Each year, more people visit Myrtle Beach, on South Carolina's north end coast, than Hawaii. Between North Myrtle Beach and Georgetown on a 60-mi stretch of coast on U.S. 17 known as the Grand Strand, the area draws an estimated 12 million tourists, more than any other East Coast destination except Orlando and Walt Disney World. On summer days, the year-round population of less than 40,000 often swells to 400,000 plus. More bus tours come here than to any other destination except Branson, Missouri, and Washington, D.C. Entertainment and shopping centers are so big they have their own visitor centers. There are nearly 20 theaters, more than 80 golf courses, as well as amusement rides and lots of showy putt-putt centers---Myrtle Beach is the miniature golf capital of America. By far the largest tourist attraction in South Carolina, this is one of the most highly developed beach resorts along the Eastern seaboard. There are miles of beaches, water sports, golf, tennis, and shopping; there are also hundreds of hotels, motels, time-shares, and condos along the beachfront. This is a high-energy destination with plenty to keep your entire family occupied. But the abundance of activity comes with a price: traffic along the main north--south arteries approaches gridlock at times during the summer, and the beaches are packed in good weather.