Spring Break from Work

We stayed the first week at Seawatch in Myrtle Beach and had the second reserved for Ocean Boulevard in North Myrtle Beach. We drove by Ocean Blvd. during our first week and although I had reserved the towers I quickly made a last minute change to the Cottages. One thing that I think is valuable in Myrtle Beach is on site secure parking which is sheltered. It was apparent that you could not be guaranteed this in the towers. There are at least four towers and at least one is across the street from the beach with no view. Some of the units in the four on the beach do not get a view either.

In a timeshare situation you can choose the resort but not the unit. The Cottages units were individual cottages in a neighborhood type of setting. Guests have the option of using the amenities of the Towers but with new amenities just opening up at the Cottages that will become less of a need overtime. We did go through the towers building to get to the beach and were happy that we had chosen the cottages as the resort of our choice. The units are very large. We had a three bedroom. Parking is on site of your own cottage and underneath and so somewhat sheltered. There is a Jacuzzi off the master bathroom and a pool and party area with gas grills at the end of the road. There was a store in the towers but not close enough to the cottages and I did not see a restaurant on the property. However pizza delivery made staying in and not cooking still an option. We were very comfortable and relaxed and would definitely return.

The beach front location of this resort is excellent. It is off the main drag and so is relaxing and a great retreat from the bustle of Highway 17. It is less than five minutes from shopping centers and entertainment complexes however which again adds to the location value that you get when you stay here. Parking is abundant and private and sheltered. This is another great asset. Many timeshares in the Myrtle Beach area do not have enough parking on site and secure.

The size of our two bedroom sixth floor unit was very ample. You could easily feel comfortable with six adults. They provide a full kitchen. You have a great ocean view from both the living room and master bedroom. The colors were light and tropical and the maintenance both inside and out was excellent. The lobby of our building, the North Tower, had an art deco theme that was very nice. The elevator of course was a must and was never an issue. With a comfortable apartment, on site restaurant and a newly opened coffee and ice cream shop going out to eat is optional. However in Myrtle Beach, everyone takes advantage of that option. The multiple pools and adjacent beach make it difficult to find the time though. All in all, this was a lovely stay and I would recommend this to anyone who has access to vacation in timeshare units.

Another Jimmy Buffet themed restaurant you say? Didn't you also eat at Margaritaville, you say? Yes, but they are really night and day. Now don't get me wrong, they are both good, but this is much more on the idea of a sports bar and sandwich shop than Margaritaville which is referred to as a cafe. Here they also offer entertainment in the evening and an area where you can pick up souvenirs but it is not of the same caliber. My husband and I both had cheeseburgers. What else? They even had mini cheeseburger appetizers. Of course they offer chicken and ribs and salads as well but if you are stopping in at a place called Cheeseburger in Paradise it might be because you want a cheeseburger. If that is the case you will not be disappointed.

This experience was a first for me. Of course I was aware that this franchise existed but I had not actually ventured into one. We were strolling through Broadway at the Beach on a very hot day when we decided we were exhausted and famished and there it was. It was not nightclub time. It was middle of the day. This is a family friendly time for Margaritaville it appears. Entertainers on stilts were making balloon hats and animals for everyone. There were quite a few children and families there. There were movie screens and TV screens all over the restaurant and Jimmy Buffet concerts were being displayed while the music played along. Also, there was a giant Pitcher in the middle of the room that was being filled as the songs played and at points during our meal it exploded with thunder and lightning that came down from the ceiling as it was being shaken. This might be a little too intense for children sitting near the attraction.

This restaurant is not all about gimmicks. The food is very tasty and the value is good. I had a lobster and shrimp salad which was blend of shellfish over rotini pasta with olives, tomatoes, carrots, and a vinaigrette dressing on a bed of mixed greens. My husband had a Cheeseburger of course but a BBQ Bacon one. He held off on the Cheeseburger in Paradise for another restaurant of that very name. But that is for another review. You can see that in this same journal. Before you leave Margaritaville make sure to stop by the Gift shop. There are all kinds of souvenirs, even a Bike Week T-shirt and that is not to be missed in May in Myrtle Beach.

When we got into town we signed up for two shows at the Opry. We had been to the Dixie Stampede and the Alabama One show in years past and wanted something different. My husband is not a big country fan and so we opted for their new show called Good Vibrations. As we are Boomers we thought this medley of music and antics from '60s, '70s, and '80s would be more to our liking. Well, I am sorry to say we were disappointed. When you buy your tickets the seller informs you that you should arrive at least a half hour early. There is a pre-show they say. Well the pre-show turned out to be TV clips from Laughin, Saturday Night Live and some other period shows. The best part of the show as a Cheech and Chong skit and the talented group called All That who made a name for themselves as part of the new show Americas Got Talent.

The seats were not that comfortable and the show was very long and with it extended by a half hour full of TV clips it was too much. When we bought the tickets though, we had an option of buying tickets to another of the shows in this theater for $10 a piece. We did purchase two tickets to the Carolina Opry Show but after our disappointing experience we gave them to our neighbors at the cottages for free. They used them and said they had a wonderful time. So who knows it may have been the choice we made in shows.

There are several waterfront parks and a boardwalk along the water behind the downtown scene. There are also several restaurants that open out to the waterfront that can be entered from the downtown or waterfront areas. There is two hour parking on Front Street and parking at the new visitor center. A museum of the Harold Kaminski house which was once inhabited by by Thomas Daggett, a Confederate sea captain is right there on Front St. The view in the cove is not spectacular but it is relaxing and inviting on the right day. There is also a view of a cornerstone of this town that is still a viable functioning company today, the Georgetown Steel Corporation.

The waterway appears to be more of a working area than a recreation area however there are charter boats lining the dock. We decided to eat at the Brown Pelican Cafe. We strolled through a couple of the parks lining the downtown that opened to the waterfront. Other than the steel industry Georgetown was once a flourishing rice trade center. There is a museum in town (Rice Museum) that tells more. We had a pleasant afternoon on this day trip from Myrtle Beach. It is not too long a drive down route 17 southward and on a nice day worth the trip.