Myrtle Beach Day #5 - Friday, September 20

Today was Beach Day---but we did something different.

Since the beach is NOT right outside our building at the resort, we drove to Myrtle Beach State Park for part of the day.

We had driven past the state park, along with Huntington Beach State Park which is further south, on previous visits.  Each time we say we should bring our picnic stuff along, stop for some chicken or other lunch items, and spend part of a day at one of the state parks.  This trip seemed like a good time to do that.

We packed our cooler with some drinks and chips and a couple of granola bars.  The plan was to stop at KFC and pick up some chicken tenders dinners with coupons that we had from our coupon book at check in.

Well that didn't happen.  We passed one KFC on the drive to the park, but we didn't stop and Gary didn't want to turn around to return to it.  We had no food except what we had packed, which was ok.

The park was nice.  We wound through the trees, just like usual state parks, and the park ranger at the entrance had told us to hang to the right at the Y to go to the gift shop at the fishing pier. She also said that instead of parking there, we could continue driving along the beach parking if we wanted to, which is just what we did.

The parking area is close to many walkways to the beach itself.  On the non-beach side of the parking are various picnic shelters and a few restrooms.  According to the literature given to us, the park sits on a few hundred acres, there are 300 campsites, 5 rental cabins, and more picnic tables that are available.  There is also a Nature Center which features programs frequently.  The fishing pier is currently closed for renovation, but fishing is allowed from the beach itself.

We found a spot for our towels and bags, deposited them, then walked for a bit so we could search for shells for the kids.  Landon asked us for seashells the last time we were here, but the only one we brought home was from the gift shop and I could see the disappointment in his eyes that we really didn't find the shell on the beach ourselves.  Now he will have his pick of a dozen or so picked-up-from-the-beach-at-the-State-Park.

We sat on our towels (taken from our room at the resort) for a few hours, just watching the water, the people, and the incoming tide (Yikes!  We had to move back once too---or get wet!)  Gary fell asleep a couple of times.  Even though I took my book along, I didn't read at all  It was too fascinating to watch the choppy water and the height of the waves as they inched forward with each crash to shore.

After a stop at the gift shop (we had a coupon for a free gift if we purchased something for $10), we headed further south to Murrell's Inlet to enjoy a late lunch at River City Cafe---again.  We thought about Drunken Jack's since we hadn't been there this trip, but decided the draw of the excellent hush puppies just wasn't enough.  

Gary had resisted the idea of going to the State Park and he finally agreed to it last night.  I feel bad because the water came in further than we expected when we were walking and his feet got wet.  The podiatrist said he should avoid getting into the ocean water.  But when he sat on his towel, he took off the wet shoes and dried off his feet and I think they are ok.  He changed the dressings when we returned to the room.  

Other than the foot issue, I think he enjoyed sitting on the beach and going to the park.  He said that the next time we go, we will pick up a couple of folding beach chairs for $5 each (on sale at just about every beach type establishment along the route there) and plan the lunch a little better.  We also need to remember to bring the blanket from the Escape so we have something more substantial to sit on that just the condo beach towels.

After lunch we drove back to Barefoot Landing to check on lime basalmic vinegar at the Olive Shop.  The delivery didn't come.  So we are out of luck on that!  We can either order it (and pay shipping) or check at the oil store in Gatlinburg over NYEve or ask Greta to check at her oils store in Vermillon.  

We also stopped at one of the beach type places that sells t-shirts and chairs and other odds and ends of souvenirs.  Everything was on sale so the kiddos are getting extra t-shirts!  Yay for them!

Vacation is winding down.  Tomorrow is the last full day here.   Insert sad face.....