THE LOCALE | Gracie's at the Point, Sands Beach Club

THE LOWDOWN | With a beautiful view of the ocean and a frozen drink in hand, it's easy to remember why so many of us love living at the beach. Well you can get this experience day in and day out at Gracie's at the Point, and score some sweet happy hour deals to boot.

Gracie's at the Point is inside Sands Beach Club where Toppers used to be located. It's a friendly joint. The locale is casual and laid back and beach attire is perfectly acceptable. It is, after all, an oceanfront bar with a spectacular view of the beach and ocean. You can choose to sit at a number of tables in the dining area or snag a barstool at the bar. No matter where you are, you're guaranteed to spot water. The two beach-side walls are made of windows that stretch from the ceiling to the floor. On the other side of the bar, windows give you a sneak peek of the resort's swimming pools.

Plenty of locals frequent this bar. You'll also, of course, meet the tourists who are staying at the Sands Beach Club. For them, they really don't have to go anywhere else. Gracie's serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. From omelettes to sandwiches to pasta, your stomach is set for any time of day. Plus, you can order pizza from Carmine's New York Pizzeria, also located inside Sands Beach Club.

Gracie's has live music on Mondays, and occasionally on other nights throughout the week. If you're drinking with a friend, consider ordering a Beer Hopper. That's 96 ounces of beer - the equivalent of 10 beers. One of those costs $20. Or you can get a Margarita Hopper for $30. Gracie's also offers drinks by the yard.

During happy hour, you can snag discounted menu items such as 10 wings for $5 or a half-pound steamed, spiced shrimp for $8. Happy hour runs from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. daily. More food specials include $1 tacos, $2 hot dogs and $4 nachos. Drink deals include $1 lopped off domestic beers and liquors. House wines are three bucks and frozen drinks and daiquiris are $5.

You can also snag drink specials throughout the week. On Malibu Mondays you can get $10 Gracie Buckets of drinks frozen or on the rocks. Tequila Tuesdays offer $3.50 margaritas. On Well Wednesdays you can snag $3 well drinks all day. Throwdown Thursdays offer $2.50 domestic beers, and Fruity Fridays have $4 daiquiris. Sexy Saturdays is ladies night with $4 bay/sea breezes and $3 wines. During Sunday Funday, you can get $3.50 bloody Marys and $5 bloody beers.

TIPS | You can park in the Sands Beach Club parking lot. (Ask the bartender for a parking pass.) Check the Gracie's at the Point Facebook page for events and specials.

FIND IT | 9400 Shore Dr, Sands Beach Club, Myrtle Beach. Call 692-5354 or visit www.graciesmb.com.

Mandy Rodgers, for Weekly Surge