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Neighboring Communities (Myrtle Beach & Florence)
Myrtle Beach:
The nearby stretch of coastline known as the Grand Strand area has beautiful beaches, fine dining, amusement parks, abundant nightlife including live theater performances, water sports, boating and fishing, great shopping, and cultural events and festivals, all within a short drive from Marion County.
Known as the Golf Capital of the nation, the Grand Strand has over 120 golf courses, and so many sporting activities that Sports Illustrated magazine and the National Recreation and Park Association have given the area a new name: Sportstown USA. Sports include the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a Carolina League Class "A" affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, and Coastal Carolina University's intercollegiate sports teams, which compete at the highest level of college sports, NCAA Division I. (Coastal Carolina is a charter member of the Big South Conference.)
Grand Strand shopping features outlet centers, unique shops and upscale malls, with attractions including Ripley's Aquarium, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, the House of Blues, and the Alabama Theatre. Myrtle Beach area events and festivals include the Rivertown Jazz Festival, the Little River Blue Crab Festival, Octoberfest, the South Carolina Bluegrass Festival and the Myrtle Beach Marathon.
Florence:
Within a short drive, Marion County residents can also enjoy the abundance and variety of leisure activities in Florence County. In addition to great shopping and dining, Florence draws regional audiences to its diverse recreational and cultural opportunities. Many visit the Florence City-County Civic Center, the largest convention and entertainment facility in the northeastern South Carolina, for various entertainment events. If you are a NASCAR fan, you will want to catch a race at the nearby famous Darlington Raceway.
The cutting edge health care services also draw many people to the area. With two major hospital systems, McLeod and Carolinas Hospital System, Florence continues to keep its residents as well as its neighboring county residents in the forefront of medical technology and service.
Transportation is a major advantage of the area with a major switching yard for CSX Railroad, and direct rail service to two major seaports in Charleston, S.C., and Wilmington, N.C. The city is strategically located at the intersection of two main thoroughfares, I-95 and I-20, and is also near several other main highways. The Florence Regional Airport provides daily commercial connections to major southeastern and international hub airports in Atlanta and Charlotte. The airport has recently expanded its facilities to better serve the interests of the region and is host to the annual May Fly Air Show.
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