A family business has expanded its offerings in the local area. High Tide Outpost recently opened its newest retail location off S.C. 9 in Little River. At High Tide, customers will find a large selection of clothing, outdoor products, beach accessories, and home decor items. The new store aims to serve not only vacationers coming in on Highway 9 but also locals, with the location's expanded home decor collection. High Tide's parent company, Smith-Rogers Oil Co. Inc., also owns 15 Tiger Mart gas stations and convenience stores in South Carolina and four Jimmy John's sub shops on the Grand Strand. The new High Tide Outpost, 2353 Hwy. 9 E, is together in a business complex with a Tiger Mart, Jimmy John's, Bojangles and fireworks store. Some of the apparel brands that shoppers will find are Southern Tide, Simply Southern, Huk and Southern Casanova. In addition, summer outdoor enthusiasts will find all the equipment they need, ranging from kayaks to inflatable paddle boards to boogie boards and skimboards. Plus, beach accessories like towels, coolers, beach chairs, shovels, buckets, waterproof speakers and phone cases are also available at High Tide Outlet. To learn more about the new Little River location for High Tide, see https://www.facebook.com/hightideoutpost/.

A new 11-story hotel with a rooftop bar will soon rise on the Myrtle Beach oceanfront. The Hilton high-rise will be dual-branded as a Home2 Suites and Tempo by Hilton property and is slated for South Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach. In addition to 250 rooms, amenities planned for the new Myrtle Beach oceanfront hotel include a pool, rooftop bar, and four-story parking garage with additional parking across the street. The upper floors of the duel-branded hotel will be Tempo, while the lower floors will be Home2 Suites. Hotel management and development company CN Hotels owns the oceanfront property over two neighboring lots at 2801 and 2805 South Kings Highway. Based out of High Point, N.C., CN Hotels' portfolio comprises properties throughout the Southeast, including one in Myrtle, the Hampton Inn on 75th Avenue North. To make way for the new dual-branded Hilton high-rise hotel, the former existing buildings at the site, which were the Sea Hawk Inn & Suites and Sea Horn Inn & Suites, are being demolished. Tempo by Hilton will present Myrtle Beach visitors with a stylish and contemporary brand that offers dynamic public spaces, including an open lobby concept with dedicated spaces to relax and work. In addition, guests will get to enjoy premium culinary options developed in partnership with Bluestone Lane, such as the casual breakfast café and an inviting bar experience. The Home2 Suites by Hilton brand offers guests an all-suite extended-stay hotel featuring contemporary accommodations and customizable guest room design. There is no timeline as of yet for the opening of this hotel. We'll keep you updated!

The countdown is on until some of country music's hottest artists hit the stage in Myrtle Beach for Carolina Country Music Fest! Carolina Country Music Fest (CCMF) is ready to rock again this summer and planning its biggest party this June at the Boardwalk along the beach. With 18 acres of fun, sun, and country music spread over three days, June 9-12, 2022, CCMF is sure to sell out, so get your tickets before it's too late. This popular outdoor country music festival at the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk first took place in 2015. Over the years, the event has grown from 20,000 attendees at its inaugural festival to 35,000 people amid last year's sold-out concerts. The festival site spans the Boardwalk to Ocean Boulevard and includes five performance stages, a Zip Line, 2 VIP areas, concessions areas, merchandise booths and more. If you haven't heard, the 2022 CCMF lineup has been revealed and it features more than 30 of the biggest names in country music. Some of the headlining performers you can expect to see at CCMF include Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Chris Lane, Chris Rice, Jon Pardi, Chris Janson, Riley Green and many other talented artists. To get your tickets to this June country music festival in Myrtle Beach, visit https://carolinacountrymusicfest.com/.

A popular traveling coffee cart recently debuted its first brick-and-mortar shop! Fans of Caspin Coffee are familiar with the company's exceptional brews from their mobile espresso cart known to frequent local farmers markets and other large events/weddings in the area. According to owners Bri and Nick Spinelli, one of the most common questions they would receive while out slinging coffee would be, is there a shop/storefront for Caspin? The community's incredible response to Caspin Coffee has turned the Spinelli's coffee cart side business into a permanent location, which recently celebrated its Grand Opening. At the new Caspin Coffee shop, located at 10764 Highway 707 Unit #2 in the Salem Shops near St. James High School, customers can enjoy a freshly brewed latte, americano or cold brew. Other drinks on the menu include tea, chai tea latte, hot chocolate and Caspin soda. With more than 20 flavors to choose from, you never have to worry about sipping the same thing! In addition, Caspin partnered with Rooted Beauty Pottery to serve coffee in handmade mugs painted in earthy, muted colors. For more information about Caspin Coffee's new Myrtle Beach coffee shop or their roving espresso cart, see https://caspincoffee.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/caspincoffee/.

As the Myrtle Beach region continues to grow, so do its cultural institutions. By this spring, the popular local children's museum, EdVenture, plans to more than double its footprint in Myrtle Beach's Market Common. Officials from the EdVenture Children's Museum reveal the space along Howard Avenue will expand its 3,000-square-foot space to a nearby 8,500 square feet location within the same shopping center. Aside from just being able to reach more students, the expansion of EdVenture Myrtle Beach means the museum will be able to offer more STEM-related programs and attractions for visitors. Families who have visited the Market Common location for EdVenture are likely to be familiar with the museum's various fun and exciting exhibits. However, if you're worried whether some of your favorite experiences will be part of the move, officials relate that beloved aviation and astronomy exhibits like the flight simulator and interactive space ship climb structure will remain intact. EdVenture operates as a non-profit "dedicated to creating new generations of lifelong learners through museum experiences, programming and camps," whose mission is to "inspire children, youth and the adults who care about them." The main museum can be found in Columbia and opened in 2003. To learn more about what's offered at EdVenture Children's Museum in Myrtle Beach, see https://www.edventure.org/myrtle-beach/.

The fine weather and sandy beaches of North Myrtle Beach make the city an ideal location for a new family-friendly form of entertainment and recreation. Currently, under construction on 720 Main Street, where a Bi-Lo grocery once stood, a K1 Speed indoor go-kart track is being built. The fun begins before you even enter K1, with a real NASCAR race car welcoming go-karters at the entrance. Owner, AJ Nardslico, is planning for a mid-February opening. K1's karts reach top speeds of 30 mph, but beginners will be directed to use speed-adjusted go-karts until they become more experienced. If you've always wanted to witness the thrill of racing, K1's 800-foot, bead-blasted track is made of concrete and provides more than one-eighth of a mile of live racing adventures. Nardslico relates that the experience at K1 Speed indoor go-kart track is an adrenaline rush that is a lot of fun. K1 will feature light refreshment options with an outlet for Myrtle Beach's Café Gelato and a small menu of burgers, hot dogs, nachos and wings, complemented by billiards and a bar serving beer and wine. In addition, the entire track can be rented out for parties. To stay updated, visit https://www.k1speed.com/myrtle-beach-location.html/.

North Myrtle Beach recently got a new destination for all kids to safely play and interact with purpose. In mid-November, STAR Academy, located at 647 Main Street, opened its sensory education play center for kids and families in the North Myrtle Beach area. Visitors will get a recreational outlet for their creativity and sensory needs as they explore, touch, feel and hear, stimulating their senses and offering a uniquely responsive space to grow in. Inside, parents will discover colorful walls and tactile equipment designed to excite and engage STAR Academy's youngest visitors. The acronym STAR stands for Sensory Teaching And Recreation. This new indoor playground offers great services, including open play opportunities, enrichment classes, individual services and support, parent support groups, and private parties. Co-owner Joanne Epstein-Wolk emphasizes that STAR Academy gives children the emotional support they need to develop socially as well. Meanwhile, slides, ladders, a foam pit and swings, and crafting tables staffed with a selection of toys complete STAR Academy's "stimulus package." Epstein-Wolk is a former teacher and administrator in the New York City Public Schools and brings plenty of experience in child development to North Myrtle's new facility. To learn more, see https://www.staracademynmb.com/.

The nights come to life with the glow of seasonal cheer during the holiday months! In Murrells Inlet, Brookgreen Gardens is hosting a Christmas spectacular through the New Year, illuminated by more than 2,800 hand-lit candles and thousands of lights. The Nights of a Thousand Candles display is on full exhibit at the beautiful grounds of Brookgreen Gardens, located at 1931 Brookgreen Garden Drive. The event is scheduled for Thursdays through Sundays until December 19th. Then, following a Christmas break, the spectacle returns Wednesday, December 29th to Sunday, January 2nd, 2022. Guests are encouraged to stroll through the living exhibit and Christmas display from 4 pm to 9 pm with cocoa, warm cider, or a glass of wine in hand. Carolers, holiday music, and live entertainment complete the experience. The Nights of a Thousand Candles was dubbed "Best Christmas Lights in South Carolina" by Travel+Leisure Magazine. The dazzling light show was also a recipient of the 2018 Charles A. Bundy award for excellence in tourism from the South Carolina Parks Recreation and Tourism. Attendees are also invited to enjoy the "Lighting of the Trees" at 6:45 pm each evening in the Brookgreen Gardens Leonard Pavilion. Due to pandemic-related concerns, ticket numbers have been limited to reduce exposure to crowding. Therefore, tickets must be purchased in advance. Patrons can get a bite to eat in the Sculpture Garden, where the Old Kitchen will be serving small plates and beverages, and hungry holiday revelers can find food trucks next to the entertainment tent near Pegasus. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.brookgreen.org/events/nights-thousand-candles-2021/.

With so much commercial development taking off in Myrtle Beach, the trend to push commercial luxury retail centers upwards and outwards continues. In a move to be part of what's arguably the hottest commercial market in the area right now, Michael King, the CEO of local real estate agency KingOne Properties International, will develop Lake View Commons, a 1.3-acre complex coming to North Myrtle by next year at the corner of Ninth Avenue South and U.S. 17. The $4 million Lake View Commons will be marked by a large decorative fountain in addition to being just a hop and a skip away from Main Street. The upcoming six-unit commercial center will house office space for doctors, financial planners and interior designers. Each of the spaces for the commercial tenant will be 2,100 square feet. Included in the lineup is a second location for Myrtle Beach's Crave Italian Oven & Bar. King anticipates finishing the first phase of Lake View Commons will take about a year once work officially gets underway. The developer also has his sights set on a second phase of Lake View Commons and recently purchased a 1.6-acre tract to the north of the first complex for a potential second building. To stay updated, see https://www.lakeviewcommonsnmb.com/.

Murrells Inlet is once again hosting its popular Halloween on the MarshWalk event! Adults and kids alike are invited to wear their best costumes on Sunday, October 31st, beginning at 5 pm, and join the community for the annual spooky and spectacular festivities. Trick or treating for the little ones occurs from 5 pm to 6 pm and leads into a costume contest in front of Drunken Jack's at the Pirate Statue. Prizes will be given out to kids ages three and up for Most Creative, Best Group, Funniest, and Scariest costumes. Meanwhile, children ages two and under can participate in the Awes Applause parade. Prizes include trophies, ribbons and yummy candy bags! The stakes get raised at 7 pm when the MarshWalk's Adult Costume Contest begins. Categories include People's Choice, Best Duo/Group, Best Individual, Big & Bulky, Murrells Inlet Themed and Honorable Mention. In total, up to $4,000 in cash prizes are slated to be awarded! Participants are asked to check in at the event's registration table from 7 pm to 8:30 pm between Wahoo's and Drunken Jack's. Final judging happens at 10 pm! Don't forget to enjoy some food and drinks from nearby eateries on the Marshwalk. Popular spots include Bovine's, Wahoo's, Drunken Jack's, Creek Ratz, Dead Dog Saloon, The Claw House, The Wicked Tuna, and Mojo's Marina Bar and Grille. For more info about the Halloween-themed fun happening along the MarshWalk, see https://marshwalk.com/events/.