Myrtle Beach in December

Best Things Nearby:
Shopping at Broadway at the Beach, a Disney-like shopping mall, seeing the shows at the Palace Theater and the Carolina Opry, and seeing the Ripley attractions

Best Things About the Resort:
Like most new timeshares, it is architecturally pleasing, nicely decorated and centrally located

Resort Experience:
Very expensive resorts, elaborate shopping areas and lavish entertainment complexes are being built about one mile from the beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Sheraton Broadway Plantation is one of them. You’re glad you arrived when you cross the exquisite bridge leading into that resort. We were there in December, and although it was cold most of the time, the grounds still had blooming pansies.

We were surprised when we discovered our two-bedroom condo was actually two units, an A and B unit. The decor was built around yellow daffodils and blue carnations. Dutch Delft vases and lamp bases gave a homey atmosphere. The bamboo and rattan furniture was comfortable and carefree. Both units were nicely color-coordinated using multi-colors for the drapery and bedspread with a basic but expensive upholstery fabric on the furniture. Walls are painted yellow, and the emerald-green carpeting is in good condition.

Interesting detail in the cathedral ceiling added to the enjoyment of being there. The jacuzzi for two and huge glassed-in shower in the master bedroom gave the place a romantic touch. Outside on our balcony we could see the pond behind our unit. The grounds are nicely landscaped. In the clubhouse you will find the elaborate lobby, as well as the pool and a nice big exercise room. The pool has a basketball hoop and volleyball net to keep things interesting. It's an indoor/outdoor pool, but it would be too cold to swim outdoors in December. There’s shuffleboard, racquetball, and volleyball courts as well as tennis at that resort. I also noticed an interesting playground for small children in the southwest corner of the resort.

At the present time, there are 252 units available, with more under construction.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Good

When I was a child, my family went to an amusement park that has a huge lake right in the center of it. Sitting in a restaurant and hearing music from the bandstand was a wonderful treat. Cheerful songs like The Red Red Robin Goes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along made the adults playful and my mother was ecstatic over dishes served with clams and oysters. We didn’t choose Landry’s at Broadway At The Beach in Myrtle Beach, SC, because we knew the atmosphere was the '40s, we chose it because it was a nice-looking seafood restaurant and we were hungry. After being seated near a window overlooking the water, one song and then another brought back those early childhood memories and a need to taste oysters.

My husband surprised me by ordering a fancy drink for me. Frozen-Waves-at the Beach was gorgeous, served in a tall beer glass with a slice of orange and a cherry, and the rum and banana in blue slush was delicious.

From the lunch menu we both ordered Fried Seafood Platter $10.95. First a crisp salad, including a mixture of lettuce leaves, tomato wedges, sliced Red onion and croutons with Italian salad dressing poured on top, was bought in a large serving bowl and we helped ourselves. A small freshly baked loaf of dark wheat bread, still in its baking dish, was served with the salad. When the dinner was served the fish was very fresh, the shrimp were jumbo size and the oysters were done to perfection. A generous portion of thick fries and cole slaw were included with the dinner.

We both remembered our early childhoods at The Lake, so we ate slow to enjoy the experience, but eventually we were full, so we didn’t order dessert.

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.

Although we bought a ticket for all three Ripley attractions (The Haunted Adventure was closed), Ripley’s Aquarium is in a different league than Believe It Or Not and The Moving 4-D Theater. It is also in a different location. The Aquarium is located at Broadway at the Beach and is one of the hottest attractions there.

The day we decided to visit, it was overrun by schoolchildren whose main ambition was to locate Nemo. A lecture was being offered just as we arrived. Sharks. We learned about all the different species in the aquarium by becoming familiar with their jaw formation and size. It is refreshing to know sharks don’t really like eating humans; however, they will bite in order to identify an object.

Next we walked past the piranha tank. Ferocious as they are, they look harmless. Another fish, the Anthunae, a grouper, can change its sex if there’s a shortage of males or females. Next we went to Rainbow Rock, a cave-like room. There was a presentation and dive show (a diver was inside the tank and an interpreter talked about what was going on). The habits and appearance of huge swarms of fish were discussed as the diver gave them food.

From there we entered Dangerous Reef. A glidepath (conveyor built) rode us through a glassed-in pathway. Six-inch clear acrylic walls allowed 12-15 foot sharks to swim over our heads. The nurse shark smiled at us with his many rows of teeth. He can’t close his mouth or he’ll bite himself and bleed to death. He sucks in (nurses) his prey and swallows it whole. The sawfish, another 10-footer, glides through the water expecting no danger.

The stingrays were kid-friendly because their stingers had been removed. We watched the dive show and then went upstairs, where the diver encouraged everyone to pet the stingray. One little boy was leaning over the edge of the tank and the fish whipped up and brushed him with his nose. The boy decided to look from a distance after that.

We bought the tickets for all three Ripley attractions for $34.50 Senior price. The Aquarium only would have cost $16.95. It was well worth it. The aquarium is open seven days a week 9am-6pm.

The 4-D Theater

The chairs in the 4-D Theater look like giant black infant car seats. Once we were strapped in we were ready to go. Wearing 3-D goggles, we were in an assimilatory condition flying through a log jam. We had a hologram ghost logger as our guide. The log went through troughs made of iron bars and we almost got hit several times. Occasionally we fell into water but didn’t get wet. I’m grateful for that. I hate wet. There were two segments but both had the same conditions, speeding through space, quick turns and falling. Our chairs cooperated fully with what was being shown on the screen. It was interesting but the details in the movie weren’t crisp enough. It looked as though there may have been a light leak in the theater.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not

Cartoons drawn by Robert Ripley were his first attempt at bringing everything from the amazing to the macabre to a very interested public. For those who chose not to believe, Ripley collected the actual items as proof. Eventually he opened museums displaying his collections. Myrtle Beach has a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum. A video of a man hammering an eight-inch spike into his nose is followed by another man swallowing seven swords. Don’t go away. Actual shrunken heads are in the collections. Voodoo is a favorite. Then there’s the Iron Maiden torture device (from Germany) for religious heretics. On the lighter side, there’s a beautiful miniature roller coaster made from wood match sticks. On exhibit is a excellent sculpture by Anton Schiavone made from brown paper bags. Jon Bedford made sculptures from chrome car bumpers.

Here’s a Ripley math equation to have fun with. Think of a number, double it, add 12, divide by 2, subtract your original number, the answer is always 6.

These attractions are open 10am-5pm seven days a week.

To enjoy being at Myrtle Beach on a cold, rainy December day, the best thing to do is find a show. The Carolina Opry has a Christmas Special and it is unforgettable. Christmas carols take on a new spirituality when converted into a live country music variety show, especially when the cast is so good. The feeling put into a variety of piano renditions of Silent Night made me want to sit at a piano and perform my own variation. Most of the cast is academically trained. The highly skilled pianist, Jon England, can’t read a note and has never taken lessons.

The Twelve Days Of Christmas was presented with each member of the chorus singing about one day while a comedian grabbed a toy out of a barrel while feigning simple bumpkin behavior. One comedy skit on Jingle Bells featured Jedediah, Jr., a dog that can scratch his fleas to the beat of music. The performance was about backwoods hillbillies strumming out a little country Christmas music. During I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas, one of the cast hollered out, "Take a sick day, pal." It got a lot of laughs.

Costuming for dance performances gave a formal seriousness to the Christmas season while capturing a Carolina Southern feeling. It was two and a half hours of enjoyment with a 20-minute intermission.

We ordered our tickets online and received a $4 discount and were able to pick where we wanted to sit. We got excellent seats we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to get. With conveyance tax, the whole thing came to $38.50 apiece. We sat about 2/3 of the way from the stage in the center (F21 19-20). The theater was completely filled. Bus loads of seniors from all over the Carolinas were brought there for the show. The show has won the South Carolina Governor’s Cup, the state’s highest tourism award.

You won’t have any trouble finding the place if you go north on 17 bypass or 17 bus. They intersect at that attraction.

From the low, mournful tunes of an Irish ballad to the quickened step of the Irish Washerwoman, the Irish International Dance Company taps their feet without missing a beat creating The Spirit Of The Dance. It is an art built from childhood, a need to express body movement creating sound that is music. With military precision the group synchronizes in perfect unison. In mind and spirit you are up there with them.

The lights fade and the next setting transports them to Spain. They are as able with the Flamenco steps as the ladies' red ruffled skirts swirl and their feet beat out the romantic music. The lights fade again and then they are sporting derby hats and black costumes and are tapping out jazz. Again the lights fade and they are wearing plaid. Bagpipes are playing a different tune and they are wearing ballet slippers. The dance costuming are genuinely Scottish. The show runs for two hours with a twenty-minute intermission.

Spirit of the Dance is performed on stage at the Palace Theater. It is at the western end of Broadway At The Beach. Being off season, the auditorium was only one quarter full, however, tickets were regular price. We ordered our tickets and seats on the internet and got a $5 discount but for Row L center seats we still paid $41.93 apiece.

Broadway and The Carolina Jamboree are also playing at the Palace Theater. A big discount in price was being offered if we bought tickets for those shows while we were there but I had other plans for the week. There is a gift shop in the lobby where DVDs of the performance are for sale.