48 WAYS MYRTLE BEACH WILL CAPTURE YOUR SENSES

The South Carolina flag in real life Myrtle Beach (squint and you will see the crescent moon on the right hand side)

 

The pier at  Myrtle Beach boardwalk and promenade

 

A look at the downtown Myrtle Beach boardwalk and promenade

Art Deco style abounds throughout downtown Myrtle Beach, including this hotel. To do your own Art Deco tour head to Ocean boulevard.

 

The sun sets on the white sand beach in downtown Myrtle Beach.

 

The Myrtle Beach boardwalk and promenade is the ideal place for a quiet stroll during the day or evening.Check out the gift shops, restaurants, bars and entertainment attractions that line the boardwalk, just meters from the beach.

 

Dinner of rack of lamb with herbed parisienne gnocchi, roasted asparagus, Provencal vegetables, shallot mint jus at Cyprus Room at Island Vista Resort. The dining room looks upon the ocean, so expect great views.

 

The calm salt marshes of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge (the departing point for the ride to Bulls Island). Many water activities depart from here including kayaks, boats, and fishing tours. 

Captain Wil Christenson (right) and first mate Nick Johnson (left) of Coastal Expeditions
On the short ferry  ride over, the crew spoke about the natural environment of the area, and pointed out birds, and even dolphins. Their excitement about the treasure trove of ecological finds on the island and their humour was greatly appreciated.

 

Exploring The Boneyard (Boneyard Beach) at Bulls Island with Coastal Expeditions . The sculptural curves of salt water and weathered trees bordered by brush and palmetto palms makes for a spectacular ambiance. Over time, the sea has encroached on the forest leaving this otherworldly landscape. We spotted horseshoe crab shells, sand dollars and turtle eggs on the beach.


 As a barrier island, the landscape on Bulls Island is remarkable with shoreline, salt marsh, and forest. There are also picnic tables, a cabin and lighthouse on the island.  "Street" signs at various points help keep visitors from getting lost. 

 

Kayaking along the salt marshes with Black River outdoors. While paddling along the calm water, CSL spotted oyster beds, birds and jumping fish galore. The highlight however, was getting a glimpse of an American bald eagle. Seeing one guest engulf her feet in the plough mud (pronounced pluff mud) was remarkable.

No trip to South Carolina would be complete without a visit to the Carolina Opry- with a thoroughly entertaining show of dance, song and humorous sketches, this was one of the highlights in Myrtle beach.

Thoroughbreds restaurant in Myrtle beach, at golden hour.

 

With a horseracing bent throughout the restaurant, CSL ordered a warming boullaibasse from the 'seabiscuit' portion of the menu at Thoroughbreds from creative chef John Thomas Tapper II .

A birds eye view of Myrtle Beach from The Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel

The long stretch of sand is perfect for relaxing strolls, sunbathing or wading into the water.

 

Sea Captain's House restaurant in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has won more awards than any other restaurant in Myrtle Beach. The ultra busy restaurant serves up classic seafood dishes in a 1930s cottage overlooking the ocean. CSL tried the Captain's Seafood Muddle, a hearty soup with

Sauteed Shrimp, Scallops, Fish, Clams, Mussels, Bacon, Potatoes and Celery in a Saffron Tomato Broth, and succulent lobster tail with a side of hush puppies. A must-try is the she-crab soup.

 

Sous Chef John Campbell outside Sea Captain's House restaurant

Current owners of Hopsewee Plantation Raejean and Frank Beattie. Built circa 1740, 40 years before the American Revolutionary War, Hopsewee Plantation was a major rice plantation and the birthplace of Thomas Lynch, Jr., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

 

Afternoon tea delights at River Oak Cottage Tea Room (served Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm) at Hopsewee Plantation

Heidi Vukov, owner of Croissants Bistro and Bakery. Reminiscent of a French cafe, the establishment is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No wonder Vukov's catch phrase here is 'Bonjour y'all' (also the name of her beautiful, recently published cookbook).

Brunch delights including chicken salad on fresh croissant, quiche du jour and crab cake sandwich at Croissants Bistro and Bakery. Brunch here also features a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar.

 

An absolutely lovely and creamy shrimp and grits and cappucino at Croissants Bistro and Bakery. 
Beside the scrumptious cakes, cookies and breads the restaurant also offers fabulous sit-down fare. Not to miss? The affogato featuring house made gelato - scrumptious.

Hobcaw Barony - a 16,000 acre former rice plantation on Waccamaw Neck, was once the home of  wealthy financier Bernard Baruch, whose daughter Belle, was an accomplished equestrian. It has hosted notable guests including Winston Churchill, and president Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The Kaminski House in Georgetown County

 

A view from the “Browns Ferry Vessel” inside the Rice Museum in Georgetown County.

 The sand dunes of Huntington Beach State Park

A fisherman at Huntington Beach State Park 

 

 Atalaya Castle was the winter home of industrialist and philanthropist Archer M. Huntington and his wife, the sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, located in Huntington Beach State Park. When we visited, a member of the Friends of Huntington Beach State Park which helps preserve the history and wildlife of the park through volunteer work, was eager to answer questions and gave us more insight into this historical attraction. (How could Mrs. Huntington see the beach from her kitchen in the early 20th century? All the plants you see now have grown up since then)

Golden sunset at Marina Inn at Grande Dunes

 

Executive Chef at Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, Julien Lancrerot.

Appetizers at Waterscapes restaurant at Marina Inn at Grande Dunes (Maryland crab cake, Maine lobster cake, and buttermilk fried green tomato).

 The Marina Inn at Grande Dunes features a bustling pool, marina and conference centre. Nearby access to the intercoastal waterway, golf course and shopping centres, make this an ideal location.

Executive chef and owner of Aspen Grille, Curry Martin, a graduate of Johnson & Wales University Culinary School in Charleston, South Carolina.

 

 Aspen Grille, serves 'fresh Carolina Cuisine' with authentic Southern hospitality.  CSL tried the local pan seared flounder and shrimp with roasted potatoes, okra, corn & tomato ragout.

Boats docked at Murrells Inlet

 

A causeway at Myrtle Beach State Park

Enthusiastic, and knowledgeable Park Ranger, Ann Malys Wilson shows off a fresh catch at the 

Myrtle Beach State Park pier.

 

A local fisherman cleans a small fish on the pier at Myrtle Beach State Park. Look below the pier at the right time and you may even spot a shark or two. Locals will tell you "they don't trouble people."

 

The lavish and stunning Brookgreen Gardens, a sculpture garden and wildlife preserve, located just south of Murrells Inlet.

Stunning flowers, and bronze statues galore at Brookgreen Gardens, many the work of  Anna Hyatt Huntington.

A picture of the South - live oak trees in  Live Oak Allee at Brookgreen Gardens, including 60,000 caladiums.

 

This little lizard at Brookgreen Gardens seems to answer to the artists' work.

Lunchtime at Brookgreen Gardens- including Southern staples- cheesy grits, fried green tomatoes and crab dip.

 

The delightfully energetic and charismatic George Clark- a legend at Cafe Amalfi at The Hilton Myrtle Beach

 Delicious, fresh and a touch spicy - seafood pasta made in house by Chef Sean Villanueva at Cafe Amalfi.

A lovely sunset cruise and dinner aboard Barefoot Princess- with the most incredible sunset.

A team from CSL just returned from  Myrtle Beach South Carolina.  A quick direct flight from Toronto (under 2 hours), the warmth of Myrtle beach will bring you back time and time again.  

Food lover?  Being a coastal city, Myrtle Beach benefits from plenty of fresh seafood- seen on the menus at most restaurants. 

Want classic good old fashioned fun? Entertainment is everywhere- from Legends in concert to Wonderworks - the science based attraction, The Carolina Opry, or ride the sky wheel in downtown Myrtle beach, even taste wine from Duplin winery.  

Outdoors your thing?  Myrtle beach and surrounding area offer some of the most breathtaking views of salt marshes, gardens, and beaches anywhere in the state.

The relaxed pace, Southern hospitality and warm smiles make Myrtle beach a true gem.

Read more in the Winter 2015/16 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.

 ***A friendly reminder, all photography on City Style and Living Magazine, Facebook Page, Twitter, website and Blog are copyright 2007-2015 K&S Media. Please do not use elsewhere without the written consent of City Style and Living Magazine. Thank you kindly!
 

You may visit the New Summer 2015 issue of City Style and Living magazine (also available in print) at the following address (follow the three simple steps to access the full magazine, online) :

1) go to http://www.citystyleandliving.com 
2) click on the 'front cover' image, on the left hand side of your screen
3) to flip through the e-magazine, click on the bottom right hand corner
of the magazine, just as you would our print magazine!

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NOT THE GREAT BRITAIN YOU EXPECT: 27 PHOTOS FROM DEVON AND CORNWALL THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND

My first fish and chips at the The Old Boathouse Café in Plymouth, Devon did not disappoint - crisp, hot and delicious. An award-winning seafood café and restaurant, set in a unique location in the fisherman’s arches on the Mayflower Steps, its specialty are fresh fish and shellfish, sustainably caught by the restaurant’s boat -The Southern Star.

A stunning view of Plymouth’s Marina at Sutton Harbour, the water and sky blend magnificently into an unbelievable aqua blue with some of the best cruising waters in the UK. Situated in the old quarter of Plymouth, there are places to eat and drink, shop and be entertained (like The Barbican, The Hoe, and The Lighthouse ‘Smeaton’s Tower’).

Plymouth Gin Distillery has myriad nooks and crannies, this picture was taken at the bar where patron can enjoy drinks like the Wibble, Plymouth and tonic and many more. While touring the Plymouth Gin Distillery a wedding reception was being held in an adjoining room, while my Plymouth Gin tasting (5 different gins) was on another floor. Plymouth Gin Distillery has been in operation since 1793.

Boringdon Hall Hotel, the majestic 16th century manor house in Devon displays the drama of Elizabethan architecture, imposing stone towers, secret archways and curious hallways which seem endless. Boringdon Hall Hotel is situated on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park and ten minutes from Plymouth (a great town and country experience). The grounds at Boringdon Hall are immaculately kept with flora and fauna. If you're planning a wedding this may just be the ideal setting.

I had a delightful dinner at The Treby Arms a rustic Michelin-starred country pub. I was even more surprised that Head Chef Anton Piotrowski, who was the winner of UK’s Masterchef in 2012 prepared my meal himself and was happy to have his picture taken even with a full and bustling restaurant.

Ed at Riverford Organics one of Britain’s most famous and successful organic farms – and provider of one of the largest vegetable box delivery schemes in Britain – takes me on a tour of the farm (pictured here amidst a crop of tomatoes in a greenhouse). My luncheon at Riverford Organics was one of the best meals in Devon, the dessert table of ‘puds' was to die for - brownies with chuncks of nuts, Eton mess with fresh cream and rhubarb compote, lemon posset, custard tart, sticky toffee pudding, biscotti with custard, blueberry clafouti and the list continues....Ah, a dream day for those with a sweet tooth!

My adventure of Letterboxing on Dartmoor National Park was a mixture of treasure hunting and puzzle solving. Do get a guide if venturing out on the moors, as Dartmoor National Park covers an area of 368 square miles, containing the highest land in southern England (High Willhays at 2037ft), it is both a scene of tranquility and the place to get active, but it is all too easy to get off course. As seen above, the landscape has stunning views, awe-inspiring granite tors, deep wooded valleys with fast flowing rivers, and rugged, wide open spaces. A sight to behold.

I travel from Paignton aboard the Dartmouth Steam Railway where I experience an exhilarating trip through the countryside of South Devon and along the coastline of the English Riviera, a journey that Agatha Christie herself may have taken from London. The Dartmouth Steam Railway arrives in Kingswear, opposite Dartmouth, and here I take the short boat trip boarding the Greenway Ferry, departing from Town Quay across the river to Dartmouth.

2015 marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of one of the world’s most famous crime writers – Agatha Christie whose private holiday home is called Greenway. Greenway contains many of the Agatha Christie’s collections including archaeology, silver, botanical china and books, I am amazed at the collection of religious books and idols originating from India. The landscape is absolutely spectacular and the boathouse allows a wonderful view of the river.

I depart Devon for Portloe, Cornwall and spent the night at The Lugger Hotel a quaint hotel sitting right on the water’s edge of the beautiful coastal village of Portloe, one of many old fishing villages that dot the Cornish coastline. This charming17th century inn is surrounded by cliffs and headlands that form part of the Cornish Coastal Footpath. Pictured above, looking down upon the hotel from a promontory.

I eagerly hike to the top of the cliff beside The Lugger Hotel and am transported to another world - slate rock, teal waters, greenery, and stone buildings.

From Portloe, I travel across to Bodmin Moor to see the famous Jamaica Inn, Cornwall’s most famous smuggler’s inn and the setting for Daphne du Maurier’s novel. I meet the owner who escorts me to a haunted room where a ghost visits occasionally.

I stop for luncheon at The Old Inn.

I would never have guessed that wine was being made in Great Britain, so Camel Valley Vineyard came as a surprise. I stopped to have a glass of wine and tour the vineyards bordered by rosebushes. Camel Valley Vineyard has been producing wines in Cornwall since 1989.

I take part in a one-on-one cookery workshop at Padstow Cookery School with head chef lecturer Mark Puckey. I made chile crab with some of the region's famous seafood. I then had dinner at Rick Stein’s famous Seafood Restaurant.

Breathtaking view from an old tin mine in Cornwall a relic from a time when this was a major industry in the area.

The Headland Hotel & Spa is a mesmerizing, terracotta structure and Cornwall's only 'Five Bubble' rated spa hotel, perched on the breathtaking Cornish coastline, overlooking Fistral Beach and Towan Head. The Headland Hotel is housed in an historic building located in the coastal town of Newquay.

One of the many spectacular views on a hike from The Headland Hotel &Spa.There are umpteen trails surrounding the property with guaranteed views.

I had a delicious luncheon at The Sloop Inn, it was a difficult choice between fish pie and this tagliatelle with seafood – you can see which one I chose at one of Cornwall’s most historic inns. The delicious meal was equal to the stunning views overlooking St Ives harbour.

One of the most picturesque hikes on my way to Tate St Ives museum. The view is awe inspiring - this is not the Great Britain many of us imagine with its white sand beaches, gigantic black rocks and azure waters it could easily be mistaken for Hawaii.

A lunch at Carbis Bay Hotel. A short 25 minute hike from St. Ives with spectacular views and forested respite, Carbis Bay is the Miami of Cornwall. My lunch featured the ever-present seafood and wonderful Cornish cider.

The view from the Tate St Ives museum, the architecture of the building is in itself artwork.

 

I overnight at Mount Haven Hotel, in Marazion, I feel refreshed and rejuvenated by the ambiance of this hotel, the welcoming Lord Ganesh statue energizes my spirit. I wake up in the morning with a spectacular view of St Michael’s Mount. Pictured above, the grounds of the hotel which features palms, bananas and many other sub-tropical plants.

A view of St Michael’s Mount while having dinner at the Godolphin Arms.

Tintagel Castle, the famed "King Arthur" castle. The colour of the water here looking down upon Merlin's cave is surreal as is the cloud formation that hangs above the pedestrian bridge that links visitors to the ruined castle.

Lunch at St. Moritz Hotel close to Daymer Bay near Trebetherick village. I passed surfers on the way to the hotel which features vibrantly coloured beach houses.

A team from City Style and Living Magazine (CSL) is just back from the sunny shores of Devon and Cornwall in Great Britain. Warning: This is not the Great Britain you were expecting.  Think azure waters, fresh seafood, wild ponies, grassy moors, mythical castles surrounded by teal waters, wineries, gin distilleries, modern art museums, white sand beaches and sub-tropical gardens. Sure, there's all the things you'd expect too - fish and chips, fisherman's villages, towering clifftops, black faced sheep grazing on verdant hills, churches with ancient Celtic crosses, pubs, and romantic fog.

For a break-the-mould visit to the UK, Devon and Cornwall deliver in spades. Imagine driving through tiny hedges on unnamed roads sometimes reversing for other cars to pass, hiking to flower strewn clifftops and marveling at the great Atlantic. This is home to the southernmost point in the UK and wild adventures await.

 Look out for much more Devon and Cornwall in an upcoming issue of City Style and Living Magazine.

***A friendly reminder, all photography on City Style and Living Magazine, Facebook Page, Twitter, website and Blog are copyright 2015 K&S Media. Please do not use elsewhere without the written consent of City Style and Living Magazine. Thank you kindly!

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY COPYRIGHT K&S MEDIA 2015

You may visit the New Summer 2015 issue of City Style and Living magazine (also available in print) at the following address (follow the three simple steps to access the full magazine, online) :

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2) click on the 'front cover' image, on the left hand side of your screen
3) to flip through the e-magazine, click on the bottom right hand corner
of the magazine, just as you would our print magazine!

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