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.

Myrtle Beach Fires Consume Coast

Myrtle Beach is currently experiencing some of the worst fires that we've seen in a while on the East Coast; the damage caused by the quickly spreading flames has become so bad that authorities are discussing the possibility of the fire "moving to North Myrtle Beach."

According to the Charlotte Observer, 40 homes have already burnt down, between 8,000 and 9,000 acres in Horry County have been torched and 2,500 residents (or visitors) have been forced into emergency shelters.

For now, our thoughts and prayers go out to anyone down in the Myrtle Beach area that might be in danger; we'll have more as this story develops.

FareFinder: Tuesday, March 24

VacationMyrtleBeach.com offering Grand Strand resort specials starting at $48 a night.

The four-star Post Hotel Weggis in Switzerland offering a two-night Spring Awakening package that includes accommodations, meals, wellness treatments and mountain bike rentals for $780.

Continental.com last-minute airfare specials this week include Newark Liberty to Bermuda for $149 or Montreal for $128 and Houston to Mexico City for $209. All prices are for roundtrip tickets.

Delta.com partnering with Sandals Resorts to offer a four-night all-inclusive vacation to Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa for $1,149 per person, including airfare.

The St. Regis Washington, D.C. offering a Weekend Traditions package that includes accommodations, breakfast at the elegant Adour restaurant and complimentary valet parking, starting at $395.