Who doesn’t love pirates? Every kid dreams of sailing the open sea and finding a shipload of treasure on a deserted island. Now that Johnny Depp’s made swashbuckling cool for all ages, it’s about time somebody came up with a way to combine a hearty meal with a little maritime mayhem – making this a top Myrtle Beach attraction!

Leave it to Dolly Parton to figure out how to satisfy our need for chicken and barbecued pork with generous sides of pistol-bracing, cutlass waving, plank-walking and, of course, mermaids. The new Pirates Voyage dinner theater in Myrtle Beach opened in June of 2011 for “Fun, Feast & Adventure.” Dolly gutted her Dixie Stampede location and brought in crews to do a complete renovation. The result is an exterior that looks like it was lifted off the streets of Tortuga and an eye-popping set featuring a 15-foot deep lagoon and three pirate ships.

Dolly came up with an original score for the show, which features live animals, acrobatics, underwater choreography and lots of swashbuckling action. The audience cheers and boos as the crews of the Crimson and the Sapphire clash in a battle that spreads across the decks and into the ships’ rigging, the water and even the air. The audience’s response helps decide the winner, so not even the cast knows at the outset which side will win.

In the days of Blackbeard and Anne Bonney, ships were known for the number of cannon they had on board, not for their delicious dinner menus. Luckily, Dolly Parton understands that a good host needs both. Some dinner theaters seem to think if the show’s good the food doesn’t have to be, but the food at Pirates Voyage could draw crowds even without a show. Unless you call ahead and ask for a vegetarian meal you will be served creamy vegetable soup, bread, half a chicken, barbecued pork shank, fried shrimp, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and apple pie. It’s probably not authentic pirate fare, but that’s probably not really Johnny Depp’s hair, either. Who cares? It’s all good fun.

Adults pay $41.99 for dinner and the show. Children four to eleven pay $21.99; children under four pay regular child’s fare if you want a seat for them. If they can sit on a lap they’re free. Pirates Voyage is wheelchair accessible and they have special headsets available for people who think they may have trouble hearing the show.

Check out more Myrtle Beach attractions or visit the Pirate’s Voyage website.

We’d like to take a moment and bring attention to a very important issue regarding parking regulations: ROOF-TOP CARRIERS.

As outlined in your Reservation Confirmation e-mail that you receive when you book your unit(s); there are certain parking restrictions that you need to familiarize yourself with prior to your arrival.

Roof-top Carriers

Vehicles with Roof-top Carriers do not meet the clearance height needed to utilize our condo’s on-site parking. Customer’s are NOT permitted to park their vehicle , or store their Roof-top Carrier at the CondoLux office if they choose to ignore this warning. Some properties have overflow parking space outdoors that vehicles with Roof-top carriers are permitted to use. Please check directly with the resort in question prior to your arrival for verification.

We are aware that there may be situations that require the use of Roof-top carriers for storage when traveling. Please understand that when bringing a Roof-top Carrier, you will be responsible for finding your own means of parking.

We strongly encourage all of our customers to familiarize yourselves with the Rules & Regulations stated on your Reservation Confirmation e-mail and also our Frequently Asked Questions page prior to your arrival to save yourself from any issues.

City parking is available for free of charge in North Myrtle Beach. All applicable rules and regulations are posted accordingly and are enforced by the city.

We sincerely appreciate your cooperation, and please feel free to call us if you need any additional help.

UPDATE  (June 14th, 2011):

Since promoting this post on our Facebook page, we’ve received a lot of feedback on this topic.  Our goal with this post was to simply make our customers more aware of issues that can arise when bringing a Roof-top carrier.  We’ve come up with a short list of solutions (with the help of our Facebook Fans) for those of you who have the “Roof-top Carrier Blues”

Solution #1)  Remove the Roof-top carrier prior to entering the parking garage, and simply storing it in your rental unit.

Solution #2)  Buy a Hitch-Haul instead. One of our Facebook Fans had this to say about her experience with a Hitch-Haul.

” A Hitch-Haul is added to the back of your SUV (trailer hitch). We had ours professionally installed on our Mini-Van. When you get to your destination, you can take the Hitch-Haul off and store it in your vehicle or condo. ” – Janet Stillman

Get more information about buying a Hitch-Haul

Solution #3)  Find alternative parking.

Imagine the sound of waves gently rolling ashore mixed with a warm and salty ocean breeze. Picture the sun rising over the clear blue ocean water. Feel the warmth of the sun basking down upon you. Now imagine enjoying all of this from the privacy of your own oceanfront balcony. When you own one of the coveted Myrtle Beach oceanfront condos, you could enjoy this type of experience whenever you desired.

There could not possibly be a better time to take advantage of the available oceanfront condos in Myrtle Beach. Housing prices are still quite low, as are mortgage interest rates. Many people interested in purchasing a second home or retirement accommodations find these Myrtle Beach condos perfect for their needs. However, the real estate investor is the true benefactor of these low priced oceanfront condos.

Many real estate investors purchase these beautiful homes to use as vacation rental properties. Myrtle Beach is one of the most visited areas in South Carolina, and in the Southeast. Near perfect weather, beautiful beaches and exquisite golf courses make Myrtle Beach the “go-to” place. Investors know that when an area is a popular tourist destination that accommodations will be needed.

Oceanfront condos will generate the highest rental income because of their perfect view. While the many amenities that are offered at the condominium complexes are an additional bonus, the unobstructed view of the ocean is what draws many to these accommodations. Ocean view condos are quite different than oceanfront condos, and while still in demand, can not command the same rental pricing.

The difference between ocean view and oceanfront is simple. An oceanfront condo has no obstruction between the condo and the ocean. When you look out the balcony window you have a complete view of the beach. An ocean view condo, on the other hand, still allows you to see the beach, but possibly from an angle or at a greater distance. Because of this slight difference, many people only consider oceanfront condos when looking for vacation rentals.

There are many reasons to consider Myrtle Beach oceanfront condos. Perhaps you have retired and enjoy the warm winter weather. Perhaps you have worked hard your entire life so that you could live the beach lifestyle you have always dreamed about. Maybe you are a savvy investor who knows how to become financially successful by taking advantage of low real estate pricing in one of America’s hot spots. Whatever your background or intention, you will be pleased with Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand area.

For information and a list of available oceanfront condos to buy, give the CondoLux Sales Department a try at 800-624-6418

Come visit May Fest in Myrtle Beach! The fun and festivities run from April 30 to May 28 starting off with a beach music festival. Look forward to seeing Chubby Checker, The Spinners, The Embers, The Catalinas, Atlantic Groove, and The Craig Woolard Band perform in downtown Myrtle Beach between 8th and 9th avenue North. Learn from the best as Paula Deen puts on a cooking demonstration at the Alabama Theatre on May 14.

Taste the finest local cuisines at the Coastal Uncorked Food and Wine Festival May 8-15 and learn what true southern cooking really is. Don’t miss the Coastal Uncorked Golf Tournament on May 12 at Myrtle Beach National South and West courses. Take a ride on the Coastal Uncorked May Fest Tasting Trolley May 13 -15. At $75 a ticket you’ll enjoy two days of food, wine, and beer as your trolley takes 10 various stops around Myrtle Beach. Finally finish off your May Fest with the Coastal Uncorked Finale Gala and Food Challenge. Before the challenge begins enjoy tasting tables from local restaurants, drinks, and a silent auction. Then prepare yourself to see seven of Myrtle Beach’s finest chefs battle it out in an iron chef style competition. We hope you don’t miss out on another amazing kick off to summer with May Fest!

Some Myrtle Beach attractions probably won’t ever change, and many do to keep up with the times.  In 2011, though, Myrtle Beach should have a nice little addition to it’s already abundant list of attractions and things to do.

Wonder Works – Museum? Education? or More?

Wonder Works combines science, education and entertainment where you can explore more than 100 exhibits that are just as fun as they are educational. Ever been blown away by a 74-mph hurricane wind? Maybe land the NASA space shuttle. How about lying on a bed of nails or piloting a fighter jet Let’s not forget about the lazer tag.  You will immediately be intrigued just when you see the outside of the building. It looks like an up-side down museum!  WonderWorks opens this spring at Broadway at the Beach!

SkyWheel in Myrtle Beach, SC

Hopefully to be finished in May, The SkyWheel Myrtle Beach. Located alongside the newly opened one mile plus Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, this oceanfront attraction will stand 18 stories high (196 feet). We are talking about 42 glass gondolas that can hold up to six people. Don’t worry, they are glassed-in, and temperature controlled. No dangling feet here!

Legends in Concert – March 11th Opening Slated

After spending over $1 million, the new Legends in Concert theater has added 600 new seats. But check this out… not any of the seats are more than 50 feet from the stage! Couple that with new state of the art features, and VIP table booths for the ultimate experience. The opening night performance at Legends in Concert in their new theater at Broadway at the Beach will be March 11.

Pirates Voyage – Coming in June

Say goodbye to Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede. This spring will finish a $11 million dollar transformation into Pirates Voyage. (They say it should open sometime in June).  This new attraction features a Buccaneer Battle with a Pirate Feast you don’t want to miss. Experience the wonder, excitement and spirit of the pirates who docked on the shores of Myrtle Beach! Don’t worry though, the show features new music by Dolly Parton and Mark Brymer.

Wheels of Yesteryear Completes 2011 Inventory Changes

Wheels of Yesteryear offers one of the Southeast’s most impressive collections of vintage American made automobiles and trucks in one location. New for 2011 – inventory changes that showcase over 50 classic cars and trucks owned and restored by car enthusiast Paul Cummngs. Visit Wheels of Yesteryear and take a step back in time for a truly unique experience perfect for fans of vintage automobiles, car enthusiasts, locals, tourists, couples and families!

**A special thank you to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce for making this list available.