2013 Endless Summer Festival a Success

Ocean Drive Beach Rentals was proud to participate in the Endless Summer Festival in North Myrtle Beach this past Saturday! Our staff was pleased to meet many festival attendees and provide a vacation-themed presence on Main Street while giving out candy, Frisbees, brochures and other goodies. Our booth location on Main St drew many families who were out browsing all the fun activities and various vendors.

Folks checking out our booth at the festival

The Endless Summer Festival celebrates the laid back beach lifestyle of the Grand Strand and is one of several street festivals North Myrtle Beach hosts every year. Even though summer is long gone, we still enjoy the sunshine and unique attractions that make our town the best beach destination in South Carolina. Live music, southern food, arts & crafts, and street performances made the celebration one of the best festivals yet. If you missed out this time, get down to the next big Main Street event: the North Myrtle Beach Christmas parade on Saturday, December 7th. It will be a fun, memorable experience complete with lights, Christmas music, and extravagant floats decorated by local businesses. We’ll see you there!

By Brandon Moss of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

North Myrtle Beach Amusement Parks

Vacationing in the Myrtle Beach area means having access to the best attractions on the east coast. If you take a family vacation with your kids, you’ll want to find a few places you can bring them to spend a day outside enjoying all kinds of amusement park fun.

The OD Pavilion in North Myrtle Beach is a semi-permanent carnival that sets up for the summer season every year. Folks from all around North Myrtle Beach come to take part in the nostalgia of the carnival rides, games, arcade, and food stands. The OD Pavilion is on the beach in the Ocean Drive section of North Myrtle Beach, and is within walking distance of several Ocean Drive Beach Rentals condos.

Family Kingdom is located in Myrtle Beach, and is the largest traditional amusement park in the area and features a full size roller coaster and other fun rides and games. In addition to the roller coaster, Family Kingdom has bumper cars, log flume, Ferris wheel, and oceanfront water park.

Myrtle Waves is a large water park close to Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach. Featuring 20 acres of water slides, kiddie pools, Lazy River, and wave pool, the whole family will have a blast exploring the cool water activities. Next to Myrtle Waves is the NASCAR Speedpark, a race-themed go-cart park with several tracks for kids and adults alike. You can buy a multi-park “flex” ticket and enjoy both parks with one ticket!

Amusement parks are just some of the many attractions that bring vacationers to the Grand Strand. Families with young children will surely want to make a theme park or water park a part of their trip. When you book your Ocean Drive Beach Rentals condo, ask about amusement parks and other area attractions. We’ll give you tips on the best things the Myrtle Beach area has to offer!

By Brandon Moss of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

Deep Sea Fishing in North Myrtle Beach

As we wrap up another beautiful year on the beach, a lot of folks will soon turn their attention to summer and make their plans for their family vacations and golf trips. When guests of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals check in, they often ask our staff for suggestions on things to do around North Myrtle Beach. For the men and adventurous individuals in the group, we always recommend deep sea fishing.

Fishing is always a safe bet for the men in the family because it allows for some genuine male bonding while hunting the elusive large fish of the Gulf Stream. It is also perfect for golf groups that want to vary their activities and mix things up in the midst of a weeklong golf vacation. Whether you want to fish for an entire weekend dozens of miles offshore, of take a leisurely cruise just off the coast for sea bass and flounder, you can choose which adventure suits you best.

Ocean Drive Beach Rentals partners with Hurricane Fleet of Calabash to bring you an unforgettable fishing experience at a discounted rate, as part of our Endless Fun Club. The short trip departs from the dock in Calabash and takes you on a short boat ride where you can simply drop your line and haul up your catch. You’re almost guaranteed to catch something on this half day trip, and the sea bass is delectable if you fry it the same day with some seasoned salt and a sprinkle of parsley and lemon. The more in-depth trips last up to 18 hours and are chartered upon request. On these longer trips into deep waters, anglers can land snapper, grouper, large sea bass, trigger fish, shark, and the occasional king mackerel or dolphin. If you have limited experience, you can trust that you are fishing with the most experienced and helpful boat staff on the Grand Strand.

When you make the arrangements for your family’s summer vacation or golf trip, ask about deep sea fishing. You are sure to have an incredible time with your friends or family catching some serious fish. Have it cleaned on the dock when you return and cook it right in your condo for the freshest seafood dinner you’ll ever have!

By Brandon Moss of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

2012 North Myrtle Beach Christmas Parade

It’s that time of year again! In just a few days, the North Myrtle Beach Christmas Parade will cruise down Main Street and bring Christmas cheer to hundreds of spectators. Here at Ocean Drive Beach Rentals, we’re gearing up for our best year ever with a beautiful float decked out with lights and plenty of decorations and candy. We’ll be rolling down the street between 5:30 and 7 pm so come out and enjoy the party!

Last year’s parade was a blast, and our staff had a great time throwing out candy and Frisbees, shouting holiday greetings, meeting new folks, and watching the other parade participants. Families and couples lined the street, and some even set up lawn chairs and warmed up with hot cocoa and coffee while the kids eagerly watched for treats being tossed off the floats. This year’s parade will offer more of the exciting Christmas spirit and kick off the season with a bang!

Plan to come out early on Saturday, December 8th to get a good spot. You can sit or stand anywhere along Main Street, from the Bi-Lo all the way to Ocean Drive Resort on Ocean Blvd. The parade starts at 5:30, and will end with Santa himself driving his sleigh down the street. We hope to see you there for this fun family event!

By Brandon Moss of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

Holidays in North Myrtle Beach

You might think of the Grand Strand as a fantastic summer vacation destination. You would be right, of course, but all the excitement and fun of North Myrtle Beach should not have to be confined to one season! Many folks from around the US and Canada make the South Carolina beach their winter home while taking advantage of our famous golf courses, endless shopping, local seafood, and amazing ocean views. Some folks come for an unconventional Thanksgiving or Christmas week. The holidays are a special time in our little beach community, and we welcome visitors to break tradition and treat their families to a holiday on the beach!

Thanksgiving is a great time to bring the family together over a big traditional meal. However, the preparations that have to be made are often a hassle. Cleaning, cooking, and planning family activities is enough to exhaust anyone. That’s why we offer all of our properties for a Thanksgiving rental. We have condos and houses with enough room for up to 24 people, with fabulous ocean views and amenities. Each property comes with a fully equipped kitchen, and is guaranteed to be clean when you arrive. You can create your own feast or opt for a store-bought meal and spend more time enjoying the beach and Myrtle Beach’s attractions.

Christmas is also fun, with plenty of holiday events to attend. Bring a small artificial tree up to your condo and decorate it with your loved ones while streaming holiday music to your laptop. Enjoy waking up to the best sunrise on the east coast and bundling up for a long walk on the beach. Catch an extravagant Christmas show at the Alabama Theatre or Carolina Opry. We even have a parade through Main Street, where locals show off their colorful floats and Christmas cheer. New Years will be a blast with live music, games, and the countdown to midnight taking place in beach clubs all over town. You might even see some fireworks!

Be adventurous this year and try something new this holiday season! Bring all your favorite family traditions to the beach and create lasting memories. Ocean Drive Beach Rentals has great specials for the holiday season, so give us a call to plan your trip!

By Brandon Moss of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

Rainy Day Vacations in North Myrtle Beach

Folks love North Myrtle Beach’s warm, sunny weather and wide sandy beaches. In fact, millions of tourists pass through the area every summer for one main reason – to relax and play on the beach while enjoying the warm water, gentle waves, and refreshing ocean breeze. But what are you going to do if the weather takes a turn for the worse? If you stay in an oceanfront condo and expect the weather to be beautiful throughout each of your vacation days, you may be extremely disappointed when that thunderstorm rolls in off the sea. It’s a good idea to be prepared for this and have a back-up list of activities to make the most of a day indoors.

Since you are staying in one of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals’ excellent properties, you can take advantage of on-site amenities. Most oceanfront condos include access to indoor pools and hot tubs, so you can play in the water no matter what’s happening outside. The Avista Resort even has an indoor lazy river to cruise around in! Your condo will likely feature big, flat panel TVs and DVD players so you can watch cable television or put on a rented DVD and pop some microwave popcorn. The Tilghman Resort features a DVD rental kiosk in the lobby so you don’t even have to leave the building. Some may find it peaceful to prop up a chair in front of the ocean view and settle in with a book and internet radio streaming from your laptop. Bring a deck of cards and a board game so your family can enjoy some quality time together while staying entertained.

A rainy day could be your prime opportunity to explore some of Myrtle Beach’s famous attractions. Stop by our rental office to get your discounted tickets to WonderWorks and Ripley’s Aquarium. The Aquarium is very popular and a great option for kids. You can stay as long as you like and tour the whole facility, featuring sharks, rays, tropical fish, and other amazing creatures. They even have daily shows and special exhibitions! Ripley’s also has a museum, 3D theater, haunted house, and mirror maze down by the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. You can get a combo pass good for the aquarium and one of Ripley’s other activities, saving you about $15 per ticket. The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Broadway at the Beach are great places to walk around, shop, and eat. You won’t find their unique restaurants anywhere else!

There are plenty of other activities in the surrounding area to take advantage of. The USS North Carolina is on display and open for tours just north of the state line. This huge battleship is a fascinating adventure and a great way to spend a day without killing your wallet. Grab a South Carolina Visitor’s Guide from the Chamber of Commerce for other great ideas. There’s no need to let a storm ruin your vacation. It might just be the best part of it!

By Brandon Moss of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

Now Selling Tickets to The Carolina Opry

At Ocean Drive Beach Rentals, we pride ourselves on offering the best vacation rentals at truly unbeatable prices. But another pledge we make to our valued guests involves bringing the best of the Myrtle Beach area together and offering great deals and discounts under one program, our Endless Fun Club. This club is easy to join – just rent one of our properties! While you’re enjoying your vacation, stop by one of the participating EFC businesses for automatic savings. All you have to do is show your rental keys with an Ocean Drive Beach Rentals logo.

We are happy to announce the latest addition to the Endless Fun Club, The Carolina Opry. This is perhaps the most famous venue in South Carolina, and offers a variety of fun shows to thrill and entertain your whole family. With exceptional live music including huge hits and old favorites, hilarious comedy sketches, light displays and mesmerizing dancers, The Carolina Opry is the hottest live show in town. You’ll definitely want to make this fantastic 2-hour variety show a part of your North Myrtle Beach vacation. They even have two additional shows happening throughout the week: Good Vibrations takes you back to the Good Ol’ Days with classic rock, Motown, and beach music. There is also a light show featuring laser displays set to psychedelic music.

True to our commitment to provide excellent savings through the Endless Fun Club, we are offering discounted tickets through our rental office. You’ll save $3 per ticket just by purchasing through Ocean Drive Beach Rentals. The more you buy, the more you save! Also, The Carolina Opry offers special pricing for children and students. If you have time for two shows while you’re here, buy all your tickets at once to save even more; Good Vibrations tickets cost less if you bundle them with tickets to the Carolina Opry.

While there is plenty to keep you busy on your Grand Strand vacation, you’ll never forget the experience of The Carolina Opry. The beautiful theater has been a mainstay in South Carolina tourism for years, and folks find themselves coming back year after year, summer after summer. If you happen to be in town during the holiday season, check out the Opry’s Christmas Special. It’s a grand event that the locals look forward to every year. When you call us to make your plans for vacation, ask about The Carolina Opry. We can even book your seats for you!

By Brandon Moss of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

North Myrtle Beach has the Best Fall Festivals

After the vacationers head home at the end of summer and schools are back in session, you’d expect a tourist town like North Myrtle Beach to keep a low profile until summer comes around again. The truth is that the Grand Strand stays alive and kicking with the best fall festivals and events in the Carolinas. Some of these festivals have been around for years and keep the locals looking forward to autumn. Everyone is welcome to join the fun of these offseason activities, and we welcome anyone looking for a great weekend adventure or a full scale vacation to come down and get involved.

If you are lucky enough to be staying in North Myrtle Beach this fall, don’t make the beach the only thing on your to-do list. Fall Bike Week is going on right now, and sounds of pipes and burnouts fill the streets of Myrtle Beach. Most of the activity happens in Myrtle Beach and Murrell’s Inlet’s biker bars and clubs, but plenty of Harleys and other motorcycles can be seen cruising Ocean Blvd and Highway 17 up in North Myrtle. If you like live music and lots of cold beer, don’t miss Oktoberfest on Ocean Blvd in Myrtle Beach, by the Boardwalk. It’s a party of epic proportions, happening October 6th starting at noon. A family-friendly alternative to Oktoberfest happens down in Surfside Beach, where the Surfside Beach Family Festival offers fun for kids and parents alike. Also on October 6th, this festival will feature a petting zoo, dunking booth, face painting, inflatables, rides, games, and vendor booths.

The annual Taste of the Town will be at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on October 9th. Ever popular with locals, this event showcases one of the best parts of the Myrtle Beach area: the food. Dozens of restaurants participate with vendor booths, offering samples of gourmet food and beverage. Kids’ activities and music are great additions to the celebration of local dining. Also celebrating a special type of food is Little River, with their Little River Shrimpfest. This quaint little town north of Myrtle Beach is the perfect spot to sample various shrimp dishes and hear local bands perform. Kids’ activities and arts & crafts vendors will be available as well. This event is too big for one day, so it will be held on October 13th and 14th. Other food festivals include the Chili cook-off at Crazy Sister Marina in Murrell’s Inlet on October 14th, Myrtle Beach Wine Fest on October 20th at Market Common’s Valor Park, and the Loris Bog-Off Festival in downtown Loris, SC. Chicken bog is a traditional South Carolina dish and will be featured.

Ocean Drive Beach Rentals will participate in the Endless Summer Festival on Main St in North Myrtle Beach on October 27th. This street festival will feature vendor booths, local seafood and crafts, and live music. Come by and say hello as we celebrate our happy little beach town! Finally, The SC State Bluegrass Festival will take place at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center November 22 – 24. The state’s best musicians will come together and delight listeners with southern-flavored bluegrass and country music. If you are interested in one of these events, call us for more info. We’ll even take care of the accommodations if you’re from out of town!

By Brandon Moss of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

Money Saving Tips for Your North Myrtle Beach Vacation

With a recessed economy, Americans seem to be a lot more concerned with how much they are getting for their money. People are shopping around for the best deals on everything, and summer vacation is no different. After researching flights and accommodations to an exotic overseas location, you will be relieved to see what it costs for a vacation to North Myrtle Beach. For roughly the cost of a single plane ticket, you can drive your entire family to the east coast, luggage and all. And no long lines, crowded terminals, or security hassles!

Accommodations in North Myrtle Beach may be your biggest expense, but by staying across the street from the beach or in one of our channel homes, you could save hundreds on your vacation. Eating at the area’s famous seafood restaurants every night can get expensive fast, so plan to buy fresh fish and shrimp at a seafood market and cook it at your rental property. You can feed your whole family for a third of what you would pay at a big seafood buffet. If you do go out for dinner, ask around about the best places to eat. There’s no need to spend up to $30 per person at a “tourist trap” restaurant.

Bike rentals are readily available around town, so unless you plan on driving long distances, consider renting bicycles for the kids or even the whole family to get around. This could save a few bucks on gas, and also adds freedom for each person to come and go as they please.

Myrtle Beach has great tourist attractions, but if you have already seen them you might skip the expense and opt for a movie rental, mini golf, Pelicans baseball game, or any of the free activities in the Grand Strand. Take advantage of free fireworks displays and live entertainment throughout the summer. Also, check online event calendars for things to do each day you’re here. Remember, North Myrtle Beach’s most popular attraction (the beach) is always free!

Another great way to save money is by coming prepared. Make a checklist of everything you will need for vacation and don’t leave the house until each item is checked off. Double-check your supplies so you don’t have to stop for sunscreen or towels on the way to the beach. Ask an Ocean Drive Beach Rentals staff member for additional tips when you check in. We’ll even give you coupons and automatic savings with our Endless Fun Club!

By Brandon Moss of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

New Vacation Specials for North Myrtle Beach

Ocean Drive Beach Rentals has had a very successful summer so far, thanks to the thousands of guests that chose our rental properties as their home base during vacation. We have saved our guests money all summer long by offering value programs and specials designed to make their visit to North Myrtle Beach a little easier on the wallet. As the beginning of the school year marks the end of the traditional tourist season, we are still going strong with late summer specials that provide great incentives to come to the beach before summer winds down.

August and September are prime months to plan your weekly vacation for a number of reasons. We want to add value to our guests’ vacation, and one way we do this is with the Endless Fun Club. Also, in the spirit of saving vacation dollars, allow us to introduce our Endless Summer Special. If you book a weekly vacation August 18th – September 8th, you will receive dinner for four and breakfast for four at Ocean Drive Resort’s fabulous oceanfront restaurant. Enjoy a perfectly cooked steak with all the trimmings, or a giant flounder sandwich while you watch the waves roll in with your family. After your dinner, head to the OD Pavilion Amusement Park for some family friendly fun. The oceanfront amusement park is all-new for 2012 with exciting rides and carnival games. By the way, all this is FREE with your weekly reservation.

The OD Pavilion Amusement Park

The OD Amusement Park closes after Labor Day, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. For weekly vacations September 8th – 30th, take advantage of low offseason rates, plus dinner and breakfast for four absolutely free. Call us to make arrangements for your August or September vacation. You will be impressed by our “bang for the buck”!

By Brandon Moss of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

Fall and Winter Vacations

It’s November, and the cold weather is beginning to settle on the Grand Strand. While snow is normally nothing to worry about here, it can and does get chilly over the fall and winter months. Temperatures dipping down into the teens and twenties will convince people to keep off the beach and stay indoors to keep warm. But there’s still plenty to enjoy in the offseason!

Many snowbirds make their winter home in North Myrtle Beach to escape the weather in their hometowns and take advantage of the many activities outside of the tourist season. Even though you may not want to stay outdoors too long, the views are still spectacular. If you still want to be by the ocean and feel the brisk sea breeze, an afternoon walk on a pier or on the beach is invigorating. A beach game like Bocce ball or Frisbee is a fun way to pass the time. With the holidays just around the corner, shoppers will be hitting the malls and Broadway at the Beach. A day of Christmas shopping with a break for hot chocolate or coffee can be a great way to stay warm on a cool day. Outdoor enthusiasts might take advantage of a local fishing fleet’s late-season trip, and fish off the coast in the Gulf Stream. If you don’t mind the cold, this is a great time for fishing in South Carolina. You might also want to plan to attend one of the area’s fall and winter festivals. Market Common in Myrtle Beach has wine tastings and a tree-lighting ceremony. Little River has a Christmas Market on the Oceanfront. And North Myrtle Beach has the Endless Summer Festival and Shag dancing events. If you want to stay inside, maybe plan on seeing a Christmas production at one of our famous theaters, or a simple dinner-and-movie night with a loved one.

Though our region is known for summer fun, cold-weather activities can be just as exciting. Check out Ocean Drive Beach Rentals’ website for fall and winter promotions to save money, and come see why North Myrtle Beach is a great vacation choice, no matter what season!

Written by Brandon Moss of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals, 2011

North Myrtle Beach Life

One great thing about living in a popular tourist destination is that it feels like you’re on vacation every day. North Myrtle Beach restaurants, golf courses, and beach spots are places you may pass on the way to work or while running errands. You might think that these attractions would become commonplace and boring if you live right next to them through the year. However, the opposite is true.

The beach is much better when it’s only 10 minutes away from your living room. Full time living in North Myrtle Beach allows you to explore the area and pick your favorite places to eat, drink, and play. Experiencing these activities helps recommend them to others.

Food:

North Myrtle Beach is clearly not lacking on great restaurants. Endless buffets with delicious seafood, fine dining establishments, and family-friendly restaurants crowd Highway 17 - each with lights brighter than their neighbor and marquees boasting “crab legs on the buffet” or “half price lunch specials.” I like to skip Restaurant Row and visit the smaller hidden gems.

One of my favorite restaurants is Thai Season, located a few blocks south of Main Street on Highway 17. It’s got that small town attitude and a tiny sign – you’d miss it if you weren’t looking for it. Inside, it’s small, clean, and quiet. Their food is outstanding, and the wait staff is very friendly and fast. Thai Season is priced reasonably, at around $11 per meal, and offers a great take-out service. This is definitely the place to go for authentic Asian cuisine.

Drinks:

There are great classy, metro-style pubs and restaurants in North Myrtle Beach. You can get away from the younger college crowd and escape on a date night with your significant other. Sea Blue offers an upscale atmosphere with an extensive list of fine wines. Seasoned bartenders create refreshing mixed drinks, made using only the top-shelf brands. Food is made-to-order with fresh, high quality ingredients. Try their Maryland crab cakes; wonderfully crispy and served with vegetables and homemade sauce.

North Myrtle Beach Fall Festivals:

Come to North Myrtle Beach in the off-season and enjoy our fall festivals. From motorcycles and Ford Mustangs, to the Shag, beer, and oysters, there is a reason to party for most anything. The Myrtle Beach Oktoberfest is set for October 8th, in downtown Myrtle Beach. Enjoy the live music, street shows, and concerts that are taking place at the popular annual event. There is also another Oktoberfest this weekend in the Market Common district. Ocean Drive Beach Rentals keeps a current list of events on the website. Click through on this link to learn more about our great fall festivals!

North Myrtle Beach is vibrant all through the year. Whether you live here or vacation here, you already know about all the fun you can have at the beach. Try new things, as you never know what might be the highlight of your stay!

Written By: Brandon Moss - Vacation Rental Specialist, Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

The Best Sunny Spots in North Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand are famous for many things. We’ve got beautiful resorts, expansive and abundant golf courses, fresh seafood, family entertainment, and mild climate. But, there’s one thing that draws millions of people to come back year after year, our gorgeous beach.

Thousands of vacationers fill the beaches in the North Myrtle Beach area on any given day in the summer season, enjoying a swim in the Atlantic, tossing a frisbee, building sandcastles, or just soaking up the rays with a magazine. While you can do any of these things by just stepping out your oceanfront condo and onto the sand; there are some choice spots in the area that stand out, and there are also some hidden gems that could become your regular go-to place on the beach. Knowing the best places to park and enjoy the ocean will save you time and money.

If you’re visiting in south Myrtle Beach - residential areas tend to have great beaches that are not crowded. There is plenty of free parking. Look for the gravel-paved lots from 34th avenue north, up to 51st avenue north. Some of these public beach accesses have showers, so you don’t have to worry about the kids tracking lots of sand into your car. Parking tolls in south Myrtle Beach don’t charge into the off-season, but the parking can be scarce

Photo by: David McClain

Staying in the North section? You can always secure a great spot for yourself if you hit the beach early. Bigger resorts guarantee crowds. If you’re willing to drive or walk a short distance up the road, you’ll have a better experience all together – with more beach space and less crowds. Free parking can be found from 8th avenue north, to 18th avenue north.

Guests of Ocean Drive Beach Rentals have enjoyed the fishing piers in Cherry Grove Beach, one at 34th avenue north, and the other at 60th avenue north. A small inlet, around 60th avenue, provides a great place to relax on the beach. The water is shallow there, with minimal waves and lots of sandbars to explore. Rent jet skies from one of the vendors and cruise the day away on the inlet.

It’s important to know what the locals know to get the most out of your North Myrtle Beach vacation. Our beaches are some of the best on the East Coast. Now you know where to find the best spots in town to enjoy the sun and surf.

Written By: Brandon Moss - Vacation Rental Specialist, Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

Family Vacation Awareness Month at Ocean Drive Beach Rentals!

Ocean Drive Beach Rentals has made March the annual Family Vacation Awareness Month. We understand and appreciate the value of an annual family vacation and want to make it easier for your family to come stay in North Myrtle Beach. It’s important that families get away and enjoy quality time together. Take advantage of three huge savings by making your vacation plans during the month of March.

There isn’t a better place to unite with friends and family than North Myrtle Beach! By booking your 2011 vacation in March, not only do you get a better selection of vacation rentals to choose from, but you’ll also qualify for an immediate $100 OFF your vacation with Ocean Drive Beach Rentals. You’ll also secure the same published rate for a North Myrtle Beach vacation in 2012 (normally prices increase 5% - 8% year to year). All guests that book their vacation in March will also be entered into a drawing for a return weekend at our Ocean Drive Beach & Golf Resort in the off-season. Your vacation can take place anytime this year. Just make your plans and reserve your vacation rental during March, and take advantage of these great deals!

Ocean Drive Beach Rentals is the only vacation rental company in North Myrtle Beach that is celebrating a Family Vacation Awareness Month. We created this holiday to give something back to those families that frequent the Grand Strand. Don’t delay - March just became the BEST time to book your next family vacation!

Written By: Jake Foutz - Director of Marketing, Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

Be Our Fan and Participate

With the help of a few solid promotions and word-of-mouth, your favorite North Myrtle Beach vacation rental and property management company, Ocean Drive Beach Rentals, is growing rapidly on Facebook. We’re proud to announce a strong and loyal fan base of over 1600 fans to date. This huge population is sure to grow throughout the spring and summer, as we introduce more promotions with bigger prizes and fun seasonal contests.

L to R: Kristen, H.G., and Jake give away a $500 Pre-Paid Credit Card as a prize in Ocean Drive Beach Rentals' latest Facebook promotion.

Facebook serves as an excellent social tool for us to personally reach out to our vast customer base. It’s a way for Ocean Drive Beach Rentals to announce special deals on vacations in North Myrtle Beach and surrounding communities. With this popular social tool, we can take our creative ideas to another level with an even greater audience. It also serves as a portal site for our popular company blog. Every time we post to our blog, we make sure that there is a mention on our fan page.

Several fun interactive ideas are going to be launched on our Facebook page in 2011. One of those break-through ideas, being another Free Vacation for Life contest, will happen this spring. Simply put, we’re going to give away a Free Vacation for Life to one of our fans. We do love to give away free vacations and North Myrtle Beach merchandise on or page. There will be frequent photo contests during the late spring and summer season - more opportunities for our fans to win cool stuff. A vacation planner tool will be integrated into our Facebook page in the coming months.

If you’re not a fan of our Ocean Drive Beach Rentals Facebook page, log on or sign-up with Facebook and take advantage of this. Help us grow, and tell your family and friends about us. We’re sure to keep you interested with our weekly updates and awesome promotions.

Written By: Jake Foutz - Director of Marketing, Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

Holidays at the Beach - We've Got Everything but Snow

Office Christmas Tree

We hope your holidays are off to a great start, and that your plans include time well spent on the beach in North Myrtle Beach. Of course, we don’t have the 80-degree weather that you would find in the summer or fall, but it’s mild enough for a walk on the beach or a family game of frisbee. It’s not unusual to have Christmas Day temperatures in the 70’s.

As mentioned in previous blog posts, there is a lot to do along the Grand Strand this time of year. Christmas festivities kick off this weekend, with the popular and brightly decorated Regatta along the Intracoastal Waterway and the Nutcracker Fair at Myrtle Beach’s Market Common. The city of North Myrtle Beach hosts the annual Christmas tree lighting on Friday, December 3rd. You won’t want to miss the highly anticipated Christmas Parade the following Saturday. Click through on this link to view detailed information about upcoming events along the beach.

After you’re done with all these festive holiday events, spend a day shopping at one or more of our several shopping centers located within a fifteen-minute’s drive from Main Street and Ocean Drive. There are thousands of name brand stores that call North Myrtle Beach home. Grab some local seafood along restaurant row and hit the beach for an evening stroll. You’ll find the sky is clearer along Carolina’s southern coast than anywhere else.

Ocean Drive Beach Rentals provides the most reasonable off-season prices in the best selection of vacation rentals. Give us a call for more information on how you can escape for a weekend, week, or a whole month to enjoy this holiday season away from the ordinary. We have just added several rental properties to our inventory. Come visit North Myrtle Beach this holiday season, we’ve got everything but snow!

Written By: Jake Foutz - Director of Marketing, Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

Look at what you are missing

Endless Summer Festival in North Myrtle Beach - October 30th

We beach people don't want the warm, summer-like weather to leave us, but we know that the cooler months lie just around the corner. It only makes sense that we close out October in style. North Myrtle Beach's own Endless Summer Festival is just a couple weeks away!

Thousands of people, locals and vacationers alike, are expected to show up at this year's event. The Endless Summer Festival will only last from 10:00 - 4:00 pm on Saturday, October 30th. It takes place down Main Street, right off Ocean Drive in North Myrtle Beach. There will be plenty of things to keep the family busy during those hours.

If you like beach music, than this is the place to be during the last weekend of October. Popular bands, Sea Cruz and The Extraordinaires, are going to be putting on great performances. The live entertainment will begin at 11:30 am, at the well-known Horseshoe. Enjoy plenty of great food, arts and crafts, and a children's play area. Don't forget the classic car show, for all of you car buffs. A beach volleyball tournament will be held both Saturday and Sunday.

Ocean Drive Beach Rentals of North Myrtle Beach will be participating in the festival. We'll have a bright and colorful display, and a couple staff members to greet visitors. Stop by, say hi, and grab free stuff while at the event. If you need a place to stay during the weekend, week, or even month, you can count on us for having the best available properties at the most reasonable prices.

Written By: Jake Foutz - Director of Marketing, Ocean Drive Beach Rentals

Event poster compliments of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce

Oktoberfest Comes To Myrtle Beach

Reason # 10,001 why you should visit North Myrtle Beach in the fall...OKTOBERFEST! The second annual German celebration returns to downtown Ocean Boulevard; with over 10,000 people expected to attend the one day fall festival. As of today, the Weather Channel is predicting sunny skies and highs in the upper 70's. It doesn't get any better than that for an October afternoon.

Oktoberfest 2010 will feature authentic German food, unique international beers not normally found in area bars, and wine. Popular area bands are scheduled to perform the entire day. There will be a Bratwurst Eating Contest, children's play area, street performers, and fireworks. The Channelheimer Oompah Band will compliment the German atmosphere with an entertaining show. This is the place to be if you're visiting the Grand Strand next weekend. Sample the culture of Germany and have a great time.

Some of the Ocean Drive Beach Rentals staff will be at Oktoberfest. We'll be posting pictures on our Facebook page to show how much fun it was. Make a weekend reservation in one of our properties and stay a couple days. Experience North Myrtle Beach in the off-season while the water is still warm!

Written By: Jake Foutz - Director of Marketing, Ocean Drive Beach Rentals