Summers at the beach: the sunshine, the beach days, the TRAFFIC. From Memorial Day to Labor Day we start to hear about how the locals go “in hiding.” One trip to the grocery store and all you hear about at checkout is complaints about how the tourists have officially arrived!

The truth is, tourism is a HUGE benefit to our overall economy and growth. Some professions rely completely on the summer months to provide their income for the entire year! And while, yes, we do have a slightly longer commute based on the sudden influx of people… how lucky are we to live in a destination where nine months out of the year we have little to NO traffic? That our beautiful beaches are always just a short drive away? That there is always something entertaining going on? From dining to entertainment to music festivals! (Side note: countdown to the Carolina Country Music Festival starts NOW!)

Let us locals take a second to, gasp, APPRECIATE the tourists. And the boost they bring to our local wealth. After all, they are the reason we have all the amazing amenities we do. And, chances are, you were once a summer visitor too until these beautiful beaches and low tax rates converted you into a local. #lovewhereyoulive