New Park At The Beach !!!

A new amusement park is in the works for the Grand Strand and we're not talking about Freestyle Music Park. The new park will be located on Ocean Boulevard in North Myrtle Beach.

The park is under the direction of Mark Lazarus who owns Wild Water and Wheels in Surfside Beach and was hoping to purchase the recently renamed Hard Rock Park back in February.

The park will offer free admission with a pay per ride program and may open by August 1st. No name has been released but Lazarus says the park would most likely be a throw back to the Ocean Drive Pavilion which was located at the site many years ago. The site for the park is located by Ocean Park near 1st Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.

USA Today Has A few Great Things to say about Myrtle Beach

By Laura Bly, USA TODAY

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — When times were flush, the mom-and-pop motels, condos and vacation rentals strung along a 60-mile stretch of Atlantic coast dubbed the Grand Strand would deliver the same message to footloose August travelers: "Sorry, No Vacancy."

This summer, a sign at Myrtle Beach's Sea Hawk motel reflects a new reality: "We Appreciate And Need Your Business."

And, for the most part, tourist-dependent establishments in one of the South's most popular bargain beach and golf destinations are getting it.


Sure, they've had to slash room rates, boost free concerts and golf rounds, and offer more coupon specials. Yes, cost-conscious vacationers are subbing all-you-can-eat seafood buffets for groceries from Piggly Wiggly, or cutting their stays from one or two weeks to a long weekend. What's more, many Myrtle Beach merchants are still grousing about lost sales after the city voted to crack down on the hundreds of thousands of bikers who roar through on rallies each May.

But the combination of this year's cheaper gas (at least 90% of the area's 14 to 15 million annual visitors drive to get here) and plentiful discounts appears to be paying off. Myrtle Beach had its busiest Fourth of July weekend in four years and hopes for a strong Labor Day and fall golf season as well, despite a 1% increase in the city sales tax that will go toward increased tourism promotion.

At the oceanfront Myrtle Beach State Park, campsites ($29.80-$33.16 a day) are sold out every weekend, and visitor numbers are up considerably from last year. "People tell me they're giving the kids a choice: 'Do you want to stay in a motel and eat out for two days, or camp for a week and cook our own hot dogs?' " says entrance gate staffer Gina Daniels. "It's an easy decision."

ABC commentator Cokie Roberts famously chastized then-candididate Barack Obama for vacationing in "foreign, exotic" Hawaii instead of Myrtle Beach last year, and the Grand Strand's centerpiece is famous for garish billboards, pancake parlors and beachwear emporiums touting 79-cent shark tooth necklaces, free hermit crabs and NOTHING OVER $5.99 (fine print: "special sections only").

Despite a plethora of "gentleman's clubs" — now-defunct Hooters Air was based here, and area golf courses are a big draw for buddy trips — families and couples are mainstays of the Myrtle Beach vacation scene. So are values, from mini-golf courses touting all-day play for $10 a person to free shagging lessons at Fat Harold's Beach Club in neighboring North Myrtle Beach. (No, shagging has nothing to do with the area's strip joints or hitting practice balls: It refers to a popular 1940s step that is now the official state dance.)

One of Myrtle Beach's signature attractions, a beachfront amusement park called The Pavilion, was torn down three years ago — leaving an empty lot and recriminations from nostalgic regulars. But fans of coasters and cotton candy still have options.

At Family Kingdom, an all-day pass to rides like the Swamp Fox coaster and the biggest Ferris wheel in the state costs $23.50. This month, North Myrtle Beach opened the family-friendly O.D. Pavilion and Amusement Park overlooking the Atlantic on the main drag, Ocean Drive.

And Myrtle Beach's former Hard Rock Park, which went bankrupt a few months after its debut last year, reopened this spring as Freestyle Music Park with a softer image, more kid-oriented rides and sharply lower prices. Now, admission is as low as two for $19.99, vs. $50 per person during the park's former incarnation.

"This is a big discount market," says operations director Brian Blanchard, "and everybody is looking for deals."

That includes Bostonian John Gaston-Perry, who has driven down to join extended family for a week at a time-share. Out early on a steamy Saturday morning, he's bragging about bargains between practice swings at a Myrtle Beach driving range. He is impressed with a new weeknight offer at the nearby Tupelo Bay executive course — two play for the price of one, including a cart — and even happier with the used set of eight Mizuno irons he picked up for a song at a local golf store.

For his wife, Jeannine, low prices are merely a bonus after a cold and rainy New England summer. "I'm here for the beach," she says. "And the weather."

A few Local Restaurants

I just wanted to offer some recommendations on great dining in the Myrtle Beach area:

Steaks:

-Carolina Roadhouse-(great salads & baked potato soup as well)

-Longhorn-(same center as Coastal Grand Mall)

-Bovine's Steakhouse- (Murrells Inlet)

-New York Prime- (upscale)

-Cagney's- (fabulous seafood as well) also has a piano bar

Seafood:

-Sea Captains House-(they also do a great breakfast & lunch)

-Divine Fish House-(Murrells Inlet)

-Drunken Jacks-(Murrells Inlet)

-Sara J's-(Murrells Inlet)

-Frank's-(Pawleys Island)

-Lee's Inlet Kitchen (Murrells Inlet)

-Gulfstream Cafe-(Murrells Inlet) waterfront dining at the marina

Burgers:

-River City Cafe-Myrtle Beach & Surfside (WONDERFUL onion rings as well)

Seafood buffet:

-Captain George's

-Original Benjamins (Reastaurant Row)

Italian:

-Villa Romana (prepared from scratch on premises)

-Rossi's (fine Italian cuisine)

-Angelo's (also great for kids as they have a small Italian buffet as well as menu)

Fine dining:

-The Library

-Throughbreds (Restaurant Row)

-Collector's Cafe & Galleria

Mexican:

-Burro Loco

-El Cerro Grande

Japanese:

-Yamato's (Broadway at the Beach)

-Miyabi's (Murrells Inlet & Restaurant Row)

Thai:

-Royal Thai

Delivery: (of course it depends on where you're staying at on whether or not they will deliver)

-Ron Jon's: (variety:burgers, great salads, sandwiches, finger foods, super Blue Plate specials) open until 3am

-Manny's Deli (New York Style subs)

-California Pizza:(great pizza, sandwiches & salads)

A Few Random Things About Ghost Crabs

I've had a few questions lately about ghost crabs, so I thought I might put down a few words about them.














A true crab, the ghost crab belongs in the family Ocypodidae, which also includes the fiddler crabs. Worldwide, there are roughly 20 species of ghost crabs, but O. quadrata is the only one found on the east coast of the United States. The species is a small straw-colored or grayish-white crab, measuring about 5 cm (2 inches) across the back at maturity. Ocypode has
the greatest terrestrial adaptation of any crab in South Carolina, returning only occasionally to the water to wet its gills. It can also moisten its gills by extracting water from damp sand, using fine hairs near the base of its walking legs to wick ground water up onto the gills through
capillary action. Despite this semi-terrestrial existence, the ghost crab’s link to the sea is a critical one that provides not only moisture for its gills, but also the necessary means for development of larvae that are hatched from eggs that the females release at the water’s edge.

Although rarely seen in the winter, during the rest of the year O. quadrata is common or abundant on outer beaches and on more protected harbor beaches near coastal inlets along the coast of South Carolina . Rarely has the species been the target of quantitative study in our state and, despite its abundance, nothing is known of trends in its population status here. Quantitative measures of the population size in South Carolina are nonexistent, although estimates based on burrow counts or nocturnal transect counts could provide a
good measure of abundance. Such efforts have not been undertaken across a wide geographic area within the state.

Ghost crabs are largely nocturnal in nature and it is rare to catch a glimpse of them during the
day. Most feeding activity occurs at night, which reduces predation by visual predators like shorebirds and gulls that might otherwise be capable of exerting considerable pressure on populations of this species. In the event that they do leave their burrow during daylight, their ability to change color to match the sand where they live lessens their chances of being seen on such a foray.

The burrows dug by ghost crabs may be up to 1.3 m deep (4 feet). Their habits of periodically
closing the burrow opening with sand during the hottest part of the day and of remaining within
the burrow through the colder months provide sufficient protection from the climatic extremes
that fully aquatic species rarely encounter. These burrows, which take different shapes beneath
the sand, are found from near the high tide line to a distance as great as 400 m (0.25 mile) from
the ocean. A distributional gradient based on crab age is typical for this species, with younger
crabs generally burrowing closer to the shore than older individuals

Found { http://www.dnr.sc.gov/cwcs/pdf/Ghostcrab.pdf}

North Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach is an excellent beach vacation
that offers endless stretches of powdery white
sand and the crystal blue Atlantic Ocean. These
are all but the beginning of what a truly great
vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is all
about.

No matter if you are looking for a relaxing break
from your daily routine or a vacation filled with
activity, you'll find it all and then some in Myrtle
Beach. There is something for your entire family
here, including miniature golf, water parkers, fine
dining, shopping, and a lot more. Golf lovers will
find paradise in choosing from over 80 pro courses
in the Myrtle Beach/North Myrtle Beach areas.

When the sun goes down in Myrtle Beach, the fun
doesn't stop. Several fine dining restaurants
will tempt you with their delicious food. After
you have dinner you can visit one of the many night
clubs in Myrtle Beach that offers a dazzling array
of entertainment that includes comedy, country
music, rock 'n' roll, and of course the shag music
that the beach is so very well known for.

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of life
you'll find endless stretches of sandy beaches
with the sounds and smells of the ocean. The salt
water marshes here are full of shrimp, crab, oysters
and even fish. No matter what you do, you can't
help but relax as the ocean breeze caress the
amazing landscape of North Myrtle Beach.

Located just eight miles north of the Myrtle Beach
area, North Myrtle Beach offers beaches that are
less crowded, the pace is much slower, and fewer
high rise hotels help to maintain a family oriented
atmosphere. Here, you can take early morning
strolls along the ocean and discover the endless
treasures that nature has left for you and your
family to enjoy.

Try Garden City

Nestled tightly between Surfside Beach and Murrells Inlet in the Grand Strand, visitors will find the subtle community of Garden City. Garden City, much like its neighboring beaches are well known as a family destination which trades the skyscraper-type resorts for traditional beach house vacationing.

Garden City has the quiet feel of a throwback beach community with the reach of the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach just eight miles away. Garden City visitors can look forward to a relaxing stay, trading the sometimes chaotic resort vacation for a “home away from home” feel.
The tranquility that can be felt while in Garden City can be thanked in part to the tragedy of Hurricane Hazel in 1954 which swept through the Grand Strand and only left two houses standing in Garden City. Since, Garden City has been rebuilt to almost 8,000 housing units with almost 10,000 residents according to the 2000 U.S. census.

In the heart of Garden City is the Garden City Pier. The pier is 668 feet long and admission is free to enjoy the Atlantic Ocean view and check out the fishermen’s daily catches. The pier also houses an arcade which has games for all ages and a café where visitors can dine with an ocean view. During the summer nights, the pier turns into a concert venue where visitors can enjoy live music under the rain shelter at the end of the pier.

Surrounding the pier are family-owned shops and stores with everything from groceries to beach entertainment items. More arcades can be found in the area surrounding the pier, including Slick Tracks Family Amusement Park which is home to the premier entertainment spot in Garden City with rides and go-cart racing. And one cannot leave Garden City without stopping into Sam’s Corner which has been a staple in the diet of visitors for years.

South of the Garden City Pier on Waccamaw Dr. is the Marlin Quay Marina which specializes in charter fishing trips and parasailing. In fact, Marlin Quay is the longest running parasailing business on the Grand Strand. While at Marlin Quay, one can eat lunch at the marina’s grill or take something to-go from the marina’s convenience store.

If golf is your forte, Garden City is the home of one of the most popular courses in the Grand Strand, Tupelo Bay Golf Center. Tupelo Bay houses an 18-hole course along with a 9-hole par 3 course and Runaway Bay, a 36-hole miniature golf course.

Garden City is a quiet beach community, but what it lacks in size makes up for in a “true” beach experience. It is what Myrtle Beach used to be before it gained its popularity and grew to tremendous heights. People who remember Myrtle Beach how it “used to be” love Garden City and come back to enjoy the quaintness that its beaches offer year after year.

Just a Little South: Surfside the Family Beach

This prime location was first known as Roach's Beach, with only one two story building in 1893. In 1952, the undeveloped beach was renamed Surfide Beach and became a popular family beach.

Surfside Beach is located directly south of Myrtle Beach is the tranquil seaside town of Surfside Beach, or what many have come to call it "The Family Beach." You will not find Surfside Beach to be as busy as Myrtle Beach, but to many that is the biggest selling point of the community.

Unlike most of the other towns that make up the Grand Strand, Surfside Beach has no huge oceanfront resorts. In fact, The Days Inn Surfside Beach Resort is one of the only oceanfront hotels located in Surfside Beach. Vacationers who visit Surfside Beach opt for the privacy of renting beach houses in lieu of the goliath-sized resorts that can be found throughout Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach.

That's not to say that Surfside Beach is not popular with vacationers. With its four campgrounds, Surfside Beach is the Mecca for those who trade plush amenities for the neighborly feel that campgrounds provide.

Pirateland, Myrtle Beach Resort, Lakewood and Ocean Lakes Campgrounds make it easy for guests who prefer the great outdoors to enjoy the beach and nature all while being just minutes from the entertainment and nightlife that Myrtle Beach has to offer.

With the Surfside Pier located directly in the center of Surfside Beach, fishing is one of the main activities that can be enjoyed by its vacationers. For younger visitors, a day in Surfside will fly by at Wild Water & Wheels Theme Park which offers water slides, go cart racing and miniature golf.

Nightlife in Surfside Beach evolves around many of its smoke-free bars and restaurants. In fact, Surfside Beach is the only town in the Grand Strand that has banned smoking in all of its public buildings.

Legends in Concert is the largest theater attraction in Surfside Beach, giving a home to celebrity impersonators from the likes of Elvis Presley, Madonna, Garth Brooks, Rod Stewart and The Blues Brothers among others.

Like all of the other towns that make up the Grand Strand, Surfside Beach does not have a shortage of restaurants. Crabby Mike's is the premier seafood restaurant in Surfside, serving over 120 items in its calabash-style all-you-can-eat buffet. Latitude 22 and River City Café are restaurants in Surfside that give guests an ocean view while dining and Spencer's Sports Bar is the main hangout for guests looking to catch the big game while on vacation.

Surfside Beach is a quiet, peaceful, yet enjoyable place to call home while vacationing in the Grand Strand. Within minutes of Myrtle Beach, Surfside offers tranquility in what can sometimes seem like chaos if visiting during the peak of the summer season.

Some tips for fun

Our Secret Suvinior: Another thing I do when I go is I make my own suvinior of the beach. I take an empty, dry, clean bottle, like a small gaterade bottle and fill it with dry sand that I find close to the walkways to the beach. DRY SAND ONLY!! You can even use a seeve, and after you fill the bottle, seeve through sand and put more 'objects' in the bottle. Lots of fun finds as you spin through the sand, looking to see what you find. You will be suprised! Kids love it and I put one on my desk at work, co workers play with it too, seeing what they can find. I'll take a Picture of the one I made 5yrs ago and post it. I know I posted this on this forum a couple years ago, but it will fit here also. Yes, Remove the Label!

Dinner Planning: By now I know what my favorite places are to eat and try to squeeze in something new. I know I have to get Crabby Mikes in at least once and some dinners we will cook in. I try to plan out when and where we are going the night before so we can plan the next day accordingly. Breakfast and Lunch are in the condo, probably on the balcony over looking the ocean.

I go through many myrtle beach websites and get an idea of things to do that I can't do when I'm home, like visit a light house, shell/treasure hunting, bodyboarding ect. and put them as a Must do. Most of these things are free or low cost if you research coupons and websites. Mini golf, water parks, amusement parks.. stuff like that I can do here so we save that for last if we have time and/or money.

Grocery Shopping: I always either buy too much or not enough. Meal planning ahead of time is good and STICK TO IT. I think this year we will go the store at least twice. The first time to get meals for the first few days. Left over stuff or stuff we didnt cook that we had planned, we will cook before going shopping for more. Which brings me to a new post that I will do shortly. lol

Shopping: I have nothing on that. I'm not much of a shopper and just kinda drive around and read store fronts for sales. OR use the coupon book. lol I hear The Gay Dolphin is a fun store to visit, so I may do that. Anyone have a fav store they like because of bargains or specialtys? I was told I have to visit the xmas store years ago and I never did.

Attractions: I always have to consider the kids and the total cost amt so we limit what we do and where we go. This is also still in research. The pirate ship sail boat ride sounds interesting though. We always do a dolphin watch and have learned NOT to dothe speed boat unless you wear goggles (not supplied, just my suggestion) and don't mind getting wet/soaked. Younger kids, especially, usually don't like salt in their eyes... The Aquarium is a must for first timers, but I don't think I want to pay to do it again.

REST AND RELAX the day before you are scheduled to leave. The day you are leaving you wont feel as if you forgot to do something because as you were relaxing and resting, it probably would come to you and you can get it done, assuming its nothing too major that requires reservations. AND you still feel rejuvinated before you head home.

82 Things To Do At Myrtle Beach

1. Soak up some sun while laying on the beach. Cost -Nothing
2. Shellin Cost -Nothing!
3. Window shopping!! Cost -Nothing
4. Watch the Sun Set/Rise (Cost-Nothing)
5. People watch (at times...priceless)
6. Fishing/Crabbing
7. Sit on the deck watching the ocean roll in - cost nothing
8. Watch a storm from the same spot - cost nothing
9. Wander the really large flea market near Murrells Inlet - Cost nothing ( unless you want it to)
10. Ride up ocean drive from downtown Myrtle until you have to go back out to hwy 17 and look at the beautiful homes and different resorts - cost nothing
11. Walk out on a pier and talk to the people fishing which is fun, interesting and - costs nothing
12. Grab a margarita at one of the pier bars - $5 at most
13. Float around out in the ocean and try to hop the waves - cost nothing except when u miss and go under ( and if you forget and wear ur sunglasses...it will cost you those)
14. drift through shops like Wings and look at the same things they had last year - which if ur smart will cost nothing
15. Go over to the mall at Murrell's Inlet when it's raining and get a manicure or pedicure - $20 to $30
16. Ride up to Calabash and walk around that huge store there looking....good hour or two - doesnt have to cost
17. Boggie Boarding
18. Try out some new restaurants and go back to the ones you love..cost...depends
19. Kick the kids out of the room and....well....you know...use your imagination!
20. Build a sandcastle to look like an Aztec temple. Get creative.
21. Take a dinner cruise on the Intracoastal Waterway.
22. Head over to Murphy's Law for a cheap cold draft beer - cost minimal. Hangover possibility - favorable
23. Crocodile Rocks - (Priceless if a Bachelorette Party is in attendance)
24. Pavilion Nostalgia Park - walk around and remember how they stole years of your childhood from you (Free if you don't ride)
25. Comedy Cabana - Take in a show (Expensive Cover and 2 Drink Min. the last time I was there)
26. Bungee Jump at Air Boingo
27. Shoot to the sky at Slingshot
28. Rent jetskis and/or take a dolphin tour...price $125 +$5 per extra rider (3 person max or 450 lbs whichever is 1st)
29. Walk the beach aimlessly at night and play keep away from the waves.....I love doing this - I'm the dork you see doing this!!!!
30. Feed the Giant Fish at Broadway at the Beach (Cost = $0.25)
31. Middle of the night....Sex on the Beach....and I don't mean the drink - priceless
32. Get it on, on the balcony
33. Putt Putt (fairly cheap)
34. A long shower (not my water bill)
35. Jumping on the beds (not my bed)
36. Getting Sand in the bathing suit and can't get it out. ( cost 5 hours of my time). But I rode some awesome waves.
37. Awesome photo opps all over the place (cost = time + prints)
38. Bronze or red (depends) glow from spending time in the sunshine! (cost - depends if you tan or burn and how red you get)
39. Dancing on the beach
40. Picking up the ladies (Cost = Your Pride, Ego, Possible Drink in the face, but could be priceless ending smile.gif
41. Find a new job and house
42. Watch TV33 over, and over, and over, and over....you get the idea.
43. Head down to Georgetown for a cruise of the pirate ship The Jolly Rover.
44. Get a dozen Hot-N-Now Krispy Kreme Doughnuts - Soooo Good! (Cost = $7-$8)
45. Hunt for Ghost Crabs on the beach at night (Cost = Price of Flashlight).
46. Play the Baseball Arcade Machines; Win a stuffed animal for your sweetheart (Cost = $0.25 at the Boardwalk, $0.33 at Garden City Arcade)
47. IMAX 3-D Movie - Broadway at the Beach (Cost = $11 - $15)
48. Myrtle Beach Pelican's Minor League Baseball Games - (Cost = $7 - $11)
49. Maze Mania - Human Sized Maze - Garden City - (Cost = $4 - $7)
50. Banana Boat Rides - Ocean Water Sports - (Cost = $15)
51. Play Vollyball
52. Lazy River
53. Sit on the beach & read the "wrapper planes" banners as they go by...Andrew calls them that!
54. Sidewalk shop at Broadway at the Beach
55. Visit Alice's Grave (Alice Flagg) at All Saints Church Cemetery in Pawleys Island
56. Search for "The Gray Man" before an impending storm occurs - Pawleys Island and surrounding area
57. Watching the drunks do Karaoke
58. Go to IHOP in the morning for that chicken Omelet
59. Parasail
60. Meet new people and find kids for your kids to play with before they drive you crazy & vice versa!
61. Watch a storm out at sea....truly awesome!
62. Yell "SHARK" and watch everyone freak out, realize you were being an idiot and then watch you get arrested while they throw their picnic lunch items at you..
63. Drinks at Celebrations!
64. Karaoke at Broadway Louie's.
65. Chill and stroll around Barefoot Landing. (Gotta show some love to the north end).
66. Stroll Brookgreen Gardens.
67. Stroll Ocean Blvd and pop into random resorts to check out the lobbies...and to use the restroom
68. Fly kites on the beach
69. Visit the Children's Museum
70. Check out the different bikes during bike week (and try not to go deaf from some of them)
71. Watch 32
72. Record 32 with camera phone or whatever and post on youtube or similar
73. Cruise Ocean Blvd all night in a big, tricked out diesel, fully loaded truck with all of your 18 year old friends in the bed of the truck - cost? daddy's money
74. Go to the mall and get a back rub in the water bed.
75. Look for a resort to get married at.
76. Go enjoy a day at Family Kingdom Amusement Park
77. And a day at Freestyle Music Park
78. Check out all the exhibits at Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum.
79. Openly ridicule the morons who neglected sunscreen while vacationing at a beach.
80. Ogle the golden tanned eye candy on the beach, but using caution so as not to ogle anyone under age.
81. Fireworks three days per week....all summer long.
82. Lose your lunch on the Slighshot ride on Ocean Blvd.

Just a start

One of the top domestic tourist destinations in the continental United States. With nearly 14 million visitors a year, it is no surprise that Myrtle Beach, with over 60 miles of warm, sandy beaches, is such a popular vacation choice for millions of Americans. If limitless vacation options are what you are looking for, then Myrtle Beach has them and Myrtle Beach.com has the information about them, giving you finger-tip access to information on Myrtle Beach hotels, golf courses, restaurants, shopping and everything there is to know about the "Grand Strand".