New Article about Myrtle Beach from US Airways Magazine

On my flight home from visiting family for Christmas I found an in-depth article on Myrtle Beach in the inflight magazine on US Airways. I thought it was interesting and wanted to pass it on to you.

You can find it at: http://www.usairwaysmag.com/city_profiles/city/myrtle_beach/

Be sure to click on each link to read more of the article.

Happy Holidays!

Garden Drive Renamed Presidential Drive

Next time you return to Plantation Resort, you may notice new street signs. There is a new Fairway and Double Eagle Drive street sign pointing the way into the Resort. If you continue down Double Eagle Drive on your way to the Outdoor Pool and Lazy River, you'll notice a new street sign with a new name for Garden Drive. We've gotten approval to change the name of Garden Drive to Presidential Drive which seems much more appropriate since this is the drive where you'll find the Presidential Villas. We hope you agree! Hope to see you soon!

Girls Getaway Special!

Girls, do you need some time away? This special is tailored just for you - 2 nights and 3 days of shopping, relaxing massages and enjoying all that the Myrtle Beach area has to offer!

Begin your shopping with a $50 gift certificate at either the Coastal Grand Mall or the Tanger Outlets. Don't want to fight the traffic, let us do the driving for you. Complimentary shuttle service is provided.

After a successful day of shopping, relax with a message at the Plantation Resort Health and Swim Club.

Men, this makes a great gift for the women in your lives.

Call 1-800-845-5039 to take advantage of this limited time offer!

Golf Specials at Plantation Resort

Golf is still in full swing here in Myrtle Beach. Come perfect your game at incredible savings! Special packages for nine different courses:

• Indigo Creek



• Island Green



• Azalea Sands



• Litchfield



• Wicked Stick



• The Witch



• Grande Dunes



• Dye Course



• Greg Norman Course

These specials also include dinner at one of the following:

• Tequila Mockingbird



• Dagwood's Deli and Sports Bar



• Gordon Biersch

Whether you are just starting out or you need a challenge, we have the course for you. These packages make a great Christmas gift for the golfer in the family! Call us at 1-800-845-5039 and book your tee times today!

Jennifer Arnez is our Grand Prize Winner of a Free Week’s Vacation at Plantation Resort!

Jennifer won the Nintendo Wii Tournament during her vacation at Plantation Resort this summer, which automatically entered her into the end of summer drawing for a free week’s stay at Plantation Resort. She was the lucky one selected from the 20 weekly Wii tourney winners. Congratulations Jennifer!

Here is what Jennifer had to say about winning:

My name is Jennifer Arnez. I won the Wii tournament on my vacation this summer at Plantation Resort. I am a 33 year old mother of 3. I have a son that is 2, a daughter that is 5 and a step-daughter that is 13. I’m an x-ray technologist and love my job! I also love being a mother and wife. My after work hours and weekends are spent at soccer, t-ball and cheerleading with my children. At home we love to play outdoors, swim and go for walks. Inside we play lots of games including board games, card games and, of course, Wii. Our entire family plays Nintendo Wii. My daughter, who has played Wii since she was 3, came in second place in the Wii tournament. My son who is 2 also plays Wii.

This was our first summer staying at Plantation Resort. We happened on the resort by mistake in June and stayed for one week. We liked it so much we came down again in August for another week. We love the children’s water park, lighted playground, the indoor and outdoor activities, the large pool with snack bar and all of the other amenities. It is very family oriented and everyone is very nice. The shuttles to the beach are very convenient and we felt very relaxed staying there. We are deeded to another resort not far from Plantation Resort but we will definitely be spending a lot of our summer vacations with you guys! My children love the resort and all of the activities. They love the dive games by the pool and the indoor activities that get you out of the sun for a break.

I had a lot of fun playing in the Wii tournament and was shocked to hear I had won the drawing! I was very excited! I've never won anything this big before! I really appreciate this and everyone at the resort being so nice and friendly to my family and me. Can't wait to come again!

Can't thank you enough,
Jennifer Arnez and Family

Get Away for the Holidays at Plantation Resort

Enjoy dinner and a show, get in a few rounds of golf, do some shopping and catch the Spirit of the Season in Myrtle Beach! Plantation Resort is offering three special packages to choose from. Call 1-800-845-5039 to make your reservation and get away for the Holidays at Plantation Resort!

Another Resort Improvement - Expanding the Front Entrance

More room is a good thing!

We've now expanded the entrance to the parking lot at the Front Desk where you check in. We understand that the Front Desk parking lot can be difficult to navigate especially on busy weekends when the parking lot is full, when you are towing a trailer or driving a large vehicle. So we removed a parking spot and increased the entrance by 8 feet to make it easier to exit and enter onto the frontage road. We've also added lines and directional arrows to help with traffic flow. This is just one example of our many efforts to continually improve the resort. So come visit soon and let us know what you think of our newly expanded entrance!

Win a Free Week - Plantation Resort's Photo Contest

Calling all photographers!
Enter your photos now of your vacation at Plantation Resort (and of the Myrtle Beach area) and win a free week's stay at Plantation Resort!
Just submit your best photos. There is no limit to the number you enter. We will be choosing the best photographer at the end of the year and awarding the winner a free 7 nights-stay at Plantation Resort. So enter now for your chance to win!
How to enter:
1. Document your vacation with us and pick out your best shots.
2. Email your photo to sunkissedinsurfside@gmail.com.
3. Include your name and phone number in the email so we know how to contact you.
Rules:
Submittals must be received by January 1st, 2010.
Photos must be your own (photos that you personally shot) to qualify.
Document where the photos were taken and when. If there are people in the photos, they must agree to sign a waiver.
By submitting your photos, you give Plantation Resort permission to use the photos how they see fit including usage for sales and marketing purposes.
The free week's stay must be used at Plantation Resort by December 31st, 2010.
Good Luck!

Danielle Hallam's Surfside Summer Story at Plantation Resort

What happens when a senior from Brigham Young University travels across the country for an internship at Plantation Resort in South Carolina? Well, you can expect some great adventures along the Grand Strand (the area stretching from above North Myrtle Beach all the way down to Georgetown) and a lot of learning opportunities. As a Human Resources major I didn’t expect to learn much this summer that would apply to my field. But working in the recreation department I’ve been able to work with the most important people in any organization—the guests, and gain insight into what it takes to make a resort (or any operation) run smoothly. My name is Danielle Hallam, and this is my Surfside Summer Story.

Let’s cover the good stuff first, what I do for fun in a resort town. I’ve had some great adventures in the Myrtle Beach area. I have visited the Boone Hall, Hopsewee, and Magnolia Plantations, taken the ferry to Fort Sumter, lost to my roommates at putt-putt, boogie boarded at the beach, kayaked along the waterway, caught a firefly, learned to slalom ski, spotted gators, watched a Pelicans game, lost at putt-putt again, pet sting rays, caught a shark while deep sea fishing, perused the markets in Charleston, learned to surf, built stellar sand castles, and lost at putt-putt a few more times. It’s definitely been a summer to remember, but not just because of sightseeing. Working at Plantation Resort has taught me a lot.
My favorite part of working at Plantation Resort is meeting so many interesting people. I meet a lot of great families when I work activities like the rubber duck races at the Lazy River and the ever popular tie dying t-shirts. Tie dye is always a lot of fun. I love it when the kids make amazing shirts and their parents are so impressed they have to make one for themselves. My favorite venue has to be the dinners. The atmosphere at the Sticky Fingers BBQ and the Tie Dye Fish Fry are fantastic. Live music, good food, great people—and I get paid to be there.

So what will I take with me from my summer in Surfside? Well, there is the slight tan line from spending time at the beach and my amazing tie dye skills. But, more importantly I’ve learned some valuable lessons from working at Plantation Resort. I’ve been able to be a part of the planning and preparation necessary to make a good event/activity a success. I’ve also learned a lot about the importance of employee training and motivation that will be a great help as I graduate and begin my career. Although my putt-putt skills have not improved, my knowledge has increased over my summer at Plantation Resort.

(Editor's Note: This is the last of a three-part series of articles from our interns. If you know of someone who might be interested in applying for an internship at Plantation Resort, feel free to contact us at hr@plantationresort.com.)

Katie Butterfield's Summer Internship Experience

Hi, I’m Katie and I’m from Peru. I spent this summer working as an intern at Plantation Resort. This is my first time in South Carolina and I loved my experience here! The scenery is gorgeous in and around the Resort. My best memory is sitting inside during thunderstorms and watching the beautiful lightning show!

Throughout the summer I’ve helped with many of the activities offered at Plantation Resort. We provided great activities for the whole family. My favorite activity has been tie-dying t-shirts. Helping guests tie their shirts and then watch as they add multiple bright colors was so fun. I loved to see their faces as they untied their shirt and saw their amazing creation!

I have spent time working at each of the three pool areas: indoor, outdoor, and lazy river. My favorite is the lazy river and watching the toddlers play in the kiddie pool. They have so much fun making friends and playing with their toys in the water. It’s also fun to watch families as they float around and around the lazy river having a great time together.

Having the opportunity to work at a beautiful resort all summer was exciting! I’ve been able get to know the great staff at the Resort and interact with wonderful guests. I loved talking with and getting to know so many people from so many diverse places. It was an incredible experience helping to provide our guests with a memorable summer vacation!

My Summer Internship Experience by Lizzy King

Hi! My name is Lizzy King. I am studying Recreation Management, with an emphasis in Leisure Services Management, at Brigham Young University (BYU), in Provo, Utah. I applied and was accepted for a summer internship with Plantation Resort in their Recreation Department.

Working at Plantation Resort this summer has been a wonderful experience. As an intern I’ve been able to work in many different capacities. It has been wonderful to see the Resort from many different perspectives. I’ve worked as a pool attendant, activities assistant, grill cook, breakfast buffet cashier, evening event specialist, and indoor pool receptionist. I have also worked with management on a variety of special projects. The most fulfilling aspect while working at Plantation Resort was helping with activities. It is a wonderful time to be able to get to know the guests and help them have a great time while on vacation.

While working at Plantation Resort I have learned a lot of things that will help me in my future career. By watching the management here at the Resort I have learned so much about how to be a good manager. I have also learned the importance of proper employee training. In the future I want to do fundraising and events planning so working at the evening events have been a great learning experience for me.

In addition to having a great time working at Plantation Resort I have also loved living in the Myrtle Beach area. There are so many fun things to do here in Myrtle Beach as well as the surrounding areas. I enjoyed two trips to Charleston and one to Columbia this summer. There’s lots of history to experience and beautiful things to see. Plus, it’s always great to spend a day at the beach!

Our Summer Experiences Interning at Plantation Resort

Well, the summer is winding down and school is starting. Unfortunately for us at Plantation Resort, it's time for us to say "Goodbye" to our summer interns. We appreciate all their hard work. They truly helped make Plantation Resort a wonderful place to vacation. We'll miss them and we wish them well in all their future endeavors. This series of articles is a tribute to the interns who made so much happen behind the scenes. Before they left, three of our interns, Lizzy, Katie and Danielle wrote about their experiences. In the upcoming weeks, we'll be publishing what they had to say in a series of three articles.

Thanks again, interns, for making the summer great this year!

Every summer there are internship opportunities available for those who love to make people happy and want to gain hands-on experience in the resort industry. If you would like to apply for an internship at Plantation Resort, feel free to send an email to hr@plantationresort.com.

Vacation with Us

Did you know that 56% of Americans fail to take all of their vacation days? Don't be one of the statistics. We've found some great reasons you should vacation with us, straight from the experts.

• Reader's Digest ranks Myrtle Beach as one of the top 40 places that will "float your boat."
  


• "Myrtle Beach is called Golftown, U.S.A. because it's probably the No. 1 golf desitnation in the world with over 100 public courses."
  


• Professional mini-golfer, Bobby Ward, compares two of Myrtle Beach's mini-golf courses (Hawaiian Rubble and Hawaiian Caverns) to the Daytona International Speedway, Fenway Park and Lambeau Field of the mini-golf world.
  


• The Travel Channel lists Myrtle Beach as one of the Best Beaches. "Myrtle Beach is the East Coast's ultimate vacation hub."
  


• Myrtle Beach is ranked by Reader's Digest as one of the Best Seaside Strolls and a "top family getaway."
  

Whether you are looking for a great beach, world-class golfing or mini-golfing, or just a family-friendly environment, the experts agree -- the Myrtle Beach area is the place to vacation.


Check out the full articles below:
"Wish You Were Here?" Reader's Digest, June 2009
"A mini-golf champ shares his favorite courses." http://www.usaweekend.com/02_issues/020519/020519travel_minigolf.html
Travel Channel's Best Beaches http://www.travelchannel.com/Travel_Ideas/Best_Beaches/Myrtle_Beach%2C_South_Carolina
Best Seaside Strolls http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/best-seaside-strolls/article36172.html

Tie-Dye Wednesdays

Wednesday is probably my favorite day at the resort. From 11:30 - 1:00 pm every Wednesday afternoon I get to help at the Tie-Dye T-Shirts activity. Each week we tie-dye about 50 shirts for guests of all ages. After choosing their shirt, our guests decide on the type of tie-dye design they want--swirls, stripes, or a bullseye (diagonal stripes are my favorite). A few "precise" folds or twirls of the shirt, some strategically placed rubberbands, and they are on their way to the tie-dye table to choose from the rainbow of colors. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, teal--so many possibilities. After dunking and squirting the dye into the mass of t-shirt, the moment of unveiling is my favorite part. I am still amazed that somehow the folding and dipping creates these mind-boggling designs. Stop by the Activity Center on a Wednesday afternoon and you can see the bright designs drying on the fence, our own little museum from the sixties, or see the shirts styled by the guests who wear them to the fish fry that night. Better yet, join in on the fun and let me help you create your own tie-dye masterpiece.

Blogs, Tweets, and Fans

My task this summer: find new ways to stay in touch with our guests and generate dialogue that we can use to improve the resort.

To Do List:

Create blog. Check.

Create a Facebook page. Check.

Create a Twitter account. Check.

Now all that's left is to spread the word. Like the new blog? Let your friends and family know. Are you one of the millions linked on Facebook? Become a fan of Plantation Resort! Do you want to be kept up to date with the happenings at the resort? Follow us on Twitter! Do you want to be the first to know about deals/specials we are offering at Plantation Resort? Just keep an eye on this blog, Facebook, and Twitter, where we will be posting exclusive offers to make it cheaper and easier for you to join us here in Surfside Beach at Plantation Resort.

I'm Back for the Summer!

Ever wonder who the person is behind the posts? I thought I'd introduce myself. My name is April Hallam and I'm back for my second summer at Plantation Resort. I love the outdoors, hiking, waterskiing, rock climbing, and running. Three years ago I came out during my summer break from college (Brigham Young University, in Utah) to work and save some money. I loved being in Surfside! In Utah, the mountain lakes where we play during the summer NEVER get warm, but in Surfside the beach is ALWAYS warm! I loved the Southern charm and hospitality, and I loved working with the great staff at Plantation Resort...so I'm back for another summer.

So much has changed since I was here last. I've now graduated from college and teach high school in Utah and help coach the cross country team. I still have my summers off, and decided to spend this one at the beach once again. When I got back to the resort I noticed so many changes. When I left, we were just starting to put the black shutters on the buildings, and now all of the buildings have a spruced up look with the shutters. When I left we had only just started installing the sidewalks, and now you can walk on the sidewalks all the way to the lazy river and outdoor pool. The Welcome Center has been renamed the Preview Center and is refurbished and up to date. There are more palmettos in the landscaping around the resort and more greenery in general. One of my big projects last time I was here was helping with our brand new Pig Pickin' and Shag, the BBQ on Tuesday nights, and now we have TWO different dinner venues offered at the resort, with the new Tie Dye Fish Fry (see post below). Left and right I find something new or improved at Plantation Resort. Perhaps my favorite new discovery is the cute, wooden playground down in the Presidential Villas. My nephew LOVED playing on the swing set.

The great thing is that the improvements only continue and I get to be a part of them once again. We are currently working on making wireless internet available in the rooms throughout the resort, so if you notice construction down Garden Drive during your visit, know that we are working quickly to make this newest amenity available for your convenience. What else is new? This blog, of course! Let me know what you think about it and what else you would like to see at Plantation Resort.

Why the "Tie Dye Fish Fry"?

What's in a name? This infamous question posed by a star-struck lover has been raised at Plantation Resort as well. Why call it the "Tie Dye Fish Fry"? Why not just the "Fish Fry"? Because Juliet had it wrong. A name is not artifical and meaningless, but has the potential to portray the essence of the person, object, or in this case, event. You see, the fish fry at Plantation Resort is more than just a dinner where fried fish and french fries are served. It is an event that includes not only a traditional, homecooked, southern meal, but live music provided by Hawaiian Breeze to set the tone for a night of fun and excitedment at the outdoor pool. After you've savoured your dessert, jump up and dance to the music. Take a dip in the pool to cool off, and then sing along to the band. Feeling brave? Show us your moves in a dance contest. It's sure to be an evening of fun for the whole family. Now how do we portray all of that to our guests by merely calling it the "Fish Fry"? What represents fun and carefree nights better than the bright, eccentric mix of colors in tie-dye that automatically takes you back to the summer nights of your youth? Want to wear your own tie-dye shirt to the event? Join us Wednesday afternoon at the Activity Center to create your own tie-dye master piece. What's in a name? Everything.

What's New at Plantation Resort?

Plantation Resort is proud to unveil our latest improvement...our very own Kiwi Shade. We are always looking for ways to improve the resort and make it more comfortable for our guests. The cool new blue shade at the Poolside Grill offers guests a little more shade from the South Carolina sun while they enjoy a relaxing lunch at the outdoor pool. What do you think of our new, modern look?

Sunkissed Photo Contest

Everyone knows a picture is worth a thousand words, but at Plantation Resort it could be worth a free weeks stay as well! Show us your best snap shot from your stay in Surfside at our resport and at the end of the summer we'll choose the best one and treat the photographer to another week in Sunkissed Surfside on us!
How to enter:
1. Document your vacation with us and pick out your best shot.
2. Email your photo to sunkissedinsurfside@gmail.com.
3. Include your name and phone number in the email.

Tropical Climate for Teens

What does Plantation Resort have to offer teenagers? In addition to the fun to be had at the outdoor pool and lazy river, we have activities especially for you! Join us for pizza and a movie on Monday to meet new friends. Meet up with those friends again Tuesday for a game of pool for teens only, or water volleyball on Wednesdays. Thursday and Friday compete in our Wii Tournament for a chance to win a weeks stay at the resort.