Myrtle Beach has recently opened a new, tremendous addition to the Grand Strand. Located on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force base off of highway 17, the Market Commons offers upscale clothing, food and accessories.

I visited the Market Commons and felt as if I were at the Atlantic Station in downtown Atlanta, Georgia or St. Johns Towns Center in Jacksonville, Florida- both places that offer an array of stores from Urban Outfitter’s to Express and fine cuisine from P.F. Chang’s to the Geisha House.

If you love to shop as I do, this is the perfect spot for you.

Visit White House-Black Market to find a wide selection of quality casual and formal white and black clothing. I have always enjoyed shopping at this store; however, the Grand Strand has never offered it until now.

For boutique lover’s, this location also offers several clothing and accessory boutiques.

If you love to grab a book and sit in the tranquil ambiance of Barnes & Noble as I do, you can do so here as well.

Other stores include Chico’s, Banana Republic, izzi-b, Victoria Secrets, Anthropologie, Ann Taylor, Pottery Barn, and many more.

They even have my all time favorite restaurant, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro. For all you lover’s of Chinese cuisine, P.F. Chang’s provides a relaxing atmosphere, a diverse menu and a perfect place for an evening out. My preference is the spicy Kung Pao Shrimp mixed with peanuts, chili peppers and scallions alongside of their unlimited, freshly made rice.

In addition to P.F. Chang’s, Market Commons also has Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant.

It can only get better as more stores begin to open and the construction begins on phase two as the year progresses.

For more Myrtle Beach shopping information, check out www.condolux.net/myrtle-beach-attractions.html#shopping

It’s time for some fun in the sun with the 55^th Annual Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo Competition! The event is sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and runs from April 1^st thru October 31^st.

Prizes awarded will total over $17,000 and your catch can earn shoulder patches, monthly decals, cash and merchandise. Awards are given for Fish of the Month, Largest of Species, and Outstanding Catches including men’s, women’s and children’s groups. Wouldn’t it be great if your catch of the day earned you the $2000 grand prize?!

Over 20 varieties of fish will be included in the competition, including Blackfin Tuna, Bluefish, Founder, Grouper, King Mackerel, Trout and Yellowfin Tuna. You just might catch the Yellowfin Tuna that breaks the state record of 241.12 lbs! Or the Bluefish that beats the state record of 21 lbs.

No matter what your catch, you’ll enjoy a fantastic day on or near the water here in the Grand Strand. You can fish anywhere in the coastal waters from the North Carolina line at Calabash southward to the South Santee River. If you are boating, be sure to depart and return to port within the areas mentioned.

This is all for fun! The Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo promotes recreational fishing along the Grand Strand. Awards are presented to recreational fisherman only.

Some important events to keep in mind are the Spring 2008 Pier Kind Mackerel Tournament (June 13-15), the 2008 Fall Mackerel Tournament (September 19-21) and the Take a Kid Fishing Tournament (October 25.)

The Take a Kid Fishing Tournament is designed to introduce our youth to the sport of fishing and is a great opportunity for parents, relatives or friends to spend a day with a child. Fishing is a great way to teach kids to associate the outdoors with fun and excitement (especially if the fish are biting.) A day spent out on a boat, the pier, or the chance to play knee-deep in water will be fun-filled and enjoyable for both you and your child.

There is no registration fee, but it’s important to be registered by October 13, 2008. The registration has to be filled out by an adult and can be picked up at any of the Grand Strand fishing piers. Additional information is available at www.GrandStrandFishingRodeo.com .

With three divisions, it’s a great day for kids of all ages! There’s a group for younger anglers who are 6 years old and under, 7-11 years old and young adults 12-18 years.

No equipment? No problem. Each child/adult team can bring their own equipment or complimentary equipment will be provided at the pier.

Fishing is a great sport and a fantastic way for a family to spend some time together! You just can’t beat a day relaxing on the water and enjoying the warm South Carolina Sunshine. The Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo is a great way to enjoy the sport. Be sure not to overlook this great activity when planning your leisure or vacation time here in the beautiful Myrtle Beach area.

Since spring is here, kids usually want to do something extracurricular outside in order to enjoy the weather. The Grand Strand has an abundance of locations that are family oriented and both enjoyable for kids and adults.

I have 11 year-old twin brothers who love for me to take them to a miniature golf course, shopping, to NASCAR Speed Park and the beach.

Driving along bypass or business 17, you are bound to find several places for miniature golf from North Myrtle Beach to downtown Myrtle Beach.

Their favorite location is May Day Golf located at 715 Highway 17 North, North Myrtle Beach. This miniature golf course takes you on an adventure of a beautiful island after crashing there on a charter plane. The course keeps you busy for at least an hour and the pricing is reasonable. Free (children 3 and under) $7.00 (12 and under) $8.00 (adults)

Of course, there are other options along the Grand Strand including Dragon’s Lair Fantasy Golf in Broadway at the Beach, Jurassic Mini Golf 812 North Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach) and Captain Hook’s Adventure Golf (2205 North Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach).

You can also enjoy the beautiful weather while shopping in Myrtle Beach at the Tanger Outlets at 10835 Kings Road and located off of Highway 501 in Myrtle Beach. With over 100 brand name outlets ranging from KB Toys to Banana Republic, the outlets offers stores fit for any age.

NASCAR Speed Park, located at 1820 21st Avenue in Myrtle Beach, near Broadway at the Beach, is a great place to go to drive along one of their seven tracks, golf on their NASCAR themed miniature courses, cruise in one of their speed bumper boats and visit their arcade. For information on pricing visit: http://www.nascarspeedpark.com/myrtlebeach.html.

If you’re interested in soaking up the sun while your kids build sandcastles and swim, then the beach may be the perfect choice for you. I enjoy taking the twins to the quiet Cherry Grove Beach, where they can play football while I read a book. Travel anywhere along North or South Ocean Boulevard to find a public parking lot and the beach spot right for you.

For the rainy days, Ripley’s Aquarium, Laser FX Laser Tag, the movie theater, Coastal Grand Mall and the IMAX Theater are great alternatives. For more information on what to do on a rainy day and the contact information for the previous locations visit: http://www.mbchamber.com/mb-cvb/Vacations_Getaways/Rainy_Day_Activities.html

Myrtle Beach is one of those cities where you cannot come for a visit without going to a few popular locations.

Soak up the sun. Take a morning or afternoon, pack your beach bag and head out to one of Myrtle Beach’s beautiful sandy beaches off of Ocean Boulevard. As a native of the area, I never get tired of the beach and I always look forward to the warm weather and the cool breeze; perfect weather for a day at the beach.

Gather your clubs. If you’re a golfer, Myrtle Beach is the perfect place to find a great spot to golf at one of the hundred’s of courses available. Although I am not a golfer myself, I have been to several golf courses with friends who visit primarily to enjoy golfing in the area. You can create custom Myrtle Beach golf packages with northmyrtlebeachgolf.com to save a good chunk of change during your golf vacation. Visit one of top courses around Myrtle Beach listed below:

• Long Bay Golf Club, North Myrtle Beach
  Awarded 4 stars by Golf Digest

• Willbrook Plantation, Pawley’s Island
  Featured in “Top 50 For Women” by Golf For Women Magazine

• World Tour Golf Links, Myrtle Beach
  Awarded “2004 National Golf Course of the Year”

• Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
  Named “5^th Best New Public Course in America” by Golf Digest
  Named “Top 31 Best Upscale Courses in America” by Golf Digest

Fulfill you appetite. Visit a few restaurants around the beach, particularly seafood restaurants- Myrtle Beach’s specialty. My favorites are Bennet’s Calabash Seafood (North Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach), Captain George’s Seafood (29^th Avenue, Myrtle Beach) and Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood (North Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach). I usually go for the buffet, which ranges from $15 to $30, which is well worth it if you are a seafood lover.

Check out the nightlife. If you want a night out on the town, Myrtle Beach has a variety of nice places to visit. I usually enjoy going to Broadway at the Beach, which not only has a variety of shops, restaurants, rides, putt putt golf, a movie theater and aquarium, but also several bars and nightclubs.

For me, Senior Frogs is a great spot. A restaurant during the day, and club by night, that plays different styles of music including R&B, Pop, Reggae and Rap. If you enjoy piano, jazz and blues music, Crocodile Rocks is the perfect spot for you. For those of you who enjoy karaoke, Broadway Louie’s Grill gives you the opportunity to sing your favorite songs.

Broadway at the Beach also includes Club Boca, Froggy Bottomz, Malibu’s, Shucker’s Raw Bar, Revolutions, Stool Pigeons, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Fat Tuesday and Blarney Stone’s Pub & Cigar Bar,

You can check out this website for specials and cover charges: http://www.broadwayatthebeach.com/nightlife.html

Visit the beach’s new addition, Hard Rock Park. Although Hard Rock Park doesn’t open until Spring of this year, I have constantly heard ranting and raving about this rock-n-roll theme park for months. Located off of Highway 501 in Myrtle Beach, this park will include a live music amphitheater, rides, restaurants, cafes and retail stores. I don’t have first hand experience to share about this park; however, I believe that it will be nothing but a positive addition to the beach.

—————————

No matter what you have in mind, there are plenty of things to do in the area to make your Myrtle Beach vacation one to remember!

As it gets closer to Spring time, I can’t help but think about one of Myrtle Beach’s signature qualities, the beach.

Although many people flock to the beaches near South Ocean Boulevard in downtown Myrtle Beach, I prefer to stay away from the traffic, busyness and the crowds on the beaches.

Don’t get me wrong, the beaches in Myrtle Beach are great, but I love the tranquility of being able to lounge comfortably and listen to the seagulls and the waves of the ocean crashing, without the hassle of finding a spot and the endless noise of a crowd.

If you love that atmosphere, stop at any public parking spot off of South Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, which runs parallel to business 17; however, if you’re like me, then you may want to take a visit to North Ocean Boulevard in Cherry Grove, only 10 to 15 miles further away. Furthermore, Cherry Grove is also a section that isn’t occupied my condos, rather, Myrtle Beach Beach homes take up the space, giving it a less busy atmosphere.

In all of my visits to Cherry Grove I have only experienced overcrowding once, which happened to occur Memorial Weekend also known as Biker Weekend in Myrtle Beach.

Besides that particular weekend, I have always been able to easily find a parking space and find an open spot on the sandy beach. My favorite area is near the Cherry Grove Pier at 3500 North Ocean Boulevard.

At this spot, you can walk down a couple blocks to conveniently find a few pizza and ice cream shops and several beach stores, perfect for an afternoon at the beach. You can also stroll down the historical pier in Cherry Grove. Like I said before, Cherry Grove has more of a ‘homey’ feel because of the lack of large North Myrtle Beach condos taking up the space.

The relaxed atmosphere in this area is perfect for a day at the beach by yourself, with friends or family.