5 Reasons Myrtle Beach is Worth a Visit

My family vacationed in Myrtle Beach during the summers when I was growing up. We'd pack up the minivans and cars and drive seven to eight hours from Baltimore to Myrtle Beach, being sure to stop at South of the Border along the way. I always associated Myrtle Beach with my family vacations, so it never crossed my mind as a place for me to escape to...until recently. 

I flew an hour (yes, one hour) from BWI to Myrtle Beach International on Spirit (which actually wasn't as bad as people make it seem) and embarked on a nostalgic weekend to reclaim my childhood, or so I thought.

It didn't appear that much has changed in the beachfront town when I arrived.  Miniature golfing, pancake houses, and swimwear stores lined the main highway.  Motorcycles abounded since I went during the infamous 'Bike Week,' when people come from all over the country to meet up with fellow motorcycle lovers. However, as I began to do more exploring, it became clear that Myrtle Beach had more to offer than what I remembered.

1. The food and drinks are to die for.

From the time I landed, to the time I headed to the airport to go home, I was stuffed with delicious food and drinks.  Seriously, every meal I ate was better than the last. And this was hard to do since every meal was full of southern delight and deliciousness.

Pork ribs, fried cheese and roasted brussel sprouts from Tupelo Honey Cafe

2. There are plenty of activities for singles or families.

For children and teenagers (and children at heart), there are several places for miniature golfing, golf karting, and zip lining, along with arcades, haunted houses and a plethora of other activities along the main beachfront 'strip.'  But vacation isn't fun if parents can't get in on the action. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, clubs and even wine bars for adults to have a little...adult time.

Of course they have water activities like parasailing and jet skiing (check out Ocean Watersports), but there aren't many places where you can take a helicopter ride along the coast. Flying along the coastline with Helicopter Adventures and seeing Myrtle Beach from a different perspective was definitely a new and fun experience. And I loved their fleet of red helicopters. So chic.

3. It's a short drive or plane ride away.

As I mentioned earlier, my family used to make the drive from Baltimore each summer. However, with inexpensive fares from Spirit and other airlines, Myrtle Beach is just an hour plane ride from the Washington, D.C. area.  That's perfect for a quick weekend trip.

4. It's low-key and charming.

Have you ever traveled to a city and you can tell the people are pretentious, unwelcoming, and you can't relax because you're too busy worried how people are looking at you? Well, Myrtle Beach is the exact opposite. The city has a relaxing feel and everyone was there to just have a good time. Each person I spoke with was super friendly and accommodating. It was a great reminder how much friendlier people can be in the south.

5. The beach is clean and family-friendly.

I have been to several beaches around the world and I must say, Myrtle Beach is impressive. There was hardly any discarded trash and the sand was soft to the touch. This is a serious matter for me, as I have standards that a beach must meet.  Seriously.  But Myrtle Beach met them all with its relatively clear water along the shore and soft sand.  I suggest heading to the north end of the beach; it may be less crowded. (Inquire within for the rest of my requirements.)

While I have amazing memories of Myrtle Beach as a child, it was a great experience looking at the city from an adult's point of view. If you're looking for a weekend or week-long getaway, Myrtle Beach has tons of options for everyone.

And I'm not just saying that because this post was sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce/CVB. All opinions are absolutely my own.

The Corning Museum of Glass Is Cooler Than You Think

So a "Museum of Glass" may not sound all that interesting.  I mean, how fascinating can glass be? You eat on it, drink from it, look through it, and perhaps even sit on it.  But I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed visiting the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York.

During my visit to the Finger Lakes, I visited the museum and immediately fell in love with its open floor design and glass art displays.  I can barely even paint my nails within the lines, so the fact that these artists can create, mold, and sculpt such a fragile piece of medium is truly impressive.

Dress made of glass

As you walk through, you can't help but to be in awe of the glass art exhibits. One after the other, artists have used glass to express themselves and create beautiful works of art.

A tree within glass cups

Further in to the museum, I learned about the history of glass from all over the world.  Glass was first created by man about 4,000 years ago in Mesopotamia when craftsmen discovered the art of mixing sand, soda, and lime to make glass.  One of the most interesting facts I learned was that back in the 1800's, glass objects were made to replicate body parts for students to learn and practice.  You have glass to thank for helping to advance modern medicine!

After my tour, I sat in on a glass-breaking demo.  I was a little disappointed I wasn't chosen to break glass in the demonstration, but little 10-year old Timmy did a great job.  The instructor explained why some types of glass breaks in various patterns and quicker than others.

Glass-Breaking Demo

I also sat in on a Hot Glass Demo, where we saw artists use hot glass to create a vase.  At the end of the demo, they gave the vase to a lucky audience member.  For me, the coolest part of the museum visit was the 'Make Your Own Glass' class.  You're able to choose your design and color scheme and with the assistance of a qualified professional, make all of your glass dreams come true.  I created my very own glass flower that now proudly sits on my mother's mantle (and she loves it!). 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Corning Museum of Glass.  Glass is much cooler than you think, so if you ever find yourself in the Finger Lakes, you must make time to visit the museum. You can also eat lunch during your visit, as they have a great cafeteria with plenty of option. On the ground floor, there's also a stellar gift shop that has glass gifts ranging from $6 to $4,000 or more, so there's literally something for everyone.  Just don't break it! 

Note: There's a shuttle that takes you from the Glass Museum, to The Rockwell Museum (American art Smithsonian affiliate, which I also highly recommend), and to Corning's downtown Market Street area.  You can spend an entire day enjoying everything Corning has to offer.  

For more information on the Corning Museum of Glass, click here.

Photo Credit: Ashlee Tuck