North Myrtle Beach sits on a salty foundation of sand and shells. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll find deep roots in music and dance.  In April, the area holds its annual festival that celebrates Shag, a traditional dancing style popular along the Carolina coast.

The Society of Stranders (S.O.S) will host the Spring Safari festival from April 16–25. Each year, the event draws thousands of shaggers from up and down the East Coast. They come to display their moves and kickoff the official start of Spring.

Throughout the 10-day gala of tunes, food and dance, area lounges welcome visitors with various shindigs, long ago dubbed “tea parties.” The festivities usually include performances by popular beach-music bands, as well as instructors offering classes for everyone from novice to experienced shaggers.

Grand Strand Vacations, a North Myrtle Beach property rental firm, opens its more than 350 luxury homes and condos for the rhythmic guests. This year, Grand Strand is offering the gift of two free nights during a four-night stay.

“We love shag, and the folks who share in the boardwalk memories of couples dancing the night away,” said Nancy Seddinger, owner of Grand Strand Vacations. “After getting down in the sand, we want to give our revelers a comfortable place to kick back, relax and catch up with old friends. There’s no better way to do this than at a Grand Strand property.”

When out-of-towners aren’t sipping cocktails and enjoying the ocean view from their seaside getaway, they’ll most likely be exploring the goings on at North Myrtle.

On Saturday April 25, the Spring Safari wraps up with the beloved parade down Main Street. The tradition is presented by the Association of Carolina Shag Clubs (ACSC). During the parade, floats wow spectators, competing for the most original design and best shag theme.  The street turns into a fairgrounds, with dancers and day-trippers enjoying food, entertainment and tunes.

S.O.S. started in 1980. That spring, the first festival drew roughly 5,000 people eager to compete in dance contests and listen to beach music. Over the years, the bash grew in size and events. Today, the Spring Safari marks a time for getting back to summer and reuniting with friends.

“We absolutely love this time of year,” Seddinger said. “This is a big coup for our region. We’ve become synonymous with something very special to people – beach dancing. It’s more than just the entertainment value. This is people’s memories of the past.”

Aside from free nights, Grand Strand Vacations also is offering golf packages with discounted green fees, as well as girls’ weekend deals. Pets are welcome.

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With ties to Southern rock and deep roots in the game of golf, the North Myrtle Beach area will merge both during the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am. Entering its sixteenth year, the tournament takes place April 12 at the Dye Club at Barefoot Resort. Gates open to the public at 8:30 a.m.

This year’s event tees off with pro links players like John Daly, Lee Elder, Kristy McPherson, Charlie Rymer and Spencer Levin –  just to name a few. Also in the mix, other famous sports faces such as former NFL quarterback Jim McMahon, NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers and MLB player Mickey Tettleton.

Rounding out the group of celebs, musician Edwin McCain, actor Kevin Sorbo, pro wrestler Ric Flair, musician Colt Ford and others will haul their clubs through 18 holes.

In a little more than a decade, the Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am has gone from a few big names to a high-caliber list of Hollywood regulars. Dubbed as one of the biggest goings-on in the area, the event draws hundreds of spectators from around the nation and continues to grow. As a result, area businesses have worked to accommodate the game’s visitors.

“It’s really a big part of this area’s rich music and sporting tradition,” said Nancy Seddinger, owner of Grand Strand Vacations, a North Myrtle Beach property rental firm. “It’s a great reason to get away for a few days, check out the South Carolina coast and hit the greens with friends.”

To help welcome tourists to the festivities, Grand Strand Vacations will offer golf packages that combine discounted multi-night stays with reduced course fees. They also are giving away two free nights at their ocean front condos and homes during four-day getaways in April. With more than 350 properties, the rental agency views the upcoming golf tournament as the official start of tourist season.

“Hey, what better way to roll into spring,” Seddinger said. “Monday After the Masters kind of kicks it all off. We’re just following their lead and creating our own star-caliber experience for guests, so to speak.”

Money raised from the Celebrity Pro-Am goes toward children’s education through the Hootie and the Blowfish Foundation, as well as helps fund the South Carolina Junior Golf Association.

Since its start in 1995, the tournament has raised more than $2 million for charity. While it initially took place in Columbia, S.C. and later Kiawah Island Resort, Grand Strand became the event’s home in 2003.

This year, like in years past, the golf outing will wrap up with a performance by Hootie & the Blowfish.

“It’s just a fun time,” Seddinger said. “If you like golf, it’s great. If you don’t know anything about golf, it’s still great. Everybody loves to celebrity watch – that’s the real draw.”

A tradition that goes back nearly five decades, the Canadian-American Days Festival kicks off March 13 in the Myrtle Beach area. The weeklong celebration puts out the proverbial “Welcome Mat” for neighbors to the north, as well as spring breakers from around the United States. Activities include sporting competitions, cultural happenings, concerts and more.

Aside from specially-planned events, local businesses also offer deals on entertainment and food throughout the seven-day extravaganza. Visitors get a virtual goodie bag of bargains from companies like Grand Strand Vacations. The property rental firm in North Myrtle Beach plans to give Canadian-American Days’ goers discounted getaway stays. With more than 350 luxury homes and condos positioned along the coast, the firm will greet travelers with the red-carpet treatment, providing a selection of specials. Grand Strand’s deals include an entire weekend getaway for as little as $200 and 10 percent off three nights or more.

“Canadian-American Days really showcases the giving-nature of this region,” said Nancy Seddinger, owner of Grand Strand Vacations. “We love when people come to our seaside community and share all there is to cherish. We’re very family-oriented, and this celebration epitomizes that quality.”

Some of this year’s Can-Am Days’ highlights include:

- The 22nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival, taking place on March 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Main Street, North Myrtle Beach.

- The Carolina Opry Loves Canada, taking place from March 13 to 21 at 8 p.m. at The Carolina Opry, 8901 A Bus. 17 N., Myrtle Beach.

- South Strand Can-Am Reception, taking place on March 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Lakewood Conference Center, Surfside Beach.

- 3rd Annual Snowbird Games, taking place on March 16 from 12 to 3 p.m. at the Holiday Sands South, 2411 S. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach.

- 2010 RBC Bank Canadian American Days Celebration Expo, taking place March 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Exhibit Hall C.

- 2010 Battle at the Beach Second Annual Canada vs. U.S.A. (Golf), taking place on March 18 at 11 a.m. at Pine Lakes Country Club, 5603 Grandaddy Drive, Myrtle Beach.

- Minigolf Tournament, taking place on March 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Hawaiian Rumble, 32104 Hwy. 17, North Myrtle Beach.

- Original Drifters, Carl Gardner’s Coasters, Herb Reed & the Platters, taking place on March 20 at 7 p.m. at the Alabama Theatre, 4750 Hwy. 17 S., North Myrtle Beach.

Canadian out-of-towners and other travelers alike can look forward to discounts at Ripley’s Aquarium, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum, Ripley’s Moving Theater, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, and Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze. In addition, major entertainment hubs like Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede and Alabama Theatre announced price cuts on certain shows.

“Can-Am has been going on since the early ‘60s and every year it just seems to get better,” Seddinger said. “It gives folks from other parts of the world a chance to relax beachside and take in a taste of the Carolina coast. We’re excited to see old friends again, and make new ones as well.”

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Mild temperatures, warm ocean waters and thinning crowds… It all adds up to one delightful fact: A Grand Strand Vacation after Labor Day serves as the perfect way to usher in fall.

Besides the chance to stroll pristine beaches minus flying Frisbees and throngs of well-oiled sun worshippers, autumn-time visitors can take advantage of the area’s many amenities at their leisure. Here are just a few ideas for memory-making in the mellow weeks ahead:

• Grab a thrill. From Alligator Adventure’s scaled chompers and Ripley’s Aquarium sharks to Freestyle Music Park’s high-diving roller coasters and Believe It or Not oddities, the Grand Strand is home to a slew of unique world-class attractions. Better yet, some offer seasonal specials – and no long lines.

• Love the nightlife. Our oceanfront homes and other North Myrtle Beach rentals are so comfortable it’s tempting to stay in. But the area’s live entertainment, dance clubs, sports bars and other over-21 venues are too great to pass up. After all, there’s nothing like sipping a margarita waterside while folks elsewhere shovel snowy driveways!

• Shop, shop, shop. Famous for its factory outlets and family-friendly malls, North Myrtle Beach also boasts a wealth of specialty shops, galleries and boutiques geared to adults with a penchant for the finer things.

• Enjoy the cuisine. A savory burger with the works or a five-course seafood dinner, North Myrtle restaurants cater to every taste and pocketbook. And for those who prefer to nest, some eateries offer pick up or delivery – ideal for picnics on the beach.

• Give golf a go. More than 100 golf courses populate our section of coastline, so collar a buddy or two and practice that swing!

• Get wet. The coastal waters abound with shipwrecks, marine life and natural reefs – a true scuba diver’s paradise. Those who prefer to stay above the surface (mostly) can hop aboard a fishing charter or race the waves in a banana boat.

Finally, don’t fret if you can’t manage to squeeze everything you want to do into one trip. Come back. We’ll be here to welcome you.

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Grand Strand Vacations

Hawaiian Village Hawaiian Village Golf Course was landscaped to recreate the Hawaiian Islands with its plush gardens and tropical plants and flowers. The Pineapple Beach course and the Village Course are both challenging. The Village course is handicapped accessible. On the Pineapple course there is an old Hawaiian steam locomotive and on the Village side there is an old Conch caboose.

Come sit on our deck with your refreshments while observing the two 18 hole courses. Hawaiian Village is now a part of the Masters National Championship Tournament. Come on out and play with us.

Spend a few hours in the game room and test your love or try to win a stuffed animal. Browse the gift shop to find your favorite souvenir.Come see the limited special edition Indian Motorcycle. Only 5 exist in the world. Wow, what a site.

Look for the Hawaiian Village sign and the colorful steam locomotive and caboose at 43rd Avenue South on Highway 17 in North Myrtle Beach. You can’t miss it.  Visit their website by clicking here