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Vision Airlines Reboots with Eight New Flights Out of Myrtle Beach

There was a time when we were a little concerned about the future of Vision Airlines. The new kid on the block started to cancel some flights and terminate some routes, so we were thinking that their low-cost party was quickly coming to an end. Apparently that might not be the case, as the airline is still flying around, and even expanding.

Myrtle Beach seems to be their next big market, and they’ll even be using larger planes to get the job done. Boeing 737s are heading to the airport, as Vision Airlines looks to connect the coastal city with eight or so different destinations. If all goes according to plan they’ll be flying to spots like Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo. Other options will include Nashville, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Springfield, Illinois.

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Airports / MYR / Airport News / Airport Restaurants / → All Tags

$118 Million Means a 'Nacho Hippo' for Myrtle Beach Airport

The airport down in Myrtle Beach is going through a little bit of a terminal renovation and expansion, and we’re excited to learn that they’re already focusing on some new airport dining options. It won't just be national favorites and brand names either, as they’ve called on some local restaurateurs and businesses to bring unique options to travelers heading to and from town.

Bubba's Fish Shack and Nacho Hippo—great names—are just two of the new restaurants that have local outposts in addition to their new home at the airport. Expect plenty of BBQ this and that, as well as fried seafood, burgers, and sandwiches from Bubba’s. Over at Nacho Hippo there should be lots of frozen tequila beverages, but the plan is to also put an international spin on the traditional tacos and nachos. Sounds like a great airport watering hole if you ask us.

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Porter Airlines / Airlines / Airline News / New Routes / → All Tags

Porter Airlines Is Looking To Expand...To Myrtle Beach?

We kind of knew that Porter Airlines would be eyeing new routes, but we expected that they’d be looking somewhere in the northern part of the US or elsewhere in Canada. Well we were wrong and the airline is looking to head south in search of warmer weather and Waffle House. Their shortlist for new routes now includes Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, among other destinations in the US.

Apparently there hasn’t been an official decision or announcement, but according to the head honcho at Porter, Robert Deluce, his company is in “serious discussions” with some places in the US. Besides the tourist traps of Myrtle Beach, the little airline that could also has its eyes on Washington, DC and Philadelphia. It looks like they want to expand before Air Canada Jazz restarts service on their home turf.

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Fires / Flight 1549 / Myrtle Beach Travel / → All Tags

Flight 1549 Golf Trip Thwarted Again, This Time By Myrtle Beach Fires

We knew Myrtle Beach would be hot this season but we never anticipated this. A dangerous coastal wildfire ripped through North Myrtle Beach early Thursday, destroying dozens of homes and forcing thousands to evacuate from this beach community.

The blaze jumped the busy six-lane Coastal Bays Parkway on Wednesday, stopping not far from the Intracoastal Waterway. Firefighters were expecting the waterway to act as a natural firebreak, protecting the larger city of Myrtle Beach.

A gray-white smoke had engulfed restaurant row between Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach on Wednesday evening. It looked like a winter fog, with car headlights and neon signs peeking through the haze.

Fortunately no one has been injured yet although the fires are predicted to get worse as the day goes on.

Also in danger are the area's numerous golf courses which are a heavy draw for tourists. And in a freaky "Final Destination" sort of twist, a group of six golfing buddies who were aboard the US Airways Flight 1549 plane when it crash-landed into the Hudson River in January were headed to Myrtle Beach this week for their annual trip.

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Theme Parks / Hard Rock Park / Freestyle Music Park / Roller Coasters / Amusement Parks / → All Tags

Myrtle Beach's Hard Rock Park Now Known As Freestyle Music Park

Just when we thought we’d figured out some cool things to do in Myrtle Beach, we get one more item to add to the list. The saga that has been the life of the Hard Rock Park continues, as the park as we knew it is no more. Thanks to a team of marketing geniuses, the park will return with a new name: Freestyle Music Park. Although the name hardly rolls off the tongue, the newish park is looking to get things rockin’ again by Memorial Day.

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Beaches / Myrtle Beach Travel / Tourist Traps / → All Tags

Five Cool Things to Do in Myrtle Beach, Seriously!

We've never totally understood exactly what makes Myrtle Beach so appealing. We’ve visited relatives there before, but never thought of making it our vacation destination as it always seemed a little cheesy, with a hint of spring break debauchery. And while we love the beach, we don’t need to spend time at the NASCAR Sports Grille—did they really need the extra “e” on the end considering the clientele? (Update: The Grille has closed.)

With so many other great (and classier) beach locations south of the Mason-Dixon line, like Hilton Head Island or the Outer Banks, is there something that Myrtle Beach has to offer that we’re missing? Apparently it's very popular. So we decided to take a look. After all, in this economy not everyone can afford to traipse around St. Barts. Here are five cool, not cheesy, things to do in Myrtle Beach.

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New Routes / Allegiant Air / Low Cost Carriers / → All Tags

Allegiant Air Continues Toward Domestic Dominance

Allegiant Air is keeping us busy with all their new route announcements. With their low cost model to vacation hotspots, it’s almost like they didn’t get the memo that the economic sky is falling. That’s fine with us, since we are more than ready to get out of here and take a quick break to somewhere warm. We don’t want to bore your with numbers, but they also just announced that their traffic was up almost ten percent when compared to February 2008.

Myrtle Beach is the airline’s newest destination, but to start, they’ll only be taking passengers from Tri-State Airport in West Virginia. The promotional rates will start at $39 each way, and they are offering service twice a week starting on April 30.

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Hard Rock Park / Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Roller Coasters / → All Tags

Hard Rock Park Plans An Encore For 2009

Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach just won’t die, and that’s a good thing, since we’re still kind of bummed out that we missed it last summer. We last reported that the place was filing for bankruptcy, but it’s coming back—slowly but surely. The park recently went up for auction and was snatched up for a cool $25 million. The creditors wanted a little more for the park—like $10 million more—but they were happy to settle for a slightly lower price tag than getting no cash at all.

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Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Hard Rock Park / → All Tags

Insufficient Rocking by Myrtle Beach Visitors Causes New Theme Park to File for Bankruptcy

While self-styled travel sophisticates probably looked down their noses at it from the beginning, Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina seemed like a surefire success to us. After all, it aimed to provide a pseudo-edgy experience to middlebrow beach visitors with rock 'n' roll-themed roller coasters, variety shows, and exhibits of memorabilia. Instead, the park recently filed for bankruptcy protection after operating for just one truncated season.

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Theme Parks Travel: Hard Rock Park Not Rocking?

Back in May, we got plenty excited for the new Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Although the park appears to rock on paper, it doesn't seem to be as big a hit with tourists: The place is believed to have missed attendance expectations and earlier this month the park was forced to layoff about 30 employees.

The Myrtle Beach Sun News reports that park executives believe the number of workers that were released is "miniscule." Spokesman Jim Olecki says that the layoffs were expected due to seasonal changes in the theme park business and didn't seem to rule out additional firings in the future.

The competition isn't coming directly from other parks in the area but from the increasing costs of simply taking a vacation. As of now the park is scheduled to stay open through Labor Day and into the fall but whether it will keep rocking year-round--as originally planned--doesn't seem as certain.

Related Stories:
· Hard Rock Park Lays Off Employees [Myrtle Beach Sun News]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: scmikeburton]

Roller Coasters / Led Zeppelin / Theme Parks / Attractions / → All Tags

Roller Coaster Travel: Hard Rock Park Will Rock You

For smooth-jazz lovers, it's a "Highway to Hell": South Carolina's Hard Rock Park promises all the thrills of your local theme park with a much better soundtrack.

While the tourist attraction doesn't have its official grand opening till June 2, a "sound check" is letting ride aficionados get their first look at Hard Rock's first theme park.

The coasters in this $400 million park are designed to be extra quiet so riders will be able to hear the corresponding songs--even over all the screaming.

Besides the "Life In The Fast Lane" and "Nights In White Satin" rides, the park boasts a memorial to dead musicians, a Mount Rockmore and a "Bohemian Rhapsody"-themed fireworks show. Alas, there will be no "Love Roller Coaster."

Related Stories:
· Hard Rock Park [Official Site]
· Led Zeppelin Ride Centerpiece of Rock and Roll Theme Park [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikipedia]

Theme Parks / Roller Coasters / → All Tags

Led Zeppelin Ride Centerpiece of Rock and Roll Theme Park

Remember Led Zeppelin's one time reunion gig set for London next month?  Well just in case you can't pay scalper's prices or get yourself to London the Hard Rock has you covered, if you can make it down to Myrtle Beach next May.

The Hard Rock Park, a.k.a the world's first rock 'n' roll theme park will open next spring and will feature "Led Zeppelin -- the Ride," a 155-foot-tall steel roller coaster. Apparently, Jimmy Page named the ride himself and picked the song "Whole Lotta Love" to be played as riders try to stomach six loop rolls at 65 miles per hour.

The 140-acre park will have more than 40 attractions, including, three other roller coasters, a hip-hop-themed ride, and a "Pinball Wizard" arcade.  Sweet, but there better be some sort of KISS ride in this park.

Related Stories:
·   Hard Rock Park [Official Site]
·   Theme Park Coverage [Jaunted]
·   Myrtle Beach Hotels [HotelChatter]