We all cherish a special place in the world that we consider to be our “second home”. While everyone’s varies, my all time favorite location in the world is Myrtle Beach, SC. Being a vacation spot for my family and I for a total of 9 summers, Myrtle Beach represents much more than a place with sand and water to us.

My family and I began to vacation in Myrtle when I was 8 years old. Starting out as the place where my Grandfather competed in golf, it quickly turned into the perfect place to bring the rest of his family to vacation.

The first couple of years that we visited were used primarily as trial on what we liked and didn't like such as restaurants, attractions, etc. Right around the third or fourth year of going was when we finally felt settled and at home when on vacation there.

This place holds several memories of our family and friends. It also holds a lot of “firsts” in my life. When I was 11, I got my ears pierced on the boardwalk, and it was where I was able to invite a friend on vacation for the first time as well as where my cousin introduced us to a very good friend of hers all the way from Paraguay! Besides the big memories made there, small things such as late night swims in the pool, family beach pictures and playing BINGO meant just as much to me.

In Spring of 2013, the one who introduced us to such an amazing place, my grandfather, passed away suddenly. With already having plans to go down to Myrtle for a week that summer, we knew we had to do it in honor of him. It was beyond hard for my whole family to be in a place that represented someone we missed dearly because everything was much different. Living in the condos that he once lived in with us, to family dinner at his favorite restaurant, and even just relaxing by the ocean, it felt odd without him there enjoying the sun and the salt water with us. Regardless of the emotions taking over us while we were at Myrtle Beach, we all did what we could to have a great week there knowing that was what he would want us to do!

Before selling my grandfather's condos, we visited Myrtle beach a final time to embrace the memories we created with everyone, whether it what that last week we were there or memories created from years back. Being a place that meant so much to not only my family, but to my grandfather, Myrtle Beach will always hold such a special and significant place in my heart.