Things to Do in Myrtle Beach

Purchased by philanthropist Archer Huntington and his wife, Anna Hyatt Huntington, in 1929, the 9,127 acres of forest, swamp, rice fields and beachfront that became Brookgreen Gardens were originally intended to become the couple’s winter home. Instead, they created a nonprofit institution in 1931 that transformed the property into the first sculpture garden in the United States. Brookgreen Gardens now adorns more than 300 acres of gardens and facilities with more than 1,400 works. A National Historic Landmark, Brookgreen Gardens fields a staff that edifies guests on the property’s plantation history and its gardens’ evolution during seasonally shifting programs, exhibitions, and tours. A medieval, seven-circuit Chartres labyrinth lures visitors with its serene quietude, an exhibit chronicles the narrative of the land from Native American occupation through the present, archeological sites unearth information about life on rice plantations, and the museum’s zoo beckons the intellectually curious with its critters.

To get to Black’s Camp, visitors follow a long, winding country road bordered by towering pines. At the end, this idyllic retreat sprawls out across the shores of the Santee Cooper lakes, surrounded by 170,000 acres of wilderness. Though its location is isolated, the camp furnishes hunters, fishers, and nature aficionados with ample amenities.

Hunting and fishing guides lead expeditions into Francis Marion National Forest and across 200,000 acres of water, and charter captains take leisurely voyages to Charleston Harbor. A waterfront restaurant hosts a seafood buffet on Friday and Saturday nights. At day’s end, guests can retreat to lodging at campsites or the camp’s waterfront cabins and motel to rest up or pen love letters to Mother Nature.

On the same strip that Myrtle Beach Zipline Adventures inhabits today, the beloved Pavilion amusement park entertained beach-going families for 58 years. A sextet of 600-foot zip lines renews this sense of excitement as riders fly downward at up to 40 miles per hour, much like an energy-drink-fueled seagull that spots an unattended sandwich. To seal the ride’s thrill for patrons young and old, flights end with a free fall from a 60-foot tower.:m]]

Since its founding by Marion Reid in 1969—and through its adoption by current owners Michelle and David Folden—Stono River Riding Academy has helped riders connect with temperate steeds and with their natural surroundings on 360 acres of trees and pastures. During classes and leisurely rides, trainers lead mounted explorers through the labyrinthine passageways of Johns Island, passing beneath billowing drapes of Spanish moss and escaping the cacophony of urban areas. Stono River’s staff always keeps safety in mind, ensuring that pupils wear proper equipment and familiarize themselves with all the confusing controls on the horses' dashboards.

Positioned in the heart of a triangular expanse with Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Columbia at each point, the Andrews Airport serves as the departure site for Skydive Georgetown's freefalling adventures. Experienced skydivers latch themselves and their parachutes to patrons, and, when the soaring aircraft reaches the peak of its trajectory, both plummet into the open atmosphere. Adrenaline junkies hurtle toward the earth at up to 120 miles per hour while staffers commemorate the journey with videos or photos.