This week is a free non-themed week for Monochrome Madness. I took my inspiration from Leanne’s Carousel image. Having just been to the Boardwalk on the Beach for New Year’s, I thought hey, I could show y’all the Ferris Wheel.
Coleman and I walked up and down the beach and down S. Ocean Boulevard enjoying the views. The Ferris Wheel known as SkyWheel soars 200 feet above Myrtle Beach. The amusement park is closed for the winter so no rides were possible. ( I don’t think I would want to be suspended, even temporarily, 200 feet in the air. The views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Grand Strand would be astounding. I’ll stick with my views from ground level, those were awesome in and of themselves.
Here are two (2) images I snapped of the SkyWheel …
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: Boardwalk on the Beach; SkyWheel at the Amusement Park; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Stay Warm. Stay safe. Take Care of yourself. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take an adventure. Observe the Wonders of God’s Creations. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
What we saw as we walked out of our hotel room and walked onto the beach to observe the Atlantic Ocean was different and unique to our surroundings. It was the first time for Coleman to visit the beach and step into the Atlantic Ocean. I hadn’t been to this beach since 2010 or any other beach since 2020.
Here are a few interesting finds seen on our walk the day after New Year’s Day.
Our first sighting after walking out of the hotel …
The outdoor pool area with plenty of places to Pull Up a Seat.
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the outdoor pool areas were closed for the season (unheated & closed).
The Pirate Shipwreck Lagoon Kids’ Waterpark
The outdoor pools and kids shipwreck area would not be comfortable to get into without any heat during the wintertime. Moving away from the pools here’s what we discover next …
Coleman checks out the “Dolphin,” a unique design for a trash receptacle.
The next thing Coleman spots is the beach access, and away he goes …
Coleman headed out to the beach
Once out onto the sandy beach, Coleman turns left to see what he might discover.
Naturally, Coleman is anxious to discover what he might find. Maybe some Seashells?
Mostly broken, but a few whole Seashells
We walked quite a ways down the beach before turning around. Coleman was enthralled with watching the Ring-Billed Gulls (just known to him as Seagulls). Here are a few of our Gulls sightings …
Atlantic Ocean Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
And how can we not watch the waves rolling in and out of the Atlantic Ocean, you can’t go to the beach and not . Can you?
Our Walk along the Seashore of the Atlantic Ocean at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
We hope y’all enjoyed walking along Myrtle Beach’s Seashore with us.
Good Day my friends! This week we are taking you on a Dino adventure at Dino Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Some images you might need to look carefully to see a door/doorway and others will be clearly discernible. Enjoy the adventure.
Entering Dino Park …
Dino Park Myrtle Beach, SC
Dino Park is a family-friendly attraction at Broadway at the Beach which features over twenty (20) life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs in a Jurassic-themed setting. It offers an interactive and educational experience with such activities as fossil dig pit, a large ball pit, and dinosaur rides for younger children.
Notice the dinosaurs on the building, that’s the indication that you’re fixing to enter Dino Park. The first thing you see when you enter the building is a couple of “Dinosaurs” children can ride. Don’t worry about pulling out coins for the children to ride, they are free.
Coleman riding the Dinosaurs
I know you’re not seeing doors while Coleman is riding the dinosaurs. We’ll get to them. But first, let’s look at a different type of “door” or rather an opening …
Coleman popping out of “Dinosaur Eggs
Now let’s walk through the Dino Park to check out the fascinating Dinosaurs on display …
Coleman had fun checking out all the Dinosaurs.
There is a fee to enter Dino Park, however, our entry fees were covered in our resort package. Some hotels and/or resorts in Myrtle Beach offer entertainment/attraction packages to add on to your stay.
Did you spot the Doorways? If not, look again carefully.
Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens
Location: Dino Park; Broadway at the Beach; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take Care. Take an adventure. Capture the wonders around you. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This Shiba Inu dog was visiting Myrtle Beach from New Jersey. Before Coleman greets or pets any dog he asks permission from its owner.
Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu was a very friendly older dog that was all too happy to have a rest and take pleasure in a bit of petting attention from Coleman.
Coleman & dog
The Shiba Inu is a small-to-medium, fox-like hunting dog breed from Japan. They are known for their loyalty, good nature, and charming appearance.
It is considered to be an alert, affectionate, and independent breed with high intelligence. It can also be somewhat stubborn and strong-willed. (We saw no evidence of stubbornness, only very affectionate and even tempered)
Photo Credit: 2026 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: Near the 2nd Avenue Pier; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy a walk/hike out in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Last Friday while we were visiting Myrtle Beach, Coleman and I took a stroll along the beach northward towards the 2nd Avenue Pier. He was looking for seashells by the seashore as we walked along the water.
2nd Ave Pier Wicked Tuna Myrtle Beach, SC
At the 2nd Avenue Pier is a restaurant called The Wicked Tuna. (We did not stop and try out their menu, maybe another time).
The Wicked Tuna is a premier waterfront dining establishment, a place where friends gather for a unique culinary experience. The restaurant offers fresh handmade cocktails (I’ll skip those), the freshest seafood (I enjoy quality Tuna Steaks), steaks, and sushi (not a sushi fan, but my daughter is).
2nd Ave Pier Wicked Tuna Grill • Sushi • Rooftop Bar Myrtle Beach, SC
The Wicked Tuna is known for its “Hook to Plate” fresh seafood philosophy, stunning ocean views and rooftop bar. (The views of the Atlantic Ocean were stunningly beautiful as Coleman and I walked along the seashore down to the pier and back to our resort hotel.)
2nd Ave Pier Wicked Tuna Grill • Sushi • Rooftop Bar Myrtle Beach, SC
The Wicked Tuna has a second location in Murrells Inlet overlooking the MarshWalk. Every week their fishing fleet heads out into the Atlantic Ocean to catch the freshest Grouper, mahi-mahi, sea bass, and snapper off the Carolina coast. They only serve fish caught locally by their own boats which are then cleaned and prepped on-site in their fish house.
Coleman is holding a, Vesicular basalt, volcanic rock he found on the seashore in an area of the beach where he was finding seashells.
According to Google AI, Vesicular basalt is not naturally apart of Myrtle Beach’s local geological shoreline. It suggests that it could”be either Fossilized Peat or Coal (some found near the Grand Strand), “Beach Rot”or Fossilized Marls (Frequently seen near the 2nd Avenue Pier), or Piddock-Bored Rocks.
The Piddock-Bored Rocks appear vesicular since they are covered with small, circular holes. These holes are actually burrows made by piddock clams (rock-boring mollusks) in softer sedimentary rocks like limestone or siltstone.
Therefore, considering our location along Myrtle Beach’s seashore (we were walking along the Grand Strand near the 2nd Avenue Pier, it could instead be any one of these three. I’m inclined to lean towards the Piddock-Bored Rock, the area is covered with clam shells.
This month Terri with Second Wind Leisure Perspectives is challenging us to post images in Aquamarine and Icy Blue colour pallets. Here is what I have found which I believe fit into the colour pallets scheme.
Pull Up a Seat Murrells Inlet, SCShark Ripley’s Aquarium Sea Turtle Ripley’s Aquarium Margaritaville Restaurant Margaritaville RestaurantAtlantic Ocean Myrtle Beach, SCAtlantic Ocean Myrtle Beach, SC
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take an adventure. Observe the Wonders of God’s Creations. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Uniola paniculata, aka sea oats, seaside oats, araña, and arroz de costa, is a tall subtropical grass which is an important component of coastal sand dune and beach plant communities in the southeastern United States of America, eastern Mexico, and some Caribbean Islands. The Sea Oats help protect beaches and property from damage due to high winds, storm surges, and tides. Interestingly, it provides food and habitat for birds, small animals, and insects.
Sea Oats are a crucial component of the area’s hurricane defense strategy. They have helped to thwart damage from tropical storms. (Tropical storms and hurricanes typically hit the Myrtle Beach area before or more so than in our area of the Carolinas.)
Sea Oats are a protected grass in several states along the southeastern Atlantic coast. Think twice before picking or disturbing Sea Oats, that action is punishable by fine in Georgia, South Carolina, and Northern Carolina.
Cameras: 1) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; 2-3) Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens & Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: 1) Crazy Sister Marina; Murrells Inlet, South Carolina; 2-3) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Wishing y’all the best life filled with love, peace, and joy in 2026. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Happy Friday! We’re already nine (9) days into 2026. Does it feel any different? We started off the new year at the beach, which was new, especially for Coleman. His first week back to school is almost over (today’s last for week). (He had wanted to stay longer at the beach, but that wasn’t possible.)
On Tuesday, we went on a Dolphins Sightseeing Tour Cruise in Murrells Inlet. We checked in and then it was time to hurry up and wait. Always best to arrive early, after that all you can do is Pull up a Seat and wait. Coleman got a little restless waiting and waiting. No matter how short the wait time is, it seems like forever. Included below are a variety of Pull up a Seat options while waiting for the cruise and a few on the boat waiting for the cruise to get out of the inlet and the dolphins to appear.
Crazy Sister Marina Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens
Location: Crazy Sister Marina; Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. I hope all y’all’s holidays were wonderful and filled with love and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Happy 2026 Everyone! This week I’m allowing y’all to make your own choices for the Which Ways Challenge. I’d love to see your first Which Ways for 2026. I’ll be sharing our very first 2026 images this week.
First 2026 image taken at 12:05 am
The next images were taken while walking along the beach with their first steps into the Atlantic Ocean.
Coleman, Sophia, & their mom Walking along the beach Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Click on each image to enlarge.
Thank you to all who have supported and contributed to the Which Way Challenge this past week or at any time. Be sure to check out other Which Ways by clicking on the links below.
We spent the week before New Year’s down south at Myrtle Beach along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. We had so many activities going on each day that we didn’t spend all day every day on the beach, but the days Coleman and I spent on the beach were beautiful amazing memory making enjoyable times of the week. We saw an enormous amount of birds at the beach both in Murrells Inlet and by our resort in Myrtle Beach.
On the Friday before we left we saw a tremendous amount of Ring-Billed Gulls flying to and fro as well as walking on the sand by the seashore. Ring-Billed Gulls (aka Larus delawarensis) are medium-sized gulls native to Northern America. They breed in Canada and the northern Contiguous United States. They winter mainly in the United States of America and northern Mexico.
The Ring-Billed Gull’s breeding habitat is near lakes, rivers, or the coast across the majority of Canada and the northern United States. (We live in the Southeastern United States). These seagulls can also be seen in several North American parking lots.
Ring-Billed Gulls
The Ring-Billed Gulls are migratory with the majority of them moving southward towards the Gulf of America (formerly the Gulf of Mexico), and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States and northern Mexico.
The Ring-Billed Gulls we saw were numerous and fascinating to watch. You could walk pretty close to them before they took flight. They tended to stay in groups, surprisingly (to us) in groups of three.
Even though they forage in flight or pick up objects while swimming, walking, or wading; they also steal food from other birds or even people’s unattended food. Some beachgoers consider the Ring-Billed Gulls pests due to their willingness to steal unguarded food on crowded beaches. (We didn’t notice them stealing any food while we were walking alongside the ocean waters or anyone annoyed with the beautiful gulls.) Most were merely enjoying the beautiful day, and time with family along the coastal beaches.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.
Location: Atlantic Ocean; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take care of yourselves. Get Outdoors and enjoy nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
We a well into the beginning of 2026. Coleman started back to school today, so now I have a few minutes to reflect on the past couple of weeks.
Hopefully y’all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s Day. Ours was truly an eventful Christmas holiday extravaganza. Of course it was exciting to watch Coleman receive his Gifts on Christmas Day, which he totally enjoyed. We kept telling him beforehand that he had to listen and behave or “Santa” wouldn’t bring any toys. You know what? “Santa” brought a few toys anyway. Coleman mostly received new clothes, which he was just as excited to get especially his new shoes.
Pre-Opening of Gifts Opening of Gifts beginColeman’s excitement Coleman’s new Cowboy Boots
Setting aside the Gifts, we decided to not let 2025 Dwindle away being bored at home. Instead, we chose to leave our little town and go on an amazing Adventure.
Where did we go on our big Adventure? Coleman’s mom was thinking about going to the mountains. Coleman wanted to go to the Beach. So, where do you think we went on our little Adventure? Yep, you’re right, we went to the Beach.
As 2025 was Dwindling away, we packed our bags, loaded up the car and headed out of town for our mini vacay Adventure. Sorry, we didn’t get any pictures of the car all loaded up, but we (I mean I) began snapping plenty of photos from the moment we arrived, all through our many Adventurous activities, and all throughout our entire mini vacation.
Arriving, Checking in, & Checking out our surroundings.
After checking in and bringing everything (and I mean everything) into our room for the week (actually six days), Coleman and I decided to head down to the Beach. We did not want to Dwindle our time away inside the room for one minute longer. Instead, we wanted to begin enjoying the Gift of Adventure immediately.
Coleman’s very first time at a Beach. First time seeing the Atlantic Ocean. First time his feet touched the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel 2000D.
Locations: 1st 4) Cramerton, North Carolina; Rest, 5-8) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. It’s been an Amazing Adventurous beginning to 2026. We didn’t let 2025 Dwindle away. We enjoyed the Gift of Time away together. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
We are in our first week of 2026; what a week it has been. We spent the week in Myrtle Beach relaxing, “sightseeing,”visiting various attractions, and enjoying time on the beach. [More about those activities to come in future posts].
For the first Monday Portrait of 2026, let’s check out the Southern Stingrays At Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This was Coleman’s first trip to the beach, he was extremely excited about being at the beach, as well as seeing the many different species of “fish” at Ripley’s Aquarium.
Let’s take a look now at the fascinating Southern Stingrays …
Southern Stingrays
The Southern Stingray (Hypanus americanus) is a whiptail stingray which is typically foundin tropical and subtropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, from as far north as New Jersey all the way down to southern Brazil.
Even though we didn’t actually see them in the Atlantic Ocean, we (especially Coleman) were thrilled to see & pet them at Ripley’s Aquarium.
Coleman viewing the Southern Stingrays
It is adapted for life on the sea bed, as you can see here they swim very close to the bottom most of the time, but not always.
Southern Stingrays lying on the sea bed
Southern Stingrays are nocturnal predators, they spray water from their mouths or flap their fins vigorously to disturb the surface in order to expose hidden prey.
A Southern Stingray on the Aquarium sea bed.
Hypanus americanus exhibit wave-like locomotion using their pectoral fins. The wave-like locomotion allowed them to escape predators, forage efficiently, and generally maneuver quickly.
The Southern Stingrays were exciting and interesting to watch swimming and foraging in the aquarium at Ripley’s Aquarium.
Location: Ripley’s Aquarium; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA.
God Bless. Have a funtastic week. May you have many exciting and memorable adventures. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Friday, a beautiful sunny afternoon was a perfect time for a walk along the beach. Observing the ocean, searching for Seashells, and enjoying the beautiful sky views.