In the month of June alone, Myrtle Beach and several neighboring communities along the Grand Strand received a wave of national recognition from leading media outlets and organizations that evaluate destinations and rank top cities.
Creating a huge buzz, Resonance Consultancy released its 2026 America's Best Cities Report on June 16 where it ranked Myrtle Beach as the fifth Best Small City in America and No. 55 overall among all 393 metropolitan areas evaluated across the United States.
Myrtle Beach ranked behind Savannah, Boulder, Asheville and Ann Arbor for the small cities category, especially earning high marks for lovability and livability. The report specifically cites Myrtle Beach as a prime example of a community that has invested consistently in creating a strong sense of place that attracts both residents and visitors.
If you’re familiar with Condé Nast Traveler, a leading luxury and lifestyle travel publication that offers inspiring stories for discerning travelers, then you know naming Myrtle Beach one of the East Coast’s best beaches was a big deal. In the June 25 article, “We Scoured the Shoreline From Miami to Maine—These 9 East Coast Beaches Are the Absolute Best for an All-American Summer,” author Kat Chen included Myrtle Beach with Kiawah Island, S.C.; New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; Outer Banks, N.C.; and five other distinguished beaches. About Myrtle Beach, Chen wrote, “This quintessential East Coast beach town infuses the area with its infectious energy.”
Tripadvisor named Myrtle Beach the No. 4 most booked U.S. destination for April, May and June 2026 (based on clicks to book), only trailing Orlando, New York City and Las Vegas.
On June 18, Devorah Lev-Tov included Myrtle Beach in the article “The 12 best road trips to take with your family this summer.” The lengthy feature was published in The Points Guy, a popular travel and personal finance media platform founded by Brian Kelly. It provides expert advice, news, and strategies on maximizing credit card rewards, airline miles, and hotel points to help travelers upgrade and afford their trips.
In the Travel + Leisure article, “6 Golf Experts Reveal Their Favorite Courses and Resorts Around the World—From Ireland to Australia” published on June 27, author Patricia Hoherty spoke with golf greats Gary Player, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and others, who weighed in on their favorite golf destinations. In the article, Dave McKeating, former head golf professional at The Desert Princess Country Club in Palm Springs, shared, “Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, offers a great variety of golf courses, plenty of fun restaurants, and it’s easy to get tee times in advance.”
North Myrtle Beach’s Crescent Beach was highlighted in the June 12 Lonely Planet article “The 6 best beaches in South Carolina.” Taking the No. 5 spot behind Folly Beach, Hilton Head, Edisto Beach and Bull Island, Crescent Beach was noted as the “Best Beach for Families.” Author Berne Broudy described the North Myrtle Beach community as a “hidden gem,” noting that Crescent Beach is “the best spot to settle in under a beach umbrella with a good book as the kids boogie board in the surf or build sandcastles on the shore.”
World Atlas placed Litchfield Beach on its list of “9 Best Towns In The Southern United States For Retirees.” WorldAtlas is one of the largest publishing resources in geography and other topics, including sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics and travel. The article touts, “Litchfield Beach is the South Carolina coast without the high-rises or the crowds” and showcases its appeal to retirees.
Furthermore, WorldAtlas placed Conway on its list of “Where People Are Moving To In South Carolina In 2026.” Conway was noted for its distinct identity with “a defined downtown, a riverfront, and a college-town feel built around Coastal Carolina University just outside the city.” And, the popular website showcased Murrells Inlet and Georgetown as two of the “10 Nicest Small Towns In South Carolina.” While in Murrells Inlet, readers were encouraged to “start the morning at Wicked Tuna over scallops or a spicy tuna roll, then drift down the boardwalk as the air fills with music, salt, and the rhythm of boats easing in and out.”
In the article “The 20 Affordable Beach Towns That Feel Like a Vacation Year-Round” by Meghan Shouse published June 23 on Yahoo!Life, Myrtle Beach ranked No. 4 on the list of most budget-friendly coastal cities where buying a vacation home could be within reach. The article cited a recent report from real estate authority Zillow, which analyzed various data to spotlight 20 of the most budget-friendly coastal cities where buying a vacation home could be within reach. Myrtle Beach was preceded by Atlantic City, N.J., Daytona Beach, Fla., Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Finally, Travel and Tour World, highlighted Myrtle Beach as the third most popular destination in the United States to have a staycation.
