As we view the Labor Day holiday from only a few weeks away, the staff and management at Grande Shores want to send words of appreciation to all of those who selected our beautiful oceanfront vacation site as their choice for a summer vacation. What a year 2009 has been from an economic standpoint, but we noticed that many people adjusted their vacations to be able to salvage some "down" time away from work and away from the daily grind to come here to enjoy a romp on our relaxing beach.
Also, many people were surprised to find cost savings in ways other than our discounts. Gasoline, historically a bit pricey in summer, held costs at a moderate level, compared with what they were earlier this year when they went beyond $4/gallon. Another savings occurred in ticket prices to our local entertainment, such as the "kids free" deals at The Alabama Theatre and Legends in Concert, both of which end after Labor Day. (Note: for more information, see our web sites.)
We anticipate a special sense of renewal at the end of 2009, with people picking up the pieces from whatever the year brought them and celebrating the end of the year. For some, as the summer flew by, they missed out on taking any summer vacation at all. If you are one of those, consider even a long weekend or a Labor Day get-away, perhaps with a spa treatment package, to help you relax.
Thanksgiving and Christmas will be with us in no time at all, so make plans now to take that much needed break and have fun at the beach! Watch for our coming announcements of fall specials in golf, too!
Your Friends at Grande Shores Resort
The Splendid "Cats" Group of Courses at Ocean Ridge Plantation
Enjoy playing golf in diminishing summertime temperatures as the season gradually eases past Labor Day, into the fall season. All along the mid-Atlantic coast, seasonal colors will surely replace the vivid tones of high summer — a perfect time to play golf on the beautiful "cat" courses at Ocean Ridge, located only a few miles over the North Carolina border:
- Leopard's Chase — a new par 72, in the classic yet modern design of Tim Cate
- Panther's Run — A par-72 Cate design with large landing areas, generous yet challenging
- Lion's Paw — A William Byrd design in a par 72 mixture of beauty and wilderness
- Tiger's Eye — A par-72 Cate design out of a pine forest requiring precision shots and thought
If you enjoy golf outings with friends and family, consider a fall 2009 trip to the Grand Strand where you can find discounts with us. Because of the economic unprecedented turn of events this year, we are able to offer some amazing rates in accommodations, tee times, and entertainment, so call or go online to our golf agents. They can help you arrange all of your activities with the right combination of courses that you want to play. Call 800.682.5699 to start planning.
Employee of the Month - Diego Martínez
When Diego Martínez was 16, his parents emigrated from Veracruz, Mexico, to the United States. Today, at 22, Diego appreciates even more just how many sacrifices his family made in order to provide a better life for the next generations. In addition to learning perseverance and hard work from their example, he sees many ways in which their patience has been rewarded.
From the moment that Diego began working for Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts, the management as well as his peers could see evidence of his dedication, positive attitude, and determination to finish assigned tasks. Consistently, he has demonstrated a willingness to learn and to improve with each assignment and each day on the job. Given his reliability and consistency as a team worker, he was recently promoted from Houseman to Supervisor. Just as he continues to grow as a person, his professional strength in this new position is evolving, making him a better person and better employee each day.
Diego's ability to create a pleasant work environment for his teammates is not limited to work. A charismatic and a happy person, Diego's infectious smile and an agreeable character are part of each of his own family reunions. Other of his outside pleasures include meeting new friends, enjoying long-standing friendships, cooking (his specialty is seafood), and dancing at parties (we hear that he is quite good at this skill).
HAPPENINGS AROUND GRAND SHORES
AND THE IMMEDIATE AREA
Over the past month, summer activities here at Grande Shores have brought much laughter and joy to all ages of our guests staying with us:
Catered events at Grande Shores - These photos of a mid-summer barbeque and family reunion featuring the Smith family is only one example of how much fun people can plan to have at the beach. Grande Shores' catering went all out for this special feast! See the "Groups" section below the list of groups who visited us during August.
Summertime Temperatures: The first several weeks of August tend to be hot, and people come to the beach in higher numbers than later in the month when some of the schools have started or people are preparing for their start soon after Labor Day. If you are exploring your chances of taking a missed '09 Summer Vacation, you will like the extra savings in some great rates at Grande Shores. Just bring plenty of sunscreen.
Golf in the Fall: August golf leads to September golf and beyond. Soon the temperatures will cool down. While you still have plenty of daylight, plan your fall golf outing with us. Stay at Grande Shores and enjoy the wide variety of premier courses. How about a trip to the "Glens" courses: Glen Dornoch, Heather Glen, Shaftesbury Glen, and Possum Trot golf courses. Experience a Scottish feel to your golf, right here at the Grand Strand. Contact our golf agent for details in booking with your accommodations.
Events Free to Children: As a preferred accommodation partnered with The Alabama Theatre and Legends in Concert, we want to remind anyone with children that both organizations continue their "kids free" programs through Labor Day.
The Alabama Theatre offers free performance tickets to two children per each full-price adult ticket on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays (for more information, link to http://www.alabama-theatre.com/06/SpecialsDiscounts.html or call 800.342.2262). Other discounts are in effect, too, so ask about the 2-show special!
Children are free at Legends in Concert, a concert setting with professional artist replicating the sights, sounds, and excitement of legends in the music industry. Two children per paying adult are eligible for free tickets to Legends' shows in their offer. Enjoy a wide variety of entertainment from the likes of Elvis, Elton John, Cher, and many others. The line-up changes often, so call for details at 843.477.5678.
Featured Recipe - Old-Fashioned Southern Banana Pudding
This Southern recipe comes from a collection of home recipes, hand-written and passed down from generation to generation. No one originator of the recipe here, so feel free to modify as you wish.
INGREDIENTS:
- 3 medium bananas
- 1/4 cup of sugar (or add to suit)
- Batter:
- 4 egg yolks and 2 beaten egg whites
- 1 cup crumbled rich but stale cake or ladyfinger cakes
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of whole milk
- Juice from 1 large lemon
- Meringue:
- 2 beaten egg whites
- Small pinch of salt
- 2 teaspoons of cold water
- 6 tablespoons of sugar
- Several drops of vanilla (suited to taste)
DIRECTIONS:
- Slice the bananas and sprinkle thickly with sugar.
- Mix the meringue mixture and set aside.
- Mix the ingredients of the batter together until smooth. Add the banana mixture to the batter.
- Pour the entire mixture into a deep-dish baking pan.
- Bake in a "quick" oven (375-400 degrees) until brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
- Beat the meringue mixture to stiffness. Spread evenly over the top of the dessert.
- Return the dish to the oven (same temperature) and bake until the top is golden brown or lighter, not burned. Serve hot or cold.
- Whipped cream topping is optional.
Welcoming Groups to Grande Shores
Wild horses staying at Grande Shores? Not exactly. Members of the Yellow Mustang Group brought some of their cherished vehicles shown here and enjoyed the hospitality of Grande Shores this month. We thank each of them for selecting the Grande Shores to help showcase their stunning machines!
Many groups have stayed at Grande Shores lately and enjoyed themselves in our beautiful setting and the comfortable accommodations of our beach resort. Here is a list gathered over the past month:
- Group West Baltimore (Yellow Mustang Group)
- Davis Excursions (Yellow Mustang Group)
- Malerba Family Reunion
- Cole Family Reunion
- Griffin Family Reunion
- Melvin-Thomas Family Reunion
- GS-SC ADED Chapter
- Kittrell Family & Friends
- Foster Family
- Byrd Family Reunion
- Mincey Family Reunion
Local Events Calendar
Ongoing events: Summer is still the main event! Where ARE you?
- Now until 10/31. Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo. For recreational fishermen only. Fishing area: coastal waters from the NC line at Calabash southward to the South Santee River. Where boats are involved, only the fish caught from those that depart and return to port within the above named area are eligible. Entry card must be completely and clearly filled out. Anglers must see weigh masters to certify fish. For more information, contact the Fishing Rodeo Committee at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce: 843-626-7444 or toll-free at 800-356-3016. Email -- info@VisitMyrtleBeach.com
- Pelicans Baseball! Now through Labor Day. See the Pelicans' web site at http://www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com for details. (843) 918-6000.
- Summerfest! Now through September 5, 2009. See the 10:15 pm fireworks every Monday at Barefoot Landing over the lake. Boardwalk entertainers nightly. www.BarefootLanding.com.
Calendar events:
9/4-5. Beach Boogie and BBQ Festival. This event includes a run/walk, live music, plenty of kid-friendly activities and food, car show, and much more.
9/5 to 1/3/2010. Faces and Stories: A Portrait of Southern Writers. Bibliophiles and art lovers alike will appreciate seeing these moving black-and-white photographs taken by internationally acclaimed photographer Curt Richter. The first author to sit for the series was Eudora Welty and the last was Alice Walker. This project grew over a seven-year period as Richter photographed more than 200 writers associated with the South. Sixty of these portraits are presented in this traveling exhibit from the Southern Arts Federation at the Burroughs and Chapin Art Gallery. For more information, 843.238.2510 or email to artmuseum@sc.rr.com.
9/6. Barefoot Improv Comedy Show. The Barefoot Improvisers perform in an audience-interactive comedy show every Sunday from 4:30 - 5:30pm through September 6 at DockSider's Grille. For more information, 843-597-6393 or online at www.carolinaimprov.com.
9/7. South Carolina Senior Open Pro/Am. Tidewater Charity Tournament Committee. Play with a PGA Senior Professional. Have a chance to win a 2009 Volvo C30 in hole-in-one contest, closest-to-the-pin gift certificates, and many other prizes. Details 843-283-3752 or www.tidewatercharitytournament.com. Proceeds benefit Autism Advocate Foundation and North Strand Helping Hand. Tidewater Golf Course in beautiful North Myrtle Beach, SC.
9/12. Loretta Lynn at the Alabama Theatre in North Myrtle Beach. Get tickets now to be part of the audience for this country music legend. Her live performance begins at 7 pm. Call 800.342.2262 or see www.alabama-theatre.com for more information.
9/12 and 13. The 4th Annual Oktoberfest in Little River, SC. Celebrate the fall season on the waterfront in historic Little River. Starting at 9AM. and lasting to 6PM, you will enjoy authentic German cuisine prepared by Erna Blome, special musical guests providing live German music, and dancing throughout the day. With free admission to all children under 12, a special Children's Booth holds lots of fun, games, and surprises. More than beer, authentic German music, bratwurst, and polka, Oktoberfest is a great party! For details 843-249-6604.
9/12. LeAnn Rimes at Freestyle Music Park with Billy Joe Royal. The park opens at 11 am, and the concert begins at 8 pm. For details about park events call 843.236.7625.
9/18-27. Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art. The 2009 Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art will be held September 18-20 and September 25-27. Headlining the Festival will be Steve Tyrell, jazz vocalist, arranger, producer. This is a "Kid Friendly" Event. Location is Brookgreen Gardens and Litchfield Plantation. Call for details: 843-237-4774. Online: www.pawleysmusic.com.
9/19. Beach Sweep. Become a part of the "keep the beach clean" solution and join volunteers around the country, state, and nation in this annual event as we band together to "sweep" our beaches clean. In order to make it more fun, prizes will be awarded for certain categories and a raffle drawing will be held for all participants. Drinks will be provided. Appropriate for all ages. Contact Myrtle Beach State Park or SC Department of Parks and Recreation at 803.734.1700 or toll free 866.224.9339.
9/30 to 10/3. Fall Myrtle Beach Bike Rally. Located in Inlet Square Mall Event Grounds at Murrells Inlet, SC. Also, Ragtops and Roadsters Auto Museum, Murrells Inlet, SC. For more information see http://www.myrtlebeachbikeweek.com.
See our full calendar of events around the Grand Strand by clicking on "2009 Events".
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Guest Comments
Grande Shores' guests often submit their comments and "thank-you" notes directly to us, through the online "contact" system at our web sites, and also by way of travel industry online networks. Here are some of the recent comments:
Stayed at Grand Shores-Great stay for the money! Two swimming pools, two lazy rivers, and a whirlpool! Right on the beach in a very good neighborhood.
Guest Comment to TripAdvisor.com from DanitaZ, 07.16.09.
Having stayed in many Myrtle Beach hotels over the years with my family, I've had good and bad experiences. From now on, I'll be at Grande Shores. Our room was spacious and very clean (always important). The hotel is located on the north end of Myrtle Beach, which is a really beautiful part of town. All the staff I dealt with were helpful and courteous. All in all, I couldn't be happier. Highly recommended.
Guest Comment to TripAdvisor.com from DannyInNC, traveling with a family with young children from Charlotte, NC, 08.15.09
I traveled to Myrtle Beach with three other adults and five children under the age of 10. The staff from the check-in clerk, housekeeping, maintenance, check-out clerk, managers to other staff you meet on the grounds were all extremely friendly and professional. They each inquired about your stay. The pools are well kept and not overly crowded to say the hotel was full. The access to the beach is good. The unit (a 3-bedroom oceanview condominium, 1234) was very nice. Had all we needed and plenty of room to make our stay enjoyable. We felt and home. The hotel is close to most anywhere you will like to go. There is free internet in the room. We plan to come stay here again. Keep up your good work Grande Shores.
Guest Comment to TripAdvisor.com from Blessed13, traveling with a family including young children from Chapin, SC., 08.09.09
Fun Facts
Beach weddings sometimes plan to feature a wedding cake in seashell motif, even resembling a sandcastle. What a delightful way to share a special wedding venue here by the sea. Simple, yet elegant, with pearlized edible "shells," the cakes make a wonderful memory of a treasured event.
Found on or near beaches, real seashells are actually the hard outer coverings of mollusks, a marine animal that lives in fresh, salt, or both types of water. Mollusks have been an important source of food for people for thousands of years, and they have been valued throughout time as money, jewelry, and other symbols of wealth.
The coastal waters of South Carolina are teeming with seashells. In fact, more than 700 species live in these waters.
The best times to look for shells and fossils are on an outgoing tide, during a new or full moon, and after a storm.
Searching for fossils is another popular pastime. The most common fossils found on area beaches are sharks teeth, which are usually black or dark brown. Fossilized sharks teeth are millions of years old.
If you collect seashells during your vacation, be sure to clean them before adding them to your luggage. Burying, freezing, boiling, microwaving, or bleaching are the standard ways of cleaning marine life from your shell treasures.
Winds and currents act like a giant mixer to stir up the deep ocean waters, blending nutrients and colder water with the upper level warmer water. Studies now reveal that jellyfish and other marine life also play a significant role in mixing which could have implications on weather changes.
Shells may have served as models for the spiral decoration on the capital of the Ionic column in classical Greece and also for Leonardo da Vinci's design for a spiral staircase in a French chateau.
Sometimes the course of history is determined from small beginnings. In the 19th century two expeditions, a French group and a British group, set out separately but at approximately the same time, to discover an unknown coast, Australia. The British moved faster and won the territory because the French were delayed. Out shell-hunting and butterfly-collecting in the new territory, the French captain and his crew were delayed in claiming the territory and so missed an opportunity to expand the French empire.
No shells here. Stand on Sassafras Mountain at 3,560 feet, the highest peak in South Carolina.
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