Every year, we do what thousands, if not millions, of Americans do and use a portion of our tax refund to take ourselves on a much needed vacation. This year, we went to Myrtle Beach. I must say, it’s not a destination that we placed…Read More

Every year, we do what thousands, if not millions, of Americans do and use a portion of our tax refund to take ourselves on a much needed vacation. This year, we went to Myrtle Beach. I must say, it’s not a destination that we placed high on our list of places to go. In fact, I often make fun of it. (I’m sorry, I just can’t get the image of Jake Gyllenhall’s mother saying that she’s going to move there in the film "October Sky" out of my mind whenever I think of it.)

Anyway, with me being pregnant and supposedly on bed rest and us wanting something different we decided to do the regional thing this year. I’ve always kind of viewed Myrtle Beach as the place to go when you can’t really afford to go anywhere else but you want to feel as though you’re going someplace tropical. I went there once as a kid (in January, no less) and I thought it was fun, if not kitschy, even at the time and even at my grand old age of 12.

But, off we went.

First, I got lots of conflicting reports and opinions about where to stay. We don’t normally "do" condos because, frankly, the idea of cooking on vacation turns my stomach. Isn’t the point of going on vacation being able to get away from household chores? But someone recommended a place to us that had apartment type units, while still having daily housekeeping, a pool, and other amenities and it was right on the beach. Tired of sifting through the hundreds of other choices, we booked it.

The trip itself was…interesting. The hotel was nice and we loved our view from the 16th floor. We also loved the fact that we could literally walk right out the back door and have sand at our feet.

Going there in March had us facing difficulties: some that we had thought of beforehand and some that we didn’t consider until we got there. For one thing, it was cold. We expected that. But not only was it cold, it rained almost every day and was very windy. This didn’t stop us from playing in the sand a couple of times, but it did mean that we couldn’t spend a lot of time outdoors.

Unfortunately, most of what Myrtle Beach has to offer is outdoors. Had it just been my husband and myself this would have been fine. He’s from England and has never spent time on a warm beach. Trying to explain to a 4 year old why we couldn’t go swimming in the "cool" pool with dragon, do a lot of the outdoor games, go to the amusement park, or do a variety of other things because they were closed for the season was depressing.

We did play a lot of mini golf, though.

Since so much stuff was closed, we ended up blowing most of our money on lavish meals. Myrtle Beach has some expensive dining going on! I think we sampled a little bit of everything. We also managed to do some shopping at the outlet mall.
In the end, it was a nice trip. Our son enjoyed looking for shells and we liked hanging out and enjoying the balcony and the low rates that we got for the week. We all liked having the beach virtually to ourselves.

If we returned, however, I think we would try to go back in season.
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We have used the serices of RCI to book vacations on more than one occasion, and have been very pleased with the staff there and the resorts they booked for us. If this continues to be the case, then our timeshares were some of the…Read More

We have used the serices of RCI to book vacations on more than one occasion, and have been very pleased with the staff there and the resorts they booked for us. If this continues to be the case, then our timeshares were some of the best investments we ever made!   Close

TIPS FOR THE SAVVY MINIATURE GOLFER First, before we begin, let’s get one thing straight: I’m not talking about miniature golfers. Hope that clears that up. Now we can proceed with our exciting discussion of mini-golf. Oh, and another thing: I'd…Read More

TIPS FOR THE SAVVY MINIATURE GOLFER

First, before we begin, let’s get one thing straight: I’m not talking about miniature golfers. Hope that clears that up. Now we can proceed with our exciting discussion of mini-golf.

Oh, and another thing: I'd hate to think that any of you out there would ever use the term "putt-putt," a term frowned upon in serious mini-golf circles. You never hear anyone in the PGMA (that’s the Professional Miniature Golf Association) refer to the sport as "putt-putt." That’d be like calling table tennis "ping-pong," now wouldn’t it? It’s hardly a fitting term for a sport under serious consideration as an alternative Olympic event.

Trybal Island Mini-Golf

Myrtle Beach is home of the United States ProMiniGolf Assocation, which in turn is affiliated with the World MiniGolf Sport Federation. People make a good living out of playing mini-golf, and competition is fierce at the two major U.S. tournaments – the Masters and the U.S. Open. The Masters was held in Myrtle Beach just last October, on one of the very courses I played… but I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s move on, shall we?

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR MINI-GOLF VACATION

In order to get the most out of your mini-golf vacation, it’s important to know a little about the basic types of mini-golf courses, mini-golf etiquette, and the aesthetics of mini-golf.

There are eight basic types of mini-golf courses in Myrtle Beach, six of which will be described here: Hawaiian Golf, Jungle Golf, Dinosaur Golf, Translocated Golf, Disaster Golf, and Pirate Golf. Which golf is right for you?

Well, it really doesn’t matter what you want; that is, if you have children. If children are involved, then the basic Placation Rule applies: Whatever strikes the little cherubs’ fancy - which is usually the first course they lay eyes on - becomes the course that’s right for you. If you are lucky, that will be one of the state-of-the-art mini-golf establishments, such as Mutiny Bay. If you’re unlucky, it will be the washed-out 1960’s-style course with one pathetic windmill sitting semi-derelict on the outskirts of town.

But let’s just consider the optimal scenario, in which there are no children involved. In that case, you have a difficult decision to make. Should you go for thrills and chills at Captain Hook’s Adventure Golf, with its glowing skull cavern and animatronic mermaids, or should you opt for a more traditional tropical setting, such as at Jungle Lagoon Golf ? Frankly, it’s a tough call, and I’m not going to make it for you.

MINI-GOLF DO’S AND DON’TS

Okay, I’m going to tackle the big question head on: What do you do if someone in your party chooses the golf ball color that matches your outfit?

When this happens, you should refrain from hitting the offending party over the head with your putting iron. With a gracious smile, you select whatever unattractively colored ball remains, gray or whatever, and act as if you are completely indifferent to such trivial concerns as color-coordinated golf balls.

Then, first chance you get, you accidentally knock her ball into the lagoon. Whoops!

Rainbow Falls Mini-Golf

Another delicate matter is how deal with the player who is taking forever to line up his shots. In mini-golf, it’s considered a social gaffe to say things like, "HIT THE BALL, DAMMIT!"   No. What you should say is, "Oh no! I think I left one of your car windows down!" I find that generally speeds things up.

MINI-GOLF AESTHETICS

Unlike regular golfers, who, as we know are legally colorblind and thus have no idea that they’re wearing a flamingo-pink polo shirt matched with chartreuse golfing pants, mini-golfers are sensitive beings, attune to every nuance of their environment. This is why they prefer the uniformly green surface of artificial turf, and why meticulously landscaped courses are so prevalent on the ProMiniGolf circuit. Granted, it does nothing to explain the Peptol-Bismol pink Taj Mahal behind the mauve giant octopus at Rainbow Falls Mini-Golf, but even mini-golf designers suffer from occasional lapses in taste.

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

In the high-stakes arena of mini-golf course financing, it’s recognized that the enterprise with the biggest artificial waterfall or most realistic pirate ship will survive. This has led to fierce competition among designers of Myrtle Beach’s 47 mini-golf parks. However, here are the recent trends I’ve noted in modern mini-golf course design.

HAWAIIAN GOLF

I’m not sure what the connection is between Hawaii and golf, but Hawaiian mini-golf is here to stay. In Myrtle Beach, there’s a trio of associated Hawaiian golf courses, the most popular of which is Hawaiian Rumble, featuring a rumbling, smoking volcano that explodes in a fiery blast approximately every twenty minutes.

My son and I played this course at night, which is a terrific time to observe the pyrotechnics. We especially liked the Jimmy Buffet background music and little touches like the talking parrots in the clubhouse. Hawaiian Rumble bills itself as the "#1 Miniature Golf Course in the World," but, frankly, I found the course itself a little cramped. Great volcano, though, no question about it.

JUNGLE GOLF

Myrtle Beach has continued the proud and ancient tradition of Jungle Golf with a brace of courses such as Jungle Lagoon, Jungle Lake, and Safari Golf. A few of the older courses border on being obsolete, but personally I find some of the older concrete gorillas and zebras have a lot more style than their newer counterparts. Jungle Lagoon combines the best of old-fashioned charm and modern facilities.

Jungle Lagoon Mini-Golf

DINOSAUR GOLF

Let me just state, for the record, that I was really, really disappointed not be able to play the course at Jurassic Golf, which was inexplicably closed the evening we visited. Hey, it might have been Christmas and all, but you’d THINK they’d be a little more accommodating, wouldn’t you?

Jurassic Golf

When I saw the course at Jurassic Golf, I began to appreciate the potential for movie spin-off mini-golf. King Kong Golf. Alien Adventure Golf. Hobbit Golf. Not to mention (and this is almost a sure bet in the immediate future) Pirates of the Caribbean Golf.

TRANSLOCATED GOLF

"Translocated" is a term I’ve come up with to describe any golf course displaying an unusually high degree of geographic or temporal confusion. Technically, all mini-golf courses fall under into this category, as we know that there are no volcanoes or dinosaurs at Myrtle Beach. However, translocated golf takes the fantasy concept to extremes in displays of pointless verisimilitude, such as at Cancun Lagoon.

Translocated golf courses such as Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Golf also encompass ambitious mythologies, which I discuss at length elsewhere.

Mt. Atlanticus

DISASTER GOLF

A number of mini-golf courses have disaster elements, the most common being a shipwreck, but there is one course deserving its own category, MAYDAY! Golf, "Home of the Big Yellow Airplane."

The yellow airplane in question, a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon, is doing a nosedive into the course.

MAYDAY! Golf

There’s also a Bell UH-1 "Huey" Helicopter making an emergency landing in another section of the course. Sadly, this complex was not open during the holidays, which just means we'll have to go back to Myrtle Beach another time to fulfill our disaster-on-the-putting-green fantasy.

PIRATE GOLF*

Pirate Golf be by far t' most popular type o' golf in Mertle Beach. There are, by me count, at least a dozen pirate courses in t' area, and when you consider that thar be also pirate themed amusement parks, restaurants, theater shows, and sailin' trips, it’s clear that pirates be very BIG in Mertle Beach.

True, pirates be arguably part o' t' local history, but let’s not Captain Kidd ourselves, shall we? Pirate golf has nothin' t' do with historical accuracy and everythin' t' do with how cool a schooner looks in t' lagoon o' a mini-golf course. One o' t' more innovative courses features play on deck o' a pirate ship. Shiver me timbers!

*This section was compiled using the English-to-Pirate Translator

Well, sad to say, we ran short of time in Myrtle Beach and weren’t able to explore the exciting possibilities of Dragon’s Lair Golf, Ocean Adventure Golf, or Nascar Golf. Do you suppose that could possibly feature…be still my beating heart…go-cart mini-golf carts?

One can always hope. And where there’s hope, there’s mini-golf.

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I’m happy to report that the art of exaggeration is alive and well in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach being the epicenter of all things that are the World’s Largest, the World’s Greatest, and the World’s Biggest. As the local Ripley’s museum advertises, "Believe It…Read More

I’m happy to report that the art of exaggeration is alive and well in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach being the epicenter of all things that are the World’s Largest, the World’s Greatest, and the World’s Biggest. As the local Ripley’s museum advertises, "Believe It or Not!"

I try hard not to be a complete fuddy-duddy (though my teenage son regularly informs me I fail dismally), but it takes a very naïve person to take all of Myrtle Beach’s claims at face value. Personally, I enjoy suspending disbelief and achieving, if only for a few seconds, that state of perfect gullibility that every advertising executive dreams about.

Take the Myrtle Beach visitor center: Did you know that it’s the world’s largest? Well, anyhow the signs claim it is, and I tried my best to believe them, but it’s just a little bit confusing, see, because by our count there are at least four Myrtle Beach visitor’s centers. Which one is THE largest? Perhaps they mean the largest in aggregate.

Speaking of large things, Myrtle Beach is ground zero for the invasion of Giant Mutant Sea Creatures. There is, of course, the Giant crab, just daring you to enter the restaurant of the same name. Oh, sure, he may look friendly, but I’ve seen enough B-movies to know better. The Giant Crab has obviously put off a number of other wary visitors, for this restaurant has gone out of business.

The Giant Crab

Just when you’re thinking, ‘Phew! I sure am glad I escaped the clutches of the Giant Crab!’ you find there’s something else to worry about. (Begin theme music…):

DUM-dum-DUM-dum-DUM-dum-DUM-dum . . .

Shark Beachwear

That’s right, folks, it’s not safe to go into the beachwear shop anymore. Plus, everyone knows what happens to innocent beachgoers who take inflatable rafts out into the water. They get eaten by a forty-foot Great White Shark, that’s what. This is especially true for young blonde women, who WILL NOT LEARN that it is fatal to engage in hanky panky with their boyfriends in inflatable dingies, especially on Memorial Day.

But enough of this alarmist talk. Let’s look at some fun – and free! - ways to amuse yourself at Myrtle Beach. One of my favorite diversions is reading billboards. I’m here to tell you, in South Carolina they have billboards on top of billboards. There’s a lot of advertising for "gentleman’s clubs," such as the Café Risque and the Wa Wa Spa Oriental Massage parlor, which have a healthy rivalry going with the Bible Factory Outlet Store. You’ll see a sign for the Wet & Wild Adult Novelty and Video Store and then, just a little further down, a gigantic reminder that "Jesus is Lord", exhorting sinners to "Repent!"

It’s hard to decide whose billboard campaign is the loudest and, by extension, most successful, though surely a major contender is Sparky's. All up and down Highway 501, the major traffic artery to the Grand Strand, dozens of huge day-glow signs advertise Sparky’s, the area’s premier purveyor of FIREWORKS. (I’m obliged to use capital letters when I write FIREWORKS. It’s the law in South Carolina, according to Civil Code §20-3-422, which begins, "All citizens shall hereafter refer to any and all pyrotechnic devices as FIREWORKS [upper case]." Granted, I’m in violation of code here by not using three-foot-high day-glow letters, but since this website is based in New York, I can probably claim a technical exemption.)

Sparky's

Sparky’s sells a lot more than FIREWORKS. Where else, under one roof, can you find pecan logs, "Hotter Than Hell" hot sauce, Confederate flag key chains, bottled baby sharks, palmetto T-shirts, boiled peanuts, porcelain collectibles, exotic candy, Indian moccasins, PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN bumper stickers, shark’s tooth necklaces, and genu-wine alligator heads?

South of the Border, that’s where. Yup, this venerable pit-stop off of I-95 has metastasized into the granddaddy of all roadside attractions.

Let’s face it; driving through North Carolina on I-95 is unbelievably dull. Even the prospect of the Big Bass Corn Maze doesn’t do much to liven things up. So, when the billboards for South of the Border begin to appear at relentless intervals, your average I-95 driver is practically mesmerized into stopping in Dillon, S.C. to see what all the fuss is about. We, of course, were no exception. Besides, we needed to use the rest room..

Pedro, guardian saint of South of the Border

Now I can’t even begin to do justice to South of the Border, or SOB as it’s affectionately called. Let’s just start with Pedro. He’s the mascot at SOB and he’s everywhere, most noticeably as the 97-foot-tall figure looming over the entrance. SOB sprawls over 135 acres, an endless procession of eateries, souvenir shops, thrill rides, and novelty attractions. How about a ride up to the top of the Sombrero Tower in a glass elevator? No? Or perhaps you’d like to stay at Pedro’s Pleasure Dome, equipped with its own wedding chapel. Just $99 will get you hitched.

It’s a darn shame, though, that Pedro’s Concrete Bazaar was closed for the season, as I really, really wanted to buy a concrete burro for my front yard. You know, the ones carrying the little concrete baskets? Maybe a little Pedro to lead the burro? That would be cute, wouldn’t it? .

Outside Pedro's Concrete Bazaar

I was in absolute awe - no, wait, in humongous statue bliss - at SOB. Hippos, gorillas, zebras, dolphins, rearing black stallions, saguaro cacti, lions, giraffes, and above all dozens of gigantic PEDROS populate acre after acre of this over-the-top Mexican-themed tourist trap. What’s Mexico got to do with South Carolina? Well, who cares!

But, getting back to things a little more specific to Myrtle Beach, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention golf billboards. Golf is definitely what you’d call a "growth industry," and it’s assuming epidemic proportions as baby boomers age. A baby boomer goes to bed seeming perfectly normal, then wakes up the next morning and thinks, "Hey! This would be a great day to play a few rounds of golf!" It’s all downhill from there. There’s no known cure for golf.

In Myrtle Beach, the afflicted can buy golfing gloves made of Cabretta Titanium Leather at the Golf Dimensions Superstore ("World’s Largest Golf Only Superstore"). I have no idea what the hell Cabretta Titanium Leather is, but it conjures up images of Ricardo Montalban purring, "Cabretta Titanium Leather . . . the richest kind.") Then, after paying a visit to the Golf Ball Outlet ("Used golf balls shipped everywhere"), the newly color blind (another well-known symptom of golf) can join the crush seeking the most egregious pair of golf pants at Martin’s Golf & Tennis Superstore.

Patriotic billboards are also very big in Myrtle Beach. There are several billboards for the Dixie Stampede, which, from what I can tell is a show featuring horses maddened by Dolly Parton waving flags in their faces.

Now, not to nag or anything, but I’d just like take a few moments here to comment on the fact that there’s an appalling lack of nationalistic sentiment in this country. What’s gotten into people? Americans seem just plain reluctant to display the Stars and Stripes these days.

That’s why it’s so heartening to be in Myrtle Beach, where it’s nearly impossible to be out of sight of something red, white, and blue for more than two minutes at a stretch. You can take your pick of American theme shows featuring everything from Elvis imitators in red, white and blue to a sequin-overloaded extravaganza called "BROADWAY! The Star-Spangled Celebration!" Even the gas station owners have gotten into the act, with marquees proclaiming WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.

(This makes me wonder: Just how are they supporting them? Are they sending gasoline to Iraq, by any chance? That would be a good idea, as they could sure use some over there.)

Hands down, though, the winner of my extensively researched South Carolina billboard competition conducted December 25-28, 2003 was the sign spotted on Ocean Drive in Myrtle Beach:

"Peace on Earth – We’ll Fight for It."

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I am three years old and wanted to go the beach so bad. I kept seeing the water and the sand on television; it seemed like so much fun. My mom and dad always said we will go soon, they have to work. Grandma is…Read More

I am three years old and wanted to go the beach so bad. I kept seeing the water and the sand on television; it seemed like so much fun. My mom and dad always said we will go soon, they have to work. Grandma is disabled but I know she loves the beach; she was always talking about it, so I asked her to take me. She never tells me no. She didn't let me down and I did not mind at all when she said it will be just her and I. I couldn't wait. Finally after what seemed forever my grandma and I packed up her car with my bucket for sandcastles and a bunch of other stuff. All I know is I needed a towel, my swimsuit and my bucket.

We got to this place Grandma called Shore Crest, we put up our bags and things; since it was getting late Grandma said we will go to the beach in our shorts and sandals. I grabbed my bucket and away we went. All I could say was "wow" when I saw the ocean, all the waves and the sand. Grandma asked what I wanted to do first and I said "sandcastles". That's what I did on our first evening at the beach. Grandma had her movie camera so when we went back to the room I got to watch myself making sandcastles, running away from waves and everything. I yelled and screamed like I was still out there by the water. It was so much fun. I helped her cook dinner that night she told me I was her "Big Man". I took a bath in a big tub in the room it was like a swimming pool, grandma let me put on my goggles so I could look underwater.

The next day after breakfast we went to the beach really early. We stayed to way after lunch time. I had so much fun. Grandma and I looked for sea shells, ran from waves and I made castles in the sand and used my shovel to knock them down again. We started back to the room and we went to this shower outside. That was fun washing off my feet and hands in a shower outside. Grandma had to drag me out, I really liked it. We went upstairs to our room and ate lunch on the terrace. We could look down over the people's heads. I kept telling everyone "Hi". I could see other buildings and the beach. We watched some video of the beach, it was funny. After I took a nap grandma and I went for a walk. We saw a lot of friendly people, we even saw dogs. I took another bath in the huge bathtub after dinner and went to bed.

The next day we went to the beach one last time. I wanted to get some more seashells for my mommy and make one more sandcastle. I helped grandma pack and we sang songs on the way home. Thank you Grandma for such a good time I talked about it for days afterwards. I can't wait to go again.

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These are a bunch of motels in the same area owned by the same guy under one name: Sea Mist. Because of all these motels, there are 10to 15 pools. There is a family package where you can get access to the water parks and…Read More

These are a bunch of motels in the same area owned by the same guy under one name: Sea Mist. Because of all these motels, there are 10to 15 pools. There is a family package where you can get access to the water parks and theme park and have free breakfast for the entire family (for one day) at Tena's Restaurant. This place has a lazy river in one of its smaller water parks. It's like 4 bucks a day if you don't get the package, which isn't bad. Besides the pool, they also have an indoor sauna and steam room. They have an arcade and lounge/bar with many pool tables.

I went there recently on a family vacation and have gone previously as well. Make sure you don't get oceanfront, as the flooring on the first floors is really bad. My dad the Civil Engineer/Project Manager found code violations in his hotel room, with the bedroom not having any windows. We had a water leak when it rained coming from/behind the A/C unit. It was pretty big but bearable after we put all the towels down and moved everything away from that area.

The best thing is that when we complained, they gave us $50 off, two days of free breakfast for the entire family at their restaurant (46-item buffet), and four coupons for free drinks at the lounge on their site. I think they are really good at keeping the customer happy, because there is always something going wrong.

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Myrtle Beach is a world-class destination. There is something for every taste here. You will find a variety of hotels, restaurants, and attractions as wide as the ocean herself. There weather here is beautiful year-round. The spring and fall offer much cooler weather than the…Read More

Myrtle Beach is a world-class destination. There is something for every taste here. You will find a variety of hotels, restaurants, and attractions as wide as the ocean herself. There weather here is beautiful year-round. The spring and fall offer much cooler weather than the dead heat of the Southern summer. The winter offers a respite from the cold weather found elsewhere. Christmas at the Beach is becoming more and more popular as families decided to spend the holiday relaxing, instead of in a consistent rush.

The most popular times of the year are the summer, spring break, Bike Week in May, and Christmas. If you are coming at any of those times, you will have to plan your trip in advance. Last-minute hotel reservations during any of these times are next to impossible to get. You can go to www.myrtlebeachinfo.com for visitors information and to request a free visitors guide. I highly suggest you do. There are also a lot of great travel guides out there. I purchased a great one from the Insiders guide. Or just get great advice from your fellow travelers here at IgoUgo. No matter which you do, just get the information you need and sit down and plan your trip well in advance. I would allow at least six months in heavy tourist season.

If you love dancing, check out the official dance of the Carolinas-the shag. The shag is an easygoing dance that is easily to learn. Many of the clubs in the area offer lessons. Shagging is danced to what we here call "beach music", or what everyone else may call Motown. Dancers shag to the sounds of the Platters, The Drifters, the 4 Tops, the Temps, or local legends such as the Charmin of the Board or Maurice Williams and the Zodiac. In mid-March, you can check out the National Shag Dance Championships (www.shagnationals.com) or check out the Spring Safari (mid-April) or Fall Migration (mid-September) held by the SOS (Society of Stranders).

There is so much to do here that you could spend weeks here and never get it all done. So during your first trip, make a list of things to do on this trip and save the rest for later. Myrtle Beach is a destination worth returning to again and again. Please come and enjoy our well-known Southern hospitality at one of the most beautiful places on the planet! I know you will be glad you did.

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Transportation is not a problem even without a car. Trolleys and buses make connections to most local places of interest. There were many of them and they were not expensive. The buses are not marked clearly regarding their routes, but the bus drivers and locals…Read More

Transportation is not a problem even without a car. Trolleys and buses make connections to most local places of interest. There were many of them and they were not expensive. The buses are not marked clearly regarding their routes, but the bus drivers and locals at the bus stop are mostly very helpful.

Tropical Taxi is strongly recommended. When taking this taxi to a night show, I asked them to pick me up afterwards. I didn’t know when the show would get out, but they volunteered to call and find out. The taxi was waiting for me when I walked out the front door of the theater after the show!! The drivers were polite, friendly, and very informative. The city regulates cab fares.

For a bus fare of $1.25 one way, you can go to Conway, about 20 miles away, which is the county seat. The bus company office is located here and Senior Discount Cards, which permits half-price fares, are issued for free; they do not expire. Conway is a older small town. This bus ride includes stops at the big outlet malls on Highway 501, the medical center, and college buildings. Another bus route goes to North Myrtle Beach to Barefoot Landing, which is a shopping, entertainment, and dining complex. Several buses stop at Broadway at the Beach, another shopping, entertainment, and dining complex.

Atlantica and Breakers condos are about three blocks apart in the heart of MB on Ocean Boulevard and within walking distance to the library, the Seniors Center, K-Mart, the convention center, main restaurants, and Broadway at the Beach. For about the same money, Breakers is superior in its quality of condos and other amenities, plus it has a great section of the beach.

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The library offers a free 15-minute daily Internet use to check your email on one computer near the front desk. Help is very available if needed. A 3-month library card can be purchased for $8. With a library card you can use an Internet…Read More

The library offers a free 15-minute daily Internet use to check your email on one computer near the front desk. Help is very available if needed. A 3-month library card can be purchased for $8. With a library card you can use an Internet computer on the second floor for an hour daily for free. There are about a dozen of these computers with an employee to help.

Broadway at the Beach has several nightclubs catering to the young adults. Studebakers is a dance place that caters to different age groups on different nights. The music is by a DJ. On a Saturday night, there were lots of singles and the age range was huge. Studebakers is located one block from the beach, Breakers on Kings Highway, and Highway 17 in the heart of Myrtle Beach. Club 2001 is in North Myrtle Beach and caters to those not considered "young adults" anymore. It has different rooms with different kinds of music by live bands and you can go from room to room. Club 2001 is only open at the end of the week.

Little River, which is about 30 miles north of Myrtle Beach, is the location of the gambling boats. The boats have to sail 3 miles out into international waters for gambling, as it is not legal in the state. Take a ride south of Myrtle Beach on Highway 17, going past the state park, which is along the coast and includes beach access. In this same general area is Brookgreen Garden. Going south past the park exit are the little towns mentioned earlier that make up the Grand Strand.

Many of the carnival-type things, like the rollercoaster, are open for the season in late March or April. But they also have many elaborate miniature golf courses, water parks, a NASCAR speed park, aquarium, pavilion amusement park, and more.

One of the local cable TV channels is on 24/7 with live interviews and visits to establishments in the area. You can sometimes get an idea of what you want to visit by watching that channel.

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This is recommended for a short stay or as a snowbird location for single senior citizens as well as others. A beach, sunny days, and other things top its advantages. Myrtle Beach used to be an Air Force town, but when that closed, they decided…Read More

This is recommended for a short stay or as a snowbird location for single senior citizens as well as others. A beach, sunny days, and other things top its advantages. Myrtle Beach used to be an Air Force town, but when that closed, they decided to be a tourist town. A great one it is. It is reported that, after Las Vegas, it is the fastest growing town in the country. However, they are opposites in what they offer.

Whether flying into Myrtle Beach or getting there by car, it’s a friendly place that’s easy to get around. My first trip was the middle of February for two weeks, staying at two different condos. After being home for about a month, I returned to MB (as they refer to it) by car from my home in Iowa. The second trip I stayed for three weeks, again in a different condo each week at the northern end of "The Strand," which is the name given to this coastal area for the area from North Myrtle Beach south through Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City, and Murrell’s Inlet. By the end of March, many college students were present for spring break. About midnight on Saturday, it was bumper to bumper cars cruising on Ocean Boulevard in the area of the Breakers resort (and with fantastic weather the end of February). Not cool or humid! Throughout the year, the population and lodging rates increase for the weekends. Many people can be found walking the beach for exercise either before lunch or after dinner

Meals at nice restaurants are pretty reasonable and the servings are huge. I usually took half the food back to my condo and had it the next day. There are many, many, many buffets if you like those. They also have chain fast food places such as Pizza Hut and McDonald’s, and more. The area claims to have over 1,000 places to eat. .

The salt air is reportedly good for aches and pains. It does help some kinds of arthritis. I speak from experience.

See websites www.MyrtleBeachtrips.com and www.myrtlebeachinfo.com.

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