We love music, theatre and history, which is why some of my favourite holidays have been in Salzburg, Vienna, Nashville and New York City.

Wherever we travel, in addition to sampling food specialties we look for live music, local theatre, and historic sites. Museums and art galleries are a bonus when we find them.

We came to Myrtle Beach this winter mostly for the weather and to be near extended family, but it certainly has way more to offer. Restaurants, yes. Outlet shopping, for sure……but also great entertainment.

As a tourist destination, MB has all the usual things: Medieval Times, Ripleys Museum and Aquarium, Legends tribute shows, Pirates Adventure, lots of adventure mini-golf, and two theatres – the Alabama Theater and the Carolina Opry – specializing in big production ensemble music shows. They’re great fun, but we always look for something a little less tourist-oriented as well, and the area doesn’t disappoint.

On New Year’s Eve, we enjoyed a live concert featuring Strauss waltzes, performed by The Long Bay Symphony. There is no true concert hall here, so the performance was held in a church that provided good acoustics and a festive atmosphere.

On the weekend after Valentines Day we attended a choral performance called “All You Need Is Love” by the state’s best known amateur choir, the Carolina Master Chorale.

The end of February annual Rotary Club fundraiser concert “Bravo Broadway” featuring the Long Bay Symphony and current Broadway singers was beyond terrific. Soloists Hugh Panaro and Capathia Jenkins (from Broadway) and Scarlett Strallen (from London) blew the roof off with their renditions of Broadway show tunes. At the end of March, we’ll be at the symphony’s winter season finale, an evening of music by Russian composers.

We learned through years of attending Sheridan College’s shows in Oakville that university performing arts programs offer terrific shows at great value. Coastal Carolina University offers musicals, plays and concerts by students in their physical theatre, musical theatre, and classical music programs. This year we saw She Kills Monsters at the Edwards Black Box, and Steel Pier at the Wainwright Auditorium, both on CCU’s Conway SC campus.

Yes, we’ve missed the big Toronto productions this winter, but there’s been no lack of entertainment.

The important thing, for us, is to stay connected to the arts and keep learning new things wherever we are. We’re already looking forward to the many summer music and theatre events going on when we get back to Collingwood.

Onward, ho!