Visiting Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the east coast. It’s a place that I visited more times than I can remember growing up. When I returned over a fifteen years later as an adult, the vibe seemed completely different from my childhood memories! I remember places such as the area photographed above; Imax movies, restaurants, and more golf courses than you can imagine. Many of the board walks are popular for their alligators and giant cat fish that reside in the brackish lakes and ponds. You can often find fish food dispensers, and throw a handful into the waters to start a feeding frenzy.
I also remember the quirky museums and street performers. This guy is from Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum. It’s a museum that shows world records or strange facts of the natural world, sometimes a few disturbing ones!
The wild side of Myrtle Beach is all the crazy stores that sell things that would be illegal in most other states. One example is I remember visiting the beach at 15 and my friend buying a stun gun. Any other part of the country you’d definitely have to be 18 for such a purchase. These swords are some of the typical shops I remember here. What was different this time around was shops selling Salvia. Salvia is something I never heard of until recently, but is illegal in most states. It’s a powerful drug that supposedly has the effect of entering a new dimension. I’ve heard it can actually be a terrifying experience but it only lasts for about 10 minutes, no I’m not sure the appeal!
What I didn’t remember so much was all the dive bars, piercings and tattoo shops and just the overall vibe from the beach. It seemed as if a large part of Myrtle Beach was a giant red light district. I realize the few photos I have suggest otherwise, but Myrtle Beach has a wide range of attractions which make it a great family vacation destination. I failed to photograph the actual beaches on this trip, but they area several semi-tropical areas as well as high class resorts. Next time I return I will do a better job!
