Family vacations create experiences and bonding moments that your kids will remember forever and the Grand Strand is the perfect place for just such a vacation! The area is filled with shows and attractions that provide hours of fun for the whole family. With everything from rides to shows, these kid-friendly events are sure to be fun for you, too.WonderWorks
While Professor Wonder and his group of scientists were creating a contained man-made tornado at their lab in the Bermuda Triangle, they lost control of the daring experiment. The building was blown all the way to Myrtle Beach where it landed, upside down, on top of a Crab Shack. Fortunately, the other experiments in the lab remained intact and are now here for us to enjoy. This indoor amusement park features a wide variety of activities that thrill (and educate!) both young and old. Feel how cold the water was the night the Titanic sank, visit the bubble lab, experience the winds of a Category 1 hurricane, try to make a complete revolution on the Extreme 360° Bike, lay on a bed of nails and ride the roller-coaster simulator! After you've wound your way through the 100+ exhibits WonderWorks has to offer, you'll finish off the fun with a 3 story indoor ropes course!Medieval Times
The Royal Family cordially invites you to attend a night of skill and competition where the bravest knights of the realm will compete for honor in a series of epic battles. Cheer your champion as he spurs his horse in the relay race, battles his opponents in daring sword fights and finally competes in the perilous joust. But no 11th Century tournament would be complete without a banquet! As you watch the brave knights battle, you'll dine on simmering tomato bisque soup, golden garlic bread, tender oven-roasted chicken, BBQ spare rib, herb basted potatoes and a flaky apple turnover.
The SkyWheel
Soar to new heights! In May 2011, Myrtle Beach welcomed a thrilling new attraction: the largest observation wheel in the United States. This is unlike any ferris wheel you've ever experienced! After being seated in one of the 42 climate-controlled gondolas in groups of 2 to 6, you'll slowly be raised to 187 feet in the air. Here, you'll enjoy sweeping views of the city and beaches along the Grand Strand. At night, the SkyWheel illuminates the coastline with a breathtaking light show.1 million LED lights set into the side of the wheel swirl in a variety of colors and designs and create the perfect backdrop for an iconic family vacation picture!Ripley's Aquarium
Come find out why Ripley's Aquarium is South Carolina's most visited attraction! Explore the depths of the ocean while traveling through the aquarium tunnel on a 340 ft long moving glidepath. You'll come face-to-face with dozens of sharks, snappers, sawfish, a sea turtle and a wide variety of beautiful fish swimming above and beside you. The aquarium's smaller tanks also feature tropical fish, piranhas, jelly fish, a Pacific Giant Octopus, poison dart frogs and more. If you're looking for a hands-on experience, be sure to stop by the Discovery Center and Friendship Flats, where you have the opportunity to pet horseshoe crabs and stingrays!
Pirates Voyage
Ahoy, matey! Hundreds of years ago, fearsome pirates roamed the Carolina coast. Today, the crews of two dread pirate ships have returned and are battling for their lost treasure! Watch as they compete on deck and in the water with thrilling acrobatics, daring sword fights, dives and even live animals. As you cheer on your crew, your captain will treat you to a mouth-watering pirate feast that includes creamy vegetable soup, flaky buccaneer bread, half o' roasted cackler (chicken), the Captain's BBQ pork, buttery corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and apple pie.MagiQuest
Upon entering MagiQuest, you find yourself in an enchanted realm where you use your own magic wand to help you in your journey to become a Magi.This indoor, multi-level attraction is like being inside a video game! As you wander through the realm, use your wand to duel, learn from ancient wizards, defeat dragons and meet pixies. Every Magi's journey is different based on the decisions they make and the battles they win. Each time you visit, your wand will remember what you have done and what you have left to accomplish. Master your skills, beat the game and become a true Magi!
A visit to any of these fun-filled attractions will leave behind lasting memories that your kids will talk about for years to come. To top it all off, discounted tickets to most of these attractions can be purchased at our Front Desk! For additional information, call 1-800-845- 5039. We look forward to seeing you and your family here soon!
During the holiday season, Ripley's decks their halls with 50 beautifully decorated Christmas trees! Each tree is themed after one of the 50 states and contains ornaments representing the specific characteristics and themes of the state. For added fun, be sure to ask the Guest Services Desk about participating in the Holiday Tree Scavenger Hunt!
Experience one of the most impressive holiday light displays you'll ever see! As you drive through the wonderland created by Shadrack's, you'll be blown away by hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights that dance to your favorite Christmas tunes. At the end of your drive, you can stop in Santa's Village where you'll find concessions, pony and camel rides, a petting zoo and carnival games. 
Every Saturday until New Years, head over to the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk for a Christmas celebration! The whole family will enjoy a stroll down the boardwalk decked with thousands of lights, Holiday movies featured on big screens, visits with Santa Claus and live music. Then, on December 15th, the boardwalk will debut it's brand new Polar Express train ride for the kids! 
Original Carolina Opry cast member, Rocky Fretz, returns for the holiday season to delight guests with his famed piano performances. Accompanied by bass player Patrick O'Leary, you'll enjoy a series of classics and Holiday favorites. The show provides a more intimate setting than the Opry's seasonal Christmas show and you'll get lost in the beautiful music!
Each year, designers flock to the winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington of local fame. Each designer decorates a room with their own Holiday motif in hopes of taking home the coveted "People's Choice Award." Stroll through the house and admire the Holiday decor, vote for your favorite, take pictures with the roaming actors portraying the Huntingtons and indulge in hot spiced cider and homemade treats while enjoying live holiday music. The Lionel Train Club will also have their collection on display, holiday crafts will be available for sale and you'll even enjoy an oyster roast!
Celebrate Christmas with the city of Myrtle Beach! Head over to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, where the whole family will be entertained with balloon art, face painting, Thomas the Train rides, letters to Santa and pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Finally, you'll enjoy the city's official Christmas tree lighting. The best part- it's free!
Each year, 8 beautiful homes in the historic Wachesaw Plantation open their doors for tours. The houses, overlooking the Wachesaw River, are elaborately decorated and lighted to celebrate the Christmas season. At the conclusion of the tour, be sure to stop and enjoy lunch from any of Murrells Inlet's famous waterfront restaurants!
Come watch one of the premier high school basketball tournaments in the United States! 16 of the top teams from around the country will compete with the goal of being crowned tournament champions. Don't miss the opportunity to watch future superstars before they were famous! Past players include Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter and Jason Kidd.
Known as "The Holiday Show of the South" and continually voted as the Best Holiday Show in Myrtle Beach, Carolina Opry's famous Christmas Special mixes new updates with your traditional holiday favorites for the 2012 season. The show's line up of talented performers include the All That clog group of America's Got Talent fame, world class pianist Rocky Fretz and Nathan Herron, a Top 40 contestant on season 4 of American Idol. With fantastic costuming, amazing scenery and the best talent the Grand Strand has to offer, you'll see why The Carolina Opry Christmas Special has become an annual tradition for locals and vacationers alike!
The Alabama Theatre's award-winning show features both Christmas classics and contemporary holiday favorites with Alabama's signature Southern flare. Laugh with comedian Ricky Mokel and celebrate with an all-star cast of singers and dancers as they spread the joy and love of the holidays! The special effects, gorgeous stage and incredible talent will leave you in awe and over-flowing with the spirit of the season. 
The Palace Theatre is bringing you one of the best family holiday shows on the Grand Strand! This 2 hour extravaganza takes place on a Winter Wonderland stage that includes a 40 ft ice rink. The stunts of championship ice skaters, professional dancers and the vocal talents of increbible performers are sure to dazzle you. You'll leave truly feeling that "it's the most wonderful time of the year!"
Sail with Captain Scrooge and his crews of Crimson and Emerald pirates through the past, present and future of Buccaneer Bay as they search for the ultimate Christmas treasure! Your jaw will drop as colorful toys come to life and perform incredible acrobatic feats and watch in awe as a live nativity (including live animals!) drifts aross the lagoon. To top it all off, you'll enjoy a four-course holiday feast!
Celebrate the holidays with your all-time favorite performers at Legends in Concert! This world famous celebrity live tribute show is sending holiday spirit your way with Elvis, Alan Jackson, Celine Dion, the Blues Brothers and Johnny Mathis. The artists will serenade you with their signature Christmas classics and the Blues Brothers will split your sides with their hilarious, over-the-top antics. It's the perfect mix of Christmas music and chart-topping hits!
Brookgreen Gardens, the famous property developed as a sculpture garden by the Huntingtons, is illuminated by 5,500 hand-lit candles floating in the fountains and lining the walks to illuminate the 250-year-old live oak trees. The landscaping is draped in sparkling lights and shining Chinese lanterns that illuminate hundreds of outdoor sculpture, creating a Southern winter wonderland. 
What's more romantic than dinner next to thousands of glowing candles? Award-winning Inlet Affairs catering is standing by in a heated tent to serve you a divine lowcountry feast. The menu features all of your favorite Southern fare including shrimp and grits, inlet clam chowder, snow crab, oysters on the half shell, chicken bog, BBQ and chicken breast with fire-roasted corn and peppers. If you want to keep warm as you move through the gardens, hot chocolate, cider and coffee are also available. (Click here for a full menu and pricing information.)
South of 436 in Altamonte Springs is bd’s Mongolian Grill, a mid-West chain now in Central Florida. For those of you not familiar with the Mongolian barbecue concept, basically you choose the raw ingredients you want in your meal, present it to a cook, and he or she will grill it up for you.
Step #1 - Put your raw meat into a bowl. There were pastas, sausage, beef (ribeye), Krab (the "fake" variety), shrimp, calamari, mahi-mahi, pork, chicken, tofu, and others. The selection changes periodically, for example, there was duck available for the holidays.
oms, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, red skin potatoes, pea pods, pineapple, carrots, baby corn, and broccoli to name a few. There was even raw egg, jalapenos, and cilantro! The bins of food were kept continuously stocked. Both times I went up, a worker was refilling any bins that were low. They were all kept filled to the top, which is really nice.
Step #3 - Put the sauces you want in a different small black bowl. The goal, I believe, is to fill up the small bowl to get the most flavor. There were Asian sauces, both spicy and non-spicy, such as Garlic, Soy, Ginger, Szechuan, Kung Pao, Teriyaki, and Thai peanut. There were also other sauces like barbecue, marinara, spicy buffalo, and a lemon sauce.
hings like chopped peanuts, coconut, curry powder, red pepper, garlic powder, sesame seeds, etc.
the separate allergy station if you are allergic to any ingredients or want a truly vegetarian dish). The cooks will grill up your raw ingredients for you, cutting up the meat, and then add your sauce at last minute, and finish by sliding your creation onto a clean plate. If you wish, there are chopsticks available at the grill, and even kid's plastic chopsticks available from your server
. BB got one of these and he liked it better than the wood-and-rubber-band ones you can get at some Asian restaurants. In fact, we took it home and just cleaned it in the dishwasher!
When we returned to our table, our server had already brought white rice (sticky), brown rice, and tortillas to eat with our meals. They also have lettuce wraps if you prefer.
added white rice when I came back to the table and ate. Yum!
e liked. He asked for raw beef in the bowl (I only filled the bowl about 1/4 way), then rotini noodles, baby corn (the only vegetable I was able to get him to add), and then I chose his sauces for the black bowl. He was a bit upset by this as he told me that he did not want ANY SAUCE. I convinced him though and chose a ladle of soy sauce and one of teriyaki. He got into it then and asked I add the sweet & sour sauce as well. Sure! He liked going up with his bowl and watching his food get made. He also really liked the tortillas and ended up eating two of those completely plain along with about half of his actual food.
My second time at the restaurant, I decided to try for 
a more Thai-like dish. I got chicken, noodles (I would have preferred more of a glass noodle as opposed to the pasta-like noodle available), and then added mushrooms, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, cilantro, and brocolli. I loaded the black bowl with just the Thai peanut sauce and added shredded coconut and chopped peanuts. Again, it came out good! I could definitely taste the coconut, due to the coconut milk in the actual sauce and the coconut I added.
For dessert, we tried the mud pie ($5.99), which was plenty big en
ough to share with the whole table. It was a huge slice of coffee ice cream pie topped with a thick chocolate fudge sauce and with oreo cookie pieces mixed in with the ice cream. Yummy! Also I got the chocolate mousse ($1.99), which the server said was "tiny" but was actually a nice size -- plenty enough for two. It was very light, not too rich at all.
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At the Fuddrucker's restaurant in Crossroads in Lake Buena Vista, I 
noticed that they have a "healthy choices" menu with different types of burgers such as turkey, veggie, and yes, buffalo and ostrich. I was very intrigued by these exotic offerings, so with the help of one of my co-workers, we split an ostrich burger and buffalo burger.