Labor Day Family Weekend - Myrtle Beach

Labor Day weekend, 2006 made for a great first time trip to the tourist beach town of North Myrtle Beach. The weather was perfect, the water warm, and the sand good and firm.

Spending time with the kids of my extended family was the most fun, and the town caters to this aspect.

Quick Tips:

If you can, bring some beach toys with you. There's no boardwalk area along NMB so if you find you need something to keep you entertained on the beach, you'll have to drive to a WalMart or something which does not a great vacation make.

Likewise, if you are able to bring your own chairs and even umbrella with to the beach, I highly recommend this as well. You can rent them at the beach from the lifeguards but they are per day for two rickety chairs and an umbrella, and for each chair on top of that. Not bad, but after 3 days you're out at least for the three piece set. Oh, and I'm all for not having the lifeguards away from their main task as much as possible.

Best Way To Get Around:

Again, there's no boardwalk so it's really a driving town. At NMB there is a snack shop somewhere on the beach, but it was about a 1/2 mile walk for from where we were.

Drive, drive, drive.

My parents are actually part of the Fairfield program so I don't know how much it costs to stay here. However, the 2 bedroom/2 bath suite was pleasant enough for a nice weekend getaway with the family. Though there were 7 of us in total - 4 adults, 1 teenager, and 2 under 10, we were decently comforatble. The kitchen is a godsend.

The unit we had on the 12th floor was remarkably similar to the one we stayed in last year at Disney World (decor and amenities both) and so I was a little disappointed that there was nothing special about the location.

The sofa bed was not great - for kids works fine - it was thin, soft (so you could feel the support bar mid-back), and it angled so you rolled to the head and center. The carpeting a bit worn; in the door to the 'spare' room was a permanent wet spot that was icky to keep stepping on once I realized it wasn't from our beach going. The washer/dryer was far too small to handle the towels; the dryer had a tough time even with only 2 items in it. (And you have to do your own linens unless you pay extra.)

We were in the "back" building - which is really the first building so slightly older. The pool on that side (indoor and outdoor both) left a stink on us that kept us from returning. There was a notice that if we got any of the "black stuff" on us not to worry and if we couldn't wash it off to visit the tanning salon/spa where they could do it for us. Thankfully we didn't use the pool but once and never had to worry at all about the black stuff.

The back/original buidling doesn't have a pedestrian crossing to the newer building or beach. Instead everyone must pass through the parking garages while carrying their beach goodies, wearing flip flops, and toting young children. There's no light or stop sign to cross Ocean Blvd, so be careful.

The new building has a nicer pool area and a small lazy-river. However, "lazy" is not the right word for it; the current is very fast, though the kids (and myself) had a nice time the two times we used it.

There is supposedly wireless access available from an outside provider for something like $29/week. The first day we were told after trying to access it that there was a problem with the area we were in and that they'd open a ticket. By the time we saw a signal, it was time to go home (3 days later).

I know I sound negative, however it was a nice decent place to stay for simple beach vacation. I was not disappointed, just really surprised at the lack of pedestrian crossing and a not-so-hot pool and fitness room. Maybe once the third and final building is complete they'll renovate the only 3-year-old original.

Buffet upon buffet upon buffet - "Calabash" that is - lines the King's Highway in Myrtle Beach. So don't expect much.

My parents tend - for some reason - to be drawn to places that use the word "Original" in their name. Case in point, "The Original Pancake House." On that one I've called them out several times as I just don't think that chain is really so great; iHOP is often better. However, it's something they think is nostalgic.

So with Original Benjamins (OB for short), I think they were hoping for something nostalgic as well; and heck, they had a coupon (whcih they left at the hotel [tho only $4 off]).

OB was going for that pirate theme, with a guy dressed in pirate costume greeting guests with an "arrrgh matey" as they entered. The restaurant was filled with seafaring items to add to that theme.

They boast over 160 different things to eat - or some huge number - mist of which were fried. The hushpuppies at the table were yummy, nice and sweet. However, the food wasn't that great, and at $19/person, far from worth your money. Of course, my brother and his eldest son (at 16) were happy to chow down on the all you can eat buffet, namely the king crab legs (which were OK, but often were a bit softer in the shell than we'd like).

In the end, if you're looking for good - decent even - seafood, not the place. If you're looking to save a bit - not the place, even with a coupon. But if you don't care about decent food or seafood, go ahead.

Afterwards my parents admitted their mistake, though I know this will continue on future family excurisons - I mean, if it's got "Original" in the name and there's a coupon in every paper, it MUST be good, right?

I was so amazed at the beach here in front of the Fairfield Resort. I had never been to South Carolina's coast and always thought it would be shelly or rocky. Not so. Though not white sugar-like sand as that of the Florida panhandle, the sand was easy to walk on and didn't hurt a bit.

The water was perfect - at least at the time of year we went - a nice "warm" that made it easy to stay in for long periods. And the depth was good so that the young kids could go out a bit further without much concern.

This was a great way to spend an evening and grab dinner with the family. It's a well-organized area of shops, restaurants, and entertainment, all in a modern costal themed environment.

Stuff for kids, grown-ups, and in between. There's a great mini-golf called Dragon's Lair; an interactive game called MagiQuest for all those "Harry Potter" types. Plenty of shops and food, like Landry's, Johnny Rocket's, etc. And a nice - though short - Grucci firework's display.

This is part of the Broadway at the Beach area and is a LOT of fun. It is a bit silly, running around a room decorated to look like a fantasy forest carrying a plastic wand aiming it at symbols on the walls and other surfaces. However, it beats playing a video game.

Not too expensive either. You pay once for a wand and then hourly play, each next hour cheaper than the previous one. You can go in as a spectator without a wand as well and pay only the hourly rate.

The point is to choose an adventure you wish to accomplish, like slaying the dragon or locating the unicorn. There are several to choose from. Each adventure has several quests you must complete before getting to the final task. Any gold you collect with your wand that isn't used for a quest can be redeemed in the gift shop for "prizes".

I'm 31 and had fun; my 9-year-old niece, 6-year-old nephew, and 16-year-old nephew enjoyed it thoroughly.

Dolly Parton is known throughout the South as having some of the best entertainment venues around. Though I've never been to Dollywood, it continues to be rated highly. Dixie Stampede is no different.

Guests are offered the option to arrive a bit early for the "pre-show" which consisted of a comedian/juggler type guy who was quite fun to watch. Non-alcoholic drinks are offered at $4 apiece (unless ordered ahead of time with American Express, then only $3.50 each) and served in a "souvenir boot mug" (which turned out to be even cheesier than I had imagined). The drink was "eh" - bland and watered down. I think there was free popcorn, but we weren't hungry.

If you don't get to the preshow early enough, there's not the best seating for it; we were stuck upstairs fighting to see around structural columns (pretty, but putting seating there is not bright). But, that's not what we came for.

The actual "Dixie Stampede" is essentially a somewhat Civil War / South / this is America themed Medeival Times dinner and show. When you buy your tickets you choose to root fro the North or the South. We had fun as the family - seven of us aged 6, 9 ,16, 31, 37, 61, and 65.

You sit side-by-side in an arena format and the food is served without utensils; we found the roast chicken, creamy veggie soup, cheese biscuit, pork loin, and sweet tea (or pepsi) very tasty, with a huge apple turnover to round it out.

The show was not too bad - some horsemanship, a pig race, ostrich racing, and more. Each has a competitive edge where you holler for the dise you're on, or stomp you feet to cheer. A bit of signing, comedy, amd glittery costumes were finished off by a video of Dolly Parton singing her song about "This Is America."

The only downside I walked out with was that it all felt short and rushed. It is touted as a 90 munute show, but we got out 15 minutes ahead of that schedule. When asked at dessert for another cup of coffee (smaaaaalll cups go fast) to wash down the turnover we were told "If I have time, we're on a very tight schedule." I understood, but wasn't aware based on the listing of shows I chose from that were was another after ours.

When you are ussered into the building, you're sat down to get a few photos snapped. During the show people come around to show you your pics and sell them for $30 as a set. Really not too bad a price when it's a family gathering, and you can't take pics inside anyway.