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The Grand Strand, the South Carolina beach towns and barrier islands that stretch from Little River to Georgetown, attracts over 14.6 million visitors each year - mostly families, including a growing number of gay couples and their kids.  At the center is Myrtle Beach, full of amusement parks, aquariums, and other child-friendly attractions. For golf fans there are 120 courses within a short drive.

For gays without kids, Myrtle Beach might not be an ideal destination, but there are several bars and clubs with a friendly, laid-back vibe, near the intersection of Main Street and Kings Highway. Myrtle Beach Pride shut down in 2011, but the annual Charleston Pride takes place about two hours drive south, in September, with a parade and festival capping a week of events. Columbia SC also has SC Pride October events: South Carolina Black Pride is a August annual community expo, and Bear Hunt is an annual Carolina Bear Lodge weekend get-together in Myrtle Beach each April. CLAWS with Levi/Leather social events, now appears innactive.

Getting here

Myrtle Beach International Airport a former military base, is 5 miles southwest of the city. Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Porter, Spirit, SunCountry and United airlines offer scheduled flights. Taxis are the best way to get downtown. Charleston Airport is nearby with additional connections. A shuttle service links the two airports.

Getting around

A car is handycar to get around, but there is public transportation at $1.50 per trip. Coast RTA buses serve the Coastal Carolina towns of Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Conway, Loris, and Aynor on 15 routes. A day pass is $5; for three days it's $10. A 10-ride pass is $13.50. Their Entertainment Shuttle operates free of charge each summer through Labor Day, 9am - midnight daily every 30 minutes along Ocean Boulevard from 3rd Avenue South to 29th Avenue North, Oak Street (Convention Center) and to destinations such as Pelicans Stadium; Broadway at the Beach; Hollywood Wax Museum; Broadway Grand Prix; Myrtle Waves; Ripken Experience; plus shopping and dining destinations.

Media & resources

Gay Myrtle Beach has a facebook page with local gay listings. Gay clubs open and close quite frequently here, some lasting just a season or less, so look around and check ahead as guides aren't always up to date.

For the full scoop on all attractiions around town see Visit Myrtle Beach. MyrtleBeachOnline is the the website of  local newspaper The Sun News.

QNotes covers regional gay news, arts and entertainment for North and South Carolina cities, from their base in Charlotte.

See our map & listings tab for local business listings, locations and weblinks.

Going Out

Broadway at the Beach (1325 Celebrity Circle), general public complex of shops, clubs, dining, live music and dance shows; also amusement park.

Pirates Voyage, Fun Feast & Adventure (8907 N Kings Hwy), Grand Strand dinner and theater club, meat or vegetarian options; pirates battle aboard ships in indoor lagoon.

Pulse Ultra Club (2701 S Kings Hwy), mixed gay dance club, nightly shot boys, go-go dancers/ all-male review strippers, karaoke, game nights, drag emcees and shows. Moved from old Main Street location.

St George (503 8th Ave N), gay locals' bar, quieter music, sociable crowd, karaoke, game nights, weekly drag shows, full menu all-hours kitchen.

The Carolina Opry at Calvin Gilmore Theater (8901 N Kings Hwy), Grand Strand concert venue, live country and pop music, dance, comedy, laser light shows.

CLOSED: Rainbow House (815 N Kings Hwy); RuMors at Kono (1901 N Kings Hwy); Sneakers (819 Main St).

 

See some Hotel and Restaurant suggestions on our map and listings pages.