Family Vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC

This past Christmas, my mom surprised our family with a vacation to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! We all had such a good time on our trip to Orange Beach, Alabama, two years ago, that she wanted to gather the family again. This time, instead of celebrating her milestone birthday, we would be commemorating her official retirement. This would be a special time for Keith and me, my mom, and my sister's family to spend time together without the distraction of daily life.

Retirement

It's not easy to put into words my mom's love for her job, especially for the people she works with and the lifelong friends she's made along the way. Her work has always been a focal point in her life, professionally and personally. She technically retired several years ago, but continued to work part-time. It's been really difficult for her to give up this important part of her life, which has been a constant for so long. She's looking forward to the small moments of having her coffee on the patio and more time to read. She's also happy that she will have more availability for her siblings, grandkids, and other family/friends.

Vacation Routine

This vacation was a true vacation in every sense of the word. We all quickly fell into our own routines. I slept in, had my coffee on the balcony overlooking the ocean as the staff set up beach chairs and umbrellas while some earlier risers ran in the sand, walked along the surf, or caught some morning waves. After this slow start, I would eat some food before packing my beach bag for the day. We spent the whole day lounging, swimming, and playing in the sand. Usually with an afternoon stop at the pool bar for a drink to hold us over until dinner. Keith's routine was a bit different. He's an early riser, so while I was sleeping in, he was at the gym or walking on the beach. I would have really loved to walk with him a couple of mornings, but my knee wouldn't allow it yet.

Each evening, we'd get ready and head out for the night. Of course, dinner was always first on the agenda. Then we would do some combination of activities: souvenir shopping, putt-putt golf, candy store, ice cream, etc. The night didn't stop once we were back at the condo. Most evenings, we spent some time on the balcony before heading inside to relax for the remainder of the evening.

Some of My Favorite Memories

It's the simple things that stick out as some of my favorite memories. These are the things that Keith and I miss since we live far away. Our families do a wonderful job sharing pictures and videos, but it's obviously not the same. I loved being there with everyone to see all the little moments in life. This really showed up with Ady and Colton as they are getting older.

Ady's creativity shines through in everything she does, and her thoughtfulness and organization are impeccable. She is her own person who shows up independently and has a mind of her own. I love those qualities in her.

Colton's sweetness and innocent joyfulness follow him through each day. He brings smiles to everyone around him, and it's effortless. He loves to tell stories, ask questions, and share his knowledge. He's determined and imaginative. I love those qualities in him.

Spa Day

One of my mom's favorite ways to spend a relaxing day is getting a massage! My sister and I found Cinza Spa and knew it would be the perfect way for the three of us to pamper ourselves and celebrate her retirement. We booked massages and arrived early to relax in the meditation room with our mimosas. When we met back together after our treatments, we each raved about our massage therapists and spoke about how good we felt. Soon after, our lunch was ready on the outdoor patio. Once again, we were impressed by the service, our lunch, and the quality of the entire experience.

To top it off, we stopped at a local winery. Dupline Winery offers wine tastings and flights, a beautiful patio, wine shopping, and various wine-related items. Since we just had lunch at the spa and already had a couple of drinks, we opted to purchase a couple of bottles of wine to enjoy for the rest of our vacation. This was a super relaxing and memorable time for the three of us to spend time together.

Delicious Dinners

As always, vacation food is just more enjoyable! Calories don't count, and it's fun to find a new restaurant each night. On our first night, we walked from our condo to Bouys on the Boulevard. Two things stick out about this experience: first, it was a wonderful feeling of togetherness as a group, sharing a meal of classic beach dishes: shrimp boil, crab cakes, various types of fish, hush puppies, slaw, etc. Second, we were seated next to live music, which just made the night fun, and I felt like we topped off our first day of vacation and set the precedent for a memorable week together ❤️

Another "classic Myrtle Beach" dinner was at Bennett's Calabash Seafood Buffet. My mom remembered our family trip years ago and the buffets we'd eaten at. Keith's family spent many of his childhood years vacationing in Myrtle Beach, so this was nostalgic for him too. Keith clearly got his money's worth, continuing with plates well after everyone else was stuffed full.

The final meal I want to highlight occurred on our last night at Cape Fear Seafood Company. This evening was the perfect way to wrap up the trip. The restaurant was a bit more upscale than our other choices; thus, the meals also reflected this. We had a wonderful server who discussed the menu with us, treated the kids extra special, and made sure we all enjoyed ourselves. Somehow, I only got these few pictures!

Mar Vista Condo

The condo at Mar Vista was perfect for this trip. Everyone's favorite place was the balcony. It was in constant use: morning coffee, brunch, snacks, organizing shells, playing with slime, watching fireworks down the beach, reading, relaxing, etc. Mar Vista features a large indoor pool, a large indoor hot tub, and an indoor splash pad. The outdoor space offers another pool and hot tub, along with a lazy river and tiki bar.

My mom enjoyed the primary bedroom and bath with an ocean view. She and the kids love their long baths, so this room ended up being quite busy. Jill, Aaron, and the kids shared a large bedroom with two queen beds and a private bathroom, while Keith and I had a similar setup. The kitchen was fully equipped and had everything we needed. The living/dining space was perfect for the seven of us. Having a washer/dryer in the unit was convenient, and we used it daily to wash/dry bathing suits and the beach towels provided (which was a great touch).

Thank you, Mom

This family vacation was the perfect way to spend time together and celebrate my mom's retirement. A special THANK YOU to my mom for suggesting this location and gifting the vacation to our family ❤️

Have you been to Myrtle Beach, SC? Does your family vacation together? Where do you think we should go on our next family trip? Let us know in the comments section below.👇 💬