The Courtyard by Marriott Myrtle Beach/Barefoot Landing

Book Your Next Hotel Reservation with Courtyard By Marriott Barefoot Landing

Stay where it’s always vacation time! The Courtyard by Marriott Myrtle Beach/Barefoot Landing is most conveniently located to Barefoot Landing’s specialty shops, restaurants and nightlife. Plus four championship golf courses are just ¼ mile away.

From now until 10/31/12 stay two or more nights and receive a $50 gas credit on us! Rates start at just $129/night!

BOOK ONLINE – To book this offer visit the reservations page on Marriott.com/MYRCN and enter promotional code CSE.

Offer subject to availability and some restrictions may apply. Valid through 10/31/12.

Championship golf packages are also available.

Courtyard by Marriott Myrtle Beach/Barefoot Landing

1000 Commons Boulevard

Myrtle Beach, SC

843-361-1730

877-258-1956

Marriott.com/MYRCN

Rose Real Estate: Welcoming Families to Our Beautiful Beach

Rose Real Estate Welcomes Families! Vacation South Carolina

Play in the surf … Relax on the beach … Shop till you drop … Golf day and night … Dine on fresh local seafood … Dance the night away … Do nothing … Do it all … The possibilities are endless!

Rose Real Estate would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your family to our beautiful beach. Tucked away in quietSurfsideBeach, our communities are close to shopping, dining, entertainment, award winning golf and incredible water activities. Our properties offer everything from two bedroom villas to gorgeous five bedroom island-style homes.

Let’s not forget to include the family’s best friend! We have a large variety of pet-friendly properties that allow your entire family to have an unforgettable beach vacation. So come and join us and create your own memories that will last a lifetime!

Rose Real Estate

897 Melody Lane

Surfside Beach,South Carolina

800-845-6706

www.rose-real-estate.com

Georgetown County: Brimming with Beauty and History

Georgetown County: Brimming with Beauty and History

Brimming with beauty and history along South Carolina’s “Hammock Coast”, Georgetown County and its charming communities offer you the perfect escape for fun and relaxation. Explore the pristine beaches, picturesque waterways and marshes, fascinating marine wildlife, world-class golfing, historic places, intimate dining, quaint shops and memorable family activities. Georgetown County is just a short distance from other bustling vacation destinations, conveniently positioned between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. As one of the oldest family resort areas in the nation, Georgetown County is one of America’s top getaways, an alternative to the hectic ‘vacations’ of your past.

There’s something special about golfing in Georgetown County. Located on the south side of Myrtle Beach, a region know world-wide as a premier golf destination, Georgetown County boasts nearly a quarter of the area’s award-winning courses. Famous names like Caledonia, True Blue, Litchfield and many others evoke the rich plantation heritage of the county and were designed to incorporate the distinctive elements of the South Carolina lowcountry.

Georgetown County boasts several fascinating historic sites of national significance including Brookgreen Gardens and Hopsewee Plantation. Brookgreen Gardens, hosts the most significant collection of figurative sculpture, in an outdoor setting, by American artists in the world. The sprawling 4,000-acre facility also includes spectacular gardens, wildlife trails, and The Lowcountry Zoo. Hopsewee Plantation was built 40 years before the Revolutionary War and was the birthplace of Thomas Lynch, Jr., signer of the Declaration of Independence. Visitors to Hopsewee tour the waterfront plantation house and the nearby slave cabins.

The combination of wonderful accommodations, entertainment, shopping, romantic dining, great golf and pristine beaches make Georgetown County the perfect choice for your vacation getaway.

For more information please visit the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce website at www.visitgeorge.com.

Family reunions can be a lot of fun. You get to see family members you may not have seen for a couple of years. Perhaps, there are ‘new’ family members you haven’t met. The good news is there are plenty of family reunion locations throughout the U.S. The possibilities are endless!

It’s important to make arrangements early and find a place that works for everyone. This is a good way to prevent family feuds! If you wait too long to plan your family reunion, your favorite hotel or resort could be booked solid. Also, family members may not be able to attend due to previous travel plans.

How to Plan a Family Reunion, Cut Costs, and Have a Good Time

Book Your Family Reunion Locations Early! Photo credit: Stock exchange-Sign-Helen Bobis

Book early

Beach family reunion locations are popular. The most popular beach vacation destination is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. If you have your heart set on having your family reunion in SC then you better book your location early. Otherwise, the entire family will be left out in the cold.

Tie your family reunion to an important date

If grandma and grandpa are celebrating 65 years of marriage, celebrate their special day at the family reunion. Building your family reunion around a holiday could be tricky. Big holiday’s like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July are during the travel ‘high season.’ You may not be able to find accommodations or someone may not be able to attend.

Hold your family reunion in the off-season

It may be cost effective to hold your family reunion in the off-season. Family reunion locations such as Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and other popular destinations can be expensive during the ‘high season’ which is usually during the summer. Some family members may not be able to afford to attend. Take this into consideration when planning your family reunion. Holding in the off-season could work for everyone.

Meet at a family member’s home

Holding your family reunion at a family member’s home is another way to cut costs. Perhaps, a family member with five or more acres of land will be willing to host the family reunion. Everyone can bring something, a hot meal, desert, or soft drinks. Of course, cash would probably be accepted too!

Decide on the size of your family reunion

Your family reunion doesn’t have to be large. A small and intimate family reunion could be more inviting. First-time family reunion planners may want to plan a smaller affair. You’ll get a sense of what it’s like to plan reunion.

Raise money for your family reunion 

Send out an email blast and ask family members to have garage sales, silent auctions, raffles, car washes, rummage sales, etc. to raise money for your family reunion.

Plan cost-effective family activities

Ask family members what they like to do. Ask family members what their kids like to do. You can’t please everyone. But you can plan activities ahead of time to keep people entertained. Ideas are:

• Renting a karaoke machine.
• Set up a sound system outside (if you’re holding at your home).
• Booking golf outing.
• Swimming
• Hiking
• Going to the park.
• Renting a ‘bouncy castle’ or other inflatable rentals.

Now you know how to plan a family reunion, cut costs, and have a good time! Keep the lines of communication open. Correspond via email or Facebook. Keep in mind that everyone may not have a computer or Facebook page. Contact family members when you have the date, time, and location settled. Keep family up-to-date with the latest information. Happy planning!

CRUISE CONTEST: Win a free cruise! 

Related Articles

• 7 Must-See Family Beaches in the USA (guestquest.com/blog)
• 5 Hot Tips to Help You Plan Your Family Vacation (guestquest.com/blog)

North Myrtle Beach’s stunning natural beauty is the Carolinas coast at its best. You couldn’t pick a better place to vacation. North Myrtle Beach is the home of championship golf, great resorts, entertainment, fine dining, fabulous shopping and some of the best fishing and boating on the East Coast!

North Myrtle Beach offers exciting activities for the entire family- miniature golf, water sports and live concerts in the park! Once your fun-filled day comes to a close, North Myrtle Beach offers star studded theatres heating up the stage with electrifying performances every night.

Play a round of championship golf on flawless fairways, created by some of the world’s greatest designers. With over 120 golf courses we can challenge the best golfer. Discover stately courses built in the early 1960s that are well maintained and offer some of the best bent-grass greens, a number of new courses offer breathtaking views of the marshland area and Intracoastal Waterway.

In North Myrtle Beach you can expect to find a wide range of accommodation options, from luxury oceanfront condominiums and resorts to quaint family-owned cottages, you are certain to find what you are looking for! Whether you’re looking to be in the middle of our active vacation attractions or in a secluded villa to rejuvenate, your choices are nearly endless.

There is never a shortage of dining options in North Myrtle Beach. Choose from your favorite national chains to locally owned and operated establishments that will suit the entire family. From Calabash style seafood to steaks and burgers, we have a wide variety of options!

One of the most enjoyable events in North Myrtle Beach is the Endless Summer Festival, Saturday, October 31^st on Main Street. This is a time to celebrate a never ending summer! Headlining at 3:00 pm will be The Fantastic Shakers! Their hit songs include “Myrtle Beach Days,” and “Shaking the Shack.” Also, performing beginning at Noon will be local favorite SeaCruz, entertaining the crowd with hits from the past and today and at 1:30 pm The Catalinas, whose hit songs include “Summertimes Calling Me” and “Ain’t No Big Thing.” The entertainment stage will be located at the famous “Horseshoe” at the end of Main Street with the beautiful Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop. Best of all, this is a FREE concert, so don’t forget to bring your beach chair and enjoy the music! In addition to the fabulous entertainment there will be lots of vendors with one of a kind specialty craft items, food vendors, classic & antique car show and children’s area with inflatable’s and carnival rides. The festival will be from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. For more info visit www.nmbevents.com.

In North Myrtle Beach, we believe that it’s our pace of life that separates us from the crowd. Even with so much to do nearby, our relaxed, peaceful environment lets you truly unwind. It’s the perfect place to take a long walk on our nine miles of beaches, soak up the sun and scenery, and create wonderful memories for yourself and your family! For more information or to receive your FREE 2009 Visitors Guide please visit http://www.visitnmb.com or call 866-827-2049.

Experience the Difference…North Myrtle Beach

With so many choices, it’s nice to know you have a friend in GuestQuest.

Reserve a site at Ocean Lakes Family Campground for your next vacation or weekend getaway. Our gates never close! Remember us in the Fall and Winter – a beautiful time of year in Myrtle Beach (and closer than Florida, too).

Ocean Lakes features more than 300 Beach House Rentals that sleep 4 to 20 people. Our 893 campsites are large, pull-through, with full hook-ups (Wi-Fi available) and concrete pads are available. Big Rig friendly, but tents welcome!

Ocean Lakes Family Campground is a national award winning resort destination. Our amenities include Sandy Harbor Games, Mini-Golf, Splash Zone, indoor and outdoor pools, Sandy Mart, Sandy’s Soapy Suds, Wireless Zone and more. Ocean Lakes RV Center offers RV service, sales and supplies. With so much to do inside our gates, you may never want to leave! See more at http://www.oceanlakes.com.

Ocean Lakes Family Campground

6001 South Kings Highway

Myrtle Beach, SC 29575

Campsites Book Online or call (877) 506-1053

Rental Houses call (800) 845-2229

With so many choices, it’s nice to know you have a friend in GuestQuest.

Located 45 miles south of Charleston, Edisto Beach is one of the few beaches on the South Carolina coast that has escaped commercialization. As you follow scenic Hwy 174 to Edisto Island, live oaks draped with Spanish moss create a tunnel over the road making first time visitors curious to see what awaits them. Edisto is surrounded by marsh, rivers and sea offering beautiful views no matter where you choose to be.

Take some time to escape the hustle of the city and become part of our low country lifestyle. You can enjoy our state park, biking, fishing, kayaking, or sitting in the sand to enjoy the soothing Atlantic breezes.

With over 50 years experience, Atwood Vacations is the oldest ongoing real estate and vacation rental company on Edisto. Our casual, laid-back atmosphere has something for everyone during every season.

Atwood Vacations
Edisto Island, SC 29438
Toll Free: 866-713-5214
www.atwoodvacations.com

With so many choices, it’s nice to know you have a friend in GuestQuest.