Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach, SC and Hilton Head, SC are in many respects polar opposites. Both are South Carolina beach resorts. Both have world class followings. Each is frequently listed in travel magazine lists like "100 Best Family Beach Vacations" or "Best Golf Destinations". They are both beach towns in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach on the northern-most stretch of the SC coast and Hilton Head at the southern-most. Yet the feel of each is distinct and opposite.

To be fair, we have been long time Hilton Head people. Our first visit here was 30some years ago. We have owned several properties on the island. I have posted on this blog three time about HHI, here, here and here. My Flickr set on Hilton Head is here. We return here whenever we can, usually with friends or family.

We had been to Myrtle Beach once before, in 1982 and were not impressed. 100s of t-shirt shops, tattoo places, tacky signs, fast food hot dog stands, bikini contests and loud music on the beach. It was the place our teens and their children wanted to go for Spring Break or anytime they could get a free spot on the floor. The fact that it was 5+ hours from our home in Aiken, SC, while HHI was 3 hours away also kept us from returning.

Pirateland Campground, about 700 sites, is flanked by Ocean Lakes Campground, 900 sites,
and Lakewood Campground, 1100 sites. Almost 3000 sites on the ocean. KOA is nearby with 500 sites.

Our swans. Below is a video of Rosie's first encounter with a swan.

The Market Common. This is one of 4 developments we visited. Like a small town 3-4 streets wide by 6-9 streets long.
Lots of restaurants, shops, residential areas. Saturday Farmers market.

I placed this photo for my son-in-law who manages a restaurant which would do well here.

Broadway on the Beach is another gathering spot with restaurants, amusement, theaters, shops

The fattest catfish in the world. A small lake is i the center of Broadway.
Around the lake are dozens of feeding spots (25 cents a handful).  The fish get fed all day long.

Barefoot Landing, another gathering place.

This woman explained to us what to look for in shells

Very stoic. Rosie was calling him names but he would not bite.

This boogie-boarder didn't quite make it!

This girl is being buried by her dad.

I finished reading "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" while at the beach/
Highly recommended.

Rosie had never met any swans before. Nice beautiful, graceful, gentle birds, right? NOT. Swans can be very nasty. When Rosie started to run into the water to chase them away, one of them hissed at her and scared Rosie!

Final conclusion: Myrtle Beach is much better than it was on our last visit, 30 years ago. It is a great place for families with lots to do day and night. We still prefer Hilton Head Island. That's our opinion and we're sticking to it!

Ciao, Frank

Arcata Sunset

For most of the week in Arcata we did not really know that there was a sun on this coast. But by Friday Sept 21, 2012, the sun had come out and it was warm and glorious. On Saturday I got permission to give Diva a bath and she looked sooooo good. 

We were having dinner in Diva Saturday night and I could see the sun setting. There were just enough clouds to make the sunset perfect. We found out where a beach was, about 2 miles away, and drove to it. After 2 wrong turns and about 25 minutes we got to the beach just as all of the sunset worshipers were leaving! All gone. We noted the time and decided to come back early on Sunday and we did. No clouds this time so the sunset was not as spectacular but at least we were there.

On the beach looking away from the ocean.

In spite of this nice warm picture it was quite cold and windy.

Rosie, in a blur, had an awesome time chasing her soccer ball on the beach.
She didn't quite understand why there was sand in her mouth but it didn't deter her.

Newport Oregon and South Beach State Park

We are now at the South Beach State Park about 2 miles south of Newport Oregon on the magnificent Oregon coast. We took 99W out of Portland so that we could see more of the Willamette Valley. 99W becomes 223, 18 etc until about McMinnville then just 18. Unfortunately, this was like one gigantic suburb with small businesses, grocery stores, traffic lights, school crossings and other obstacles until about McMinnville. After that it is rolling hills and farms and vineyards all the way until the Coastal Mountains. Hwy 18 ends at the famous US 101 just north of Lincoln. The drive through Lincoln reminded me of the small towns along the New Jersey and Maryland coast when I was a child, before the casinos and large hotels came in.

Site F18. Plenty of room for Diva and the truck.

We always try to have fresh flowers on the table.

A pronouns should always agrees with his antecedent.

This must have been a really difficult landing!
Vineyards in the foreground. 

We are in the Willamette Valley approaching the Oregon Coastal Range.
Over these mountains is the Oregon coast.  The other side of this range has its' own climate.
The temperature difference on this side of the Coastal Range and the other can be 25 F.
Hot in the valley cold at the coast.

Newport has a waterfront area with actually working warehouses and plenty of shops and restaurants.

Waterfront shops (or are they shoppes?)

It was actually brightly sunny at the waterfront but heavy fog is almost a constant at the beach.
We are looking from a pier west to the Pacific, a mile or so beyond the bridge.

Hundreds of sea lions are there to amuse the tourists.

There are a dozen places to eat here. I wanted crabs and not everyone had them.
We just looked for a place that was crowded. and had crabs.
Ocean Bleu @ Gino's fit the bill.

Steamed Dungeness crab, jasmine rice, roasted peppers and plenty of lemon and butter. Yummy!

The beach near our campground was not inviting.
Windy with a chill in the air while 1 mile inland it was short sleave weather.

Nye Beach is a section of Newport also with plenty of shops and restaurants.

A shoppe for underpants.

A decoration in one of the shops in Nye Beach

Nye Beach. Again with the fog and the wind and the chill.

Even this gull needed a break

Back at South Beach SP with the Diva's new flag we bought in Newport.

Rosie and I took the truck to a car wash. She accompanied me on my lap until it was over. 

So far the Oregon coast has been grand. This is our second Oregon Sate Park campground and they have also been great.

Next post: Corvallis Oregon.

Frank