Drifting to Myrtle Beach

I can’t believe we’re doing this.  I’m not sure I’ve ever stayed in Myrtle Beach in the middle of summer.  I’ve heard rumors about impossible traffic, long lines, and noise, not to mention the South Carolina heat and humidity.  This being one of the last few weekends we have free before school ramps back up, we decided to head to the beach, and for some strange reason, Laura wanted Myrtle.

We both have mixed experiences with Myrtle Beach.  When Laura first arrived in South Carolina she and her sister drove there just to see the Atlantic coast.  I guess the culture shock for two California girls who grew up on the Pacific beaches was just too much.  She never wanted to return until the two of us took a quick road trip a couple of years ago.  As for me, growing up I remember my cousins, whose parents worked in the local mills, always got the Fourth of July off, and that they always went to Myrtle Beach.  Myrtle was also the fabled destination for post graduation pilgrimages.  While billed as "family friendly", there always seemed to be something prurient about it, and more respectable types went to North Myrtle, Pawley’s Island, or Hilton Head.  I have referred to MB on numerous occasions as the "armpit" of the state.

As usual, we were last minute deciding to go, and last minute trying to find a place.  Travelocity and all the other online reservation places showed nothing available.  I knew there were tons of mom-n-pop places that would have something, but didn’t know how to get phone numbers short of swiping a phone book.  Today, on my way to Columbia for a meeting, I stopped at a rest area which had travel flyers, and found some listings with potential.

The Driftwood Resort had room for us. We’ve got one right on the ocean with an efficiency kitchen.  It’s one of the oldest on the Strand, having been around for nearly 75 years.  After I had already booked the room and made deposit, when I got home from my meeting I decided to check online to see what people had to say about it.  Here is one of the most amusing reviews.

It was our first time to the beach and my boys was so excited about going. But we just happened to get there three days before the bikers would leave and it was awful. To much nasty things going on for children and you could’nt hardly move around and no place to park and it was so loud and all they was doing was partying and drinking and smoking dope. It was awful and our room was dirty, smelling, no clean towels and my 11 yr old son found a switch blade knife under the bed in our room and it rained in our window and on top of that the air tore up. Could’nt sleep and all these women showing things they should’nt around children and my husband was right in on all the action of course he likes to drink and look at naked women and take their pictures. I would never go that time of the year again or would I want to stay in the room we stayed in. Stuff I seen and heard down there was sick. Could’nt sit outside for all the drinking and you could smell the pot they was smoking and my son has ASTHMA and people should consider other people, cause not everyone like to do the stuff that went on those 3dys and nights.EXSPECIALLY AROUND CHILDREN!!!!!!!!! 

I left the spelling and grammar intact.  Sounds like fun – maybe I can find me a switchblade knife.