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Myrtle Beach
By Samantha Brown on July 9, 2008 12:11 AM | Permalink | 14 Comments
Day 1
The whole crew is sharing a large house on a plantation, and we are all excited as we have a formal living room, as well as one very cool bar that is in its own room. It's very masculine with cork on the walls, leather couches and a full bar area with an ice machine. I think immediately to the fun cocktail hours we will have as a group decompressing with gin and tonics in hand after a hard day of work, the wonderful dinners we will fix as well as sharing breakfast on the lovely screened-in porch that is shaded by trees dripping in Spanish moss. But this is TV production, breakfast is scarfing down an egg sandwich in the car en route to the first location while you pray you don't drop anything on your on-camera wardrobe (my stylist, Christina, praying even more) and dinner is a Sonic Burger at 10 p.m., because it was the only restaurant open. They did look like great burgers, luckily I bought a can of soup, which I heated up and we all did spend a nice hour sitting in our formal living room while Alan, our camera man, played the grand piano.
On our first evening there, we made a trip to the nearby Piggly Wiggly, a name that instantly endears you to this place -- it was me, our director Emma, Christina and our producer Leslie, and we became so smitten with the idea that a supermarket could be called such a great name that we all bought Piggly Wiggly socks. I believe Leslie even bought Piggly Wiggly key chains for the folks back at the office.
Day 2
On Friday evening, we get to go to Family Kingdom, an old-time amusement park located right across from the beach. It's a bit on the "it's seen better days" side, but the nostalgia of it all just makes it more charming. The amusement parks I've been going to lately are impossibly modern and meticulously kept. They are great fun, but I haven't been on the Himalaya ride or bumper cars in decades. At the end of the shoot, we all go on the roller coaster, which is so rickety and jarring that you swear your liver has dislodged from its internal moorings and is now just banging around in your body like a pinball in a machine. While shooting B-roll, Christina and I had a break. Both of us are the same age and, like all women from our time, we share a love of video games. Playing video games was about independence, it was also a way for us to show off in front of boys and so we became athletes of Ms. Pac Man, Centipede, Dig Dug, Qbert and the best game ever made: Galaga. Christina and I get along as if we have been best friends since grade school, but the mere mention of the name Galaga, and our eyes narrow as we hold each other's gaze staring the other one down. If we were in school, there would have been a fight at recess. We play each other for the first time, and Christina dies before even the first stage is done. If this were junior high school, she would have never recovered from that. In the second round, she plays the game of her life, breaking the 100,000 score. This is what is so endearing about Family Kingdom, it was our youth. And the video games still cost what they did back then -- 25 cents.
14 Comments
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I live in a small town outside of Columbia SC called Lugoff, about an hour and a half outside of Myrtle Beach. I am a HUGE fan of all of your shows on Travel Channel, I feel like I have traveled the whole world from my house, thanks for that. I am really glad that you came to my home state to do a show. Ive been going to Myrtle Beach my entire life but until you came to visit and showcased all the amazing attributes we have to offer I didnt think the beach was a big deal. Thank you for allowing me to appreciate something so close to home:)
I just watched the Myrtle Beach show and I am ready to go. I have never been to Myrtle Beach, mainly because I do not golf. But from what I saw on your weekend at Myrtle Beach, there is a lot more there than golf. I am definitely going to check that out.
Another fun show. You make Thursday night a pure delight. Have never been there, but it looks like a really fun place to visit. Your weekend shows are putting a new light on having fun, while you travel, and to be adventureous and try new things.
You left out a lot. And plenty of restaurants are open past 10. And while I'm sure it wasn't open yet during filming, the Hard Rock Park was surely getting built, enough at least to not warrant the comment of Family Kingdom being the last park in the area. Other than that, pretty good show. I've driven past that mini-golf course plenty of times, I'll have to check it out.
I have been vacationing in Myrtle Beach since I was child and now 32 my husband and I still go every year. We live in North Carolina and there is a difference just between the states. We both feel so relaxed as soon as we cross the border. Neither of us golf but we are HUGE miniature golf players. We've played almost every course. I'm glad that you showed people another side of Myrtle but I think they are going to be surprised when they actually visit. Myrtle has huge tourist attractions, musical theaters, The House of Blues, Aquariums, and a bunch of odd stuff they will have never encountered. On the down side traffic is quite the hassle and I hope people aren't misled by seeing how slow things were when you visited and the peacefulness of Pawley's Island. When we visit we stay at North Myrtle which is more family oriented and more laid back. I really enjoyed seeing my favorite place to vacation on your show and I hope it brings new people so they can enjoy it too!
I was born and raised in Conway and can't believe you actually knew to stop at The Trestle! Isn't it great? I think you did a great job covering the less commercialized things about the Grand Strand - the state park, Conway, Murrell's Inlet, etc. If you ever get a chance to return, you really have to get someone to take you crabbing or shrimping on the inlet - then you'll have had the real Grand Strand experience. Bring your mud boots!
Yeah, no mention of the tons of live shows, restaurants, attractions like Barefoot Landing, Broadway at the Beach (which is like Epcot meets Downtown Disney), Hard Rock Theme Park, The Market Common, Brookgreen Gardens, Alligator Adventure, Nascar Speedpark, Myrtle Waves, Ripley's Aquarium, Imax 3-D, Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Cafe, Margaritaville, Senior Frogs, Tommy Bahamma's Tropical Cafe, etc, etc, etc. Myrtle Beach is getting more like an Orlando every year. And the beachfront is getting more like Miami Beach with all the highrises. Nevermind those mom & pop retro motels she showed, the hookers do their business in those rundown places. I think she did Myrtle Beach an injustice!
Hey Samantha! I just started watching your shows and the first episode i tripped on by chance because normally, i wouldnt watch the travel channel but i was addicted right away! I love to watch it! Your inspiring! Great Episode!
I have lived here for 12 years and have never heard of the "Crab Cake Lady", so I guess I'll have to check her out. I do think that instead of MB State park you should have shown Brookgreen Gardens. I love the state park but it doesn't compare to the gardens. I wish the Hard Rock Park had been mentioned being that the Family Kingdom is so out dated. Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing has great shopping and not to mention the night life in this town. There was so much left out and I know it's only a 30 minute show but I think Myrtle Beach needs a second show. Come back!
Hey Sam! I live in Lexington, SC, near Columbia, and have been to Myrtle Beach several times. South Carolinians go crazy when anyone remotely famous crosses the border. It's because we're a small state and, well, nothing much happens here! The times I've gone to Myrtle Beach I've only seen the parts of beach littered with buildings and have never really enjoyed it. I like going to beaches that are surrounded by nature; much more relaxing than being around tall buildings and traffic. I really enjoyed the show (especially the hammock scene...hilarious!)...seems like you really found the heart of Myrtle Beach! That sling shot ride looked SO fun!! I've never wanted to go back to Myrtle Beach, but after seeing the show, I do! Thanks for another great Weekend show!! :D
...I forgot to comment about how much y'all liked the Piggly Wiggly! It's SO funny! Having grown up here it doesn't seem like that big of a deal! I cannot believe y'all got Piggly Wiggly socks! I didn't even know they made Piggly Wiggly socks! I knew they had t-shirts, but keychains and socks?!? Holy cow! Who knew a trip to the grocery store could be that exciting! Leave it to you, Sam, to find the fun in a grocery store!!
i seen the tv show for a year now , great sceens for music videos keep up the good work samantha . . . . . . . .
samantha.. what you do is something i have always wanted to do. Traveling is my life, and i wanted to tell you that you are my roll model. To travel and see th world would be and adventure. I watch your show everyday; wishing i would be you. Your life must be an adventure. If you ever need a partner for a trip. i would be glad to go. I've never been more than a state or two awa from my state, in kentucky. I always said if i won the lottery i would travel. Thanks for being an inspiration to me!
Hello there!! Love your show. But when you went to Las Vegas, now that was a great show!! my fav so far. I watched that show 3 times already. I think I have Samanthaholic in my system. And you know what? I love it! hahahah Take care always.