Frequently life tends to take unexpected twists and turns and you simply have to hang on while fate’s GPS reroutes. Such was the case on a recent Tuesday morning when my hubby found himself in the ER instead of at work. Six days later and minus his appendix, we finally got to go home. The ordeal caused Kendall a great deal of agony – and a lot of stress and hospital pacing for me. As such, upon his release from the hospital Kendall suggested we should take an impromptu trip to the beach. He was on strict orders not to work anyway and he figured it was the perfect way to “take it easy.” So the next day I packed up our family and drove us to Myrtle Beach, SC.
We hadn’t been to Myrtle Beach in well over a decade since we prefer a more laid back vacation style, but we thought this location would be better since we wanted a hotel with an indoor pool on a very short notice. We also thought Olivia might like some of the attractions if the weather was too cold or rainy. Thankfully, we were fortunate enough to have beautiful weather; and as is our typical MO, we spent most of our time enjoying the sun and sand.
Myrtle Beach in January is really rather nice. Sure there were lots of places closed for the season and the ocean was too frigid to dip your toes in, but we thoroughly enjoyed the unpopulated beach and the quiet of an otherwise booming city. Of course, most vacationers that travel to this beach in the summer are drawn to it because of its attractions and popularity. Our trip was a stark contrast to the dense throngs of people, noisy streets, and overcrowded restaurants that the area experiences during the warmer months of the year. In comparison to the last time I visited Myrtle Beach in the summer, it seemed like a ghost town. It was refreshing. Instead of fighting for a spot on the beach with very nearly everyone’s towel touching, we were spread out on a blanket with only a handful of other people as far as you could see. We didn’t even have to wait in line when we went out to eat.
In all honestly, Myrtle Beach is only appealing to me in the off season when the crowds are gone (and the rates are low). However, there are those who would disagree and enjoy a totally different beach going experience. Once spring break rolls around, countless families, teenagers, and college kids start to flock to this popular destination. The city practically hums with action and excitement. Entertainment abounds with activities and attractions such as: golf, putt-putt, shows, aquariums, museums, amusement parks, water parks, oodles of shopping options, restaurants galore, and the list goes on and on! Many (very many) people find this sort of vacation enticing and I think that’s great – you just won’t find me there. My main point of interest is the ocean and I care very little about seeing anything else.
So if you’re reading this and you’ve never visited Myrtle Beach (although I think most West Virginians have at some point), I would recommend checking it out; however, only if you’re interested in a vacation jammed packed with entertainment and people. If not, I suggest going in January (haha).
