Things to do in Myrtle Beach, SC

If you are planning a vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC, there are so many things to see and do.  Here are a few of my most favorite attractions and restaurants.

The first thing to do when planning a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC is to decide where to stay.  Depending on the type of vacation and who’s going with you, there are a number of ways to enjoy Myrtle Beach.  If your group consists of college-age folks who are ready to party, then the ideal place to stay is in Myrtle Beach.  If you are taking your family and you would like a quiet vacation, then North Myrtle Beach will be more your speed.

Stop by the Myrtle Beach visitor’s center on your way in to the beach and pick up a free map and some coupon books.  Drive towards the ocean until you find Highway 17.  This stretch of highway runs mostly parallel to the shoreline all the way from Myrtle Beach to North Myrtle Beach.  There is a 17 bypass that you will want to utilize if you are in a hurry to get from one beach to the other. If you want to cruise and show off your ride, stay on 17 business and take it slow.

When you get hungry, there are so many good restaurants to choose from.  If you want seafood, many people recommend the Calabash restaurants.  I enjoy a good rack of ribs and I find them every time at Damons Restaurant, which is located right on the beach.  You can eat your meal at Damons while you watch the waves crash into the shore.  Margarittaville Restaurant, which is owned by none other than Mr. Jimmy Buffett, will entertain you with your favorite Buffett tunes while you enjoy your meal and search for that lost shaker of salt. Speaking of Jimmy Buffett, if you are in the mood for an excellent burger, I highly recommend a little restaurant called “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”  For dinner and a show, you could visit “Dixie Stampede” or “Medieval Times.”

For entertainment, look no further than Broadway at the Beach.  This area includes restaurants, a movie theater, bars, dance clubs, and all sorts of fun things to do.  My favorite bar is a little Irish pub in North Myrtle Beach called Molly Darcy’s.  If you rent a condo at the Crescent Shores, it is right beside the pub, which means you have a short walk back to your room.  For the best shopping experience, I recommend either Barefoot Landing or the Tanger Outlets.  Don’t forget about golf and mini golf.  Myrtle Beach is a golf player’s dream.  There are so many courses to choose from, you could play a new one on every trip for years.  The mini golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area are top-notch and include a variety of different themes.

How to Protect Children from the Sun

With summertime approaching, we already dream of warm, sunny days and hanging out at the beach.  Be cautious of the sun’s damaging rays and protect your children so that they can enjoy the entire summer without painful sunburn.

Before each outing in the sun, encourage your children to apply sunscreen.  Choose the appropriate SPF for their skin type and don’t just assume that one product is fine for everyone in your family.  Also be sure everyone is outfitted with protective sun gear if you will be exposed to the sun for long periods of time, like on a nature hike.  Hats or umbrellas are helpful tools for keeping the top of your head protected.  Wear sunglasses with UV protection to keep your eyes safe.

If you are camping or going to the beach, take along a large umbrella, canopy, or tent to provide shade.  Teach kids to be conscious of the power of the sun and to spend some of their time playing in the shade.  Reward them with some cold ice cream when they show responsible behavior and get under the shade on their own.

Regardless of the activity, use a timer or a mobile phone with an alarm to remind you how much time you’ve spent in the sun and to let you know when it’s time to reapply sunscreen.  Young children are usually oblivious to the effects of the sun’s harmful rays until they walk in the door as red as a lobster and crying in pain.  As the parent or guardian, it is your responsibility to remind children how important sun protection is and teach them to use it properly.

As a backup, have some soothing lotion with Aloe on-hand in case you misjudge how much sun exposure you can handle.

How to Confirm that Your Daughter is Dating a Good Guy

There are a number of things that a concerned parent can do to evaluate the character and intentions of their daughter’s new boyfriend

Plan an evening to meet your daughter’s new boyfriend soon after you discover his existence.  Make the event very casual and insist that the entire family is present.  A nice dinner followed by an exciting board game or two will serve your purpose nicely.  Whatever activity you choose, be sure it is one with lots of interaction between your family and the new guy.  Note the appearance of the boyfriend when he shows up for dinner.  Evaluate how he dresses and whether he shows signs of proper hygiene.  Make him wait awhile before seeing your daughter to see if he grows impatient.  Remember when you are talking to him, that you are dealing with someone from a different generation, so his interests may not be the same as your own.  There are certain things that should transcend the generation gap, though, like good manners, good common sense, and respect for elders.  Watch carefully for these things.  This is his first test.

Ask plenty of questions throughout the evening and watch his body language closely.  Does he seem comfortable with your daughter?  Are they overly affectionate in front of the family?  Watch how he interacts with everyone and whether he makes eye contact when you speak to him.  These things are all important because if he does become a part of the family for an extended period of time, it will be nice to know that he is someone you can trust and who you will want to have around your family.

Keep a notebook and pen hidden in a separate room.  Excuse yourself from time to time and write down your observations about the boyfriend’s appearance and behavior.  Also try to collect information like his name, where he lives, where he works, and how long he’s lived in your area, but don’t let it seem like you’re interrogating him.  At some point in the evening, discretely take a few “group” photos that include the new boyfriend so that you will have a permanent record of what he looks like, just in case.  Tell him that you want photos to remember the evening and to post in your blog.

Use the resources available to you after he leaves to do a thorough background check.  There are many websites available that you can use to search for criminal records and to find registered sex offenders.  Don’t assume that you can tell whether someone is decent or not by their outward appearance.  Find out for sure.  Have a serious discussion with your daughter about sex and about your dating rules if you have not already done so.  Express to her the seriousness of the rules and be very clear of the consequences for breaking those rules.

Plan another evening with the new boyfriend out in public at a nice restaurant.  Watch for signs of chivalry from the young man.  Does he hold the door for your daughter and for other people?  Is he polite to waiters and waitresses?  Whether he ends up paying for his meal or not, does he offer?  Try to spend some time alone with him, away from your daughter, and see if he tries to make conversation with you.  Always be nice, but throw a few curve balls at him and see how he responds.

Keep very open communication with your daughter about her social life and be familiar with her friends, their interests, and where they like to hang out.  Encourage her to always talk to you when she has a problem or when she needs advice.  If you decide that her new boyfriend is not right for her, tell her your reasons, but let her make her own decisions.  She may not take your advice, but if you demand that she no longer sees him, you can rest assured that you will quickly push her towards him.  On the other hand, if you discover good things about the new boyfriend, tell your daughter and commend her on choosing a good guy.  Whether she acknowledges it or not, she does value your opinions and by communicating both good and bad information with her without interjecting strong emotions, you encourage her to confide in you no matter what.  Above all, enforce the rules established about dating with her whether you like the new boyfriend or not so that your daughter does not lose respect for your authority.