Myrtle Beach SC | The Beauty Around Us

South Carolina Vacation: Topgolf and Dining Out

We spent the morning and early afternoon of Tuesday, February 28, with our friends Neil and Marge.

We played 2 hours (10:00 am-12:00 pm) at Topgolf Myrtle Beach and then went to lunch at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen.

It was the first time any of us had played at Topgolf. Bob, Neil and Marge had experience playing on a golf course. I had not played golf before. A bay host helped set up our game and create profiles for each player. We chose Topgolf Practice, which was similar to golfing at a driving range. In this beginners game, players score points by hitting golf balls into any target. The more accurate your shot and the farther the distance, the more points you earn. Using Topgolf’s complimentary clubs, we took aim at the giant outfield targets and the high-tech balls scored themselves. I created a short video of the four of us hitting a golf ball into “the green”.

The SLO-MO option on an iPhone was used to capture each hit.

At the end of our golf game, a scoreboard displayed our individual scores.

Bob was top scorer.
Not surprisingly, I was the low scorer.

We chose the golf day well. Tuesday was a 1/2 price day. Our golf bay rental cost $30 for 2 hours. Topgolf was a great new experience for all four of us!

After Topgolf, we had a delicious lunch at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen. Both Topgolf and Paula Deen’s were located at Broadway at the Beach complex. This was the menu at Paula Deen’s.

We chose “The Savannah” Family Style Dining selection. The three down home dishes we chose were: Best Ever Southern Fried Chicken, Georgia Fried Catfish and Jambalaya. We chose Green Beans, Creamed Potatoes, Fresh Candied Yams and Baked Macaroni and Cheese for our sides. For dessert Marge and I chose Peach Cobbler; Neil and Bob chose Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. Lunch was delicious.

After lunch we returned to our our Airbnb rental. Neil and Marge hopped into their car and drove the short distance to their condo. It was a very nice day spent with friends.

South Carolina Vacation: Broadway on the Beach

On the morning of Monday, February 27, we drove to Broadway at the Beach, located less than 15 miles from our Surfside Beach Airbnb rental “Nannie & Pops”. Broadway at the Beach is a shopping center and entertainment complex located in Myrtle Beach. It sits on 350 acres in the heart of Myrtle Beach and features three theaters, over 20 restaurants and over 100 specialty shops as well as attractions, clubs for the night, and hotels, all surrounding the 23-acre Lake Broadway.

When we arrived at Broadway at the Beach, very few, if any, of the shops, restaurants or attractions were open. This fact was fine with us, as we came to walk, not to eat or shop. And walk we did! We walked all around Lake Broadway, which is at least a 2 mile walk. I took lots of pictures during our walk, which I share with you in the slideshow that follows.

The morning was foggy and cool. At 12:00 noon the fog still had not lifted. The temperature was only 58 degrees. Once the fog lifted, the sun came out. It warmed up to about 65 degrees.

Late in the afternoon we went for a walk on “our beach”.

I love the light at the beach, as the sun is setting behind me.

South Carolina Vacation: Crepe Creation Cafe

We awakened on the morning of Saturday, February 25 to discover it had rained during the night. This was our first rain since arriving in Surfside Beach. It would be a cooler day, too, than it has been since our arrival. At 8:00 am it was only 56 degrees with showers. It was much better here than at home, though. At the same time, in Warren PA, it was 21 degrees with snow. According to Weather Underground, two inches of snow was expected.

Our friends Marge and Neil H. stopped by our Airbnb rental. Nanny & Pops, at 11:00 am. We visited for a while inside our cottage. Later we went for a walk in the neighborhood. We walked to Floral Lake and back home. The turtles didn’t disappoint. I counted 12 – 14 turtles that congregated below us, as we crossed over the footbridge.

Next we drove to Myrtle Beach, where we ate lunch at the Crepe Creation Cafe. All four of us ordered both a savoury crepe and a dessert crepe. Bob and I shared our crepes, as did Neil and Marge.

Our savory crepe was a Cresesadilla (Chicken, Bell Peppers, Onions, Cheddar, and Mozzarella served with sides of Sour Cream and Salsa).

Our dessert crepe was an Apple Turnover (Homemade Apple Filling topped with Caramel, Powder Sugar, and Whipped Cream and a side of Vanilla Ice Cream).

As you can see, the crepes are huge! Each crepe, sitting on two plates, equaled the serving for one person.

We returned to Nanny & Pops around 3:15 pm. Neil and Marge left straightaway, as they wanted to attend Saturday Mass.

South Carolina Vacation: Myrtle Beach

Having recovered apparently from the previous days illness, we decided to drive to Myrtle Beach in the late morning on Tuesday, February 15th. It was about a 15-minute drive. We parked along 7th Avenue and walked the boardwalk from 7th Avenue to 14th Avenue and back. It was a chilly and windy walk to 14th Avenue.

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
You can tell how windy it was
by looking at the flags.

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
This is the SkyWheel.

The SkyWheel is not a carnival ride, but a modern, safe observation wheel towering 187 feet or about 20 stories in the air. The SkyWheel has fully enclosed gondolas with glass windows and doors for optimal views and photography. The gondolas are heated and cooled allowing for year-round operation in any type of weather. A flight includes 3 revolutions and lasts about 10 – 15 minutes. We didn’t ride the SkyWheel. I don’t care for heights!

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
Beyond the palm tree is Pier 14.

Pier 14 provides opportunities for shopping, dining and fishing. The Pier was closed for the season.

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
This is the view from Pier 14.

With the wind behind us, it felt warmer as we walked back to 7th Avenue.

We viewed the SkyWheel from the beach too.

Myrtle Beach boardwalk
This is a closer view of the SkyWheel.

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
The sculpture in front of the SkyWheel
is called “The Goddess of the Sea”.

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
“The Goddess of the Sea” sculpture

On our way back to Surfside Beach we stopped at The Market Common. The Market Common is Myrtle Beach’s premiere dining, shopping and entertainment destination. We didn’t go shopping; we didn’t attend any entertainment event. We did, however, dine. We chose the Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant for lunch. Bob ordered the Ahi Tuna Salad (togarashi & sesame seed crusted seared Ahi tuna, romaine, cabbage, pickled cucumbers, wasabi vinaigrette, wonton strips, sriracha drizzle). I ordered the CBLT Sandwich (grilled chicken, bacon, Swiss, crispy onions, tomato, lettuce, fresh avocado mayo, brioche bun). Both entrees were good; the service was excellent.

After lunch we returned to our Airbnb ”Seaside Cottage”. We would be leaving for home the next day, so we packed. We relaxed too, especially enjoying the warmth of the backyard porch.

Bob and I relaxing on our back porch.

Oh, and I can’t forget the moon. We saw the moon each and every day, while in South Carolina. The moon became more and more beautiful, as the week progressed.