Pinched eateries set meals within reach - Local - Myrtle Beach Online

 

Our theme lately seems to be following our troubling economy; its effect on our vacations and not just how to cope with it, use but also using it to our advantage whenever possible. In our effort to find ways to save you some money on your vacation (if you’re going to be lucky enough to take one!), we came across this article from the Sun News in Myrtle Beach. It’s no secret that business is tough just about everywhere……the restaurant business more so than many others (unless you’re selling Chevies!).  It’s always a good idea to look for bargains, coupons, nightly specials, 2-fers and the like anytime you’re having a meal out! Why spend more than you you have to! Right now, restaurants are trying to vie for a shrinking pool of dining dollars and they’re going to go out of their way to get you into their dining rooms. Take advantage of their offers!….you’ll be saving money and doing them a favor as well…..a few dollars less revenue is better than NO revenue and you’ll be doing your part to get this economy off of life support!

Here’s some interesting news from the Sun News regarding how the local Myrtle Beach restaurants are coping with the current economic downturn.

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Specials, coupons, cuts in prices aim to attract today's thrifty diners

By Johanna D. Wilson - jwilson@thesunnews.com

Restaurant owners are using common-sense management and marketing to survive a storm of slow business riding on the back of a broken economy. Faced with customers who have abandoned splurging and become intimate with thriftiness, restaurateurs are doing their best to draw them in. "People are spending less money," said Barbara Woolfort, who operates and owns The Breakfast Klub in Murrells Inlet with her husband, Nick Woolfort. "They are coming in here and getting water and one pancake." Restaurants Salt Creek Cafe owner Keith Wolff (left) stacks menus during the restaurant's early-bird hour on Friday in Murrells Inlet. For the past two or three months, Nick Woolfort said, his business has been down about 30 percent. And owners have to suck it up because they know business gets bogged down in an unpredictable economic storm.

Instead of whining, many are trying plans they hope will keep them afloat. "Some run buy-one-get-one-free dinner specials, and maybe they will mix up their menus and offer special food items, and typically those items will have a deep discount," said Pauline Levesque, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association. "Business is very slow, so they need to keep up with ways to attract customers." Levesque said restaurant owners have entered a typically slow period - January and February - when they were already down 20 percent to 25 percent on the heels of 2008. Restaurants nationwide saw a 1.3 percent decline in sales in 2008, the second consecutive year of decline - the first such occurrence in the almost 40 years the National Restaurant Association has been tracking industry sales. Restaurateurs in Southern California, Miami and Chicago recently interviewed by The New York Times reported a decline in business, resulting in more customers sharing plates, buying cheaper wine, ordering less and not dining out as much.

Elsewhere in South Carolina, restaurants also are being punched by the economy. Kirkman Finlay, a Columbia City Council member who owns Doc's Barbecue on Shop Road and Congaree Grill, called his business brutal. "I'm down 30 percent," he said. Pinch takes toll Restaurateurs seem to know more folks suffering than those well and not worrying. "This year has been a challenging year for everybody in the restaurant business," said Dino Thompson, a restaurateur since 1976 who owns Cagney's and the Flamingo Grill with Dino Drosas. "I have noticed that more restaurants than ever before are couponing and doing half off and buy one get one free. Those things will help your cash flow for a while, but you can't keep that up." For about two or three months now, Thompson said, business has been down about 20 percent. Thompson, whose restaurants are well-known in the area by locals and tourists, said he started a happy hour at Flamingo Grill, a move he has never before made. "I will probably do it at Cagney's, too, when we open [Feb. 6]. We will probably run some new appetizers and entrees to stimulate interest, too."

Other restaurants owners are already knee-deep in marketing campaigns and are restructuring the way they do business: J. Edward's, a steakhouse in Myrtle Beach, is advertising what it is calling "Economy Bailout." According to the ad, nine entrees start at $5.99, a price reduction that reflects what prices were back in 1994, with some going back to 1989. J. Edward Fleming, the owner, said he will run the early bird specials all year long. T.G.I. Friday's is offering a free lunch entree, if you buy one, until March 31. At the River Room in Georgetown, Sally Swineford, an owner, has half-price wines by the bottle on Monday nights. "That is catching on by word of mouth," she said of the feature that started in November.

At Aspen Grille, a fine-dining restaurant in Myrtle Beach, an 8-ounce hickory-smoked prime rib that usually sells for $26 is $12.99 every Tuesday. In November, owner Joe Sutherland said his business was down by 10 percent, but in December he broke even. This month, he said that it looks as if business will be up. "We have not increased our prices at all," he said. "We have actually lowered some things and reconstructed it with other items. We have put more pressure on our suppliers. Instead of dealing with one, we will shop around for the best prices." Aspen Grille has also become a little like Burger King, allowing customers to have it their way. They can share plates without being charged extra and even bring in their own wine to drink, although there's still a $10 corking fee. Eateries get creative Diners said they are looking for bonuses and deals when they eat out, while also making a point of dining out less. "We are definitely eating out less, and I'll tell you what we have also started doing - we started being more thrifty," said Christina Prince of Longs, who recently dined with her family at Friendly's and saved by ordering specials and taking advantage of a locals discount. "We had a very bad habit of eating out all the time before the economy went sour."

Jay Benson, the manager of Friendly's on 47th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach, said coupons have worked well to draw customers to his restaurant. At Ella's of Calabash in Calabash, N.C., owner Kurt Hardee is sticking to daily lunch specials for $5.75 and is doing work others once did for him. Hardee, the grandson of the restaurant's founder, said he refuses to raise prices because he knows his customers will go somewhere else or stay home. Instead, he buys his own towels, mats and aprons and launders them himself, instead of using a linen service. "I was spending about $200 a month, and now I spend about $15 a month," Hardee said. He has generated additional revenue by finding a company that will pay him for used cooking oil, and he dropped the company that paid him nothing. "The last check I got was $1,000," Hardee said. His revenue is up about 10 percent, he said. Nevertheless, like other owners, he sees a change in business. "People are spending less money," Hardee said. "They are cutting out dessert or that second beer. People are looking for bargains, and you can't blame them in this economy."

Wendy and Keith Wolff, owners of Salt Creek Cafe in Murrells Inlet, felt the industry tremble last year when food and fuel prices soared. They paid close attention, studied the forecast and decided to make bargains, happy hour and entertainment a part of their business out of the gate. "We opened knowing there is an offseason," Wendy Wolff said. "We are not taking anything for granted because of the economy." When the Wolffs saw that people wanted the less expensive lunch entrees during dinner, they made both menus available all day. Wendy Wolff doesn't doubt that the economy eventually will turn. "This is what my husband knows how to do," she said. "We are going to make it work. We have four children. There is no other choice for us. The economy is just a bump. I think it could only get better, and with a new president, I can only be hopeful."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Pinched eateries set meals within reach - Local - Myrtle Beach Online

Vacations on a Shoestring – Things To Do In Myrtle Beach on a Budget

Dealing with the difficult economic times we’re in the midst of right now forces most of us to make some choices we’d prefer not to make. One of the choices the we hopefully DO NOT have to make is one to sacrifice our vacation plans. There are opportunities to scale down plans and given the real estate market these days, and specifically, vacation rentals, there are likely going to be bargains to be found. Occupancy will likely be down this coming vacation season…great news for vacationers because that’s going to translate into lower rates. Shop around…negotiate….look for last minute rates. Saving vacation dollars on the front end will enable you to not only keep your vacation plans intact, but hopefully even provide some expense ‘wiggle room’ so that you can take in some of those vacation activities that you’ve always wanted to do! With gas prices down significantly since last summer, you have more more way to lower your total vacation expenditures.

What we’ve tried to do here, with the help of the Myrtle Beach Sun Times, is provide you with some choices and alternatives of things to do in the Myrtle Beach area that won’t put a hole in your wallet! You’d be very surprised to find how much there is to do here without burning a hole in your pocket! If you are lucky enough to be able to visit the Myrtle Beach area this summer, we hope that you’ll take advantage of some of the activities we’ve listed for you here.

If you’re lucky enough not to have to be quite so concerned about your budget….we’ve also listed in the section titled '”Splurge,” some fascinating activities and adventures that are certain to be crowd pleasers for everyone in your vacation family!

Don’t forget to visit our website for more Myrtle Beach vacation ideas!

Activities on a Budget

Inexpensive Family Activities

Boulineau's, a unique grocery store with a food court, cafeteria and gift shop, has almost anything you'll need for a beach visit. Head there to get everything you need for a fishing trip. Just look for the lighthouse in the Cherry Grove section in North Myrtle Beach. The store at 212 Sea Mountain Highway has been a local, family-owned shop for 60 years. It offers a selection of hot foods from ``Elizabeth's Kitchen,'' cold cuts from ``Buddy's Deli'' and bagels at ``Betsy's Bakery & Ice Cream There also are beach items such as fishing poles, lawn chairs and beach shells on the first floor.

After selecting your grocery needs and beach items, take the glass elevators to the second floor gift shop where you can find a variety of beach house and kitchen items such as park benches, lamps, and garden flags. The store is open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily during the summer. For information call 249-3556.

Next, head for the privately owned Cherry Grove Fishing Pier. Families can enjoy fishing and walking along the more than 900 foot pier at 3500 N. Ocean Blvd. in North Myrtle Beach. The charge for pier walkers is $1.50. A one-day fishing pass is $1.50 for admission and $6 per rod if you have your own rod. Rod rentals are $20 for all day with a $50 deposit, and $13 for half a day after 3 p.m. Near the pier, there's also a tackle, bait and gift shop, a Blue Bunny ice cream shop, and the Boardwalk Cafe restaurant that overlooks the ocean.

The Cherry Grove pier was built in the early 1950s and has been owned by the Prince family since 1965. It was remodeled and lengthened in 1999 after a visit from Hurricane Floyd.  Click here for a slide show of the pier and other attractions in Cherry Grove.

Climbing a new ropes challenge at Coastal Scuba in North Myrtle Beach would definitely conquer any fears of heights. It's also great fun. The outdoor Challenge  Towers Ropes Course at Coastal Scuba, 1903 U.S.17 S., allows you to click into a safety harness and climb the tower as well as walk the ropes. There are easy, medium and hard courses, depending on your level of confidence climbing the tower. Parents can also go up some stairs leading to the top to get a good view and take pictures of their child walking across the ropes.

For the tower course, it is $10 for three climbs, $15 for unlimited climbs, and $20 for unlimited climbs with the ropes. The course ends with a leap of faith 30 feet above ground. Teens can also take advantage of Coastal Scuba's one-day scuba diving classes for $40. Students learn the basics and practice in a swimming pool. The business is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Sundays. For information call 361-3323.

One may work up an appetite after climbing the tower and scuba diving. Hamburger Joe's in North Myrtle Beach can satisfy that appetite. The full-service restaurant located at 712 48th Ave. S. in North Myrtle Beach has a lot of favorites, including hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, barbecue, onion rings, wings and chicken fingers _ all offered at reasonable prices. The restaurant has been in the Windy Hill section of North Myrtle Beach for 18 years and also has locations in Surfside Beach and Wilmington, N.C.

Hamburger Joe's is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Sundays. For information call 272-6834. Summer hours are 6 a.m .to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Hours are subject to change with the seasons. For information call 249-1625.

Dance the night away….couples and singles!

Shaggers can dance their way into North Myrtle Beach at several clubs along the Main Street and Ocean Boulevard section. Options include Fat Harold's Beach Club, the Spanish Galleon, Ducks and O.D. Arcade & Lounge. Dance enthusiasts step into the area _ home to the Society of Stranders _ at least three times a year for the SOS' Spring Safari, Fall Migration and Mid-Winter events. But shagging, the state's official dance, can be done or learned at some of the area's clubs any time of year.

Fat Harold's at 210 Main St. is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and from noon to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. A disc jockey starts playing music around 7 p.m. Individuals can also take shag lessons at Fat Harold's for free on Tuesdays, taught by Jeppy McDowell, and for $10 per person on Thursdays, taught by Judy Duke. The lessons begin at 7 p.m.

Lessons at Ducks are on Wednesdays beginning at 6 p.m. for beginners, 7 p.m. for Technique I, and 8 p.m. for Technique II. All lessons are $15 per person. Ducks at 229 Main St. opens at 6 p.m. Wednesdays and at 8 p.m. Thursdays, and Saturdays.

O.D. Arcade & Lounge at 100 S. Ocean Blvd. is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

The Spanish Galleon at 100 N. Ocean Blvd. is open from 8 p.m. to 2 am. Fridays and Saturdays.

For information call Fat Harold's Beach Club at 249-5779, Ducks at 249-3858, O.D. Arcade & Lounge at 249-6460, and the Spanish Galleon at 249-1047.

Just down the street from the area's shagging clubs is Hoskins Restaurant, a local favorite. Stop in at the restaurant at 405 Main St. in North Myrtle Beach after a dance lesson or when you need nourishment to keep moving. Customers rave about the restaurant's seafood, biscuits, cheeseburgers, peanut butter pie, and fast and friendly service. The restaurant, in its 60th year, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner at reasonable prices. It is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 7 to 10:45 a.m. for breakfast; from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch; and from 4:30 to 9 p.m. for dinner. Breakfast and lunch are also served on Sundays. For information call 249-2014.

Shopping

Spend a day exploring shops, parks and nature preserves close to home. Toby's World Gifts in Little River is just the place to find unique gifts, whether a ``thank you'' gift for someone who pet sat for you or a birthday gift for a loved one. The shop, at 1530 U.S. 17, has an old-world charm. A piano toward the back of the store has a mind of its own, as it plays along with different instruments inside of the piano such as drums, a tambourine and an accordion. Although the piano is not for sale, the store usually has some sort of sale going on with various items.

You can find items such as letter-engraved coaster sets, decorative ceiling fan pulls, tea sets, spa products, handbags and jewelry _ all on the first floor. There's also a children's section. Upstairs are items such as college team mugs and decorative wood clocks. The store is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The store will close at 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays after Labor Day. For information call 249-2174.

If you're more into ships, weapons, treasures and pirates, then Pirates' Treasure House at 4472 Mineola Ave. in Little River is the place to go. Just up the street from Toby's World Gifts near the Little River waterfront, Pirates' Treasure House is full of pirate-themed toys, clothing and artwork. There are wood carvings and paintings created by the store's owner, Richard Deegan. Many items are made of recycled wood from the pier at the waterfront. The shop is open from 2 to 6 p.m. on Mondays; from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; and from 3 to 6 p.m. Sundays. For information call 249-2324. Click here for some money saving coupons for t‘Pirates’ Treasure House. Why you’re in the neighborhood…..don’t forget to stop by at Crab Catchers on the  waterfront in Little River….a local favorite (especially ours!) for great seafood, cocktails and conversation. Sit out on the deck for the best view of the Intracoastal Waterway. Read some reviews of the restaurant here.

Hiking & Outdoor Activities

Take a nature walk at the Heritage Shores Public Nature Park in the Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach. The park, on about 9.5 acres north of 55th Avenue North and Heritage Drive that extends into the Cherry Grove Marsh, has a series of boardwalks, two picnic shelters, a boat pier, two information kiosks, an observation station and a series of trails about two-thirds of a mile long. The land, preserved in its native state, also has interpretative signs to identify the plants, animals and nature you might see. Public parking is available at the Cherry Grove Boat Landing on 53rd Avenue North. The park is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (generally daylight hours). For information call 280-5584. You can see a slide show presentation of the Preserve by clicking here.

Next, pick up a lunch and take it to McLean Park, which is in the heart of the city on Oak Drive and Second Avenue South in North Myrtle Beach. The 10-acre park has three picnic shelters, of which two are available for reservation; two playgrounds; a paved walking path; two lighted tennis courts; and a youth baseball field. The park is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. For information or to make a reservation call 280-5584.

Go fishing or crabbing in the Cherry Grove marsh from the Russell Burgess Coastal Preserve at Duffy Street and 36th Avenue North in North Myrtle Beach. It provides a scenic view of the marsh and paved parking for visitors. Future plans call for a 300-foot boardwalk with an observation platform to be built out into the marsh by Thanksgiving. Call 280-5584.

Please view the map below to get a feel for where precisely these activities are located.

 

View Larger Map

Splurge ideas

Families with children

SportsZone in Little River has all of your indoor sports games under one roof. From basketball to volleyball to soccer, there's something for all kids of all ages. There's also inline hockey, dek hockey, and racquetball courts. In addition, there are batting cages at different speeds for baseball and softball. There's a full-service snack bar on the first floor for families to enjoy. Kids can also enjoy roller skating on Saturday nights. Rates are $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers. Skate rentals are $2.

On the second floor is a game arcade and a space where kids can have birthday parties or team parties. In another room, kids can play dodgeball, be taught how to hit a baseball, and play basketball or soccer by age group. It's also a party room. The center is open from from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays during the summer, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays, and from noon to 11 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Prices vary by program. For prices, schedules and events, call 249-4386.

 

Alligator Adventure is the place to see some of the world's exotic animals. Adjacent to Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, the facility offers an array of snakes, frogs, turtles, lizards, tropical birds, river otters, Galapagos tortoises, crocodiles and, of course, alligators. Spend the day watching alligators, see them eat or learn how to handle an alligator or snake during live shows.

Admission for adults is $16.95, seniors $14.95, children ages 4-12 $10.95 (discounts are available), and children 3 and under get in free. For information call 361-0789.

Families with teenagers

The Myrtle Beach Safari Preservation Station at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach provides an opportunity to see animals such as a tiger cub, chimpanzee or orangutan up close and uncaged. This free outdoor wildlife exhibit at 4898 S. U.S. 17 allows you to see and touch some of the world's exotic animals. You can also have your photo taken holding one of the animals for $59 a photo session. The proceeds from the photos and the exhibit's gift shop go toward the care and maintenance of the animals.

The exhibit will operate daily through Oct. 4, but hours vary depending on the weather. For current hours, call 361-4552.

The North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center, located at 1100 Second Ave. S., offers year-round fun and activities for teens and their families. Members can play racquetball, basketball, swim and work out in a fitness room at the 64,000-square-foot facility. Kids ages 11 to 14 can also take advantage of the Fun Fit Club, which allows kids to exercise to their favorite music at their own pace. The Fun Fit Club is $25 per session for members and $35 for nonmembers.

There's a one-time $100 enrollment fee to become a member at the center. For individuals ages 16 to 23, the one-time enrollment fee is $50. Membership fees are $80 per month for a family of 4; and $38 a month for individuals ages 16 to 23. The facility is open from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. For information call 281-3737.

Dining & Entertainment

The Parson's Table is a historical restaurant in Little River that opens its large antique doors at 4:30 p.m. for dinner. At 4305 McCorsley Ave. in Little River, the building was constructed in 1885 as the Little River Methodist Church. It served as the church building until 1952, when a new church was built. Today the building has antique stained glass that diners can enjoy as they try the char-grilled filet mignon with port wine, the Little River shrimp and sea scallops, or the sauteed pecan chicken with shitake mushrooms. There's also an early dinner menu from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. daily that includes meals such as the grilled salmon filet bearnaise with rice pilaf and the tenderloin beef tips Diane with potato du jour. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday. For information call 249-3702 or 910-579-8298.

Catch a live show at Alabama Theatre, where you'll have a choice of country, pop, gospel, broadway or comedy shows. The theater is at Barefoot Landing. Some of the guest artists this year have included Eddie Miles, Kenny Rogers and Wayne Newton. ``One, The Show'' is shown at 7:30 six nights a week through Oct. 24 Tickets range from $34.70 to $45.50. Prices for the guest artist shows vary. For ticket prices, shows and times, call 272-1111.

La Belle Amie Vineyard is a wonderful place to relax and have a glass of wine, whether you sit on the front porch or join others in the tasting room. You can taste any five wines for $5 plus tax, and can use a $2 coupon toward the purchase of a bottle of wine. A gift shop offers different wine accessories such as herbs, bread dipping seasonings, oils, sauces, wine nuts and unique gifts.As you travel the entrance road leading to the tasting room and gift shop, you will see a vineyard, an old tobacco barn and a duck pond. A stage and tents can also be seen at the vineyard as people can enjoy music, food, and wine during one of the vineyard's several festivals throughout the year. For a listing of of the vineyard’s summer festival schedule, click here.

The vineyard, on S.C. 90 west of the North Myrtle Beach Middle School in Little River, is part of a former tobacco plantation that has been owned by the Bellamy family since the 1800s. La Belle Amie, meaning ``the beautiful friend,'' is the European origin of the family name. The vineyard is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For information call 399-9463. Don’t forget to say hello to Bella when you stop by!

 

If you're closer to North Myrtle Beach and in the mood for a summer frozen wine smoothie, there's Carolina Vineyards Winery, 4922 S. Kings Highway, at Barefoot Landing. Choose from six smoothies: peach, margarita, hurricane, red raspberry, blueberry and blackberry. But you have to get them fast as they are offered only during the warm months. The frozen wine drinks, with a little sugar added, are $5 for a 9-ounce cup, $9 for a 16-ounce cup, or $6 for a 9-ounce in a souvenir wine glass. You can also taste any seven wines for $2, and buy the glass for $1 more.

The winery's most popular wines are Barefoot Blush, which is a blueberry and peach blend; Southern Bell, which is a peach and plum blend; mango; and raspberry. Each is $13 a bottle. Just look for the winery near the carousel in Barefoot Landing. Hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Sundays. For information call 361-9181.

Be sure to include a visit for dinner and drinks or a concert at the House of Blues in Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach. The 59,000-square-foot venue has a 300-seat  restaurant as well as an outdoor deck. Whether you like jazz, blues, hip-hop, gospel, rhythm and blues, rock 'n' roll, or country music, the House of Blues embraces all genre of music and attracts big name artists such as Hootie & the Blowfish, Hanson, Erykah Badu and Common. The venue also hosts a Sunday Gospel Brunch and a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre. Tickets for the dinner theatre are $42 per person. Costs for the gospel brunch are $19.95 for adults, $8.50 for ages 7 to 12, and free for children 6 and younger.

Box office hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The retail store is open from 9 a.m. to midnight seven days a week, or 30 minutes past the time a concert ends. The restaurant is open for breakfast buffet from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays; for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; and for dinner from 3 to 10 p.m. daily. There's also a special late-night menu from 10 to 11:30 p.m. Happy hours on the Hurricane deck are from 4 to 7 p.m. daily, with live entertainment from 9 p.m. to midnight. The Gospel Brunch is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday. For information call 272-3000.

Etc.

For a truly unique and memorable experience, fly high with Classic Air Ventures in North Myrtle Beach. The business operates from mid-May to mid-October and offers open cockpit rides for two passengers in ``Suzy Q,'' a 1941 Waco UPF-7 biplane. Rides are offered from 10 minutes to 1 hour, with the most popular ride being 30 minutes.

Passengers are taken up 500 feet in the air after the plane takes off at the Grand Strand Airport to 300 feet along the coast and the water. Then there's a low buzz jump 20 feet off the beach from Waites Island. Flights go as far north as Holden Beach, N.C., and as far south as 50th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach. The Grand Strand Airport is at 2800 Terminal St. in North Myrtle Beach.

A 30-minute flight is $210. Prices range from $130 to $330. Weather permitting, flights can be taken from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For information or reservations call 340-5079.

Singles

If you're looking for a little excitement on the water, SunCruz Casino offers a five-hour Vegas-style casino cruise, live entertainment, meals and a view of the area's scenic waters for its passengers from the coastal Carolinas. SunCruz features more than 375 Vegas-style slot machines, blackjack, roulette, poker and more. The ship departs twice daily from 4495 Mineola Ave. in Little River. The day cruise sails from 11 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and noon to 5:15 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The evening cruise sails from 7 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Group rates for 10 or more and complimentary shuttle bus transportation are available. Call 280-2933 for more information, directions and shuttle schedules. Prices are $10 for boarding and $10 for port tax without coupons. Cost for meals is $7 for the day cruise and $10 for the evening cruise.

A Little Bit of Beantown in Myrtle Beach

 

We’d like to take a moment to showcase one of our wonderful neighbors, not to mention a spectacular restaurant, down the Little River/Longs way! The name is Boston’s Best Breakfast….and it probably could be Boston’s best because it is for sure….hands down….the best place for breakfast (and now lunch and early dinner!) that you’ll find anywhere around the Little River area!

If you’re from up New England way…..(and lots of us down here in the Carolinas surely are!)…..we’re sure you miss your Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics…..not to mention a great Boston breakfast!

Well, you’re in luck now because you can find all of that right here at Boston’s Best Breakfast, located on Cloverleaf Dr, in the Bingo plaza on Highway 9, just up from the Myrtle Beach bypass (Highway 31).

From the logo on the sign above the entrance to your first step through the front door, you feel like you’re walking into the “Gahden,” or Fenway! The photos, banners and memorabilia are everywhere…you’ll swear you can hear Johnny Most out back giving the breakfast play by play! The restaurant is owned by some wonderful folks from the Brockton & Fall River area who moved down here a few years ago and decided it was time to make us Yankees (and Red Sox!) feel at home! From the mouth watering linquica and the baked beans that are served with your breakfast ……you’ll feel like you never left home! Not to play favorites though….you can substitute home made southern grits for those beans if you want the best of both worlds! Best thing yet…..if you’re staying at the condo……you can walk to the restaurant!

Take a look at the menus and please…..next time you’re in town…..put Boston’s Best Breakfast on you ‘must visit’ list!

 

 

Don’t forget to visit our website for more information about your other dining choices in the area!

Dates Just Announced! Blue Crab Festival - May 2009

 

The Little River Blue Crab Festival, held in nearby Little River, SC has announced plans for the 28th Annual Blue Crab Festival to be held May 16-17,2009. The Blue Crab Festival is one of the largest festivals in the southeast. Prior to the actual festival on May 16-17, much additional festival publicity and excitement will be generated through the following ancillary events: Festival Queen Pageant, 5K Run, Motorcycle Poker Run and Golf Cart Raffle, and other events still under development.

This year’s festival will feature approximately 175 truly arts and crafts vendors, specialty food vendors, tremendous entertainment, and phenomenal children’s area.

Festival Activities include:
Arts & Crafts, Food, Music, Kids Area, Family Fun, Business Booths, Community Groups, 3rd Annual Beauty Pageant, 3rd Annual 5K Run (The race will start and finish along the historic Little River waterfront.), Harley Davidson BlowOut, Live music and entertainment every day!

If you’ve never had the opportunity to enjoy the Festival, don’t let another year pass by without taking it in! The festival is held right down on the waterfront in Little River (a very little known area along the Strand!) Although the Blue Crab Festival has become recognized as one of the Myrtle Beach area's most popular festivals, the town of Little River is quite different than Myrtle Beach, the flashy tourist town about twenty miles to the south.
In 2008, the blue crab festival will celebrate its 27th year. The popular festival was started over a quarter of a century ago by Little River locals and businesses along the scenic waterfront, and as the largest event in Little River, it has continued to grow in number of attendees and popularity with each passing year.

 

The entire waterfront area that you can see above becomes a sea of people taking in the sights, sounds, and tastes of the festival. Adults, children and teens alike are sure to enjoy all the festivities. One word of caution……Highway 17 becomes a sea of traffic during the festival. Luckily, the festival planners will have a number of remote and easily accessible parking lots with free shuttles back and forth to the festival. Click here to get a glimpse at some scenes from last years’ festival.

See you at this years Little River Crab Festival!! (and get ready for the fall Shrimp Festival)

Ride over for Hard Rock Park

It looks like the coaster has finally come to rest….for good! What a shame that this property was so poorly developed and more poorly managed. We were really excited when the news of the park opening first surfaced; we never did have the opportunity to visit the park (actually…..just a bit to pricey for our liking!)….what we saw from a distance was never very exciting and flying over it coming into the airport was a real reality check! Looking down…..”HUH?….this is it??

Oh well….no eulogies please. Bring the Pavilion back!!

The story below courtesy of our friends at Carolina Live! Visit their website for all the latest in Carolina news!

By Graeme Moore
Friday, January 02, 2009 at 4:46 p.m.

If you were holding out hope that Hard Rock Park might still reopen this year, hold your breath no longer. That will not happen.

New court documents filed Friday show the financially-embattled theme park wants to liquidate, and experts say that is the proverbial final nail in the coffin.

The rumor mill was swirling long before the park first filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in September. That was a move that indicated the park wanted to restructure its debt and possibly reopen in 2009, perhaps under new ownership.

Then in December, the park was put up for auction for hundreds of millions less than the investment, but no one came forward with a suitable price.

"Despite considerable effort ... the Debtors were unable to consummate a sale of all, or substantially all, of their assets on terms and conditions acceptable to the Debtors," the Debtors' attorneys wrote in Friday's court filings.

Since they were unable to sell the park, the park's debtors asked a bankruptcy court in Delaware for permission to convert to Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which in a nutshell, means the park is done.

"Regrettably, conversion of these cases to cases under chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code thus appears to be the only remaining means of allowing the Debtors assets to be liquidated and potential causes of action to be pursued and monetized for the benefit of creditors," the attorneys continued.

If granted Chapter 7, the court will appoint a trustee and the park's assets will be sold off piece by piece to pay off creditors. However, those creditors will likely end up getting just pennies on the dollar for what they are owed. When it opened, the park was estimated to be worth $400 million. The park's opening bid to sell in December was $35 million.

In these recent court filings, the park's attorneys say the park fell into trouble when it wasn't able to effectively market itself, among other things.

The filing reads in part:

"The park opened on time and under budget in April 2008, after nearly two years of construction. Although guest satisfaction levels were strong and guests spent considerable amounts on food, beverage and retail items, overall attendance at the Park was lower than expected, primarily as a result of macroeconomic conditions that significantly depressed overall demand in the travel and leisure industry, as well as the Debtor's inability to devote sufficient resources to local, regional and out-of-market marketing in their initial year of operations."

If anyone, for instance park creditors, wants to object to this chapter 7 filing, they better do it soon. The park's attorneys have asked the courts to close the objection period by Monday, Jan. 5, at noon.

Eastport Reborn – Meet The New Valley Club At Eastport!

 

Eastport readies for reopening The long-awaited reopening of Eastport Golf Club should happen by the end of December. Though a date hasn't been officially determined, Frankie Vereen, a partner in the course's new ownership group, said the course could reopen by Saturday, Dec. 20 and is sure to reopen by the end of the year. Fairways were fertilized on Tuesday, Dec. 9, to green the winter ryegrass overseed for play. The course, particularly the greens, will be evaluated after the weekend to see if it's ready to reopen. ``We're not 100 percent there but we're getting there,'' Vereen said.

Courtesy of Myrtle Beach Online

At last!…..golfing along Highway 17 in Little River again! No…Eastport was never in the upper tier of courses along the Strand and it likely will still not be, but there is still a niche for a playable course at a reasonable rate being run by a group of locals! The Myrtle Beach Golf Association still thinks it’s a dog track (“Needless to say, we’d just say no thanks, and tee it up somewhere else.”)  Maybe they could have waited to play it to pass judgment….

Given that the originally proposed real estate development swirled down the toilet, I’d venture to say that reopening Eastport will at the very least provide some relief to the residents in that community…not to mention, a course for locals that won’t force them to mortgage the farm to play. (I never really liked driving by a field overgrown with weeds….isn’t Bay Tree enough?) The course is going to be what it is given the property and the lay of the land. The best we can hope for is a commitment by the new owners to maintain a quality golf course where we can all go for a few hours of exercise and enjoyment and still have enough in our pockets for a couple cocktails afterward.

Oak Island – Another Gem of the North Carolina Coast

Oak Island is one of the beautiful barrier islands along the Atlantic Coast in Brunswick County, NC. All for of the islands, Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle, Holden Beach, and Oak Island have always been our favorite beach destinations from the time we first started visiting the NC/SC coastal area some 15 years ago or so. We’ve always been especially fond of Sunset Beach because of its proximity to the condo, the beautiful (and soon to be sadly replaced) swing bridge over the ICW, and endless stretch of quiet, unspoiled, sandy beach line all the way down to the NC/SC border. (Click on the pushpin for more details)

Although we have visited all 3 other islands from time to time, we’ve never had the opportunity to explore them to any significant degree until recently. Our exposure to Oak Island was limited for the most part to Oak Island Golf Club, which is a lovely, quiet little golf course meandering through Caswell and Yaupon Beach and some beach walking along Caswell Beach in the shadows of the Oak Island Lighthouse. Fortunately, now that our son Matt has moved out to Oak Island, we’ve come to realize what a gem of an island it is!

Surprisingly, some of the best sunsets can be found on Oak Island which is something of an oddity given that it’s an Atlantic Coast island. Oddly enough however, when you stand on the beach at Oak Island and look out over the Atlantic, you are actually facing the Bahamas, Florida and Cuba, and not Europe. Brunswick County is uniquely situated along one of the "scalloped arcs" on the southeast coast of North Carolina, so the beaches, including Oak Island, face south instead of east. This creates a wonderful backdrop for   beautiful sunsets at certain times of the year! The Island itself  is a little more than 12 miles long and averages about 1 mile across, making it Brunswick County's largest Island.  There are 3 ‘beaches’ on the island (although you wouldn’t really notice that there is any distinction): Caswell Beach. Yaupon Beach and Long Beach. The island consists of the Town of Oak Island and the Town of Caswell Beach. Oak Island is about 7 miles to Southport, 30 miles to Wilmington and about 60 miles to Myrtle Beach and about 35 miles from our condo which makes it a bit of a drive to just go to the beach, however, given its proximity to Southport, and the entire Cape Fear area, it makes for an ideal day trip for you from the condo. you’d likely find that you wouldn’t have enough time to both play on the beach and explore all the rest that the island has to offer.

 

As for the beach itself, we have found that one of the best areas is on Long Beach at the very western end of the island. Once you get on to the island and follow the signs for the ‘Beach Strand,’ you should follow W Beach Rd all along the beach until the road comes to an end.  You’ll find a small “free”public parking lot that will accommodate approximately 20 cars or so. From the lot it is just a very short walk to the beach along a couple different paths; short enough so that you bring about as much in the way of beach supplies as you’d like.  The worst thing about packing up for the beach is making multiple trips, lugging chairs, umbrellas, and coolers 1/2 mile from the parking lot! That’s one of the reasons we like this beach so much, not to mention all that you can do there.

As you can see from this picture, there is an abundance of ‘blanket area’  on this section of the beach. Walking to the point brings you to where the ICW flows into the Atlantic and where you are just a stones throw across the ICW to Holden Beach, the next barrier island along the coastline.

There’s lots of flat beachfront-ideal for bocce, great fishing on the surf or in the backwaters of the ICW and some of the best shell collecting around. Bring your camera – great sunsets, lots of birds, boats and wildlife.

Click on any of the thumbnails on the map for more detailed information about that particular area.

 

 

Here is a sampling of some of the sights and scenes of this beautiful stretch of beach.

 

 

And a couple short video clips of the sights and sounds on Oak Island.

 

 

One word of caution…if you’re expecting to find the ‘honky tonk’ atmosphere here….you won’t find it! You won’t find cement high rise hotels and motels on the beachfront; you won’t find miles of tacky souvenir shops; 96 holes of mini golf, or even a Hooters. You will find lots of quality locally owned restaurants, antique shops, and lovely gift shops. Come to Oak Island for the beach, the golf and the history…..and history certainly does abound in the Oak Island/Southport area. When you’ve had enough of the beach or golf, spend some time exploring the history of Oak Island.

 

One of the best places to start is at the Oak Island lighthouse.  The Oak Island lighthouse was constructed by the Coast Guard in 1958 using concrete and standing 155 feet in height. Amazingly, it will never need to be painted because its color was added to the concrete in the top section before being poured into place. It’s also the last lighthouse constructed on the NC shore. It’s also built to withstand gale force winds that would cause it to sway up to three feet without suffering any damage! Unlike most other lighthouses which utilize spiral staircases inside the structure, the Oak Island lighthouse uses a series of ships ladders, to get from one level to the next. There are a total of 134 steps, leading to the lantern gallery level! This makes the trip up to the top nothing short of challenging!

During the summer season, the lighthouse is open for tours, however, on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. Due to the nature of the climb, the tour goes only to the 2nd level of the tower, not all the way up to the observation balcony at the top of the lighthouse. The tour however, is FREE thanks to the Friends of the Oak Island Lighthouse whose volunteers provide the tours. Please bear in mind however, only children 7 years of age and up are allowed to take the tour, again, due to the difficulty of the climb. Sneakers are also the footwear of choice for the climb. Even though these tours go only to the 2nd level, you can arrange for a tour that will take you all the way to the top! This tour is available year round but by appointment only and subject to a few additional restrictions. You can find all the details here.

Just down the road from the lighthouse, you’ll find even more history on the easternmost end of the island where the historic Fort Caswell still sits. Because of the high level of piracy in this area back in the early 19th century, it was decided to build a fort as a defense against the pirates who had taken safe refuge on neighboring Bald Head Island. Construction began in earnest in 1825 and the resulting fort was one the the strongest forts in the world! It was a pentagonal structure with a two-story citadel and surrounded by a dry moat and a wet moat  The fort, along with Fort Fisher across the Cape Fear River in Kure Beach, served a critical mission and purpose for the Confederacy during the Civil War by protecting the Cape Fear River from intrusions by the Union. Amazingly, not one Confederate soldier died at Fort Caswell during the Civil War, a testament to the construction of the fortress! (Many soldiers however, did die from yellow fever, small pox, and other diseases.

In 1949, the Baptist State Convention bought the property from the federal government and owns the land to this day and provides a plethora of activities on the site. Tours of the fort are available for a small fee. Much more history and details can be found by going here.

There’s no doubt that a day trip to Oak Island will be enjoyable for the entire family, kids and adults alike. For more info, please visit our website or contact us.