ReserveAmerica has released its 2008 lists of America’s “Top Outdoor Locations,” resulting in two Myrtle Beach-area landmarks being selected among the country’s elite.

Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet was included in two rankings – first, among the “Top 25 Park Beaches," drawing these accolades:

"This wide, sandy beach is the best preserved beach on the Grand Strand of South Carolina. The beach includes a well-developed dune system, and provides a habitat for diverse wildlife. There are walkways to provide access to the beach for visitors to crossover the dunes. There are also great restroom facilities for beachgoers."

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My view of Led Zeppelin The Ride, from the outside.

I can't wait ...

Since its founding in 1971, Hard Rock International has been committed to its "Save the Planet" motto, with the goal of making the earth a safer, healthier and better place to live. Continuing its mission, Hard Rock has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation for the launch of its new Lil' Rockers Menu, featuring delicious kid's meals packaged with fun activities that show youngsters how they can help protect the environment.

Beginning this past Arbor Day (April 25th), each kid's meal at the Hard Rock Café in Myrtle Beach, and at Hard Rock restaurant locations throughout North America and Puerto Rico, now includes tree seed packets, encouraging lil' rockers to plant trees and help produce more oxygen and preserve wildlife habitats. Hard Rock International has also teamed up with the Arbor Day Foundation, making the commitment to plant at least 25,000 trees this year. Additionally, with the help of the new Lil' Rockers menu, Hard Rock and the Arbor Day Foundation hope to help plant an additional one million trees in 2008.

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I’m not a Trekkie; never been, never will be. I was probably the only kid on my block who wasn’t into the Star Wars saga. And it wouldn’t faze me in the least if Time Warner Cable replaced the Sci Fi Channel with, say, 24/7 Armenian folk music.

Maybe it’s that thought process that kept me from getting into the whole laser tag thing all these years. But this new place opened up in Carolina Forest – Surf’s Up Family Fun Center – that features laser tag. And when I took the family to meet up with friends there last Saturday, I thought I’d get away with letting the boys have at it while I did some damage to the pizza and pasta buffet.

No such luck. They all dragged me into the laser tag arena (not quite kicking and screaming, but close), and laughed their heads off as I wandered into the briefing room – complete with an all-white shirt that the blacklighting immediately turned into a 200-pound bull’s-eye.

“Takin’ one for the team,” I thought.

The little snipers had other ideas as they licked their chops: “Fish in a barrel.”

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Yes, even the cheap seats can produce a priceless moment.

In this case, Myrtle Beach Pelicans left fielder Willie Cabrera made a tremendous relay from the warning track to gun down the Frederick Keys baserunner you see rounding third base in the background.

Funny thing is, I got this picture by mistake. I had my Nikon D40 in prime position to get a traditional angle for an action shot, only to be thrown off by the Diet Pepsi my kid spilled in my lap. I jumped, and pushed the shutter button by accident. Here's the result.

Not bad for a $7 bleacher ticket, huh? OK, plus the $3.50 for the Pepsi, and $5 for the dry cleaning bill, but still ...

By the way, the Pelicans set multiple franchise attendance records this past weekend, with more than 15,000 fans passing through the gates of BB&T Coastal Field.

It’s like that eight-year-old pair of Birkenstocks you’ll wear with just about anything in your closet. Doesn’t matter that they’re a little beat up, or that you might have a different pair or 10 on the shelf that would go better with those new khakis. Those shoes just feel right.

And that’s probably the best analogy I can use to describe my first up-close experience with The Market Common.

Except it’s not worn-out. It’s brand-spanking-new.

It’s already popular, as evidenced by the crowds that defied the rainy weather and flocked there the first few days after last week’s soft opening.

It’s unfamiliar, and unlike anything else you’ve seen along Ocean Boulevard or throughout Myrtle Beach.

But you know what? Like that pair of your most comfortable shoes, it just feels right.

To me, it doesn’t scream commercialism. It just says, “Hey, you can hang here any time … (more pics after the jump)

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The Cultural Council of Georgetown County boasts an impressive lineup of activities for April. Whether you’re living in the Pawleys Island-Murrells Inlet area, visiting on vacation or taking the short drive south from Myrtle Beach, you’ll see exactly why Georgetown County has become a go-to destination for the best in cultural celebrations and the arts:

• The final performance of the 1st Sundays at 4 Chamber Music Series will be held on Sunday, April 6, 4 p.m. at Holy Cross Faith Memorial Church. Previous performances with members of the Long Bay Symphony and other local talents have been a tremendous success; tickets for Sunday’s performance are $20 each. Click here for more information.
• The Seacoast Artist Guild of SC, Inc. will hold its 2nd Spring Arts Show on April 11-13 at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church. Guild members and non-members alike will be exhibiting 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, and photographic works. All works will be for sale. People's Choice Awards will be given at the reception on April 13, 2-4 p.m.: viewing the exhibit is free and open to the public. Check out the event page for details.
• Mark your calendars for the 3rd Annual Treasures of the Tidelands Festival, kicking off on Friday, April 25 with the opening of the Gullah Rice Celebration in Pawleys Island. This is an exciting year as the festival partners with the Gullah Rice Celebration, drawing attention to the importance of the Gullah culture and its historical impact. Other events will showcase many talented youths in the area with dance and musical performances, as well as poetry and photography. The festival concludes May 3 with the Long Bay Symphony playing on the waterfront in downtown Georgetown. Many events are free, and showcase the rich arts and culture along the South Strand. Visit the Treasures of the Tidelands home page for more information.

The company’s VP mentioned it back in November as a possibility, and the Orlando Sentinel appears to have confirmed it earlier this month – WonderWorks is headed to Myrtle Beach.

What is WonderWorks? “An Amusement Park for the Mind,” they say. A dizzying experience just looking at it, I say. The kids overruled me on this one, though, and got me to take them to the Pigeon Forge, Tenn. location earlier this week while we were vacationing in nearby Gatlinburg. They absolutely loved it.

If you’ve been to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area and already checked this place out, time for you to weigh in and let our readers know what they can expect!

All it really means to me is:

• Less than two weeks ‘till Opening Day for the boys from Flushing.
• Sunday afternoons with my boys at BB&T Coastal Field.
• Trekking over to Conway to check out one of the nation’s finest collegiate teams.
• Or just kicking back at the local Little League field on any given afternoon … seeing the game the way it was meant to be played, and enjoyed … and being reminded – time and time again – why we love the game so much.

Play ball!

It’s pretty easy, actually. For starters, Prime Times Signature Courses offer tremendous “Red Line Rates” that will save you anywhere from $20 to $33 per round on tee times before 8 a.m. and after 1:30 p.m. They’re good for eight in-demand courses along the Grand Strand: Long Bay Club and Aberdeen Country Club to the north; Waterway Hills, Southcreek at Myrtle Beach National and the West Course at Myrtle Beach National in the central; and River Club, Litchfield Country Club and Willbrook Plantation in the South Strand.

The deals get even better when you include the kids – they get to play for free (one junior per paying adult). And the eight aforementioned courses are among 40 along the Grand Strand currently offering “Kids Play Free” rates throughout the year.

Looking for things to do before and after your round(s)? Check out these happenings:

• Family Kingdom Amusement Park opens its gates for the 2008 season this Friday, March 21. Family Kingdom gives your clan the option of all-day, unlimited ride wristbands ($22.75, plus tax) or individual ride tickets ($1.05 per ticket, plus tax; 2-5 tickets per ride). With seasonal, sunny weather on tap for the next several days, there’s no better time to enjoy “Myrtle Beach’s Only Seaside Amusement Park.”
• Sure, the kids are off from school, but you can still take advantage of great cultural learning opportunities like the one currently offered at Brookgreen Gardens. Cross-Continental Cultural Connections is a new educational display that explores the themes of customs, heritage, slavery and spirituality of the South Carolina Lowcountry and the Gullah/Geechee culture. It showcases baskets, fabrics, musical instruments and artifacts from Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria as well as historical photographs from nearby Sandy Island. The display is free with a paid Gardens admission, and runs through Sunday, March 30.