There's something about waking up to the sound of the surf hitting the shore outside your window...
While I was in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as part of the Myrtle Beach's 60 Best Kept Secrets last week, this is where I stayed with my blogging friends. Not too shabby, am I right?
Each morning, I found this waiting for me outside my door (lucky me, I had an ocean view room with a gorgeous deck!
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you jealous...not too jealous, anyway!
If you were following me along Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, you probably saw a lot of the #MYR_60Days hashtag and you were probably wondering what it was all about.
Myrtle Beach's 60 Best Kept Secrets
We all know that Myrtle Beach has lovely beaches. It's one of the top beach vacation destinations in the world for a reason, right? Well, Myrtle Beach wants you to know that they are more than just 60 miles of pristine, sandy white beaches.
Yes, I said 60 miles! But there is so much more to do in Myrtle Beach than lay on those beautiful beaches - if you so choose!
Each day, Myrtle Beach reveals one incredibly awesome thing to do in Myrtle Beach that people might not realize is there - thus, the "secret." While I was there last week, I was able to experience a few of those 60 secrets first hand.
Like the Stingray Encounter at Ripley's Aquarium, located in Broadway at the Beach. You can reach down and touch the stingrays, and that included in your admission price. Not only is the stingray encounter super cool, but the entire Aquarium is awesome - and fantastic for kids! You can read about my visit to Ripley's Aquarium on my travel blog, Happy Travels.
Or the incredible gourmet dining at The Brentwood Restaurant and Wine Bistro, where you can watch for ghosts while getting a French Carolina Coastal cooking class - because it's a certifiably haunted building!
Oh, and the food? AMAZING. I walked out of the Brentwood so full and so satisfied that I felt like I may never need to eat again!
We had a private demonstration on how to cook crepes Suzette and a few of the ladies actually made them as well. It was so much fun!
Chef Masson is originally from France and is quite the accomplished chef, having studied in French and English culinary schools before bringing his divine cooking skills to Myrtle Beach. Chef Masson's story sounds like many of the stories you hear in Myrtle Beach; he discovered the Brentwood Restaurant while vacationing in Myrtle Beach, fell in love and moved there.
I don't blame him!
After dinner, I went looking for ghosts but didn't catch any...
It was still kind of spooky!
Of course, if stingrays and ghost-hunting while indulging in rack of lamb isn't your style, there are many, many more secrets to discover in Myrtle Beach!
Like the beautiful Black River, while actually being very dark in color, is absolutely breathtaking! We went kayaking and had a blast with the Black River Outdoors Cypress/Tupelo Swamp Kayak Tour. Our guide Paul was hilarious and kept cracking me up - but he was also extremely knowledgeable about the river, the surrounding area, giving us tidbits of information about the species of wildlife and vegetation along the river. It was a wonderful experience for me as an adult, and I think your older children would love it as well!
So...all of these secrets?
Myrtle Beach wants to show you first hand how much they really have to offer and wants you to discover some of these secrets for yourself!
Throughout September and October, you can enter to win a a 3-night, 4-day trip to Myrtle Beach, complete with accommodations for two, a restaurant gift card and a pair of tickets to your choice of attractions by entering the Myrtle Beach's Pin it To Win Pinterest contest. And one grand prize winner will win accommodations plus a two tickets to up to eight attractions featured in their "Myrtle Beach Dream Vacation" pinboard.
How to Enter the Myrtle Beach Dream Vacation Pinterest Contest:
- Follow @MyMyrtleBeach on Pinterest. To enter the Sweepstakes, you must “Follow” Visit Myrtle Beach (Pinterest username @MyMyrtleBeach) on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/mymyrtlebeach.
- Create a board titled “Myrtle Beach Dream Vacation.” Add at least eight attractions you’d like to visit in Myrtle Beach on a dream vacation and make sure you tag each with #MYRDreamVacation. You're encouraged to include a description with each image saying WHY you chose it. Entrants must include the tag #MYRDreamVacation within each pin added to their pinboard. Only one Pinterest pinboard entry per person is allowed.
- When your board is complete, post a comment on the Pinterest board with your name and the url of your #MYRDreamVacation pinboard.
Visit Myrtle Beach will select a winner on Friday of each week and the Grand Prize winner announced at the end of the contest. This contest will run from September 1, 2012, through October 31, 2012.
And...there are also promotions happening on Twitter and on the Visit Myrtle Beach blog! Go check them out!
I received travel and accommodations while visiting Myrtle Beach, but all opinions are my own.
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
One day I'll get to go...
Liz says
I'm going in two weeks. I can't wait!
HilLesha says
Very nice!
Louise says
That looks amazing!! So very Amazing
Becca says
WOW I would love to be there right now!!
Billie says
Tons of fun! What does a stingray feel like? And what would have happened if there WAS a ghost there? Eek!
Ty says
Very cute!
Kathleen says
I have never been there, but it looks absolutely amazing. Definitely going to have to plan a trip there.
Rachel says
That is so beautiful! I have been to MB once as a child but I don't remember such gorgeous scenery!
And, fyi -- LOVE your dress!
Lolo says
Can I live there? Looks amazing!
Stefanie says
I haven't been to Myrtle Beach, but it looks fab! Great pictures!
April Decheine says
I have been there but only on business, I would love to get to visit and see the beautiful 60 miles of beach!
Colleen says
This looks like such a great time. Crepes remind me of my childhood when my mother use to work at Magic Pan and they made them right there in front of you.
Zipporah Sandler says
Looks like you had a blast.
Jenn says
Looks amazing! We almost made it to Myrtle Beach this year, but Hub's work interfered.
Marcie W. says
I would love to vacation in Myrtle Beach with my entire family! I had no idea there was so many cool activities.
Jennifer says
I could just stare at your photography all day. Simply amazing pictures Jenn
Stefani says
I am jealous. I wish I could travel more and I bet you had an amazing time.
Kelly says
Oh man, I am JEALOUS!
Theresa says
I am so jealous! It looks beautiful!
HilLesha says
That Brentwood restaurant sounds awesome!
Notorious Spinks says
I wish I could have gone. Looks like fun.
Toni says
That is such a beautiful place!!
Tricia Nightowlmama says
What a fantastic place!! I would love to go
Brett says
oh, the views! i want to go Right now please!
the brentwood sounds AMAZING.
Beeb Ashcroft says
What a fun vacation - that stingray exhibit looks so cool!
JulieK says
Oooh take me there! I have always wanted to visit Myrtle Beach - looks lovely
lorrie says
thanks for sharing your photos looks like you had a great vacation
Amiyrah says
We're trying to plan our summer trip for next year, and it looks like Myrtle Beach might be a great choice! I'm bookmarking this post and emailing it to the husband. Thanks for reviewing it!
Jennifer says
So, so pretty and it looks like so much fun. Now I want to go to the beach!
Danielle says
I went there once, a long time ago before having kids and when I lived in North Carolina and I must have missed all those nice places. But then again, I ended up having to bail one of my friends out of jail for vomiting on a sidewalk, soooo it was a bit of a different trip! Oh to be 20 again!
Emily says
Oooo I am SO jealous! I've never been there, but have heard wonderful things!