Some places become part of your family story. Myrtle Beach is one of ours.
We love the ocean, of course, but we also love the whole Myrtle Beach experience: the touristy shops, the bright lights, the silly attractions, the beachside food, and all the wonderfully corny things that make you laugh and say, “We have to stop there.” We love that so much of it is within walking distance when we stay at our oceanfront resort. You can spend the day by the water, wander out for something fun, and come back to the sound of the waves.
The ocean does something good for my soul. I can sit and watch the water roll in and feel my mind quiet down a little. The waves don’t solve everything waiting for me back home, but they give me room to breathe. For a little while, I don’t have to rush from one thing to the next. I can just be there, listening to the water and letting the salty air do its thing.
That kind of rest matters. A vacation doesn’t have to be fancy or perfectly planned to be meaningful. Sometimes you just need a change of scenery, time with the people you love, and a few days where the biggest decision is what to do next—or whether you want to stay by the ocean a little longer.
Myrtle Beach has always held a special place for us. It’s somewhere we vacationed when I was married, and the kids have memories tied to those trips, too. We’ve always stayed at a resort right by the ocean, so coming back brings back little pieces of those family vacations. It’s familiar in a comforting way: the beach, the walks, the shops, the touristy stops, and the feeling of being together somewhere we’ve loved for years.
This was our first time back since 2019, after my divorce. That made the trip feel different. There was a lot wrapped up in returning to a place connected to another chapter of our lives. But there was also something special about getting to make new memories there—as the family we are now.
The kids are older. Life has changed. I’ve changed. And still, there we were again, back by the same ocean, finding things to laugh about and places to explore. It reminded me that a place can hold old memories without belonging only to the past. We can return and bring new stories with us.
Maybe that’s why vacations are important. They give us a chance to step out of the everyday rhythm and notice one another again. They give our kids memories to carry forward. They remind us that joy can be simple: a walk, a goofy souvenir, a pretty sunset, a meal everyone likes, or all of us laughing at something wonderfully cheesy.
We don’t need Myrtle Beach to be quiet or sophisticated. We love that it’s a little over the top. We love the bright signs, the tourist attractions, the busy sidewalks, and the fun of being somewhere that knows exactly what it is. Sometimes “corny” is part of the charm.
I’m grateful we got to go back. I’m grateful for the ocean, for the laughter, and for the chance to make new memories in a place that already means so much to us. The trip held a little nostalgia, a little healing, a lot of family time, and just enough touristy silliness to make it feel like Myrtle Beach.
And I think my soul could use a little more saltwater, sunshine, and time away with my favorite people.
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