Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
City Facts...
Population: 30,000 in the city and over 12 million visitors annually
Location: in the center of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile crescent of beach on the South Carolina coast.
Elevation: 21 feet
Time Zone: Myrtle Beach is in the eastern time zone. When it is noon in New York City; it is also noon in Myrtle Beach.
Weather: Average Temperatures
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| High | 58F | 59F | 66F | 73F | 80F | 86F | 88F | 87F | 83F | 75F | 66F | 59F |
| Low | 43F | 44F | 50F | 57F | 66F | 73F | 75F | 75F | 71F | 61F | 51F | 44F |
When to Go
Spring is probably the most attractive season in South Carolina. Throughout the region, cherry blossoms are followed by azaleas, dogwood, and camellias from April into May, and by apple blossoms in May. Summer can be hot and humid in many areas, but temperatures will be cooler along the coast. Folk, craft, art, and music festivals take place in summer, as do sports events. Fall brings spectacular foliage.
In winter, temperatures average in the 60s by the shore. Summer temperatures range from the high 70s to the mid-80s.
Business Hours
Banks are usually open weekdays 9 to 3 and some Saturday mornings; the post office from 8 to 5 weekdays and often on Saturday mornings. Shops in urban and suburban areas, particularly in indoor and strip malls, typically open at 9 or 10 daily and stay open until anywhere from 6 to 10 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, and until 5 or 6 on Sundays.
Holidays
New Year's Day Jan. 1
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 3rd Mon. in Jan.
President's Day 3rd Mon. in Feb.
Memorial Day last Mon. in May;
Independence Day July 4
Labor Day 1st Mon. in Sept.
Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25
New Year's Eve Dec. 31.
Customs & Duties
Arriving in the United States
Contact the U.S. Customs Service (inquiries, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20229, 202/354-1000
Electricity
The U.S. electrical standard is 110 volts/60 cycles AC. Visitors from other countries, traveling with dual-voltage appliances will not need a converter, but they will need a plug adapter. The standard U.S. electrical outlet takes a plug of two flat pins set parallel to one another.
Emergencies
Ambulance, Fire , Police (Phone: 911).
Hospital Emergency Rooms
The emergency room is open 24 hours a day at the Columbia Grand Strand Regional Medical Center (809 82nd Pkwy., off U.S. 17, Myrtle Beach, 843/692-1000).
Georgetown Memorial Hospital (606 Black River Rd., Georgetown, 843/527-7000).
Telephones
The country code for the United States is 1. The area code for South Carolina's coast is 843.
All U.S. telephone numbers consist of 10 digits - the three-digit area code, followed by a seven-digit local number. If you're calling a number from another area-code region, dial "1" then all 10 digits. For calls within the same local calling area, just dial the seven-digit number. A map of U.S. area codes is printed in the front of most local telephone directories.
