Widely considered the unofficial start to summer in the United States, Memorial Day weekend serves as a great time to get together with loved ones and have some fun in the sun while honoring the heroes who died protecting our nation’s freedoms. And one of the best ways to do just that is by spending the long weekend making the most of the freedoms our military personnel have sacrificed so much to preserve — and by relaxing and enjoying some of the best our nation has to offer.
One of the most popular places in the Southeast to observe Memorial Day and celebrate the start of summer, of course, is along the beaches of the Grand Strand. Here, with 60-plus miles of Carolina coastline and an amazing range of options for family fun, the Memorial Day vacationers keep coming back year after year.
If you’re looking to celebrate your Memorial Day in Grand Strand style, consider these fun, memorable and relaxing ways to spend your long weekend in the Myrtle Beach area:
Attend a Military Appreciation Days event
Observed over the entire month of May in Myrtle Beach, Military Appreciation Days is a long-running Grand Strand tradition that serves a pair of purposes. It honors the heroes who have served in our nation’s armed forces, and it also celebrates Myrtle Beach’s proud history as a military town.
Further, in some good news for those visiting the area over the holiday weekend, some of the celebration’s signature events are held over Memorial Day weekend. Highlights among these include the Military Appreciation Days Parade (this year featuring 2020 Grand Marshal Rocky Bleier, a former Pittsburgh Steelers halfback and a four-time Super Bowl champion) on Saturday, May 23; the Military Appreciation Days Picnic and Exhibits on Saturday, May 23; and the Veterans’ March on Memorial Day itself (Monday, May 25).
Catch a more unique parade
Beyond the Military Appreciation Days Parade mentioned above, a different breed of Memorial Day weekend parade is held each year in one of Myrtle Beach’s neighboring communities to the south. Staged along Ocean Boulevard in Surfside Beach, the annual Memorial Day Golf Cart Parade delivers big doses of patriotism — albeit with much smaller vehicles traversing the parade route. It’s set for Sunday, May 24, this year. Put on your red, white and blue attire, and join in the fun!
Attend a ceremony or service
For those seeking to observe Memorial Day with a more solemn ceremony or service, a pair of Military Appreciation Days events offer the opportunity. Both held in Myrtle Beach on Memorial Day (Monday, May 25) itself, the Battlefield Cross Ceremony and the Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony will honor those who gave their lives to preserve our nation’s freedoms.
Relax at the resort
Of course, when you stay at Grande Cayman Resort on the Myrtle Beach oceanfront, you don’t have to leave the resort property to have a weekend to remember. The area’s biggest attraction — the Atlantic Ocean — can be found just steps away from your room in the resort’s backyard, and our lovely stretch of backyard beach is a great place to soak up some rays and some relaxation, or to splash around in the ocean waves. We’ve also got a range of water attractions on-site, including indoor and outdoor pool decks, the Silly Sub Water Park with its 3-story waterslide and kids’ splash areas, and even an indoor lazy river. For those who thrive on a little friendly competition, we’ve got a collection of games on-site that the whole family can enjoy, including shuffleboard, giant chess and checkers, ping pong, miniature golf and more. Movie lovers will find plenty of options for unlimited in-room viewing at the DVD Now kiosk in our resort lobby. And when hunger or thirst strikes, our on-property food and drink options include a breakfast buffet, Turtle Bay Café and our poolside Tiki Bar.
To add some excitement to your Memorial Day weekend with a well-deserved Myrtle Beach getaway, book a stay at the newly renovated Grande Cayman Resort today. With our comfortable oceanfront accommodations and the wide range of amenities found on-site, we’ve got everything you’ll need to enjoy the holiday weekend in style.