Back in May, we got plenty excited for the new Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Although the park appears to rock on paper, it doesn't seem to be as big a hit with tourists: The place is believed to have missed attendance expectations and earlier this month the park was forced to layoff about 30 employees.

The Myrtle Beach Sun News reports that park executives believe the number of workers that were released is "miniscule." Spokesman Jim Olecki says that the layoffs were expected due to seasonal changes in the theme park business and didn't seem to rule out additional firings in the future.

The competition isn't coming directly from other parks in the area but from the increasing costs of simply taking a vacation. As of now the park is scheduled to stay open through Labor Day and into the fall but whether it will keep rocking year-round--as originally planned--doesn't seem as certain.

Related Stories:
· Hard Rock Park Lays Off Employees [Myrtle Beach Sun News]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: scmikeburton]]]> kjb 2008-08-28T10:00:18-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/21/74111/4048

You've probably seen people with a shirt from Hilton Head's Salty Dog Cafe: It's the one with a dog wearing a yellow hat. The place certainly is a top tourist spot--and maybe even a tourist trap--but the island *is* for tourists. The cafe's just playing to the market.

Located within the Sea Pines Resort, it will cost you $5 for a day pass just to visit the place. Once inside Sea Pines you'll want to see the Hilton Head Island lighthouse in Harbour Town. The lighthouse was actually built as an attraction and just holds a shop inside; there's no boat protection here. Oh, if you want to go to the top, that's going to be $3.

Once you finally make it to the actual cafe at the South Beach Marina, you'll be greeted with waterfront seating. There's usually someone playing covers of popular beach tunes with people shouting out requests for their favorite Jimmy Buffet song. As the summer winds down so do the crowds, but if you want to visit when it's busy, go on October 4 and participate in the 13th Annual Oyster Roast. They're going to crack open more than a ton of oysters and cook 'em on the grill. The first ten customers even get one of those shirts.

Related Stories:
· Salty Dog Cafe [Official Site]
· Tourist Traps coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: kjb]]]> kjb 2008-08-21T11:30:13-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/19/71415/4935

After filling up on many of the culinary delicacies offered at this year's crop of state fairs, you may be interested in something a little more refined. That's where the Seafood, Jazz & Brew Festival on Hilton Head Island comes in. This year, the festival takes place on the evening of Friday, September 12 and runs through the next afternoon.

As you relax near the water at Shelter Cove Community Park on Friday, you'll enjoy some jazz while feasting on some of the best local seafood specialties the island has to offer. (Spots to try include Ocean Grille, CQ's and Antonios.) Admission to the evening's events is $50 per person, and you should act quickly as last year sold out.

Come Saturday afternoon the action's at Shelter Cove Harbour. There will be a home brew contest here, and $10 will get you four "tasting tokens." For the extra thirsty, you'll be able to buy two additional tokens for just a buck.

Related Stories:
· Seafood, Jazz and Brew 2008 [Official Site]
· Fall Festivals Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Savannah Grandfather]]]> kjb 2008-08-19T11:30:13-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/7/124811/7489

For smooth-jazz lovers, it's a "Highway to Hell": South Carolina's Hard Rock Park promises all the thrills of your local theme park with a much better soundtrack.

While the tourist attraction doesn't have its official grand opening till June 2, a "sound check" is letting ride aficionados get their first look at Hard Rock's first theme park.

The coasters in this $400 million park are designed to be extra quiet so riders will be able to hear the corresponding songs--even over all the screaming.

Besides the "Life In The Fast Lane" and "Nights In White Satin" rides, the park boasts a memorial to dead musicians, a Mount Rockmore and a "Bohemian Rhapsody"-themed fireworks show. Alas, there will be no "Love Roller Coaster."

Related Stories:
· Hard Rock Park [Official Site]
· Led Zeppelin Ride Centerpiece of Rock and Roll Theme Park [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikipedia]]]> egw 2008-05-07T16:15:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/25/14549/4585

Married man or woman seeks single or married registered voters for long-weekend-night stand. I'm leaving town Tuesday night, but before that, maybe we can have some fun!

If the candidates want to get the most votes for their shoe leather, they ought to go to Wal-Mart, the overwhelming winner for Charleston, South Carolina's Craigslist most-missed page. (It's okay, we can never find anything there either!)

If on the other hand you only need one vote of confidence, try these local hot spots:

Blind Tiger Pub -- This casual bar, voted Best Pick-Up Joint by the Charleston alt-weekly, City Paper, is named for Prohibition-era establishments which offered complimentary drinks for animal shows (thus skirting the no-selling law). These days, you can order your Wild Turkey legally. 38 Broad St.

Club H2O -- This newly opened disco is primed for '80s nights two nights a week and second chances. 8484 Dorchester Rd.

California Dreamin' -- Apparently it's okay to have West Coast designs even this far east -- so long as you have the soul patch to match. 1 Ashley Point Dr.

Related Stories:
· Missed Connections coverage [Jaunted]
· 2008 Candidates Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Charleston Hotels [HotelChatter]

[Photo: Jack Duval]]]> egw 2008-01-25T16:00:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/12/18/21114/907

So John McCain called the retinue of reporters following with him in South Carolina "you little jerks," and we weren't even there! Despite his slide in the polls this year, the Senator from Arizona is not only chipper but appears not to be worried about the Iowa caucus on January 3rd. "If I don't finish in the top 50 in Iowa, I'll still stay in the race," he told the press, which is pretty bold in the face of what looks like a three-way race. (We hear McCain is cool with Mike Huckabee, but not so much with Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani.)

On the other hand, the Senator has more national experience than most of the other candidates in either party, and he just got endorsed by 2000 vice-presidential candidate Senator Joe Lieberman and the classically conservative Wall Street Journal. Today he'll be in Boston at a lunch in Faneuil Hall Market Place with Henry Kissinger. Tomorrow he stops in Louisiana before returning home to Arizona on Friday.

Related Stories:
· Boston Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· 2008 Candidates Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: stephenvitosky]]]> egw 2007-12-19T13:30:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/10/1/161350/821

Remember Led Zeppelin's one time reunion gig set for London next month?  Well just in case you can't pay scalper's prices or get yourself to London the Hard Rock has you covered, if you can make it down to Myrtle Beach next May.

The Hard Rock Park, a.k.a the world's first rock 'n' roll theme park will open next spring and will feature "Led Zeppelin -- the Ride," a 155-foot-tall steel roller coaster. Apparently, Jimmy Page named the ride himself and picked the song "Whole Lotta Love" to be played as riders try to stomach six loop rolls at 65 miles per hour.

The 140-acre park will have more than 40 attractions, including, three other roller coasters, a hip-hop-themed ride, and a "Pinball Wizard" arcade.  Sweet, but there better be some sort of KISS ride in this park.

Related Stories:
·   Hard Rock Park [Official Site]
·   Theme Park Coverage [Jaunted]
·   Myrtle Beach Hotels [HotelChatter]

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