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See Myrtle Beach and the area from land, air or sea. Whichever you prefer, there are at least a couple to choose from.
Land
Be enveloped by a by-gone area of solitude and natural beauty as you meander through the beautiful botanical and sculpture gardens of Brookgreen Gardens. Sit and rest under one of the sprawling Spanish moss or weeping willow trees.
Opened to the public for almost 70 years, Brookgreen Gardens is a haven from the hectic pace of the beaches and other attractions of Myrtle Beach. Located on Route 17 in Murrells Inlet, it is part of a 1900-acre preserve that was once four rice plantations. New Yorkers Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington were so taken by the trees, the wildlife and the nature that they bought the former plantations with the intention of creating a place where Anna and other sculptors could showcase their creations surrounded by nature.
Three hundred acres of botanical and sculpture gardens as well as wildlife and historical exhibits are open to the public. The history of Brookgreen Gardens includes names such as 'Swamp Fox' Francis Marion, George Washington, the painter Washington Allston, Aaron Burr’s daughter Theodosia Alston and Julia Peterkin, the Pulitzer Prize author.
You can also tour Atalaya, the Moorish-style winter home and studio of Anna Hyatt Huntington. Located across the street from Brookgreen Gardens in Huntington Beach State Park, the cost is free with admission to the park. During the summer, daily tours start at 2p.
For a nice change of pace, visit La Belle Amie Vineyard in Little River, the Grand Strand’s only operating vineyard. The Bellamy family, who has owned the vineyard since the late 1800’s, requests that you call ahead of time to arrange a tour. You can go at any time to sample wines and gourmet foods in the tasting room, visit the gift shop where you can purchase the wine and gourmet foods to accompany it, or sip a glass of wine while you rock on the front porch.
Hear about the true history and the legends of pirates and others as you take a Carolina Safari tour in a safari-style jeep. During this is all-around tour, you will see and learn about the plantations, salt marshes, wild life habitats and more.
A surprising part of South Carolina’s history is that the economy was once dependent on rice. At the Rice Museum in Georgetown, you can learn how about rice is grown and cultivated, how it became a staple of many cultures, and life on the South Carolina plantations.
Sea
If you like boats and being on the water, Myrtle Beach is the place to visit. There are literally dozens of different tours on nearly every kind of vessel you can think of, including speedboat, canoe, kayak, tall ship, catamaran, mini-pontoon boats and bus-boat combination.
How do you go from land directly into the sea without getting into a boat? Take 'The Gator', that’s how. This most unusual vessel is a combination bus-boat vehicle is used by Capt. Sandy Vermont for his aptly named Unusual Tours. Starting from Wild Water & Wheels Water Park in Surfside Beach, Capt. Vermont, a colorful character and area naturalist, provides entertaining and educational commentary on the flora and fauna of the area. For a really unusual tour, take a Ghost Story trip on a summer evening.
Glide down either the Waccamaw or the Pee Dee River in your own electric mini-pontoon boat with the River Rats. These 'ratical' half-day, full day, overnight, or two-day trips are an adventure on two of South Carolina’s blackest rivers. In addition to pointing out the ecology and creatures of the rivers, the tour guides will teach you to pan fish. Fishing rods and bait are provided for traditional fishing.
If you don't want to get wet or mess up your hair, skip the Sea Thunder boat tour. This hair-raising ride starts out on the Intercoastal Waterway from North Myrtle Beach as a docile tour of Little River and Bird Island. But watch out when this 149-passenger, 65-foot monster gets to the Atlantic Ocean and opens up its twin-turbo charged engines! Tours leave twice a day at 1pm and 4pm.
Air
One of the only ways to see Myrtle Beach that doesn't include the ocean is in a hot air balloon. Awesome Balloon Flights, Inc., the only ballooning company in the area, will take you floating gently on the currents above Myrtle Beach and the surrounding countryside. The balloon does not go above the ocean for safety reasons.
For a less sedate but no less thrilling ride, try a sightseeing trip in an open cockpit biplane with Classic Air Venture Biplane Rides. Imagine you and a friend side-by-side in the cockpit of a 1940 WACO UPF0-7! Be sure to bring a camera so you can take a picture of the two of you dressed in leather flying jackets, helmets and goggles.
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