Thursday, September 25, 2008

The Last Days of Summer: A Weekend in Myrtle Beach

It’s the end of summer and my husband and I wanted to at least head to a beach to soak in the last days of “fun in the sun.” So to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary, we headed for a four-day weekend to Myrtle Beach. We were lucky enough to have a relative with a vacation/retirement home out there and it was in the perfect location: nearly 10-15 minutes from everything—airport, amusement parks, area beaches, shopping and dining.

An early afternoon flight landed us at Myrtle Bach International Airport at about 12:30. We headed to the Hertz counter for our rental and were surprised by a free upgrade since all the compact cars were taken. I had done my research earlier in the week to see what we could do out there. Ready for lunch, we drove to Broadway at the Beach, a 350 acre entertainment complex which features theaters, 20 restaurants, over 100 specialty shops, 15 attractions, 11 nightclubs, and 3 hotels, all surrounding a 23-acre lake. To say the least, this site was breathtaking! We ate at Joe’s Crab Shack on an outdoor deck facing the man-made lake. Then we made our way around the entire complex, stopping at a fudge shop to sample a few of their 30+ flavors, and various stores to peruse their products. With something to do for every family member, it’s a good bet to stop here if you’re in town.

Later that evening we dined at Latitude 22. Located at Surfside Beach, south of Myrtle Beach, this trendy restaurant/bar offers a Caribbean-fare menu with the likes of conch fritters, Calypso crab cakes, and “Shrimp Rasta Pasta.” It was a Thursday night and although there were people walking the pier, not much was happening as far as nightlife goes.

Friday, we headed to Myrtle Beach’s newest attraction Hard Rock Park. Opened on June 2, 2008, this 55-acre theme park boasts more than 50 attractions, including live shows and entertainment, roller-coasters, children’s play areas, restaurants and retail stores. The park is divided into six areas: All Access Entry Plaza, Rock & Roll Heaven, British Invasion, Lost in the 70's, Born in the USA, and Cool Country. I’m not one for roller-coasters but Hard Rock’s signature ride, Led Zeppelin, the Ride sends you 15 stories high, at 65 mph and loops six times, all set to Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love." Now that will get your heart racing! My favorite attraction was the Garage Jam, which had hundreds of foam balls and all kinds of tools to play with them. It’s great for children but even better for adults to let out some steam as my husband and I had fun shooting at each other. Unfortunately, due to scaled back travel plans and theme park attendance flat or down this year, the park is now closed for the season “to allow management to focus on restructuring efforts” and intends to re-open in the spring of 2009. Just outside of the park is Medieval Times for dinner and a fun show for the whole family.

Saturday turned out to be a bit cloudy and not so warm, so our plans for the beach had to be modified. We walked Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach’s main strip with plenty of places to eat, shop and play. Here’ you’ll find Family Kingdom, the only seaside amusement park and water park. Although it’s closed for the season, there’s never an admission charge so you can pay by the ride or you can buy an all-day wristband.

Also on Ocean Boulevard are several Ripley's attractions: Ripley's Haunted Adventure®, Ripley's Believe It or Not!®, The Ripley's® Moving Theater™, and Ripley’s® Super Fun Zone®, a hi-tech arcade. (Ripley's® Aquarium is located at Broadway at the Beach.)

The Myrtle Beach area, called the "seaside golf capital of the world" features over 100 golf courses. It also claims to be the "miniature golf capital of the world," owing to its 50 miniature golf courses. And we saw a bunch of them driving down Kings Highway. Choose from a host of themes, from man-eating dinosaurs and lava-spewing volcanoes to high seas adventures aboard pirate ships.

Barefoot Landing, located along the Intracoastal Waterway, is another entertainment complex but with the feel of a quaint village. The mood is more relaxed here. We dined at the Crab House where the prices were reasonable and the food was plenty. Barefoot plays host to a few entertainment venues such as the Alabama Theatre and House of Blues. You can also find big name stores or small boutiques to shop to your hearts content!

We had a pleasant and relaxing time and most importantly we had time to re-connect, which is key to keeping a marriage together, in my opinion. Check out the slide show in a few days for pictures of our trip.

For more information on the Myrtle Beach area and attractions visit the official site of the Myrtle Beach, SC CVB or the Myrtle Beach general info site.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Fall Foliage Tours; MSC Cruise Specials

Caravan Tours: Motorcoach Travel at it’s Best
Caravan Tours began selling fully escorted tours in 1952. They have been under the same management and ownership ever since. In 1965, Roger Mudd hosted a two-hour CBS TV special on Caravan Tours. This TV production took about one month to make and was so successful it inspired the 1968 romantic comedy movie “If it’s Tuesday this must be Belgium.” In the early 50’s the Mayor of Dublin presented Caravan with the Key to Dublin for bringing the first American tour to the city after WWII. Since then Caravan has been recognized as a pioneer in travel. Take advantage of the changing weather and check out the 8-days New England Summer and Fall Colors Tour from $995:

Itinerary stops include Boston’s Old North Church, where Paul Revere began his famous midnight ride; Plymouth Rock, where you can see the Battle Green where “the shot heard around the world” signaled the start of the American Revolution. Follow the route of Paul Revere from Lexington to Concord. Then head south and stop at Plymouth Rock where pilgrims from the Mayflower landed. Then it’s off to Martha's Vineyard, a haven for artists, poets, singers and celebrities who are attracted to its laid-back, charming lifestyle. Visit the historic whaling town of Edgartown with its narrow streets and elegant homes. Next stop is Rhode Island and Connecticut: visit the historic Vanderbilt “summer cottage,” The Breakers. After a sightseeing drive of Newport you’ll get to visit Mystic Seaport, the nation’s leading maritime museum. From here you’ll head into the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, where Norman Rockwell spent the last 25 years of his life and visit the Norman Rockwell Museum. Take a scenic mountain drive along country roads to Plymouth Notch, birthplace of President Calvin Coolidge. Next stop is the village of Woodstock, described as “the prettiest small town in America.” Travel past Maine’s lakes to Portland on the rocky Atlantic coast. Visit Portland’s waterfront and continue for the night at Kennebunkport. From here you’ll be transferred to the airport in Boston.

The best departure dates for viewing fall colors are usually September 21 through mid-October. Peak fall colors vary each year and can be affected by wind, temperature, and moisture. Caravan’s broad circular tour route, covering all six New England states, maximizes your foliage viewing opportunities.

Contact me for more information or to book this vacation.

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MSC Cruises Super Cruise Deals!
Explore the Caribbean aboard MSC Orchestra this winter and enjoy savings of over 50% on selected sailings. Rates start as low as $75* per night! Plus KIDS 17 & UNDER SAIL FREE! Hurry, space is LIMITED!

7nt Western Caribbean 2009 Departure Dates:
January 10; January 24; February 7; February 21; Caribbean March 7; March 21
Departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and calls to Key West, Florida, Cozumel, Mexico, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayo Levantado (SamanĂ  - D.R.),

7nt Eastern Caribbean 2009 Departure Date: April 18
Fort Lauderdale, Florida and calls to Cayo Levantado (SamanĂ  - D.R.), Philipsburg, St. Maarten, St. John's, Antigua, Nassau, Bahamas, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

*Rate listed is based on category 1 interior stateroom for Feb. 7 & Apr. 18 sailings of MSC Orchestra. Rates for other sailings and stateroom type are slightly higher. Kids sail free as 3rd/4th occupants with two full fare paying guests in stateroom.

Contact me for more information or to book this vacation.

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Here are the latest deals only available on VastVoyages.com:

Philadelphia, PA to Belize City, Belize
Flight & Hotel Included
4 Nights from $667 per person
Sept. 11 - 15, 2008

St. Louis, MO to Montreal, Canada
Flight & Hotel Included
3 Nights from $568 per person
Sept. 13 - 16, 2008

Milwaukee, WI to Paris, France
Flight & Hotel Included
3 Nights from $957 per person
Sept. 11 - 14, 2008

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Everyday is New Day

So many people say they are “fed up” with the way things are in their lives. They complain about their jobs, their house, their marriage and/or kids, even the weather! But if you’re not doing something about it (if you can) and continue to do the same thing day in and day out, then you don’t really have the right to complain.

I have to admit, I have not done enough with my business. God put this opportunity in front of us (my husband and I) for a reason. I believe he saw great things for us if we learned how to use HIM and the tools provided by the company to really help other people. But I have been lazy. When I get home from work I make the excuses “I’m tired,” or “it’s too late.” Or even worse, I let fear overtake me! Those annoying voices saying, “you can’t do it,” or “you don’t deserve it.” Yet, there are so many people out there, not just in my business but also in other businesses, who have kids, work full-time and are still making money to achieve their goals of financial freedom and time freedom. So I have no excuses!

I’m still learning that I can start new every day and not worry about what happened yesterday or last week. I need to press forward because it’s my duty to help as many people as I can. Everyday I ask God to guide my steps in the right direction.

So what would I do if my business exploded? The list is short: I would break those bonding chains of debt for us and for immediate family members, we would save some money and invest some, and of course I would give to charity (not just money but my time as well) because God deemed it so in my life. No fancy house or car. No closet full of the latest fashion. I don’t need to prove my wealth by buying things to appease people. Earthly possessions cannot follow me to heaven. What’s the point of gaining all that income if I don’t share it? And while sharing it I would spread God’s message of love, hope and mercy.

Ok! Now that all the ugly stuff is out of the way, here’s some fantastic news that came out of this year’s National Convention:

THE SATURDAY EVENING POST MAGAZINE FEATURING COACH
One of the most prestigious magazines in the country has chosen Coach to be on the cover! The Saturday Evening Post, the longest running continually published magazine in the history of the United States, has selected Coach to be on their 2008 Special August edition. The magazine features a four-page article on Coach's life and gives you an inside look behind his vision to create 10,000 millionaires.

The ABC's Guys
The ABC's Guys Dr. Denis Cauvier and Alan Lysaght have made an addition to their book "The ABC's of Making Money" as they have finally found a second company the meets all 15 principles they consider crucial to finding a viable business. The first company you may have heard of, it's Primerica, and we all know who the second company is, and that YTB! What an endorsement!

Check back later this week for more travel deals and Holiday Getaways!

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