drive. Plans includes a pedestrian bridge to connect the oceanfront amenity center to the hotel on the second row. The bridge will be over Ocean Boulevard.

In addition to guest rooms, Margaritaville will offer a gift shop and spaces for retail shops.

Beachfront Resort Will Redefine Coastal City Tourism Landscape

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ORLANDO, Fla., April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated, an international vacation ownership company, today announced the grand opening of its newest property, Holiday Inn Club Vacations Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort. Located on the stunning shores of Myrtle Beach, this purpose-built resort – the first in a multi-phase development – promises to be a luxurious retreat for travelers seeking the ultimate beachfront experience. Located directly across the street from its sister resort, South Beach Resort, this property is a testament to the company's passion for growing its presence in sought-after destinations, while also building on its 15-year presence in this burgeoning, coastal city.

To commemorate the opening, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held today to celebrate this milestone occasion that featured remarks from several distinguished speakers, including The Honorable Brenda Bethune, Mayor of the city of Myrtle Beach; Jay Caiafa, Chief Operating Officer, Americas, IHG Hotels & Resorts; and Spence Wilson, Jr., Principal of Kemmons Wilson Companies and Board Member of Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated.

"To be here to inaugurate the Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort, is a testament to our unwavering dedication to delivering extraordinary vacation experiences in this amazing destination," stated John Staten, President and CEO of Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated. "This resort marks the initial phase of a multifaceted development, and what a great milestone to be here today, celebrating the unveiling of this magnificent resort and recognizing the contributions of countless individuals who have made this day possible. With this resort, we have just another opportunity to continually revolutionize the vacation-ownership sector by being customer obsessed and focused on empowering our teams to exceed guest expectations."

Boasting meticulously designed villas, each offering breathtaking views of the pristine coastline, Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort sets a new standard for luxury and relaxation. Guests will have access to a range of amenities, including a multi-level pool, beachside activity lawn, private cabanas, and more, ensuring an unforgettable stay.

"The opening of Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort is a significant milestone for our city and its tourism industry," said Brenda Bethune, the Mayor of Myrtle Beach. "This resort represents not only a new destination for travelers seeking luxury accommodations and unparalleled amenities, but also a vital addition to our tourism landscape. As we continue to attract visitors from near and far, Holiday Inn Club Vacations has proven to be a great ambassador to our city by providing a welcoming place for families to stay while enjoying Myrtle Beach for the last 15 years, and its new Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort will continue to play a critical role in enhancing the overall experience for our guests."

Since acquiring the beachfront property in early 2022, Holiday Inn Club Vacations has been developing this brand-new resort. Since its initial phase is complete, Holiday Inn Club Vacations now boasts a total of 435 villas – between Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort and South Beach Resort – with nearly one quarter of those dedicated to Signature Collection, the company's luxury product.

Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort offers 152 one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom villas, ranging in size from 746 to nearly 1,900 square feet, and all featuring patios and ocean views. Resort guests will enjoy direct beach access, a beachside activity lawn, multi-level pool, outdoor fire pit with lounge seating, poolside hot tubs, private cabanas, fitness center, Grab 'n Go marketplace with café, indoor and outdoor dining, poolside bar, indoor and outdoor activity centers, covered parking and an exclusive Signature Collection lounge.

For more information on Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort, click here.

About Holiday Inn Club Vacations IncorporatedEncompassing resorts across the United States and the Mexican Caribbean, Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated is a resort, real estate, and travel company with a mission to be the most loved brand in family travel by delivering easy-to-plan, memorable vacation experiences that strengthen families.

Based in Orlando, Fla., the company has been a leader in the vacation ownership industry since 1982, when Holiday Inn® founder Kemmons Wilson debuted the company's flagship property, Holiday Inn Club Vacations® at Orange Lake Resort, next to Orlando's Walt Disney World® Resort.

Today, the Holiday Inn Club Vacations resort portfolio spans across the United States, and into the Mexican Caribbean, with the company's international expansion in May 2023. Throughout its history, the company has maintained the core family values true to its founding Wilson family, while aggressively pursuing growth, transforming its member engagement model and building an industry-leading team passionate about the guest experience.

Media Contact:Linda Beltran, Holiday Inn Club Vacations407.395.6340[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/holiday-inn-club-vacations-celebrates-grand-opening-of-myrtle-beach-oceanfront-resort-302110829.html

SOURCE Holiday Inn Club Vacations

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The Myrtle Beach area is known for its amazing beaches, beautiful sunsets and plethora of great restaurants and food.

But if you want to get an elevated view of the Grand Strand, there are several rooftop bars that offer just that.

Here are eight places to visit:

Sitting along the Boardwalk, the Myrtle Beach spot at 1210 N. Ocean Blvd. is part restaurant and part beach bar. Diners can eat oceanfront, which includes the rooftop bar.

It has become a dining attraction for visitors in downtown Myrtle Beach.

This North Myrtle Beach spot is a rooftop dance and party bar, where people can listen to a DJ nightly playing R&B, Top 40 and club music.

Located along the city’s main drag at 214 Main St., the bar is just one block from the ocean.

The restaurant and bar, located at 1410 N. Ocean Blvd., overlooks Myrtle Beach’s Boardwalk and Atlantic Ocean. It also has rooftop patio where diners can enjoy live music and dining.

Soho’s Myrtle Beach location at 407 21st Ave. N. “doubles as a savory eatery by day and a chic hotspot by night,” according to its website.

Located just two blocks from the ocean, Rooftop21 is an open air rooftop bar and lounge, offering food items, cocktails and a vertical garden wall.

Wicked Tuna has two locations, one in Murrells Inlet and the other in Myrtle Beach. In addition to its waterfront dining and great views of the MarshWalk, diners can take in the views from up high with outside dining on the deck.

Located at 1111 3rd Ave. in the historic district of Conway, Rivertown Bistro has a two-tiered main dining room, or diners can choose to dine on the upstairs deck that overlooks downtown Conway.

The culinary menu offers such food items as steaks, seafood and pasta.

This full-service marina and restaurant in Murrells Inlet not only offers food at The Quay Seafood Grille, it also offers customers a chance to take in the views of the marsh on its rooftop bar.

The marina, located at 1508 S. Waccamaw Drive, has two stories, with the first floor being interior dining and the second floor the rooftop bar. Reviewers say that the marina has the best sunset views aside from Key West, Florida.

Happy hour is from 4 to 7 p.m. and a new menu rolls out April 1.

For those looking for an Instgram worthy post, Gulfstream Cafe offers just that. Those dining at the Garden City restaurant at 1536 S. Waccamaw Drive, can head up to the rooftop deck and watch the sunset over the inlet.

The restaurant’s website says that it has been in business for more than 30 years, offering fresh seafood and southern favorites.