For guests, the magical holiday season at Prince Resort is upon us when discovery is in the air-hearing from old friend, making new ones, exploring the many wonderful nooks and crannies around North Myrtle Beach, and encountering the wonderful possibilities to come in 2009. Let Prince Resort be the first to extend a warm welcome to the holidays!

As we enjoy Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, we look forward to the months ahead. The forecast for 2009 is positive. That is, we are positive that Prince Resort will have much to offer its visitors in the new year! Anchored on the Grand Strand shoreline, Prince features a rich tradition of outdoor activities, history, migrating wildlife, and diverse visitors with a wide array of interests. Attractions, adventures, festivals, theatrical performances, and many other activities also await visitors from near and far. Hasn't the current year certainly been exciting, with the most notable events being the economic activities and the Presidential elections! Well, with the activities of holiday chores piling on us, de-stressing and relaxing has never been more important. The Thanksgiving meal at 3500 Ocean Grill makes a great option for unwinding and simply enjoying family and friends without worrying about the extra fuss of special preparations.

To quote travel industry bulletins, now is "…the best [time] for travel in recent memory. Certainly, the best since 2001. It could even be the best ever" (CNN, "5 Reasons To Travel During the Holidays). Vacationing has certainly been reinvigorated lately with the lowering fuel prices, airline adjustments, affordable off-season accommodations prices, and fewer people crowding popular restaurants and malls.

We hope that between now and the end of the year; you will be tempted with Prince Resort's affordable prices for your New Year's plans. Also, consider planning a post-holiday winter vacation and let us shower you with quality service and comforts that you deserve after surviving a stressful year.

Your friends at Prince Resort!

Sea Change at the Pier

As we look forward to the many changes coming in 2009, we remain confident that family, friends, and the moving tide will be there for us. We can count on the Cherry Grove Pier, too, solidly embedded in the sandy coastline, ready to greet any anglers or visitors who walk out to its gazebo.

If you are considering a fishing trip here, be assured that there are plenty of fish in the water, waiting for your arrival. Fish change their habits with the seasons, and fishermen know that to catch more fish, they need to be aware of how the fishes' environment changes. For example, as water temperature decreases, fish know instinctively to eat more for weight gain prior to even colder temperatures ahead. Also, knowing which fish feed at night and which feed during the daylight is important, since daylight is changing, and our Daylight Savings Time has ended. Blue crabs are moving out to deeper water as the year ends, so catching them is less likely. So, too, are Spanish mackerel probably less likely to bite, but anglers can have good luck with red drum, bluefish, trout, still some spots, and flounder.

The New Year brings many expectations, and some doubt is natural, but rest assured that Prince Resort and North Myrtle Beach can provide anglers and non-anglers a soft place, a fun place, a relaxing place to take a break from whatever life brings in the remaining days of 2008 and in the months ahead of 2009.

Bring a fishing pole and cast your luck out to the pilings about half-way down the pier. Good luck!

Or gather loved ones at the beach for your end-of-year celebrations! Prince Resort extends a warm welcome at this holiday season to all. Whether you join us for New Year's or for a de-stressing winter holiday after all the relatives have gone home, be assured that you have a host of helpful people here who can make your stay at the beach a wonderful one.

Good luck in 2009!

New Year's Festivities at Prince Resort

Once a year, we share the joy of the New Year with loved ones, family, and friends, even with total strangers. Where we are matters less than how we share the event—in person, by telephone, by text messaging, by spiritual bonding. Whether our locations are the Grand Strand, the front lines of Iraq or Afghanistan, Times Square watching the lighted glass ball falling down a flagpole, at home with a special someone, or here in a luxury condo at the beach, no matter where, the tradition of being together in celebration and joy is important to us.

This year, in the tradition of celebrating a new beginning, Prince Resort plans to mingle music, fun, color, and a superlative beach location all together. Prince invites you to join us, whether you come for the festivities or an entire package stay with several days' accommodations in an oceanfront condo plus breakfast, theater events, shopping on New Years' Day, and a whole array of other options for your pleasure!

In anticipation of the big day...

Featured Recipe

Share in this recipe from Emeril Lagasse's kitchen where holidays are full of tasty things! Count on using every bit of 2 hours to prepare this challenging but worthwhile dessert. The result is one yummy 10-inch cheesecake.

CARAMELIZED APPLE CHEESECAKE
WITH SPICED CREME ANGLAISE AND BUTTERSCOTCH SAUCE

CHEESECAKE Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
• 1 cup shortbread crumbs (about 5 1/2 ounces of cookies)
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 cup peeled, cored, and thinly sliced Granny Smith apples (about 2 apples)
• 1 1/2 pounds cream cheese
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions for Preparing the Cheesecake:

Grease a 10-inch springform pan with 1 teaspoon of the butter. Combine the crumbs, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, and the melted butter in the bowl of a food processor and mix on low speed until well blended. Transfer to a greased 10-inch springform pan and press evenly around the bottom. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Combine the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and the water in a heavy, medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Continue cooking, swirling the pan occasionally, until the caramel is amber in color, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter, stir, and cook over low heat until the butter is melted and evenly blended. Add the apples and stir to coat with the caramel. Cook, stirring, over medium heat until the apples are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.

Combine the cream cheese and brown sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg and mix well. Fold the apple-caramel mixture into the batter, and pour into the chilled pan. Bake, rotating the pan a quarter turn every 30 minutes, until golden brown and firm around the edges, but still slightly loose in the center, 1 hour and 20 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven and cool for 2 hours. Cover the cheesecake and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

To serve, spoon a portion of the Spiced Creme Anglaise onto each serving plate, top with a slice of the cheesecake, and drizzle with the Butterscotch Sauce.

SPICED CREME ANGLAISE Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 3 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup sugar

Directions:

Prepare an ice bath by filling a large metal bowl with ice and water. Combine cream, zest, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from the heat.

In a medium bowl, beat the egg yolks and sugar until pale and thick, about 2 minutes. Slowly drizzle in the hot cream, whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the pan and stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Place in an ice bath and stir until cool. The yield is about 2 cups. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down against the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours. Serve cold.

BUTTERSCOTCH SAUCE Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup whole milk

Directions:

Combine the sugar, water, and lemon juice in a medium, heavy saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Let the ingredients boil without stirring until the mixture becomes a deep amber color (about 3 to 4 minutes). Watch the solution closely to prevent burning. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the butter and swirl the pan to melt it, about 1 minute. Return to the heat and bring to a boil. Add the cream, whisk to combine, and remove from the heat. Add 1/4 cup of the milk, then add up to 1/4 cup more until the desired consistency is reached.

Cool until just warm before serving. (The sauce will thicken as it cools.) Yield is 2 cups.

Employee Spotlight

Having a cheerful person at the check-in desk ensures that guests' first impressions are positive ones, and certainly Kimberly Griffin, one of our wonderful Front Desk Agents at Prince, fills that description.

With her home in the Little River area, Kimberly has been with the company since June 1st, 2008. The principal part of her job is to work with guests' needs in assigning rooms, attraction tickets, golf packages, romance packages, and pier tickets. Although her hours "float" according to the scheduling needs, she prefers the morning session of front desk work because then she has an opportunity to greet more guests.

Her helpful nature and warm, bubbly personality ensure that her guests stay satisfied. In fact, said her supervisor, Jeff Woods (Front Desk Manager), she goes above and beyond her job scope to work as a team with the other people at Prince. As an example, she recently came in to work on her day off when a scheduling need suddenly occurred at the front desk.

When not on the job, Kimberly enjoys spending time with her two twin daughters, also taking college courses, studying toward her goal to work in early childhood education, perhaps owning a business.

Local Events Calendar

12/1 to 12/31. South's Grandest Christmas Show at the Alabama Theatre. Presented six nights a week with selected matinees and "kid friendly." For more information, 800.342.2262 or www.alabama-theatre.com.

12/1 to 12/31. Carolina Opry's Christmas Special Presented by Calvin Gilmore. A yuletide experience for the whole family, "kid friendly." For more information, 800.843.6779 or ww.TheCarolinaOpry.com.

12/1 to 12/31. Christmas at Broadway. Musical performances, tree lighting, mascot appearances, holiday lights, festive plays, fireworks shows, and many "kid-friendly" activities during business hours. Location is 1325 Celebrity Circle in Myrtle Beach. For more information 843.444.3200 or www.broadwayatthebeach.com.

12/2. A Coastal Christmas with the Coastal Chorale. 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Precious Blood Catholic Church, Waverly Road, Pawleys Island. Superior choral ensemble singing the best of holiday music with outstanding sacred and secular scores to the accompaniment of an orchestra. Tickets $12. For more information, 843.215.2216 or www.thecoastalchorale.com.

12/4. Christmas Towne 2008. Horry County's premier holiday festival from 4pm to 7pm at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. A wide variety of entertainment and activities for families and children at the Center's outdoor events plaza. Wander over and have fun! For more information 843-626-7444.

12/4. Grand Strand Strutters Square Dancing Event. Enjoy this fun event held from 7 pm to 10 pm at the Senior Center in Myrtle Beach. Features national "caller" Tony Oxendine with Jeanie Whetsell cuing. For more information, 843.497.0470 or 843.650.2043.

12/5. Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at McLean Park in North Myrtle Beach. Starting at 6 pm, see luminaries, decorations, music, the spirit of Christmas with Santa Claus. For more information 843.281.2662.

12/5 to 12/20. Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens. Delight to thousands of "kid-friendly" visions of sugarplums and hand-lighted candles, plus other traditional holiday decorations around the park. Open from 3 pm to 10 pm with live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. Location is 1931 Brookgreen Drive in Murrells Inlet. For more information, 800.849.1931 or online at www.brookgreen.org.

12/6. Annual Christmas Parade in North Myrtle Beach. Songs, floats, bands, beauty queens, Santa Clause. Starting at 5:30 pm, the parade moves from Main Street to Ocean Boulevard to 2nd Avenue North. For more information, 843.281.2662.

12/6. North Myrtle Beach Woman's Club 15th Annual Christmas Tour of Homes. Visit beautiful homes fully decorated in holiday finery. Tickets available from North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, also at homes on the day of the event. Light refreshments served at Chamber on the day of the event. For more information, 843.281.2662. Proceeds from this event go to local charities.

12/7. Eddie Miles in "An Elvis Christmas" at Alabama Theatre in Barefoot Landing. Starting at 7 pm, enjoy a delightful and traditional evening. A "kid-friendly" event, located at 4750 Highway 17 South. For more information, 800.342.22262 or online at www.alabama-theatre.com.

12/7. Kathryn Martin's Comedy Tidbits. One of two performances. This afternoon event from 2 pm to 4 pm includes bite-sized theater and gourmet treats including 3 comedies by award-winning playwright Kathryn Martin, performed right at your tableside while you munch holiday treats with wine or beer. The Cypress Inn in Conway, SC. Tickets are $22 (excludes beverages). Limited seating. For more information, 843.248.8199 or online at www.kathrynmartin.net.

12/11 to 12/15. Singing Christmas Tree at the Ocean View Baptist Church. Enjoy music and choral singing starting at 7:30 pm, 7300 North Kings Highway (Thursday, Friday, Monday). Two performances (2 pm, 5 pm) on Saturday. Sunday's performance is to be determined. A "kid-friendly" event. For more information, 843.448.3384.

12/12. Voices of Christmas Past and Present-Carolina Master Chorale with Eric Whitacre, Stephen Paulus, and Andrew Fowler. Starts at 8 pm at the Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church in Pawleys Island. Enjoy choral music and arrangements of holiday songs. For more information, 843.444.5774 or online at www.carolinamasterchorale.org.

12/13. Conway Christmas Parade. Starts at 10 am in downtown Conway. Floats, band music, colorful holiday decorations and costumes, Santa. This is a "kid-friendly" event. For more information, 843.248.2273.

12/14. Kathryn Martin's Comedy Tidbits. The second of two performances. This afternoon event from 2 pm to 4 pm includes bite-sized theater and gourmet treats including 3 comedies by award-winning playwright Kathryn Martin, performed right at your tableside while you munch holiday treats with wine or beer. The Cypress Inn in Conway, SC. Tickets are $22 (excludes beverages). Limited seating. For more information, 843.248.8199 or online at www.kathrynmartin.net.

12/14. Seaside United Methodist Church in Sunset Beach. Christmas Cantata at 4 pm and again at 7 pm. 1300 Seaside Road, SW, Sunset Beach, NC 28468. For more information, call 910.579.5753 or online to www.seasideunitedmethodistchurch.org.

12/16. Silver Celebration Holiday Concert-Christmas Garland. Performed in Conway by the Carolina Master Chorale in the Theatre of the Republic. Celebrate the holidays with a one-night-only, "kid-friendly" concert. Main Street in picturesque "old" town. For more information, 843.488.0821 or www.theatreoftherepublic.com.

12/20. Breakfast with Santa - Surfside Beach. A "kid-friendly" event held in at Ryan's Steak House (8671 Highway 17 Bypass) in Surfside Beach from 9 am to 10:30 am. Call for details at 843.913.6111.

It is with great joy that I write to you concerning our class reunion the J. S. Wright High School's Class Reunion of 1958, 50th experience, October 10-12, 2008. First, let me commend Abbey Phillips on her care and professionalism in seeing that this was a great experience for all of us. I don't recall ever having the pleasure of working with someone so kind and accommodating. She is definitely an asset to your team. Next, I want to extend my gratitude to George, Lynn, Richard, Mike, Allen, and Derrick for a great culinary experience in the restaurant of the Prince Resort. The food was very good, and so was the service. This letter is to say "thank you" to all of those wonderful people who did what was needed to insure us a great reunion. I will certainly come back to this facility for some R&R in the not-so-distant future. Your facility is beautiful! Again, thank you so much. Guest's letter by regular mail, "Nola" from Irmo, SC. October 2008.

Really enjoyed the resort. The Facilities, food, service all excellent. Can't wait to go back. From a guest's review on TripAdvisor.com, "Dabigman240" in Chapel Hill, NC, October 22, 2008.

We arrived on Sunday, October 12, and were lucky enough to have 6 wonderful days there. There were four of us in a two bedroom, two bath condo on the ninth floor overlooking the pier, pool and ocean. The staff was wonderful; always caring and helpful. The room was cleaned everyday; fresh towels in the bathrooms, beds made and kitchen straightened. The hallway outside our rooms could use a fresh coat of paint but I heard that the place had gotten new owners in January so they may need a little time to fix all that needs fixing. We spent endless hours on the balcony watching the sunrise each morning, fishermen hoping for the 'big one" on the pier and the moon reflecting upon the ocean each night. The parking garage was a little tight for a full size, four door truck with an 8' bed, but we managed. For several days we parked in the dirt parking lot in back of the condos. If you do park there, beware, there were hundreds of nails and screws scattered all over the place. Would we go back? You better believe we would, and with the reduced rates in January, we just might. From a guest's review on TripAdvisor.com, "TarHeelGator" in North Carolina and Florida, October 21, 2008.

Wonderful Service! My family and I recently stayed at your resort. We had a magnificent vacation, and we plan on coming to Myrtle Beach for many years to come and staying in your resort. We had wonderful service at your hotel also. When we checked in the manager on duty, who was a man was extremely kind and helpful. The man who carried our luggage up to our room had to be the nicest guy; I did tip him good, but if I had the money, I would have tipped him a whole lot more! And last but not least, our waitress at the bar/grill on the pier was amazing. She was so friendly I can not even stress it! We ate there every night just because we enjoyed her service! She was a thin blonde girl. I am not sure of her name. I am just so pleased and look forward to coming back as soon as possible! Thank you very much! - Maribeth From an email, November 10, 2008.

Groups

Prince Resort makes a perfect setting for sharing information and for sharing friendship among your group. Come to the beach for your next group meeting, whether a civic organization or just a bunch of friends. Here are our recent groups at Prince:

• Hemmen Duckworth Wedding
• Gymnastics & More
• Workforce Investment Board
• Seaside Wedding Chapel, Cotter Gruesbeck Reception
• Gentiva Respiratory Services and HME
• Prince Resort Home Owners Association
• Gaston Family Reunion

If your group is looking for somewhere to meet this fall, consider Prince! We are here for you.

Fun Facts