Myrtle Beach was the big summer trip this year. We stayed right downtown and saw all the action. This trip had a pink hotel (Ava approved) beaches, waves, animal preserves, birds, alligators, ferris wheels, rides, aquariums and an Elvis impersonator. Sheesh. Is there anything to do in Myrtle Beach?!
The strand.
In front of the pink hotel.
Testing the water.
Smiles in front of the Ferris Wheel.
Making Daddy in to a merman.
Ava builds her first castles on her own and feels very proud.
It's hard to see in this picture, but the water is rippled with schools of fish. Much to the amusement of onlookers, I took Ava's butterfly net out and tried to catch them. Too slow.
Rex in the ocean.
Grackles on the beach.
There were also butterflies on the beach. Ava spent some time chasing them.
Here's one.
Missed.
Searching in the grass.
Running down the path.
Under the pier.
Gathering sticks for castle decorations.
Splashing in tide pools.
Splash, splash.
Watching sand crabs.
Mommy and Ava.
We went to a nature preserve and saw a Great Egret catch a fish.
We saw an alligator catching fish too. Snap, snap.
I'm sure he would have been happy to catch the egret.
Daddy and Ava and an admirer.
Splashing in low tide again.
Watching the waves.
Watch out for Mama!
Getting cold.
I didn't take this picture, but this is the Myrtle Beach Skywheel. It puts on a dazzling light show at night. It's mesmerizing to watch.
This is another view of it I got from the web.
This is what we saw while waiting in line to ride it.
And this.
Ava was very excited, as we made her wait until the last night of our trip to ride it.
Standing below.
Getting inside.
Up, up we go.
A view of the beach from above.
Reflected in the buildings.
There was a fabulous Elvis impersonator on the boardwalk. Every night we were there he put on an hour long show. His wife controlled the sound board. You could tell they really loved what they do.
If the music is too loud, your too young. Ava was a little unsure about the whole thing.
A picture with "The King." I was surprised to see Ava smiling in this picture. She was a bit dubious of Elvis.
Walking in the waves on our last night.
Ava loooooved our hotel. "Our tiny house" she calls it. Loved it!
Sunrise on our last morning.
All aboard. Ava got to ride the luggage trolley all the way to the lobby.
There was so much to do in Myrtle beach. We drove to see an aquarium and there was a small amusement park next door. It must have been all too overwhelming for Ava. She had just ended a meltdown before this picture. You can see her puffy eyes above her returned smile.
Driving.
Boating.
Whale riding.
The entrance to the Ripley's Aquarium.
Inside a giant (fake) clam.
Walking through a shark tunnel.
Lots to see.
Watch out!
Sharks flying over our heads.
A happy pose.
An uncomfortable pose.
Petting a horse shoe crab.
Watching some big fish.
Jellyfish.
Stingrays.
Seahorse.
The aquariums are so beautiful. Ava and I both wanted to take them home with us.
Ava and Mama.
Watching an underwater world.
The icing on the cake ... a mermaid show.
Very pretty. What a fun summer job for these girls.
Ava on the trip home. My little trick to not buying souvenirs? Bring all your nautically themed toys with you on the trip. You'll be glad you did!
