Broadway at the Beach Blog

In the summer, they're everyone's favorite footwear. Although they basically consist of just a sole and some straps, sandals have the ability to serve both as your go-to shoes for comfort and a fashion statement.

Not surprisingly, sandals are the world's oldest shoes. Archeologists have found them in Egyptian tombs and ancient Grecian ruins. The oldest carbon-dated sandal ever discovered was found in Oregon on the west coast of the U.S. It dates back 10,000 years.

Centuries later, Greeks popularized sandals, introducing style as a status symbol along the way. In Ancient Greece, the sandal a person wore said a lot about where that person fit on the social ladder. Wealthy folks could be identified by their pricey leather sandals, and admirers could determine affluence by how high someone's sandal straps climbed up the leg.

Sandals were once a shoe of necessity, and still are in many parts of the world. Throughout the centuries and around the world, people have crafted sandals out of everything from papyrus to tree bark to straw to cork. Twine and strings have been used for straps. In today's modernized countries, most sandals are crafted from synthetic materials.

From its humble beginnings as a basic foot covering, the sandal laid the foundation for shoes of virtually every style, color and fabrication to be developed.

Myrtle Beach is one of the best places to find great-looking, comfortable sandals. As one of the nation's top vacation spots, the Grand Strand is the perfect spot to spend long days at the beach in flip-flops. On cool nights, there's nothing that says vacation more than watching fireworks and then strolling around Broadway at the Beach in comfy sandals.

When you decide it's time for another pair of your favorite shoes, we make it easy to find great sandals and clogs. Broadway at the Beach shops like Rack Room Shoes and Shoes Boutique offer stylish and affordable choices in a variety of styles.

Those who just plain love wearing comfortable shoes, can head over to Comfortable Soles and discover just how sandal fashion and comfort can collide. Men and women of all ages rely on this shop to provide both the latest in fashion trends and "comfort brands."

Crocs™ has been made famous by comfort preachers like famous chef Mario Batali. Our Crocs shop features funky and fashionable styles for all tastes. It's an ideal place to find flip-flops, clogs and sandals.

Whether you've worn out your favorite sandals or just crave another cool pair, stop by Broadway at the Beach and check out our shops. Your feet will thank you.

TripAdvisor reviews are the "go to" source for those planning a vacation, choosing a restaurant or heading to an attraction. When a property receives a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence two years in a row, it's both outstanding and inspiring.

Recipients of the award are "determined by traveler reviews and ratings on TripAdvisor." To earn one, a property has to "consistently impress travelers" — so much so that travelers are moved to write a review about the experience.

It's truly inspiring to read the many positive reviews that catapulted Broadway to its Excellence award.

Some reviews confirmed that you come to Broadway because of the "Great food choices. Great shops. Rides for the little ones. Mini golf and water sports. Great break from the beach."

We were especially thrilled to see reviews raving that "Broadway at the Beach is my family's all-time favorite place to visit when we are at MYRTLE BEACH!!!! We had dinner at Hard Rock and Margaritaville. Explored WonderWorks, ziplined, shopped, had a wine tasting, ate pralines, fed the fish, and people watched. Favorite place besides the beach."

Those kinds of reviews earned us a Certificate again this year. But, more importantly, they demonstrated that you think we're delivering a great experience.

And knowing that is the best award of all.

Mothers are our biggest cheerleaders, always there to back us up and support us. This Sunday, as you celebrate Mom, you can also dazzle her with your knowledge of little-known facts about her special holiday.

You know she'll be proud.

After several false starts in the 1800s, Mother's Day finally made it onto the roster of national holidays in 1914. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation officially establishing the second Sunday in May as national Mother's Day. Today, official Mother's Days are celebrated in about 50 countries — but not always in May.

The first Mother's Day cards were designed and sold by Hallmark in the early 1920s. Today, about 130 million cards are sent each Mother's Day — more than at any other time of the year, with the exception of Christmas and Valentine's Day.

Flowers are also big business for Mother's Day. Interestingly, roses are not the most popular flowers. That distinction goes to the humble carnation.

Today's American families often live far apart, so it's no surprise that a lot of folks reach out to their mothers via phone on Mother's Day. Last year, approximately 122 million phone calls were made to moms throughout the U.S.

Celebrating Mom's special day is important to us. Mother's Day is the third most popular holiday in the world, second to only Christmas and Easter. So make your plans for May 10 now.

Mother's Day is the perfect day to treat Mom to a day of shopping, food and fun at Broadway at the Beach. Challenge Mom to some mini golf at Dragon's Lair — and let her win. Through Monday, May 11, Moms get one round of golf for free. Or stop by Old Tyme Portraits By Treadway and get a photo taken together. She'll treasure this forever.

If Mom loves jewelry, surprise her with a Brighton necklace and bracelet from Gemini Boutique. As an added bonus, you'll get a pair of earrings free. She'll be impressed with this lovely gift set. For Moms who love the Pandora jewelry line, you'll want to stop by The Mole Hole. While supplies last, there are a variety of charms and a gift set made especially for Mom. With inscriptions like "first my mother" and "always my friend,"and "always in my heart," she'll know just how much she means to you.

Of course you can't go wrong if you spoil Mom by picking up the tab for a nice lunch or dinner. Over some scrumptious food, casually charm her with your grasp of five fun facts about Mother's Day. She'll probably assume you took the time to find such nuggets just to see her smile. And, you'll make her happy.

March 13 is National Jewel Day. It's a little-known commemorative day that's gaining in popularity each year. It's treasured by jewelry lovers who like to put a spotlight on a sparkling world that covers everything from trinkets to precious stones.

How will you celebrate? Will you treat yourself? Or splurge on someone special?

Here are just 5 ways you can make the day a memorable one while strolling around Broadway at the Beach:

Surprise a special someone with a reminder of your lazy days together sipping pina coladas under a palm tree. Whether you're a local or visiting Myrtle Beach, The Palm Tree Necklace at SC Jewelers is the perfect takeaway for the beach lover looking for a unique way to celebrate National Jewel Day.

Treat yourself to a European-inspired creation made from one of the world's most precious metals. For thousands of years, silver has been one of the most treasured commodities. At A Silver Shack, you'll find fashionable silver jewelry from around the world brought to Myrtle Beach by an owner who developed her eclectic taste in Copenhagen, Denmark. You're bound to find something you love here because this place boasts the largest selection of silver jewelry in all of Myrtle Beach.

Discover a new setting for your birthstone. When was the last time you had jewelry featuring your birthstone? What memories do that birthstone ring, necklace or bracelet stir? Shops like Allure have a wide variety of fashionable jewelry. Stop in and you just may find a special birthstone.

Check out the newest designs in costume jewelry. A favorite outfit can feel new again with the right accessories. Innovative fashion jewelry and accessories at Bijuju are high quality and affordable.

Turn National Jewel Day into an outing that the littlest girl in your family will always remember. Take her to get her ears pierced. At Claire's, The Ear Piercing Specialists, you can get her ears pierced for free when you purchase a starter kit. They'll even give you a coupon to use towards that first pair of special studs.

National Jewel Day is a great time to get out and see what's new for 2015. And, to get a piece of jewelry that will trigger memories of March at the beach forever.

Can't wait for Spring and more hours of daylight? They're right around the corner.

After the winter that most of America has been enduring, the coming of Spring is a real cause for celebration.

The first sign of Spring is Daylight Saving Time. It arrives Sunday, March 8 when we move our clocks ahead. Suddenly, the sun that set around 6:15 p.m. each night is setting at 7:15 p.m., and we're reaping one more hour of daylight.

It's the most wonderful time of the year for those who love the outdoors! The days are not only longer, but growing warmer. There's more time to take a stroll around Lake Broadway. The outdoor decks at restaurants begin filling with diners lounging in the sun. And families come to take on the challenge of miniature golf on the mountain top at Dragon's Lair or the ropes course at Soar & Explore.

At Broadway at the Beach, we're already celebrating Spring. We expanded our hours, starting March 2, opening daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. thru May 21. During Easter Weekend (April 3-5), we'll keep our doors open even longer, until 10 p.m.

Come enjoy the longer days, the warm sun and all the fun of Broadway at the Beach in Spring.