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December 2009      Volume 32 North Myrtle Beach, SC
FAMILY VACATION NEWSLETTER
As we glance back over the months of 2009 on the way to 2010, we take time to recognize the many people who made the year a more positive one, from the playful summertime children enjoying the activities at poolside to the many acts of good cheer and kindness by guests over the months. We hope you enjoyed your stay this year, and we look forward to serving you with even better beach experiences in 2010. Our web site will be the best way for you to stay informed about discounts, added value on packages, and extracurricular activities that make your stay extra fun!

Here is an easy idea that does not even require a box -- a gift certificate to be used for accommodations here at the resort and also with any Avista amenity such as a meal at Just Off Main or appetizers and drinks at Tree Top Lounge? Easy and quick for your "shopping" experience, this gift certificate can be purchased by phone.

Happy and safe holidays, one and all! May we see all of you at some point in 2010, relaxing right back here at the beautiful beach in front of Avista Resort.

Your Friends at Avista Resort!

Facebook and Avista Resort

Highlight your good times at Avista Resort and share them with friends and neighbors by using Facebook through Avista's web site. This social networking system helps you unjumble your vacation experiences and also helps to share with your loved ones who might not be nearby - a great way, for example, to stay connected to family and friends currently stationed overseas with military or business.

Another good reason to link to us through Facebook is to receive prompt notice of our last-minute specials and e-deals, to find out what successful anglers used as bait, or even to hear about spur-of-the-moment bookings by musicians at Avista's Tree Top Lounge! Every day is a new one here at Avista Resort, and every day brings a reason to be here at the beach.

What a marvelous tool Facebook is! Click here or on the icon to find out more.

Mandee Williams, Vocal Performer and Pageant Judge at North Myrtle Beach High School's 2009 Event

From time to time in the newsletter, you have read of our employees' reaching out to the community in their own personal ways, whether in holiday support of needy area families or attending sporting events at the local schools.

Recently, the 2009-2010 Miss North Myrtle Beach High School Pageant included one of our own employees. Mandee Williams, Marketing Specialist based here at Avista Resort, served as judge and vocal talent performer at NMBHS, held November 13 and 14.

The event was held over two nights with the first being Talent Night at which Mandee's vocal rendition of Smile charmed the audience and set the tone for a delightful evening. The second night saw the selection and crowning of Miss NMBH, Mary Elizabeth Dowless. Other awards went to Kendall "Andee" Dees as First Runner-up, Callie Davis as Miss Photogenic, Lindley Erin Key as Miss NMBHS Talent, and Kimberly Ball as Miss Congeniality.

We applaud Mandee for her involvement and congratulate the winners at North Myrtle Beach High School.

News from JUST OFF MAIN and TREE TOP LOUNGE:

Thanksgiving 2009 at Just Off Main...what a feast Chef Marvin prepared! The guests attending this wonderful event had reserved their seating times, and then everyone sat down to count blessings and enjoy a delicious meal! Many remarked how delightful they found the change from their own past events of having to do all the work of preparing, serving, and cleaning afterward. Relaxation blended with fabulous traditional cuisine to make a delightful day for all who attended.

Christmas at Avista Resort will be festive, and yet low-key. If you are looking for some variation this year, we invite you to bring your family here to the beach to change your normal routine at the holidays. The Grande Strand has wonderful holiday entertainment such as The Alabama Theatre's Christmas show, and for holiday relaxation, Avista makes a wonderful setting to share the celebration and spirit of the season with family and friends. For those who cannot be with family this season, even more reason to let us pamper you. While Just Off Main will not feature a formal Christmas dinner, we hear that Santa's elves might arrange some sort of holiday snack for guests and employees here on this special day. The front desk can also suggest many Christmas Day dining options in and around the North Myrtle Beach area.

Then, let the party begin! The New Year's Eve gala dinner party here at Avista promises to be spectacular with a magnificent meal starting with appetizers served at 7 PM, dinner at 8 PM, and then from there live music with the band Coco Loco from 9 PM to 1 AM, including a champagne toast and party favors at the midnight hour. The atmosphere will be electric with festive spirits, fun, and giant television screens showing the Times Square ball-drop! Check out our wonderful accommodations package for this event by clicking here.

AROUND TOWN THIS MONTH:

Scrapbook Workshops and Demonstrations.

Recently, Avista Resort hosted two scrapbook workshops, both on Saturdays, one on November 14th and one on November 28th. The multi-talented Terry Eggen provided instructional "how-to" tips, as well as one-on-one guidance in building take-home books. Held on the second floor mezzanine at Avista, the session allowed participants plenty of room to spread out on tables and be as creative as possible with Terry's expert guidance.

If you are interested in future workshops or other interesting events such as ballroom dance lessons held here at Avista Resort, let us know through the email address given at the end of this newsletter. Also, stay informed of time and place of our events by checking our website. We would love for you to join us. In fact, some guests combine a "Girls' Getaway" or golf package with these events to make wonderful mini-vacations out of the experiences!



Adopt-a-Family Program's Sausage Biscuit Sale

On November 28th, Avista Resort's Reservations Department held its "sausage biscuit" sale and annual fund raiser in its annual Adopt-a-Family at Christmas program. Each year this department selects a local area family to support with whatever is needed to survive the holiday season: clothes, food, holiday toys for the children. This year, Reservations began its efforts earlier in November with a chili-lunch sale and then followed up with the sausage-biscuit sale. All proceeds of these and other efforts go to the family for the holidays

Coming Attractions: Summer 2010

The Palace Theatre is busily planning Grand Strand area site visits of performers from the Le Grand Cirque, a spectacular display of colorful aerial acrobatics and artistry that appears at the Palace each year. Watch our web site calendar for the date when you can see these marvels in person in the New Year, right here at Avista Resort! Don't miss this great opportunity, especially if you have children!

Featured Recipe:

Kids enjoy helping with the preparations, so here is an easy kid-friendly recipe for a tasty dessert for anything from holiday party to Super Bowl. Use a clear glass bowl to display this dish for its maximum drama at presentation. For some holiday greenery, adorn the center with a sprig of fresh mint.

Preparation: 15 minutes.

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 package (3 oz.) raspberry gelatin
  • 2/3 cup boiling water
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 2 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 8 oz. package low-fat creamed cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup skimmed milk
  • Two 9 oz. containers of low-fat whipped dessert topping (thawed) or actual whipped cream
  • Fresh or frozen raspberries for garnish

Directions:

  • Place gelatin in a large bowl. Add boiling water and stir until dissolved. Stir in cold water.
  • Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a half hour.
  • Meanwhile, beat sugar and cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy. Beat in milk. Stir in one container of the whipped topping or whipped cream.
  • Remove gelatin mixture from refrigerator and stir in the remaining container of the whipped topping or whipped cream until completely smooth.
  • In a glass bowl with tall sides, pour half of the raspberry gelatin mixture. Top with the cream cheese-whipped topping mixture. Top with the remaining raspberry gelatin mixture.
  • Refrigerate until set, about an hour.
  • Garnish with raspberries.


Groups at AVISTA RESORT

Our thanks to the following groups of people who stayed with us during the past month:

Faith Assembly of God
Arlington Baptist Church
Duke Energy Retirees
Matthews Family Reunion
TSR Bowling Tournament
Kirk Tours
Fairview Baptist Church
CE Elliott & Associates, LLC
Lewisville High School Reunion
Gymnastics & More
Wilson 60th Birthday Party
Sunset Harbor HOA Meeting
Shootout By The Sea Basketball Tournament
Ecological Awareness at Avista

Leaving your tap water running while brushing your teeth uses at least 5 gallons of water needlessly. To conserve, just wet your brush, then turn off the water while brushing. To rinse your teeth, turn on the water and then off again when finished. This alternative uses less than 1 gallon of water. How much water is in your wallet?

Another tip is keeping a watchful eye as you walk the beach and hiking trails for those small bits of trash that people discard carelessly: bits of cellophane on packs of chewing gum, paper straw wrapping, and other small pieces that form trash wads in our landscape and indigestibles in the stomachs of wildlife.
Local Events Calendar - January, 2010

The Grand Strand has entertainment and activities year round. Here for a list of coming events: Click here.
GUEST COMMENTS


Email from newsletter response. Golfer and Shag Dancer R. Clary of the Richmond, VA, area. 11.27.09.
Love the Avista Resort in North Myrtle Beach. Always stay there when I come down for SOS, and this year also stayed there when I came down for the World Am Golf Tournament. It is my place when I come to Myrtle Beach.

Most recent email from Expedia.com traveler opinion, unnamed, 07.10.09. (95% of the Expedia travelers opinions recommended Avista Resort)
Great time there. Everyone was so helpful. I really got to relax and that is just what I needed.

Email to TravelPost on Kayak.com, guest review by JodiKL, 07.11.09.
Location- perfect! Style and accommodations -- perfect!

Email to TravelPost on Kayak.com, guest review by Legend1, 04.01.09.
Stayed at the Avista last May and returning this year. Coming from Omaha, NE, after 10 hours worth of flying, I was pretty worn out. Check-in was easy, and I went for broke and rented the 3-bedroom corner DLX. Everything was near as perfect as advertised.

Email to Avista's quality control desk by Sitton family, 11.04.09.
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you again for all your help during our son's wedding at the beach. Our rehearsal dinner at the Avista Resort couldn't have been better. The food was great and the Avista staff were wonderful. All our guests were very pleased with the meal and service provided by the Avista staff. In addition to the rehearsal dinner, several of the wedding guests spent several days as guests at the Avista Resort. We heard nothing but good things from everyone who stayed at the resort. My husband and I had a 3-bedroom condo for our family and were very pleased with our accommodations. The condo provided plenty of room for our family with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths. The room was clean and well equipped upon our arrival. The cleaning staff were friendly and efficient in their work and the front desk staff were equally helpful and accommodating. We had the opportunity to dine in the on-site restaurant and were very pleased with the food and service provided. My family will stay at the Avista Resort on our next trip to Myrtle Beach, and several of our guests have told us they will stay there again as well. Again, thank you for all your help in putting the rehearsal dinner for our Son's wedding together so successfully, and our thanks to all the Avista Resort staff for making our stay as well as our guests stay there a pleasant and memorable occasion.

Email to Avista Resort's quality control desk by a guest, 11.03.09
Just to say THANK YOU for a great 5.5 days at the Avista! The service was super and accommodations superior. I will be back, and I WILL recommend you to my friends and anyone else who will listen! Thanks again.

Email to Avista's Group Sales from the Humphrey-Alder family, 10.21.09.
Thank you so much for a job well done at the Avista. The food [for the wedding reception] was awesome, and the service was great. You did so well to have so many events going on that day. I am sorry that it has taken me so long to tell you….However, I just wanted to thank you and let you know that if another daughter should decide to get married at Myrtle Beach, I would not hesitate one minute to call you guys.



Fun Facts




One mile is approximately 2,000 steps or 20 minutes of walking. Studies show that people walking about 18 miles per week were less likely to develop memory loss in their later years because walking increases blood flow to the brain. Walking 10,000 steps per day (about an hour and a half) is an easy way to get your recommended exercise in for the day.

Don't try this at home or out in the wild, but porcupines float. Their quills are very light and hollow, acting as life preservers when the animals swim, also as a cushion if the porcupine falls from a tree.

Add 1/2 teaspoon of English mustard powder to chocolate sauce when making "profiteroles" (cream puffs) to give them a pleasant surprise.

Mustard and honey at bedtime helps quell coughing from colds.

The temperature of a working refrigerator should be between 37 and 40 degrees F (no warmer in order to keep bacteria at bay). The freezer temperature should remain between zero and 5 degrees. These settings should maximize the efficient use of the refrigerator as well as maximize its ability to keep foods safely maintained.

One 100-watt incandescent offers more light than two 60-watt incandescent bulbs combined. However, the 100-watt bulb requires 17% less power.

Have you noticed that some Charlestonians and other Southerners paint their piazza ceilings, doors, and window frames blue (a practice also common in Turkey and Greece). Folklore suggests that this practice wards off haints (so-called angry ancestral spirits also known as ghosts). According to legend, "haints" cannot cross over water, so the blue color is said to confuse these spirits, blocking their ability to cross thresholds and entryways.

Our tongues have uniquely different types of taste buds and also a unique pattern or formation on our tongues. Yours are different from mine, and so on through the human population. So, will the forensic investigations TV program called CSI ever feature taste buds as an indicator of "who done it"? Stay tuned.

Do you ever wonder how investigators can find missing persons when all indications are that the person simply vanished? If someone disappears, a canine bloodhound law enforcement "agent" can track a person who has been lost even months earlier, even if traveled in a car on a freeway.

Platinum is so rare that two million pounds of ore may contain only one pound of this metal. Currently, gold is selling for $1,161.90/ounce. Platinum is selling for $1,439/ounce, changing as the market changes.

If you leave your tap running while you brush your teeth, you use 5 gallons of water. However, if you instead wet your brush, turn off the water while brushing, then on again to rinse briefly, and off again when finished, your water use is less than 1 gallon of water. How much water is in your wallet?

Processed common table salt, even in salt water concentration, will kill salt water fish. So, what is the fate of our internal organs when we consume commercial salt regularly and in high doses?



Dancing by the Ocean


We are taking a poll.

Would you be interested in attending a session of ballroom dance instruction here at Avista Resort?
This would be one beginner's lesson one hour in length with a nominal fee. The style could include shag, rumba, western swing, fox trot.

Click here to take participate in our poll.
Ebb and Flow of Information
Where did you stay? We would love to hear from you!



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Avista Resort 300 N. Ocean Blvd.
N. Myrtle Beach, SC. 29582
Toll Free 800.968.8986 Email Vacation-Planner@avistaresort.com