Posts Tagged ‘Brookgreen Gardens’
Area Lifestyle, Vacationing
It’s no secret ~ the South Strand is a playground for families. Millions make the trip to our beach community each year. The conversations in the car are familiar to us all:
(Dad) “Yep. That new driver I got for my birthday is gonna take at least six strokes off my game!”
(Mom) “That’s nice, honey. I’ll be at the outlet stores, so feel free to play an extra round.”
(Kids) “What are we gonna do first, though? The water park, or the roller coaster?”
We might vacation as a family, but everyone has their own agenda. Pleasing everyone is a tall order, and it’s easy to exhaust ourselves trying to do so. We decided to help mom & dad out this time around. Here are a few tips to help you be a hero to your kids next time you visit us.
 Go Natural
The Carolina Coast is a natural wonder. Gorgeous beaches, beautiful parks & gardens and lush Lowcountry waterways are here for your enjoyment. Spend the day is these natural surroundings. There’s no better way to clear your mind of the everyday distractions, and your kids will remember it for years to come.
Our vacation homes are just steps away from the beautiful beaches. Plenty of activities are available to the kids ~ surfing, fishing & sailing, just to name a few. Our annual Sun Fun Festival gives them a chance to compete at building the best sandcastle ever. Hey, I still have my trophy (1st place, Summer ’93)!
The Myrtle Beach State Park, located just minutes from Surfside Beach & Garden City, is a great way to bond with the kids (Shhh! Don’t tell ‘em it’s also really budget-friendly!). They offer camping, fishing, & guided nature tours. A great experience for the whole family, it’ll make a great topic for that “What I Did On My Summer Vacation” essay! Admission is just $4 for adults/$1.50 for kids (5 & under are free!).
Brookgreen Gardens, a huge natural wildlife preserve & sculpture garden, is just a few minutes south of our vacation homes. Have a budding young artist in your family? Bring along a sketchbook to this wonderful venue. There are over 1,200 works by 350 sculptors ~ plenty of inspiration for your creative son or daughter! Adult admission is just $12, and kids get in for just $6. Plus, these tickets are good for a whole week! Now that’s a serious bargain.
Fun Outta The Sun
Looking for an activity in a cooler climate? Need a day (or two) to let that sunburn heal (tip: it’s all about the aloe.)? Your kids are gonna love these suggestions:
Lazer FX Lazer Tag is easily one of the most fun indoor activities on the Grand Strand. Located just 20-25min north of most Beach Realty vacation homes, this is a kid-pleaser for sure. They offer birthday packages, family discounts & even an “unlimited play” price from noon-2pm in the Summer! This venue is right in the middle of “restaurant row”, so you won’t need to travel far after a game for good eats!
Kids love fantasy. How much has the Harry Potter franchise made at the box office? Exactly. Which is why we recommend you try MagiQuest. It’s one of the area’s most popular attractions, allowing you & the kids a fully interactive game experience. Return visits are offered with a discount (we assure you, you’ll be back). Follow this link & look for a coupon (right side of the page) to save even more!
Creating lasting memories for your family is what vacation is all about. These are just a few ways for you to give your kids the Summer experience they deserve. The Beach Realty family is here to help you find the best attractions, venues & deals while you stay at one of our fantastic vacation homes. Make sure to visit our blog frequently to find the best values on the beach. We look forward to hearing from you!
Tags: Brookgreen Gardens, State Park, Vacationing
Area Lifestyle, Vacation Rentals, Vacationing
Making a journey to the beach each Summer is something of a tradition for many families. But a tradition isn’t a rule, it’s an idea. We are always able to amend them, build on them and make them better. Finding new traditions is just one way we keep our families growing, learning & loving. This year, we invite you to start a new tradition: treat your family to a beach vacation this Winter!
It’s pretty easy to see why folks flock to the Carolina coast during the winter. These “Snowbirds” enjoy an incredibly mild climate ~ average highs for December-thru-February are over 60°. Seriously! Ask any local, and they’ll tell you with a smile that we regularly see January days reach into the 70s. This temperate climate allows locals & visitors alike to enjoy the local parks and beaches year-round. And there’s plenty to do during the holiday season. Here are a few of our favorite holiday events & happenings in & around the Garden City and Surfside Beach area…
 Nights of a Thousand Candles ~ Brookgreen Gardens
Sculpture garden & preserve Brookgreen Gardens hosts this event each December 4-5; 11-12 & 17-19. The event features live entertainment: concerts, theatre, and performances of all kinds take place on the beautiful garden grounds. The sculptures & their surroundings are decorated for the occasion ~ candles & colored lights adorn the gardens, enchanting visitors each season. Voted one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeastern Tourism Society, Nights of a Thousand Candles will renew the magic of the holidays for you & your family.
 Legends In Concert
Right in the heart of the South Strand is Surfside Beach, SC. Known as the “Family Beach”, this part of the greater Grand Strand area has much to offer. Among our favorite spots is the famous Legends In Concert theatre. Legends offers visitors to experience a one-of-a-kind live show: backed by a full orchestra & band, expert ‘impersonators’ help re-create legendary concert experiences. This season, they’re featuring Elvis Presley, Whitney Houston, Alan Jackson, Frank Sinatra & Blues Brothers tributes. The show is family-friendly, and children ages 3-16 can receive a discounted admission. This is a no-miss event, and a certain hit with your family this holiday season!
So why haven’t you made your way down South for the Winter? The weather’s great, there’s plenty to do, and did we mention rental rates are generally at their lowest during this time of year? Some restrictions will apply, but contact us to find out how we can help you plan your family’s next best Winter vacation!
Tags: Brookgreen Gardens, Legends In Concert, Murrells Inlet, Surfside Beach, Vacation Home Rentals, Vacationing
Area History, Area Lifestyle, Vacationing
 Vacation home owners on the Grand Strand are uniquely positioned to enjoy a variety of coastal living. Just a few miles south of the Garden City/Surfside Beach communities is Murrells Inlet. This historic area of the Carolina coast has attracted visitors from around the world for centuries, and continues to thrive as a Lowcountry niche community. Though tourism is its main industry today, Murrells Inlet’s past is checkered with the exploits of pirates, plantations, explorers & adventurers.
Spanish sailors were the first to rediscover the inlet that had been home to several Native American tribes. These 16th century pioneers made their way down the East coast of the continent, all the way to the Bahamian islands. Yet something attracted them to what would become the Murrells Inlet area, and many would follow. Later, pirates loved the area for the clandestine salt marshes, where they hid & waited to plunder exporting ships on their way to England. These ships carried cotton, dyes and especially rice, the main cash crop of the Lowcountry.
Rice plantations were the dominant sources of commerce in the area; the owners’ wealth far surpassed that of the famed cotton barons of the American Southeast. This era brought many to the area, and even after the Civil War (and the beginning decline of the rice plantations) visitors flocked to the inlet because of its beauty and seclusion. A train to Georgetown would lead folks to a steamboat at Wachesaw. Then a buggy ride to a rustic getaway began a legacy of rich memories that continue today as people keep coming back to the Lowcountry.
These days, visitors to Murrells Inlet come for the local culture, an authentic Southern experience. The tourism industry, which is steeped in coastal fishing expeditions, thrives today. Fantastic views of the inlet & marshes can be seen from the many great restaurants that dot Hwy 17, and state parks & sculpture gardens are just a few more miles south of the famous eateries. Check out our previous post on Brookgreen Gardens & Huntington Beach State Park for more info on these great getaway spots!
Murrells Inlet is also known for its unique vacation homes, and Beach Realty is proud to offer some fantastic properties in the area. Visit our featured properties page to see some of these great vacation properties. There are so many reasons families choose this special part of the Lowcountry for their South Carolina vacations. Be sure to check back with us for more featured blog posts on our favorite spots to relax, fish, eat & have fun in the beautiful Murrells Inlet community.
Tags: Brookgreen Gardens, Fishing, Huntington Beach, Murrells Inlet, Vacation Home, Vacationing
Area Lifestyle, Vacationing
Thousands of families visit the Carolina coast each year, each family cherishing their own favorite feature of our beautiful state. We’ve got the best shopping, dining, surfing, fishing, amusement parks & countless other ways to play. It’s no wonder these same families make the return trip year after year. We’d like to share with you two of our favorite places to play & relax: Brookgreen Gardens, and Huntington Beach State Park. These natural beauties have indulged families for years who want a little nature, a little art and a whole lot of fun!
 BROOKGREEN GARDENS
Just 15 minutes south of Garden City, this 9,200 acre preserve is the only accredited zoo on the Carolina coast. Founded in 1931 by Archer & Anne Hyatt Huntington, the gardens boast the spectrum of diverse flora & fauna found in the Carolinas. Also contained on the lush grounds are scores of sculptures ~ some as small as a few inches, while others top over 20 feet in height! $12 will get you an adult pass that is good for a full week (children 5 & under are free), and yearly memberships are only $60!
Brookgreen Gardens is more than a beautiful place to relax & enjoy nature; this multi-purpose venue hosts many events throughout the year, including this month’s Sculpture Exhibition (The Wild West in Historic & Contemporary Art) and participation in The Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art. The events change with the seasons, and all are suitable for all ages. Visit Brookgreen Gardens online to see a full calendar of events, and find out how you can treat your family to the best of the Carolina coast’s natural beauty.
 HUNTINGTON BEACH STATE PARK
Located just a few miles from Brookgreen Gardens, this majestic 2,500 acre park has long been a favorite destination for families & nature enthusiasts alike. A variety of landscapes ~ salted marshes, freshwater lagoons & 3 miles of dune-protected beaches ~ can be found at Huntington Beach State Park. Over 100 dedicated camping spots (many with running water & some with electricity) are available for overnight stays, and you may want to do just that!
Visitors to the park have the opportunity to explore Atalaya, a spanish-style castle that was once winter home to the sculptor Anne Hyatt Huntington. Tours of the castle run year ’round, as do guided trips through the park itself. Boating, fishing & birding are popular ways to enjoy the area ~ in fact, the park boasts over 300 species of birds, and has long been an east coast destination for amateur ornithologists. September 25th-27th is the 35th annual Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival, which draws crowds each year for food, fun & art at the beautiful moorish castle grounds. What better way to enjoy an afternoon (or weekend) with the family?
These are just two examples of what our community has to offer by way of natural beauty. Part of what makes the Grand Strand, well, ”Grand” is the care we’ve taken to preserve the area we inhabit. So after you’ve exhausted our amusement parks, fabulous restaurants, outstanding shopping outlets & all the rest we have to offer, make sure to visit these natural getaways and give your family the true Carolina Coast experience!
Tags: Arts, Atalaya, Brookgreen Gardens, Huntington Beach, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, Vacationing
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