By Michelle Canty

One night recently, we decided to escape the long lines at the restaurants in Myrtle Beach and drive to Conway for dinner.

In 1994, a true culinary gem opened in historic downtown Conway - Rivertown Bistro. Following a fire in January 2008, the Bistro reopened in February 2009 with a new modern, upscale restaurant and refreshing culinary fusion menu.

The urban sleek interior features a chic bar with extensive wine room, open kitchen in the two-tiered dining room, private dining room and a rooftop terrace overlooking downtown Conway.

Executive Chef Darren Smith creates seasonal masterpieces from local and organic farmers and local, wild-caught seafood. Cyndi Smith and Rebecca Snurr are the resident wine goddesses who can assist patrons in selecting the perfect pairings for each dish.

By Christina Lee Knauss

Walk into the shady interior of the Rice Museum on Front Street in Georgetown - and step back in time.

The museum, located in the historic waterfront district, offers visitors a look at the rich and varied history of Georgetown County.

Founded in 1970, the Rice Museum's exhibits are located in two historic buildings - the Kaminski Building, which was previously a hardware store, and the Old Market Building, which includes the clock tower, one of the best-known landmarks along the waterfront. Both buildings date from 1842.

Visitors can take an hour-long guided tour of both buildings, and learn about the Georgetown County rice culture, which made it one of the richest locations in the early United States. Tour guide Phillip Dennis noted that, at one time, the county was home to 150 different rice plantations, which thrived along the county's many rivers, streams and creeks.

In the Old Market Building, detailed dioramas show the entire process of cultivating rice, as well as life on an average rice plantation. A visit to the museum also includes a showing of "Garden of Gold," a 17-minute film which describes the history and daily lives of Georgetown's rice planters.

By Heather Gale

Shagging, the Twist, inflatable slides, food, music, fireworks and games all welcomed more than 2,000 residents and visitors to BB&T Coastal Field June 28 for the annual Myrtle Beach Independence Day celebration.

The event's festive, family-oriented atmosphere has attracted thousands of visitors over the years. This year was no different, as families took to the stadium's playing field with lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Kids split time between eating snacks and running about to play with friends.

Among the visitors was Pier-Francesco Mini, a visitor from Italy, who soaked in the atmosphere from his picnic blanket while enjoying his Burger King. Mini was excited to see a great American pastime in this Independence Day celebration.

"This is a very strange thing for me," he said. "In Europe, we don't have such a celebration. We only see it in movies."

Mini said his cousins Laura Smith and Tommaso Mini, both of Myrtle Beach, brought him to the celebration to show him a good time.

"I really like it," he said. "It is an ideal American experience."

Did you know that 25 airports nationwide now provide non-stop service to Myrtle Beach? The following is a listing of these markets, along with direct links to their Web sites so you can book your summer beach/golf getaway today!

• Allentown, PA (ABE) - Direct Air, Allegiant Air
• Atlanta, GA (ATL) - Delta, Continental, Northwest
• Atlantic City, NJ (AIY) - Spirit Airlines
• Boston, MA (BOS) - Spirit Airlines
• Charlotte, NC (CLT) - USAirways, United Express
• Chicago, IL/ O'Hare (ORD) - Spirit Airlines, United Airlines
• Chicago/Rockford, IL (RFD) - Direct Air
• Columbus, OH (CMH) - Direct Air
• Detroit, MI (DTT) - Northwest
• Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FLL) - Spirit Airlines
• Ft. Meyers/Punta Gorda, FL (RSW) - Direct Air
• Huntington, WV (HTS) - Allegiant Air
• Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, MI (AZO) - Direct Air
• Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (MSP) - Northwest
• New York/LaGuardia (LGA) - Spirit Airlines
• Newark, NJ (EWR) - Direct Air, Continental
• Niagara Falls, NY (IAG) - Direct Air
• Orlando/Sanford, FL (ORL) - Direct Air
• Philadelphia, PA (PHL) - USAirways
• Pittsburgh, PA (PIT) - Direct Air
• Plattsburgh, NY/Montreal (PLB) - Direct Air
• Toledo, OH (TDZ) - Direct Air
• Washington, Dulles (IAD) - United Airlines
• Washington, Reagan (DCA) - USAirways
• Worcester, MA (ORH) - Direct Air

By Christina Lee Knauss

Hawks and owls and vultures, oh my!

That could have been the rallying cry at the Children's Museum of South Carolina in Myrtle Beach on June 24. Handlers from the Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw brought three live birds of prey to show about 40 kids and their parents who turned out for a special exhibit.

The Center for Birds of Prey is a division of the Avian Conservation Center, and offers tours, discussions and flight demonstrations to visitors at its facility on Seewee Road in Awendaw (off U.S. 17 South , about 80 miles from Myrtle Beach). It also provides medical care, rehabilitation and housing for injured birds of prey from around the region, including hawks, eagles, owls and falcons.

The birds came to the Museum as part of a full calendar of special events going on almost daily during the summer. Events include everything from story-telling and special play and exercise sessions to interactive science and art projects.

Courtesy of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, the following is a listing of the many scheduled Independence Day fireworks displays:

• BROADWAY AT THE BEACH (800-386-4662) - Fireworks 4th of July at 10 p.m., and every Tuesday through Sept. 6 at 10 p.m.
• BAREFOOT LANDING (800-272-2320) - Fireworks over the lake 4th of July at 10:15 p.m. (double the length of Monday fireworks), and every Monday until Aug. 31 at 10:15 p.m.
• 2ND AVENUE PIER (Oceanfront Merchants Association - Jonathan Staton: 843-997-6695) - 4th of July fireworks at 9:30 p.m., and on Wednesdays through Aug. 19 at 9 or 9:15 p.m. Best view from Plyler Park or along oceanfront.
• CONWAY (Conway Chamber of Commerce; 843-248-2273) - Riverfest 2009 - June 27, 3-11 p.m. along the Waccamaw River (fireworks at 9:30 p.m.). No fireworks 4th of July.
• LAKEWOOD CAMPING RESORT (5901 S. Kings Hwy., Myrtle Beach; 877-525-3966) - Beach party starts at 6 p.m. 4th of July - Hay rides and beach games, live music, fire pit on beach, fireworks (10 p.m.)
• BB&T COASTAL FIELD (21st Ave N., Myrtle Beach; 877-918-8499) - Myrtle Beach's Independence Day celebration: Gates open 5 p.m. June 28; the Andrew Thielen Big Band will perform "Greatest Songs from Yesterday and Today" beginning 7:30 p.m., followed by fireworks at approximately 9:15 p.m. 4th of July fireworks after the 7 p.m. game.
• CHERRY GROVE PIER (3500 N. Ocean Blvd., North Myrtle Beach; 843-249-1625) - 4th of July fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
• THE MARKET COMMON (Valor Memorial Garden; 843-839-3500) - Independence Day Celebration includes Jewelry Art in the Park (12-6 p.m.); street performers around The Market Common including balloon artists, face painters, Uncle Sam stilt walker, and live balloon art sculpture (4-9:30 p.m.); inflatables and DJ, $10 all-you-can jump wristband (6:30-9:30 p.m.); fireworks (9:30 p.m.)
• MURRELLS INLET (View along the Marsh Walk; 843-357-2007) - Freedom Is Fine in 2009 Boat Parade - 4th of July at 5 p.m. (fireworks at 10 p.m.)
• SURFSIDE BEACH (Pier Area; 843-650-9548) - Independence Day Celebration - 4th of July 6-10 p.m. (fireworks 9:30 p.m.). Steve Fairchild ("Surfside Beach's Garth Brooks") and friends perform 6-9 p.m., plus kids' activities, concessions and free ice cream and watermelon followed by fireworks over the ocean at the Surfside Beach Pier.

By Michelle Cantey

Located between Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island, Brookgreen Gardens encompasses more than 9,000 acres in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Anna Hyatt Huntington's impressive Fighting Stallions welcome guests to her beloved sanctuary, which can entertain anyone who has only a couple of hours or a couple of days to explore its vast landscape of lush gardens, sculptures, wildlife, glimpses into its past, and abandoned ricefields.

A National Historic Landmark and accredited by the American Association of Museums, Brookgreen Gardens features the most extensive collection of figurative sculpture in an outdoor setting by American artists in the world. Brookgreen Gardens Lowcountry Zoo is the only zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on the coast of the Carolinas.

Open year-round, Brookgreen Gardens has seasonal events planned throughout its 9,000 acres. In planning your trip to Brookgreen Gardens, there are three main sections: the Huntington Sculpture Garden, the Center for American Sculpture, and the Lowcountry History and Wildlife Preserve.

By Christina Lee Knauss

There's a reason owners of Ultimate California Pizza describe its signature item as "the perfect pizza picky people love."

With 50 toppings available, Ultimate California offers by far the Strand's most extensive selection of options for pizza lovers seeking a true dining experience.

Since the first location opened at 25th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach in 1990, Ultimate California has become a favorite with locals and visitors. Both groups regularly select it as "Best Pizza" in the Myrtle Beach Sun News' annual Best of the Beach awards.

"Our selection has enabled us to be successful - we were the first on the beach to offer a gourmet pie," said Michael Tomko, director of operations for Ultimate California Pizza.

Diners can "build their own designer pizza" by selecting from the huge list of toppings, which include 17 different vegetables, 10 sauces, seven cheeses, meats ranging from standards such as pepperoni to chicken and salami, fresh fruit and nuts, and a selection of herbs. "Premium" toppings include marinated portabella mushrooms, artichoke hearts, filet mignon, turkey, smoked Gouda cheese and chevre (French goats milk cheese).

The Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art has announced that Grammy Award-winning vocalist Steve Tyrell will headline the 2009 Festival. In his four decades in the music business, Tyrell has achieved great success as an artist, producer, songwriter, music supervisor and performer, earning two Emmy nominations along the way.

Tyrell's performance takes place on Saturday, September 19, 7 p.m. at the performance tent at Brookgreen Gardens. Tickets for this performance are expected to sell out quickly, and will be available for purchase beginning July 1 - either online or by phone (843-626-8911).

With breakthrough performances in "Father of the Bride" and "Father of the Bride II," Steve Tyrell reinvented and re-popularized classic pop standards for a modern-day audience. With the grit and soul of a lifetime, producing hits for artists from Dionne Warwick to last year's Grammy winner Rod Stewart ("Stardust...Vol. 3"), Tyrell himself has sold hundreds of thousands of albums and gained a passionate worldwide following. His hits "The Way You Look Tonight," "A Kiss to Build a Dream On," and "The Sunny Side of The Street" have launched thousands of weddings and millions of romances. Here's a clip from a recent performance on "The Tonight Show":

Pop quiz: What do the U.S. Open and a Myrtle Beach junior golf tournament now have in common?

Answer: Lucas Glover as its champion.

The Greensville, S.C. native and Clemson alumnus picked a fine time to earn his second-ever win on the PGA TOUR, outgunning the world's top two players down the stretch Monday to claim the 109th U.S. Open Championship at Bethpage Black. Glove shared his thoughts on winning his first major with Wendi Nix of ESPN:

Glover's road to major championship glory began in South Carolina, and included victories at the George Holliday Jr. Tournament at Myrtle Beach National in 1992 as well as three consecutive triumphs in the South Carolina Amateur (1998-2000).

Congratulations, Lucas!