Southeast Travel Guide » South Carolina Tourism

Lesser Known Myrtle Beach Attractions

Jan Slagell — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:29:53 +0000

To visit Myrtle Beach has many different meanings, depending on one’s interest. After all, as one of South Carolina’s many vacation locations, Myrtle Beach is probably best known for its surf, sand, shopping and entertainment venues. However, there are several other activities you may want to explore when you visit Myrtle Beach and its neighboring towns.

La Belle Amie Vineyard (Little River) – Sample the wines, taste gourmet foods and shop for unique and elegant gifts to commemorate your beach visit.
Brookgreen Gardens (Murrells Inlet) – Here you can see over 500 figurative sculptures located throughout 10 gardens, listen to the gurgling fountains in the accent pools, or go on a tour to learn about the flora and fauna.
Hopsewee Plantation (Georgetown)-A Low Country plantation home which has been around since the 1740s. It is furnished in 18^th and 19^th century antiques; on the grounds are 2 of the original slave cabins.
Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon Chapin Art Museum (Myrtle Beach)- This 1924 beach house now displays contemporary visual art, regional artwork, historical maps as well as offering a fine arts resource library.
Rice Museum (Georgetown) – One of the early leading crops in South Carolina was rice. Here you will find maps, artifacts, dioramas and other displays that tell the story. Nearby is the Brown’s Ferry Vessel, which is the oldest boat in North America.

Other great Myrtle Beach attractions and activities are the Georgetown Lighthouse, the Children’s Museum of SC, the Hobcaw Barony Visitor Center or taking some of the local tours.

J. Slagell

Beautiful Beaufort, South Carolina

Jan Slagell — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:10:39 +0000

If you are looking for a new place along the South Carolina coastline, then you can’t go wrong in spending some time in family –friendly areas like those near Beaufort, South Carolina. From beautiful beaches to bed and breakfast and a variety of “playgrounds” to historic plantations, Beaufort, SC has much to offer.

So, where should you begin enjoying your stay? So glad you asked. Perhaps one of the most frequented attractions is the Low Country Estuarium Coastal Learning Center. Here you will find many hands-on exhibits and displays that focus on the coastal regions of South Carolina—specifically the salt marshes, beaches and estuaries. If history excites you, then a day at Penn Center, actually located on nearby St. Helena Island, offers a plethora of opportunities for learning and genealogical research. The Penn Center includes the York W. Bailey Museum, the Education for Freedom exhibit, 4 galleries, assorted temporary exhibits and 18 structures related to the education of African-Americans.

For nature enthusiast, Hunting Island State Park is a must. Here you will find cabins, camping spots, picnic shelters, a variety of water activities, shopping venues, nature programs and much more. Other great Beaufort, South Carolina sites include the more than a century old Sheldon Church, the Chapel of Ease, the Beaufort Arsenal Museum and the Parris Island Museum Marine Corps Recruit Depot.

Janet Slagell

The Fresh Air of Surfside Beach, South Carolina

Jan Slagell — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:10:15 +0000

If you are looking for a quiet, family-friendly South Carolina beach away from the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach, then make plans to spend your vacation at Surfside Beach, SC. Here you will find 2 miles of the most pristine shoreline in South Carolina. In addition, the area is known for being one of the few smoke-free Horry County, South Carolina regions along making it possible to enjoy family activities without breathing in second-hand smoke. Nicknamed, “The Family Beach” Surfside Beach is an ideal location for a weekend getaway.

While there, you will find an assortment of activities sure to delight abilities and interest of all ages. There is the outdoor fun of Adventure Falls Miniature Golf with its choice of 2 courses designed to delight the youngest of “golfers”, the fantastic fishing to be found at the Surfside Pier, and rapid water activity at the Wild Water and Wheels Water Park. For indoor fun visit the Paradise Skate Center with its skating rink, game room, and snack shop, the Surfside Bowling Alley and, especially for those who love music, the Legends in Concert celebrity impersonator shows. At Legends, you can see acts that rival those seen in Vegas, Branson, or Atlantic City.

So, when planning your next family getaway, why not consider the pleasure of Surfside Beach? It’s charm and smoke –free environment make it the perfect place to get a deep breath of fresh air.

The Economic Downtown Presents New Opportunities for Southeast Travel

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:55:34 +0000

Gas cost about half of what it did last year but many are still staying home this summer. While the economy may justify cutting back on expensive trips I believe this only presents new opportunities to visit places close to home. For those living in the Southeast this is an excellent time for a Staycation. A staycation is a vacation that is close to home. By staying close you save money on airfare and other cost of long distance travel. To save even more you can bring a cooler for food and even look at camping as a cheaper means of lodging. Many campsites have showers meaning you’ll be just as clean and spiffy for your day activities as if you stayed in a luxury hotel.

I’ve been using this economic downturn as an opportunity to visit many places within a few hours of my home in Georgia. If you want to learn more about Georgia staycations I have a page for that as well as pages for North Carolina staycations and South Carolina staycations. Each page offers affordable ideas for trips that are close to home. If you have ideas of cheap and affordable southeast vacations please comment to help other readers.