Myrtle Beach Cast in Rare Negative Light

One of the most popular beach destinations in the U.S., Myrtle Beach has faced tough headlines in the last week.

Home to outlet malls, myriad golf courses, beautiful beaches and endless rows of vacation rentals, Myrtle Beach normally enjoys positive press and a carefree reputation.

That all changed last week when a fire that began near Conway, S.C. raged out of control burning 30-square-miles and destroying 70 homes. Fog and smoke from the fire were so widespread, many roads in the area have been closed for days.

Firefighters battled hard over the weekend and have contained much of the fire, but a few areas are still burning freely. They're hoping to have it 100% contained by Tuesday evening.

Negative headlines continued with the mysterious disappearance of Brittanee Drexel, a 17-year-old spring breaker from Rochester, New York. Brittanee had been visiting Myrtle Beach with a few older friends when she suddenly disappeared on Saturday night.

Police are investigating the disappearance and Dawn Drexel, Brittanee's mother, appeared on CNN Monday night. So far leads have proved inconclusive.

While Myrtle Beach is generally a fun, safe, family-friendly destination, it's important to excercise caution whenever you're traveling. If you're vacationing at the South Carolina coast this summer, be sure to stay read our Myrtle Beach Safety & Travel Security Guide.