Coasting along in Myrtle Beach. -- Photos courtesy of Myrtle Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

Take a look at Myrtle, she's all grown up. Once a quaint little seaside town that sprang to life for the summer and American holidays, Myrtle Beach has matured into a thriving, year-round resort destination.

It has become a boomtown for theatre, music and culinary craftsmanship tinged with a spicy southern flair.

Year by year, the landscape changes. Witness the construction of three new highways needed to accommodate 13 million visitors annually. Rising out of the sand are elaborate first-class resorts, replete with lazy river rides, waterparks, lavish family suites and all the comforts of home. The restaurant count is 1,700 and growing.

Recent visitors have been singing the praises of Myrtle Beach as an entertainment mecca.

The plush 2,000-seat Alabama Theatre, named for the country band, has hosted the likes of George Jones, Loretta Lynn and Charlie Pride. This summer's lineup features the Oak Ridge Boys, Billy Ray Cyrus, Kenny Rogers and Diamond Rio.

The larger Carolina Opry, which started the boom in 1986, continues to delight its faithful with a medley of country, pop, jazz, gospel and Broadway tunes.

Dolly Parton has made a raucous impression with her Dixie Stampede and dinner show, highlighted by comedy, magnificent stallions, North-South games and foot stompin' tunes.

If icons are your thing, check out Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, the Blues Brothers and more at Legends In Concert. Along those lines, Calvin Gilmore has created Tribute! The Concert, a lineup of artists celebrating the works of Cher, Elvis, Rod Stewart and others, taking stage at the 20,000-square-foot Tribute Theater.

The Palace Theater has a fabulous lineup this season, including The Full Monty, Le Grade Cirque and Spirit of the Dance.

Still rocking at Barefoot Landing is House of Blues. On the slate this summer are: Sum 41, Blackfoot, .38 Special, The Killers and Black Crowes.

For a few quiet moments, Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet houses the world's largest and most breathtaking outdoor sculpture garden, showcasing more than 550 works by 241 American artists on the site of four colonial plantations. Also on-site is the Lowcountry History and Wildlife Preserve -- thousands of acres stocked with native plants and animals. Visitors can navigate the ecologically sensitive area on The Springfield or Trekker rides.

The 20-acre Myrtle Waves park holds more than one million gallons of water fun and several theme areas.

It's hard to pinpoint the centre of nightlife fun but Broadway At The Beach can sure make a pitch, with its 20 dining establishments, three on-site accommodations, 100 shops and 10 vibrant nightspots.

Speaking of pitches, the boys of summer are back at Federal Coastal Field, a modern, old-style grass-field baseball stadium which is home to the Atlanta Braves' affiliate, the Myrtle Beach pelicans of the Coastal League. Tickets are cheap, the stadium is a throwback to the glory days of America's favourite game and it's within walking distance of Broadway at the Beach.

Visitors don't have to look very far for entertainment around Myrtle Beach. Somthing's always shaking at Barefoot Landing's House of Blues.

All roads in Myrtle Beach lead to Kings Highway, or Hwy. 17, which began as an Indian trail long before Europeans settled in the area. The region's first inhabitants were the Waccamaw and Winyah Indians.

In 1936, the Intracoastal waterway was opened to pleasure boats and commercial shipping. Today, you can rent a pleasure boat or book a dinner cruise on the waterway.

The renowned Pavilion area with its trademark Hurricane rollercoaster came to life in 1949 and has been a staple for family entertainment.

Central to all the action is the stunning new Radisson Plaza Hotel adjacent to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, which makes it a natural for trade shows and corporate functions.

There's no denying it, though -- the beach still rules. Who can argue with more than 96 km of white sand along the Atlantic Ocean, an experience heightened by the proliferation of outlets offering parasailing, banana boats and personal watercraft.

Nothing beats the beach, which stretches for miles along the Atlantic Coast.

Need convincing? Myrtle Beach placed second out of 10 and topped Waikiki and St. Thomas in a Yahoo and National Geographic Traveler Magazine poll of favourite beaches.

---

BOTTOM LINE

GOLF COURSES: For independent ratings, visit mbga.com.

GOLF TIPS: Some golf groups like Myrtle Beach National Co. offer a free fifth round if you book four of its courses. This can be done through a hotel golf director or package specialist.

Pavilion Park might make you scream.

GETTING THERE: U.S. Airways can whisk you from Toronto to Myrtle Beach via Charlotte, NC, in time for an afternoon round. Evening departures on the return leg allow you to cram in a final round or two. Golf clubs can be rented at Myrtle Beach airport.

BEACH INFORMATION: To order a free Stay & Play visitors' guide or more information, visit myrtlebeachinfo.com

DINING OUT: Myrtle Beach is a diner's paradise. Many hotels have coupon books offering two-for-one meals or discounts. Some seafood buffet houses offer reduced prices for early sittings.

Myrtle Waves waterpark provides soggy fun.