#workingonvacation

Vacationing in a Pandemic - we decided it was time to get a mental break after the long winter.  A week away for spring break, Sunday through Friday.  I decided I would work the first two days to see how this would go.  It went pretty well, it was lovely to work with a view of the lake.  After work, less than 10 minutes to get to the ocean.  What a dream.  Kingston Plantation was quite lovely, pickle ball, bicycles, a gym a spa, a plethora of (heated) swimming pools and a water park for the kids.  The restaurant at the Embassy Suites was a highly limited and over priced and underwhelming food.  The drinks, I am told, were good and fairly priced, with an indoor bar and the outdoor Splash Bar.  There is a gift shop and Star Bucks on premises.  The beach area is wide open and has a very long pier where one can walk on for a $2 fee. There are two other Hilton hotels on the premises and a long standing bar, the Wet Whistle practically on the beach.  There are several restaurants close by and Bimini’s has the best tasting food.  Bimini’s also has a fresh seafood market with a very tasty hot crab dip for sale in a 12oz tub.  Kroger is across the road.  A few miles away there is Publix and more restaurants.  Lulu’s Beach Arcade has a fun attraction in the Ropes Course.  It took us about 45 minutes to complete the course, doing it leisurely and repeating some of the course.  This cost $15 and was worth it.  Barefoot Landing has a few good stores to browse at, including Tiki Jims with fun and funny gifts.  We did Ripley’s Aquarium plus 2 attractions at $49.99 per person for 13 and up.  Despite starting the Aquarium before 10am, it was still quite packed.  While they state it is a 2 hour activity, even with us doing it leisurely, we were done in little over an hour.  The Odditorium was interesting in places, but really nothing one cannot find online and last just about an hour. The Moving Theatre is really just for little kids.  The rides are quite jerky and it lasts 15 minutes and the wait in line was around 40 minutes.  All in all, the Aquarium is the only attraction worth doing and only if the weather is bad or one has nothing better to do.  We bought out tickets online, they were emailed to my phone.  One also gets a free parking pass for Park at the Dolphin on Withers Drive, which is not stated online or on the ticket.  We had to go to Ripley’s and ask them where to park.  Also, do not bother calling the number which they state online, no one answers and even if one leaves a message, no one returns the call.  The weather in Myrtle beach was between 50 and 71 degrees each day.  Definitely not my kind of beach weather, but one makes all kinds of sacrifices for teen kids who want to enjoy spring break.