Beach vacations: Kick off the season with Myrtle Beach Mayfest

By Maria Mora

Every May, Myrtle Beach celebrates the Grand Strand’s youthful atmosphere and lively cultural scene every weekend with MayFest. Thanks to the ideal weather and abundance of fun activities, Myrtle Beach is perfect for beach vacations during the month of May.

Credit: Carl Dunn

After weighing the many options with my family, we’ve narrowed it down to these top Mayfest activities:

• Rock’N the Beach: Visitors looking for a family-friendly Cinco de Mayo celebration head to Rock’N the Beach, where events range from live music performances to a Chihuahua race. This year’s healiners include Jordin Sparks, Ben E. King, and Mitchel Musso. My kids love to dance, and my husband and I love Mexican food; this sounds like a winner.

• Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Ribbon Cutting: Somehow beach vacations don’t feel complete without a nostalgic boardwalk stroll. On May 15, celebrate the official ribbon cutting ceremony of the newly constructed mile-long Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, which features a promenade lined with shops, restaurants and entertainment. (I’ll be on the lookout for funnel cakes…)

• The 29th Annual Blue Crab Festival: Nothing beats picking at a freshly-cooked blue crab for succulent, sweet crab meat. Myrtle Beach’s Blue Crab Festival features an arts and crafts exposition and a kid’s area with rides and games. Join locals and visitors for the festival May 15-16 in Little River.

Myrtle Beach HotelsThanks to dozens of options in every price range, I’ll have no trouble finding Myrtle Beach hotels. We like the Anderson Ocean Club & Spa, with a “lazy river” and a pool that use saline chlorination instead of the chemicals found in most pools. Call it the perfect home base for my family to relax and have fun in between MayFest events.

If I can’t make it to Myrtle Beach in May, I’m still in luck. The party continues throughout the summer with Sun Fun Festival 2010 and the Celebration of Summer Concert Series.

Maria Mora is a memoir blogger and wannabe photographer. She travels extensively throughout Florida and the Caribbean with her two young sons.

Tagged: Family time, Hotels