We – a group of moms – set out with one goal: to spoil ourselves rotten for a long Mother’s Day weekend in Myrtle Beach. And we succeeded!

The Anderson Ocean Club and Spa exceeded our expectations! The room was huge and very recently updated, including a kitchen and full-size fridge. The uber-clean bathroom had a huge whirlpool (which, as one of us learned the hard way, should in fact be filled to the top with water before turning on the jets – unless, of course, you’re looking for a Bellagio-style fountain show).  The Murphy bed was comfy and a great use of space – and much better than the uncomfortable hide-a-bed we were expecting. The oceanview balcony was perfect for reading a book and sipping morning coffee. The view was gorgeous.

Since pampering was the whole point of the trip, we all got massages in the on-site spa. The half-hour back-and-shoulder massage was reasonably priced and really did the trick.

To keep our post-massage “zen” going, we headed out to the fantastic pool area to read and chat. Just off the beach, the pools were perfect for soaking in the ocean vibe but without the fuss of battling the crowds on the beach for the perfect spot – although beach chairs were available and there were plenty for guests. Our very low-intensity activities alternated between walking on the beach, wading in the ocean and getting food and drinks at the poolside restaurant. (Not a swim-up, but as close as you can get.)

Of course, being moms, we all noticed a couple of truly amazing and thoughtful features of the pool. First, there was a lazy river complete with tubes. The kids were having a blast and had to have been dizzy after going around all … day … long. But the smartest feature was the kid-friendly pool that was tucked under the building and in the SHADE! We all agreed that any place savvy enough to help reduce the number of sunscreen applications on squirmy, antsy kids who don’t want to wear sunscreen could have our business any time!

We found some great restaurants and nightlife, too. The hotel provides a breakfast buffet across the street at Magnolia’s. River City Cafe is a peanut bar, just off the resort strip, with a great patio and tasty burgers – but hold the fries. Landry’s is a chain of seafood restaurants and their food and this location are great. It’s at a complex called Broadway at the Beach, which is not at the beach. Don’t be fooled. It’s about a mile away.

Our cab driver told us Broadway at the Beach was like Bourbon Street, but it isn’t. At all. Still fun, but not nearly as … hmmm… gritty. The one similarity is that you can roam with your drink in your hand. The KISS coffee shop (yes, the band – how random!) and kid-friendly shopping closed early for the party to begin. A dozen or so nightclubs have live music, dancing, karaoke, an arcade… And if you don’t want to venture inside a club, grab a beer and a paint-on tattoo from a street vendor and just enjoy the gorgeous weather and people-watching. Our tip: Leave a half-hour before closing time to avoid a long, long, long line at the cab stand.

The resort strip on the beach has exactly the pastel-painted, retro feel that we expected and loved. The trip was low-key and convenient enough to make a long weekend feel like it stretched out to a full week.

Thanks for all the great recommendations and hookups!

View from Balcony at Anderson Ocean Club & Spa