MYRTLE BEACH IS AMONG THE TOP PLACES TO GO FOR JULY 4 — AND WHY NOT WHEN YOU CAN FIND DEALS LIKE THESE?

Now that the kids have been out of school for a few weeks, they are really getting under your skin, aren't they? Sounds like the whole family needs a little beach time. Can't afford it this year, you say? Not so.

July 4 is around the corner and Myrtle Beach is rolling out the deals. In fact, Priceline's 6th annual survey of the 50 most popular destinations for July 4 ranked Myrtle Beach at 31, above such places as Hilton Head, Charleston and Ocean City, Md.

Why? Free stuff. Free entertainment. Fireworks. And, deals, my friend. Deals.

There's no better place to celebrate July 4. Accommodations are a bargain. Concerts fill the air up and down the Grand Strand's 60 mile beach. Kids will love the parades that feature everything from dressed-up golf cars to decked out boats. And, fireworks will be bursting into the skies all weekend.

Best Place To Take The Family. Centrally-located, The Market Common is smack in the middle of the Grand Strand. No matter where you stay, you can reach it in a few minutes. Spend Saturday, July 4 there (restaurants are everywhere, so food's no problem). Check out “Jewelry Art In The Park” from noon until 6:00 pm. From 4:30 pm until 9:30 pm, stroll around the beautiful streets of this lovely village and enjoy a bunch of free activities. Balloon sculptors will be creating (of course) patriotic-themed sculptures. Watch out for the Uncle Sam stilt walker. Get your kid made up by the face painter. Get a free American flag. Listen to the DJ in Valor Park. Treat the kids to a $10 wristband and let them blow off steam jumping on large inflatables. Cap off the day with a spectacular fireworks show at 9:30 pm (For more information about The Market Common's Independence Day celebration go to www.marketcommonevents.com or call 843-839-3500).

Need a place to stay? Savvy travelers have already been scoping out deals along the Grand Strand — many of which have been reported in this blog. But, last minute planners can still cherry pick some sweet accommodations for bargain rates. For those who have a little catching up to do, here's a quick recap of the area's best deals:

$116 a night for a 2-bedroom, 2-bath home inside Ocean Lakes Family Campground. Did you know that America's #1 RV Park has beach house rentals inside their spectacular resort setting? This a place where your kids will be entertained 24/7. There's nearly a mile of beach, plus amenities that include a skateboard park, inside game arcade and huge pool. On the July 4 weekend, Ocean Lakes holds two very unique golf car parades (July 3 and 6) and there's entertainment for the whole family. Single story and homes on stilts can accommodate 4-21 people and each is fully furnished including air-conditioning, cable TV, and complete kitchen facilities. You bring the sheets, towels and paper products.  For property rental information, log on to www.oceanlakesproperties.com or call 1-800-845-2229 for rental reservations. 

$139 for three-nights in a two-bedroom villa in Village of the Glens, plus a $50 gift card to Tanger Outlets or House of Blues. This is the perfect alternative to a cramped (and much more pricey) beachside hotel room. Spacious villas are on the northern end of the Grand Strand, just a 10-minute drive to the beach. If you're a golfer, ask how they can hook you up (they own 4 great golf courses) or check out their golf packages. The Glens Golf Group: 1-888-999-9520 to make a reservation or email info@GlensGolfVacations.com.

Super Summer Saver: Third Night Free. Looking for a little romance? There's no better place on the Strand than Pawleys Island. The atmosphere at Pawleys Plantation drips with Southern charm from its moss-draped oaks to the bright white columns on its gracious clubhouse. During July & August when you stay in one of their deluxe 2-bedroom villas for two nights, they give you a 3rd night free. Five minutes from the beach, this laid-back place is perfect for a couples getaway. Or pick one of their great golf packages that start at $234 for three nights and two rounds of golf on one of Jack Nicklaus' best layouts. Call 1-800-367-9959 for details or to make a reservation.

Overachievers Special. Are you one of those overachievers who only takes a vacation if you can learn something along the way? Pawleys Plantation's on-site golf school has a deal for you — a three-day golf school at the Phil Ritson - Mel Sole Golf School ranked in the Top 5 of "Americas Best 25 Golf Schools" by GOLF Magazine. At $799 per person, this package includes 3 days of school, two rounds of golf, three nights accommodations in a luxury fairway villa, and breakfast daily. Contact the Golf School directly at 1-800-624-4653.


THINK THERE'S NO BEACH VACATION IN YOUR BUDGET THIS YEAR? THINK AGAIN!

Economy got you down? Don't give up your dreams of a lazy Myrtle Beach vacation just yet. There are deals to be had. You just have to think a little outside the box — or outside the beachfront.

The Glens Golf Group is offering a fabulous deal and this time you don't have to be a golfer to get in on the savings. In summer, there are fewer golfers and golf resorts along Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand have lots of villas available. This year, The Glens Golf Group decided to do something about it and that means big savings for you.

You can get a spacious two or three bedroom villa at the Village of the Glens for three nights for what you would pay for one single hotel room for one night. Read that sentence again because it sounds too good to be true: You can get a spacious two or three bedroom villa at the Village of the Glens for three nights for what you would pay for one single hotel room for one night.

At the Glens, you'll be a short 10-minute drive from the beach and the kids will love the pool that's right on site. Think about it. That's no different than going to Hilton Head and staying at one of the resort villas, then driving to the beach. Except with The Glens, it's cheaper. WAY CHEAPER.

A three-night stay is just $139 for a two-bedroom villa. Yes, that's $139 for all three nights, not per night. Even a cramped, Mom-and-Pop beach hotel room would cost you over $100 per night. But a family of 4 can stretch out in this villa with its spacious living room, kitchen and dining area. You can even cook in to save some more dough.

Staycation, schmaycation! Who needs that when you've got a deal like this?

If you're still on the fence, consider this: Glens is making this an even better deal by throwing in a $50 gift card to Tanger Outlets or House of Blues with your three-night stay. Sweet!

So, don't ditch those beach plans. Head for the Village of the Glens. This deal's so good, you can't afford to stay home.

Call 1-888-999-9520 to make a reservation or email info@GlensGolfVacations.com.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE BEING SPOTLIGHTED IN A MAGAZINE THAT'S DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE

A little publicity can bring a lot of attention when it's courtesy of a magazine with more than 8 million readers. So, when The Costco Connection came calling, the folks at Pawleys Plantation's Phil Ritson-Mel Sole Golf School were more than happy to give an interview.

If you're headed to your local Costco warehouse to pick up a few things, snatch up a copy of the June issue of The Costco Connection and you'll see a cute little story about the personal and professional match-up between the two people who own and run the school, Mel and Rosemary Sole.

Mel, who's ranked a "Top Teacher in North America" by GOLF Magazine, is a former player on the South African PGA Tour. Along with Rosemary, he runs one of the top schools in the United States. But they're not just good teachers, they have a commitment to growing the game of golf. Simply put, they believe that top-notch instruction should be within reach of every golfer.

Now, that may not seem like a big deal but here's some news: golf is NOT growing. The game is stagnating and unless more people start taking it up and staying with it, golf will stay in the permanent doldrums.

Mel's got schools sprinkled in several states and even one down in Mexico, but you've just got to check out their headquarters school at the beautiful Pawleys Plantation on the coast of South Carolina, just south of Myrtle Beach. They have a "Best Ever Golf School Package" there that is tailor-made for budget-conscious aspiring golfers, as well as seasoned golfers looking to tune up their games. For under $1000, taxes included, you get accommodations, breakfasts, green/cart fees, and a top notch golf school for three days.

If you know anything about America's best golf schools, you know that's a real steal.

Rosemary's real friendly, so give her a call at 800-624-4653 or 843-237-4993. She'll have you signed up and on the links in no time!