Myrtle Beach promotion for early fall ... Time to think about Whistler ski season!

Myrtle Beach is a hugely popular spot for Canadians, and with good reason.

I made my first-ever trip down that way last October and had a great time. The beach went on forever, the golf was outstanding and the food was excellent. There also were some hidden treasures, including the gorgeous Brookgreen Gardens and the fun "village" of Murrells Inlet, with its fun restaurants and bars along the water. I loved Caledonia Golf And Fish Club for golf; just awesome course with great conditions and a lovely clubhouse where you can sit out and watch folks play over the water to a tough 18th green. Tons of fun, with or without a mint julep.

 

 

To get more folks to come down and check it out, the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is telling folks 60 best-kept secrets of The Grand Strand during its 60 Miles in 60 Days campaign. The "secrets" are broken down into suggested itineraries, including "Classic Grand Strand," "Foodie Finds," "The Historic and the Haunted" and "Wildlife Wonders."

“Myrtle Beach is quite simply America’s favorite beach destination; nonetheless so many of our repeat visitors haven’t yet explored all that our 60 miles have to offer,” said Scott Schult, Executive Vice President of Marketing for the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The 60 Miles in 60 Days campaign not only helps inform the traveler, it showcases what sets us apart: our 60 miles of coastline and literally endless entertainment options.” 

The campaign will also include a pin-to-win contest on Pinterest, where interested vacationers can create a pin board titled “Myrtle Beach Dream Vacation,” pinning at least eight attractions from the 60 secrets to their board and adding the hashtag #MYRDreamVacation to each. By submitting their completed board’s URL to Visit Myrtle Beach via Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/mymyrtlebeach), participants will be automatically entered to win a 3-night, 4-day trip, complete with accommodations, a restaurant gift card and admission to choice attractions in Myrtle Beach, with one Grand Prize winner receiving admission to at least eight of their pinned secrets. A winner will be chosen each Friday of the 60 Days campaign, with the Grand Prize winner selected at the close of the campaign.

The Pinterest campaign starts Sept. 1, I'm told. 

In addition to Pinterest, the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau will promote the campaign via television and online banner advertising, targeted media relations, a dedicated blogger campaign, and by revealing a secret each day via Facebook and encouraging fans to submit their own secret each Friday, during the destination’s “Photo Friday” contest. So check it out.

Porter Airlines is set to start its Myrtle Beach service up again on Sept. 13; just as things start to cool down a bit in Canada.

WHISTLER ON THE HORIZON

Yeah, it's hard to think about snow when it's 29 degrees here in the Big Smoke. But pretty soon those leaves will be changing colours and they'll be getting their first snowfall out in Whistler.

Whistler Blackcomb this week announced that early bird season passes are now on sale. Available through Oct. 8, an unlimited adult season pass is available for $1,489; a savings of more than $300. An unlimited senior's pass is $799, while youth passes (13-18) are $675 and children's passes (7-12) are $415.

Last winter, Whistler Blackcomb tallied a total accumulation of 1,389 centimeters or 45.6 feet of snow. While those numbers seem high, they are actually just above the annual average delivered to Whistler Blackcomb each year. Over the past ten years Whistler Blackcomb has received an average of 1,192 centimeters or 39.1 feet.

Whistler Blackcomb’s official opening day for this ski season is November 22, 2012. Here are some details from a press release they sent out this week:

“Following on the heels of last year’s exceptional season, this winter we are looking forward to continuing to show guests why we’re a great skiing and riding destination,” said Dave Brownlie, Whistler Blackcomb’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Last season we achieved the highest customer satisfaction score in the Canadian ski industry, affirming our reputation for delivering an incredible guest experience. This season we will continue to improve our guest experience by introducing a new “Family Certified” program, developing new Snow School programs, and unveiling the new Wonder Routes.”

The Wonder Routes
Whistler Blackcomb offers the most skiable terrain in North America with: 8,171 acres, 200+ runs, 16 alpine bowls, and three glaciers. With so much terrain to explore, some guests aren’t sure where to start. The Wonder Routes are a network of tours, trails, waypoints and stops that were created to help guests navigate the mountain and discover Whistler Blackcomb’s most wonder-filled places. There are six routes and each showcase a unique aspect to the mountains:

• Top of the World Route – features views from Whistler Blackcomb’s highest four peaks.
• The Steeps Sampler – highlights the steepest ski/snowboard runs on both mountains.
• Size Matters Route – showcases the longest runs on Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain.
• The Gold Medal Route – features points of interest from the 2010 Winter Olympics.
• Family Certified Route – highlights family-friendly areas and points of interest.
• The Powder Stashes Route – guides guests through powder snow areas.