Travel + Leisure opened the month with Taryn White’s July 2 article, “Black Travelers Are Redefining Summer Vacations With Solo Trips, Self-care, and Unexpected Connections.” Drawing on a survey of more than 1,000 users of the BLK social app, the story examined growing interest in relaxation, independent travel and meaningful connections. Myrtle Beach appeared among respondents’ 10 most desired U.S. destinations, alongside cities including Las Vegas, Miami, New York and Atlanta.
Coverage also reflected the area’s growing residential appeal. Travel + Leisure updated Kristine Hansen’s “Americans Are Flocking to This Southern State More Than Any Other in 2026, and It’s Topped the Moving List for 7 Years” on July 31. Based on nearly 98,000 moveBuddha searches from the first half of 2026, the report placed South Carolina first with a 2.02 ratio of inbound to outbound moving searches. Myrtle Beach was named among the state’s appealing coastal communities and was singled out as a popular choice for relocating veterans.
Travel + Leisure also added a playful residential angle on July 21 with Nina Kahn’s “Where You Should Retire, Based on Your Zodiac Sign.” Myrtle Beach was the recommendation for Aquarius, a sign associated with friendship, teamwork and community. The article pointed to the city’s permanent population, South Carolina’s tax advantages for older residents and year-round access to entertainment, festivals, golf and restaurants as reasons socially minded retirees could feel at home.
Golf was also featured in the month of July. In Forbes contributor Tim Corlett’s July 30 article, “YouTube Golf Creators Dalke, Ruffles Earn Rocket Classic Exemptions,” Myrtle Beach’s PGA TOUR event remained part of the professional narrative. The story noted that Ryan Ruffles had recently competed in the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, where he made the cut and finished tied for 45th, extending the tournament’s exposure through coverage of golf’s growing creator community.
Also in Forbes, drinks and travel journalist Noël Burgess explored the area’s evolving beverage culture in “Where To Drink In Myrtle Beach Beyond The Beach And Boardwalk,” published July 20. Drawing on more than two decades of visits, Burgess described discovering a Myrtle Beach that had become “more than the beach town I remembered.” His itinerary moved from Boteco VIP and Grand Strand Brewing Company downtown to Twelve 33 Distillery in Little River, where locally sourced ingredients are used to produce bourbon, rum and flavored vodkas. The Forbes feature also connected the area’s drinks scene with its food, entertainment and neighboring communities. Burgess sampled Grand Strand-brewed beer overlooking the Boardwalk at RipTydz, paired cocktails with seafood at Hook & Barrel and visited the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk. Conway, North Myrtle Beach’s shag culture and additional downtown establishments rounded out an expansive look at how returning visitors can experience more of Horry and Georgetown counties.
Southern food traditions provided another national entry point. Natalie Hoy’s “The Best Donuts In The South Are Found At The Beach,” published by Southern Living on July 12, explored the enduring connection between beach vacations and fresh doughnuts. Hoy featured Parlor Doughnuts out of Pawleys Island, writing, "Instead of the usual round and fluffy donuts, Parlor Doughnuts are layered giving them a completely different bite. With both sweet and savory options, there’s something for every beachgoer."
The Grand Strand’s natural setting received regional attention in “Heavenly Bodies: a photo tour of the South’s most stunning waterways,” published by Atlanta Magazine’s Southbound section on July 7. Written by Tony Rehagen, the feature brought together seven photographers to illustrate how Southern waterways support recreation, relaxation and a sense of place. In the article, Regagen wrote, "The 60 sandy miles of the Grand Strand from Little River to Georgetown is dotted with resorts centered on Myrtle Beach and has welcomed generations of vacationers."
The family-travel experience received a dedicated feature from South Fulton Lifestyle in July. Shandra Hill Smith’s “Making Memories in Myrtle Beach” described a destination where the ocean remains close throughout a stay, from lodging and sightseeing to dining. The story specifically highlighted the Courtyard by Marriott Myrtle Beach Oceanfront and its direct beach access, presenting the Grand Strand as an inviting escape for beach-loving families.
Later in the month, Yahoo Creators offered a deeper look at an outdoor pursuit that some visitors may not immediately associate with Myrtle Beach. In “The East Coast surf town you probably aren’t considering has 60 miles of coastline,” published July 25, travel journalist James Barrett chronicled a beginner surf lesson near Surfside Beach. He highlighted the region’s warm Atlantic water, room for new surfers and longstanding local surf culture, including Village Surf Shoppe in Garden City Beach, which opened in 1969.
Murrells Inlet earned recognition in Chuck Aldridge’s “10 Incredible South Carolina Spots Worth Adding To Your Next Road Trip,” updated July 23 by Decor Hint. Brookgreen Gardens ranked fifth in the statewide itinerary. The feature praised its combination of art, nature and history, including its outdoor figurative sculpture collection, centuries-old live oaks, botanical gardens, Lowcountry Zoo and historic river cruises. Huntington Beach State Park ranked sixth.
Alexandra Frost approached that same theme of rediscovery through a family-travel lens in Cincinnati Magazine’s “Your Upgraded Guide To Myrtle Beach.” Published in July, the feature revisited the nostalgia of a traditional Myrtle Beach vacation while showing how the experience has grown. Frost presented the destination as a well-rounded getaway where familiar coastal traditions now sit alongside an increasingly varied mix of dining, attractions, outdoor experiences and local culture.
A quieter side of the destination received attention from My Family Travels. Logan Prescott’s July 15 article, “This South Carolina Park Has a Quiet Boardwalk and a Peaceful Shoreline That Feels Completely Undiscovered,” highlighted Myrtle Beach State Park as an alternative to the area’s busier stretches of sand. The feature emphasized the park’s peaceful shoreline and boardwalk setting, positioning it as an under-the-radar place to slow down and experience the natural coastal landscape.
Together, July’s coverage showed the Grand Strand reaching travelers through multiple points of interest: inclusive travel demand, family vacations, coastal food traditions, surfing, gardens, relocation and golf. The result was a balanced picture of a destination with both enduring beach appeal and an increasingly diverse range of reasons to visit, explore and stay.
