MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA...MORE THAN THE GOLF CAPITAL

                                                          

The  Basics                                               

 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina the Golf Capital of the World.  Located just south of Carolina borders with it's lush green golf courses and sun 218 days a year it's a golfers paradise. What about those of us that aren't golfers?  Does this sunny strip of beach town offer us something? Of course it does!  This is a single, couple and family friendly town.  With a population of roughly 27,820 people Myrtle Beach and it's surrounding area offer the weary traveler and anxious tourist a relaxing and fun time.  Traffic runs lazily along the length of the coast via highway 17

The Eastern seaboard is a treasure trove of beaches, tourist traps and places that make a person long for summer vacation to hurry up and get here. As one of these little gems Myrtle Beach offers obviously multiple golfing locals, the Boardwalk on a sweet little inlet and a strand of muted tan beach that beckons your feet to sink into her shores. See the link for a map and more information of the great shops and restaurants on the boardwalk.  www.broadwayonthebeach.com Helicopter tours and water parks round out the family fun to be found at Myrtle Beach.


Favorite Places to Eat in Myrtle Beach
My top two favorite restaurants in Myrtle Beach are Landry's Fish house and Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse. If you've never had a Brazilian steakhouse it's an experience.  For $30 you get a plate, a salad bar and all the meat you can eat.  They give you a little paper circle with green for go on one side and red for stop on the other.  Believe me, even the hungriest person will use the red side at some point. While Landry's is a seafood lover's dream.  I'm partial to the Shrimp Enbrochette, any of their fresh fish with the creamy Pontchartrain sauce on top  and their Banana Foster's dessert is heaven.  Both places are a little pricy at $30-$40 a plate, but well worth the eats.
If you don't get the Banana Foster's follow it up with a scoop of ice cream from Ben and Jerry's on the Boardwalk. Everything but the... is my new favorite flavor!  You'll want a walk around the Broadway to walk off dinner and take a little time to feed the ducks.  Jimmy Buffet's Margaretville has opened up on the Boardwalk as well, but the last time we tried to get in there the wait time was over two hours. 

Favorite Strip of the Beach for My Chair
The Myrtle Beach State park is by far my favorite beach to go to in the Myrtle area.  When you sit on the beach you can see the city in the distance on either side, but you feel still feel transported to solitude with the surf crashing against your tension bringing you to a better state of mind.  I like the fact that the bathrooms and foot showers are a short jaunt up the beach or down the fishing pier.  They are kept pretty clean for a public bathroom.  Might just want to remember some Kleenex or toilet paper in your car.  They run out in the women's bathroom frequently.   There's a small gift shop on the pier where fishing licenses can be purchased along with bait and ice cream.  Quite the combination!  It's worth noting that Huntington State Park is just south of Myrtle Beach.  I haven't been there, but I've heard several people recommend it.  You can see on the map just a bit down from Myrtle's State Beach.

Wedding Local
Although Myrtle Beach itself doesn't allow weddings on their beaches, both North Myrtle and Surfside (south of MB) are excellent places for couples looking for nuptials in a beautiful location.  Married on the beach myself, I can say there are few things like the sound of the surf in the background, the warm sand on bare feet and usually a small party of friends and family around for that all important day. 
Here's where I'm giving my friends at Right Move Photography a plug.  Thank you Tere Baxley and Lee Rivers for the donation of pictures for this week's blog .  If you need a photographer for that beach wedding I  recommend Right Move Photography.  Check out their website at www.rightmovephoto.com.  They also do senior portraits, maternity pictures, if you want it photographed they are creative and fun!

 Other Noteworthy Things
N. Myrtle Beach is the Shag capital.  There is live music every night of the week at Fat Harold's, Ducks and several other local establishments.  Shag is the state dance for South Carolina and you will find performers all over the strip.
Every ocean is different.  The Gulf is clear almost crystalline with it's white beaches.  The Pacific is blue almost matching the sky on many a day.   The Indian Ocean gives off a blue green cast.  The Atlantic grey and dark always pulling her secrets back.  No matter which ocean you choose to visit very few people leave with all of their heart intact.