Walking beneath these behemoths makes you feel like you've wandered onto the cover of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Hundreds of years old in some cases, live oak trees are the host for parasitic Spanish moss, which gives the trees their diaphanous, ghostly character. Check out gorgeous examples at Brookgreen Gardens and Litchfield Plantation, both in the town of Murrells Inlet.
5. Brookgreen Gardens
Located about 20 minutes southwest of Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet, this oasis of flora and fine art sprawls across more than 9,000 acres. The complex encompases sculpture gardens, a wildlife preserve and the local history museum. Established in 1931 on the site of four former rice plantations, Brookgreen Gardens now boasts a collection of 1,200 pieces of sculpture dating back to the 19th century. More than 500 art works are nestled along walkways through gardens of breathtaking native vegetation.
6. Pawleys Island
Take the 35-minute drive down Hwy. 17 to Pawleys Island to see where the locals hang out. Weathered clapboard cottages and inns crowd the narrow road that runs along the perimeter. Watch for waterfowl perched in rusty gold reeds among tin-roofed docks and soothe your nerves with a stroll along the beautiful rolling dunes.
7. History at Every Turn
Drive 20 minutes northwest of Myrtle Beach to the quaint city of Conway for a taste of history along the Waccamaw River. The main street offers an old-fashioned strip of pretty little shops and cafés (drop into The Trestle for a plate of perfectly crunchy fried green tomatoes). During Canadian-American days in March, the Conway Historical Society offers a number of informative lectures. Historical walking tours start at the visitor centre and feature a walk through the political and social history of Conway with juicy tidbits of local dramas and family feuds, some that persist to this day.
Resources
Hotel
Anderson Ocean Club
2600 Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach, SC
(843) 448-1535
www.andersonoceanclubonline.com
Attractions
Hard Rock Park
211 George Bishop Parkway
Myrtle Beach, SC
www.hardrockpark.com
Ripley's Aquarium
1110 Celebrity Circle
Myrtle Beach, SC
www.ripleysaquarium.com
Brookgreen Gardens
1931 Brookgreen Dr.
Murrells Inlet, SC
www.brookgreen.org
Litchfield Plantation
Kings River Rd.
Pawleys Island, SC
www.litchfieldplantation.com
Restaurants
Captain Dave’s Dockside Restaurant
4037 Hwy. 17 Business
Murrells Inlet, SC
www.captdavesdockside.com
Landolfi's Bakery
9305 Ocean Hwy.
Pawleys Island, SC
(843) 237-7900
The Trestle
308 Main Street
Conway, SC
(843) 248-9896
Sea Captain's House
3002 N. Ocean Blvd.
Myrtle Beach, SC
www.seacaptains.com
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