It's hard to believe another year has come and gone. It seems like yesterday we were preparing for the end of school and the beginning of summer. Now we are counting down to a new year. A lot has changed on the Grand Strand this past year. We have seen restaurants come and go before we ever got the chance to try them. We have seen the immaculately kept fairways of golf courses become overgrown. We have watched as workers have disassembled the rides at the Pavilion and Grand Prix. The upcoming year will bring more change. New restaurants will open, serving up the newest food with the trendiest decor. Those overgrown fairways will become backyards for children to play in. In less than 2 years we will have a state of the art, multi-million dollar theme park with rides and coasters that will rival the greatest around the world. What's new and exciting at the beach is what keeps you coming back year after year. Change is good, it is how we grow, and just what the Grand Strand needs is another "growth spurt"!

Happy Holidays,
The Avista Staff

We would like to take this opportunity to say farewell to the following golf courses that closed in 2006:

While most of these courses will be redeveloped into residential areas, Angels Trace South is being renovated into a new "CAT" course at Ocean Ridge Plantation. To follow in the footsteps of Lion's Paw, Panther's Run, and Tiger's Eye will be Leopard's Chase in February. Another course named Jaguar's Lair will open late 2007.

This was also the year of the makeover as several area courses had major renovations done. Brunswick Plantation had a lengthy renovation to their greens and re-opened this past summer. Pine Lakes has closed for approximately 18 months to completely renovate their entire course. With so many changes along the Grand Strand and more to come, make sure to contact the Golf Department at 1-800-682-5699 before planning your next trip!

Thanksgiving Dinner

If you were lucky enough to be at the Avista Thanksgiving Day, we hope that you were one of the almost 300 guests that enjoyed the Thanksgiving buffet from Just Off Main! The buffet was loaded with all the traditional Thanksgiving staples and more!

Attention Snowbirds!

Last month's Monthly Meet and Greet Breakfast was a great success and a lot of fun. We currently have 17 Snowbird rooms in house and over half of them attended the breakfast. They enjoyed the buffet breakfast at Just Off Main for $8 (tax and gratuity included) and had the opportunity to introduce themselves to the other Snowbirds as well as hear about the events that are planned at the resort and the happenings around town. The January breakfast will be held on January 2nd. We will have 55 Snowbirds rooms in house the month of January so make sure to attend this event and buy your breakfast tickets early! More information will be provided in the Snowbird Welcome Booklet that you will receive at check-in! We hope to see you at the breakfast!

Did you know?

Did you know that more than 33 million people received help from the Salvation Army in 2004? When most people think of the Salvation Army, they automatically think of the Red Kettle Program held during the holiday season. While the Red Kettle Program raises millions of dollars each year, it is another one of their programs that holds a special place in the heart of many of the employees at the Avista. This year, the employees and Snowbirds at the Avista held a 2-day bake sale to benefit the Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree and were able to meet their goal of raising $300. These trees are located in malls and retail stores across the country and are decorated with little angel tags that hold the Christmas wishes of children and adults whose families are currently being serviced by the Salvation Army. We sponsored 3 children, 2 girls (Olivia, 10 months and Juliet, 2 years old) and 1 boy (Michael, 3 years old.) We were able to provide each child with a brand new coat, new clothing and 3 new toys each! We would like to thank everyone who participated in the bake sale and everyone who purchased goodies or made donations!

Reservations

There must be something in the air in the reservations department. 45% of the reservations staff that are female have either had a baby this past year or have found out that they are expecting one soon. We would like to congratulate the following new mommies: Stacy Phillips, Sabrina Wilson and Jennifer Glen. We would also like to congratulate the following expecting mothers: Laniece Williams, Jamie Marohl and Cathy Kinlaw!

2007 Rates are in!

If you have not already booked your vacation for 2007, call us at 1-. We now have our 2007 rates in for the entire year and have some great specials for those early birds that will not be available for long. You can also visit us online at www.avistaresort.com for rates and availability.

Ripley's New Years Eve Kids Celebration
Ripley's Aquarium is hosting a Kid's Only New Year's Eve Bash from 9 PM to 6 AM on December 31st. Let the kids enjoy a night of games, prizes, fun and food- plus a non-alcoholic toast at midnight. Then they will settle down to sleep with the sharks in the tunnel. This event is for kid's ages 6-12 only and is a unique opportunity for any kid who loves animals. Reservations are required so call the Aquarium at 843-916-0888 ext. 272. For more information, visit www.ripleysaquarium.com.

Medieval Times New Year's Event
If you are looking for a way to ring in the New Year with the family, then the Medieval Times New Years Celebration may be just what you are looking for! With a show time of 9:30pm, you will be treated to a 4-course dinner and 2-hour tournament spectacular, a midnight countdown with champagne toast, champagne or Pepsi with dinner, a cash bar all night and party favors! You can purchase these tickets thru the Avista for a discounted price of $63.00 (a $5 savings) for adults and $26.95 (a $2 savings) for children! For more information, contact the Avista Concierge at 843-417-5506 or by email at concierge@avistaresort.com.

Nanny In A Pinch
If you are planning to visit Myrtle Beach for the New Year and want to ring it in the right way but need someone to watch the kids, give Nanny In A Pinch a call! Nanny In A Pinch provides care for all ages and is dedicated to providing top quality care and safety to all of their clients. All nannies have been fingerprinted, drug-screened and background checked. They have also be trained in CPR and First Aid and most of the nannies are retired nurses or preschool teachers and most have a 4 year degree or higher in childhood education. For more information, visit their website at www.nannyinapinchwv.com!

Mid-Winter SOS (Society Of Shaggers)
If you don't know what a "Shagger" is, then it is obvious that you have never been to the Avista during a SOS event! The Shag is the state dance of North and South Carolina and is a form of swing dance that evolved from the jitterbug. A "Shagger" is a shag enthusiast who "migrates" to North Myrtle Beach from various parts of the country 4 times a year for SOS events. The next SOS event happens to be January 11-14. This is a smaller event, but still draws a large crowd to the Main Street area. If you would like more information on SOS or The Shag, visit www.shagdance.com.

The Alabama Theatre | Barefoot Landing, U.S. 17, North Myrtle Beach, "One: The Show," featuring dancing, comedy and a variety of music, including country, Broadway, bluegrass and gospel. Shows this week at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets $31.60-$36.25 for adults and $15.80 for ages 3-16. Call 1- or visit www.alabama-theatre.com.

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show | Northern intersection of U.S. 17 and U.S. 17 Bypass, Myrtle Beach, featuring fast-paced competition between North and South with music, games and performers on horseback. Shows this week at 6 p.m. today, Saturday and Wednesday. Tickets $36.99 for adults and $19.99 for ages 4-11. Call 1- or visit www.dixiestampede.com.

Legends in Concert Theater | 301 U.S. 17 N., Surfside Beach, featuring tribute artists paying homage to Garth Brooks, The Temptations, Trisha Yearwood, Elvis Presley and Louis Armstrong. Shows this week at 8 p.m. today, Saturday, Monday-Thursday and also at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets $31.95-$35.95 and $14.95-$18.95 ages 3-16. Call 1- or visit www.legendsinconcertsc.com.

The Palace Theatre | At Broadway at the Beach, U.S. 17 Bypass and 21st Avenue North, Myrtle Beach, featuring Le Grande Cirque with acrobats, contortionists, trapeze artists and aerialists. Shows this week at 8 p.m. today, Saturday and Monday-Thursday and also at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Tickets for 8 p.m. shows $33-$44 and $10 for ages 3-12; $26 ages 13 and older and $10 ages 3-12 for 10 a.m. show. Call 1- or visit www.palacetheatremyrtlebeach.com.