Our good friends moved to Myrtle Beach months ago and invited us to come and stay with them and enjoy the beach. We of course took them up on the offer and so glad we did; we had a blast and it was so nice to get to the beach again before summer ended. The drive was really long but the boys did wonderful for such a long trip and so did the dogs.
Omer and I were questionable (ha), very exhausting.
Our friends have a pass to the state park there so we got to go to that beach where it is less crowded. The beach was great because the water was very shallow and calm compared to our normal OBX. Aiden had a blast splashing, swinging and kicking in the water and loved swimming in the ocean and getting dunked into the waves. The little boy has no fear. Owen got in this ocean much easier than OBX and even though he could have stood he enjoyed hugging on me and splashing together. Both of course loved playing in the sand with trucks and digging holes.
Day 1: In the morning we headed to the beach for 3.5 hours. This was the hottest and sunniest day and after about an hour Aiden was too hot and wanted to leave but then we walked down the beach a little and found perfect play area in the shade; under the pier. The boys had a blast here and didn't want to leave. We splashed, swam, played trucks in the sand, dug in the sand, and ran around the beach getting splashed.
Then in the afternoon we took the boys to the boardwalk area. I have to say we had fun but we were not all that impressed, but we enjoyed some ice cream and the boys first real fishing experience off the pier. Both boys were excited to hold the fishing pole and reel it in. Sadly they didn't catch anything, but my little positive boy said, "It's okay maybe we will next time."
Day 2: We went to one of my favorite spots we went - the water park. It was the first time the boys had ever been to a water park and seriously it was a BLAST! Omer and I got to be kids with our kids. I think Owen could have stayed there all day; we were there for 3.5 hours and only left because poor Aiden really needed a nap. At first the boys were scared to try the slide with us but they did and LOVED it and kept wanting to go again and again. Then we moved from the big twisty slides to the kid zone (while the adults got to take turns doing the big slides). The kid zone was amazing and Owen even went down the slides there himself. The boys loved the wave pool and both had fun swimming through the waves. Back to more big slides and more water fun and had to call it a day.
There was a big storm in the afternoon but luckily it stopped in time for us to go back to the beach and take the dogs this time. The dogs are only allowed before 10 am and after 5 pm. I had planned to go for a quick trip before dinner and ended up spending almost 2 hours. Because of the storm there was a huge pond area that the boys really enjoyed playing in. Chester did what he always does, chase the birds and run around. But this is probably Callie's first time to the beach and she loved it. I wish I could have let her run off leash but she is not ready. But she could not watch and chase after the birds enough. She even got her feet wet in the ocean.
Day 3: It was rainy so we decided the boys would go a build cars and get ice cream and me and Michele stayed and hung out and then went out for lunch. It was a fun morning for all.
The afternoon cleared up and we went and spent more time at the beach. All the same fun beach stuff from before. Omer ran back once it was time and got the pups so they could have some fun too. Another wonderful afternoon at the beach.
Day 4: The morning we all went to WonderWorks which is a very interesting museum full of mind-blowing activities and interesting experiments. It had everything and we all had a blast! Look through all the pictures to see all we did.
Then we walked around the Broadway area and the boys enjoyed the bounce houses and kid's carnival rides.
Once again, we headed to the beach for our last time this summer and once again had a wonderful time. The boys love the beach and just enjoy everything about it, and so do we.
Day 5: We decided to drive through the day instead of half bedtime like the way down, so we took the boys in the morning to the Ripley's Aquarium before heading out for the 8 hours drive. The aquarium was small but very cool and fun. The shark exhibit was really interesting and lots for the boys to look through. Then we got to touch sting rays, touch horseshoe crabs and Owen even got to pick one up. To top it off there was a huge walk under aquarium with all sorts of sharks, fish and eels. It was very impressive and really cool to have sharks swimming over your head. Sadly, our camera's battery died at the aquarium so a majority of the pictures are taken by Omer's phone.
We had a wonderful vacation and so happy we got to go back to the beach before summer ended. The drive was long but so worth it; we had a blast!
