Most of us remember the good old days when car trips to our vacation destination were half the fun! No matter where you are driving from, your trip to Myrtle Beach, SC can be a fun one. Did you know that there is no interstate that comes directly into Myrtle Beach? This means that you have the opportunity to explore some off-the-beaten-path secondary roads on your way to your Myrtle Beach vacation! My family does this a lot and you’ll be amazed what you can find by either using a Google search of interesting stops along the back roads or just using a map to see what the small towns might have to offer along the way. The south is a fabulous place to take a car trip because you can find all sorts of roadside vendors, produce stands, basket weavers and other wares along the way. You can even find some of the most local, fresh seafood anywhere right on the side of the road with a local vendor selling right out of the back of their truck. Talk about fresh caught! It was just caught moments earlier and you could be eating or sampling it within minutes!

Another great reason to drive to Myrtle Beach is having a car while you’re here. Why rent a car and go to all that expense when you could just have your own car? You’ll find that it’s worth it to enjoy the drive in and have the freedom that your car will provide. Parking in town is not bad and there is almost always somewhere to park close to the ocean or other attractions in town. This is a town built for car travelers! Take a day and drive to the nearby towns of Georgetown, Wilmington, Charleston, or the local seafood towns of Murrells Inlet or Calabash, NC. You won’t be sorry!

Myrtle Beach has high runway landing taxes, so the airlines that do service our area have to charge higher prices. Flying into Myrtle Beach can be a rather expensive trip for many, so again, driving is a great idea! If you’re a golfer, this means not having to pay for extra baggage checks for your golf clubs. You can be in charge of your own transportation and go at your own pace. Isn’t that what vacation is all about? So, take your vacation to the off-road discoveries and enjoy your experience on the road. After all, isn’t getting here half the fun?? Call us today at Oceanfront Vacations and let us get you the perfect condo or house once you’re here—you’re just one call away from the perfect vacation! Drive on in or call us today!

Don’t take chances with your skin! Get to know how to properly buy and use sunscreen. It’s more than just a vogue cream that gets added to your makeup or skin care products. Contrary to popular belief, you can still catch some serious rays while wearing good sunscreen. It’s all about the right product for your particular skin.
I have seen so many friends and family come to Myrtle Beach and have their entire vacation completely ruined by an agonizing sunburn. You have no idea how debilitating a bad burn can be unless you’ve had one. It can cause painful water blisters, peeling, and even scarring that can take months to heal. You have to remember that a sunburn is just that—a burn. Sometimes first or second-degree burns, and sometimes even third degree burns.
Make sure you understand how to buy sunscreen! For instance, did you know that the SPF number on the bottle doesn’t have anything to do with how strong the sunscreen is, but rather how long you can leave it on before needing to apply more? It’s true. Take the amount of time you can usually stay out before burning, then multiply that number times the SPF and you’ll get a rough idea of the number of minutes you can be out in the sun protected effectively. Don’t save big bottles of unused sunscreen—they lose their effectiveness over time and chances are if you have sunscreen more than a year old, it is not as effective as it needs to be. Throw it out and start fresh!

Don’t take chances with your skin! No matter what your complexion is, you still need protection from the sun. Our society has made it vogue to sit and bake for hours in the sun. Nowadays, people are seeing the truth and it’s becoming much more accepted and “en vogue” to stay out of the sun and work to maintain a porcelain complexion. It’s no secret that overexposure to the sun causes premature aging and wrinkles, so why go there if you don’t have to? Keep fresh sunscreen in your cabinet at all times, and don’t forget to apply it in areas easily forgotten, such as tops of feet, behind arms and ears and nose. Remember to start applying sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you go out so that it can soak in properly.
No excuses—never mess around with your sunscreen! It could literally save your life. At the very least, you’ll look a whole lot younger as a result of having used it along with a healthy diet. Don’t let your vacation be ruined this year—use at least an SPF 15 and make sure you apply it often if you’re in the water. Stay protected and enjoy your Myrtle Beach vacation!

1.Check out the Sounds of Summer concerts. The next one will be September 20, 2013 and will be held in McLean Park in North Myrtle Beach.

2.Surfrider Lip-Rippin’ Chilympics. This is a chili cook-off like no other! October 13, 2013 in the parking lot of Wicked Tuna.

3.One of our favorites—The Greek Festival at St. Johns Greek Orthodox church in Myrtle Beach. Get amazing food and entertainment outdoors from 11am to 9pm September 26, 2013.

4.The 34th Annual Harvest Hoedown Festival in Aynor. This is pure fall fun! Happening on September 21, 2013 in downtown Aynor, just about 30 minutes from Myrtle Beach!

5.Check out the Classic Ford Car Show at Broadway at the Beach on October 5, 2013. 9am till 4pm.

6.September 19-21, 2013 marks the 40th Annual South Atlantic Shrine Festival. Come downtown Myrtle Beach to experience a true fall festival!

7.Need a little culture? How about visiting the Burroughs and Chapin Art Museum for the Celebration of Gullah Culture. It is held on September 22, 2013 from 1-4pm.

8.If you can’t get enough seafood, The Little River ShrimpFest is just for you! On the waterfront in Little River October 13, 2013.

9.Autumn Big Band Blast is a great way to enjoy music and wine! Check it out on October 5, 2013 at La Belle Amie Vineyard in Little River.

10.Brookgreen Gardens Brew at the Zoo. If you love a good beer, then this event is for you! Come taste regional and national crafted beers and enjoy the surrounding beauty of Brookgreen Gardens! September 28, 2013 from 5:30-8:30.

This is just our top ten list. There is much more happening here on the Grand Strand, so be sure to get in on the fall action! For more information on these and many other activities and events, visit
http://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/things-to-do/events/. Don’t forget to Call us here at Oceanfront Vacations for your perfect get-away condo!

October is that fantastic time of year where harvesting happens, pumpkin patches show up everywhere and fall festivals begin. If you are fortunate enough to be in Myrtle Beach vacationing during this beautiful “secret season,” there is lots to do that will get you in the mood for fall!

Go visit one of our local farms. One of our favorite is Indigo Farms, located on the extreme north end of the Grand Strand. Here, you will get to enjoy the beautiful harvest of fall crops, go on a hay ride, go out in the field to do some picking yourself, and of course enjoy our produce market. There will be lots of things to taste and all the things you could ever need to improve your garden. Whether you want to pick out the perfect pumpkin from our pumpkin patch, or buy some of the many homemade jams, preserves and pies. Indigo Farms equals FUN and YUM!! A trip to Indigo Farms will not complete without a bonfire and hayride, but you do need a reservation for that. So grab your kiddos and head on up to Indigo Farms! For a schedule of events, visit their website at: http://www.indigofarmsmarket.com/

Check out Brookgreen Gardens while you’re here too. They have some amazing fall events and offer some of the most beautiful gardens anywhere. I feel smarter and more cultured simply by showing up at Brookgreen Gardens. You will too! They can be found on the south end of the beach near Pawleys Island and at: http://www.brookgreen.org/

There are lots of churches in our area that provide fantastic pumpkin patches and activities for the whole family. If arts and crafts fairs are your thing, then you will have fun at any of the dozens of events around Myrtle Beach this fall! Check out an up-to-date list of events and activities at: http://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/things-to-do/events/

Come enjoy the fall season in Myrtle Beach with us. You’ll leave refreshed, cultured, and perhaps a few pounds heavier than when you arrived from all the yummy food! Ok, we won’t say anything about that….

So that brings us to one of my favorite things to do each fall—make apple pies. I’m sure I make a few dozen of them by the time Christmas rolls around and I love them because they are soooo yummy and easy to make. Apples are in plentiful supply right now and so I find lots of ways to cook with them. Even if you’re staying in a condo, you can make the best apple pie ever and eat like a king while you’re visiting Myrtle Beach! Consider spending Thanksgiving here in Myrtle Beach with your family. Many people love renting a beach house that can comfortably hold everyone and just hang out and enjoy the holiday with all the comforts of home. Our own family did that one year, and it’s one of the best Thanksgivings any of us can remember!

Enjoy the bounty of what nature has to offer this fall season and don’t forget to stop by your local market and get some fantastic apples for this super easy pie. I promise you, it won’t be around for long!

Super Easy Apple Pie

5-6 Granny Smith or other good baking apples
¼ cup sugar or Splenda
¼ cup brown sugar
2-3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon cloves or allspice
•You can also use 2 teaspoons of apple pie spice rather than the individual spices.
½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
2-3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 box of prepared piecrusts. There are two in each box. You’ll need one for the top and one for the bottom. Don’t get generic—they fall apart!

Spread one pie crust in your pan and get the second one ready to place on top of the filling mixture.

Chop the apples in cubes. You can also slice them thinly if you like. If you desire, you can peel them, but I like the skin on mine. Place the apples in a big bowl and add all the other ingredients and toss well. Let it sit till the sugars, spices and lemon juice create a saucy type of consistency. Toss again and poor the mixture in your prepared pie shell. Top with the other pie dough and crimp the edges to seal. Make a few little cuts in the middle of the piecrust on top to allow steam to escape. If you feel like being fancy, you can add some egg wash and sprinkle a little sugar on top for a shiny finish. Bake at 375 for about 45-60 minutes or until it’s bubbly and the crust is golden brown. Happy eating from all of us here at Oceanfront Vacations!