Located between Highway 17 and Bob Grissom (not CSI’s Gill Grissom!) Parkway, you will easily find the mega shopping area known as Broadway at the Beach. This 350-acre shopping mecca is beautifully located around a manmade lake. Here you will find multitudes of restaurants, shops, and activities. In fact, you could spend days here alone. The area is divided into three shopping villages: New England Fishing Village East and West and Caribbean Village.

At the Caribbean Village you will find Planet Hollywood and the Hard Rock Café, Celebrity Square, and the Ripley’s Aquarium. New England Fishing Village East is home to the movie theater, the Butterfly Pavilion, Coastal Federal Baseball Field, Dragons Lair, the and IMAX Discovery Theater. New England Fishing Village West is home to Carousel Park, Pirates of the Carolina Coast, Myrtle Waves Water Park, NASCAR Speedpark, and the Palace Theater. Nearby you will find a Fairfield Inn, Hampton Inn, and Holiday Inn Express.

There are a number of chain restaurants here in addition to Hard Rock and Planet Hollywood. There is a Joe’s Crab Shack, Johnny Rockets, and Tony Roma’s Ribs to name a few. Here you can keep going even at night, with a number of nightclubs on the premises. Take a break and climb aboard a water taxi for a relaxing ride. At special times of the year (such as July 4th and New Years), you will find a spectacular fireworks display over the lake. All ages will "oooh" and "aaahh" at the Butterfly Pavilion. This is the first facility of its kind to incorporate a fully enclosed glass butterfly pavilion. The Palace Theater offers a variety of musical concerts, comedy legends, and the only place to find the Rockettes and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. For more information, just go to www.broadwayatthebeach.com.

If you are a shopper, then Myrtle Beach is for you. Broadway on the Beach is a large open shopping center located on the main road, leading in and out of Myrtle Beach. The center has a number of chain shops and some small local shops.

If you are hungry, then you can go to Landrys (seafood), Japanese Steak House (dinner only), Key West (bar and rest), and some small places to get a hot dog or pretzel. Across the street is the NASCAR Cafe, where you can get lunch and then do some go cart racing. Attached to Broadway at the Beach is a mini golf course and Ripley's Aquarium. Finally, if you are looking for some adult action, go back to Broadway at the Beach later in the evening, and the 10 local bars open with a variety of themes to choose from.

Right next to the resort where we were staying is a magnificent new complex on 350 fun-filled acres called Broadway At The Beach. A cluster of 100 specialty shops, 20 dining places, 10 night spots, 14 attractions, and a variety of hotels surround a beautiful big lake. Bridges cross in three locations. The atmosphere is very Disney, but it's free entry and free parking.

The Palace Theater, located at the western end of the complex, offered three stage shows. We opted for Spirit Of The Dance. Ripley’s Aquarium is a fairly new building at the far eastern section of the complex. It is huge and has a great aquarium and excellent exhibits. The Imax Theater offered several shows at one time. Near the southeastern end is a castle. At one end is an erupting volcano. Every once in a while, a monster-size dragon comes out of the castle roof. It’s a place to play miniature golf.

Restaurants are equally exciting. One place near the water has a pirate ship sailing through the second floor. The bow was jutting out of the facade and the stern was coming through the back of the building near the lake. Johnny Rocket’s was definitely '50s. We had dinner at Landry’s, which has a beautiful, formal atmosphere. The French doors were open and we enjoyed watching and hearing the water while '40s music played in the background.

Stores offer unique items and services. Make-Your-Own-Bear allows you to design a bear by picking out the parts. Then the bear is constructed right before your eyes. The advertising booklets for Myrtle Beach offer a $5 coupon for that shop. Our resort gave us a coupon for a free canvas bag that magically becomes colorful in the sun. I redeemed it at Del-Sol. It’s a nice looking item and it's fun to watch it change colors. There were many excellent and expensive clothing and jewelry shops and everything imaginable in gifts and toiletries.

We were there in December. On very cold days the complex is deserted even though most business are open.

This is a area filled with performers along the shopping areas and restaurants. The kids can stop and control boats in the water. There are many restaurants like Planet Hollywood, Landry's Seafood, and many fine dining options. There is an aquarium and simulator rides. On the Fourth of July, this is where they have fireworks shows. It's a great place to go whenever you are in Myrtle Beach.

We enjoyed the shopping area, dining places, and the grandchildren enjoyed the rock climbing wall a nd dancing in the street with waiters from Johnny Rocket's restaurant. Very relaxing walk through the area.