Paradise Resort lives up to its name by being the perfect place for a family vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Brookgreen Gardens, located about 18 miles south of Paradise Resort in Murrells Inlet, also has a reputation as a utopian property that blends the beauty of art and nature in one venue. Put the two ideal destinations together for one amazing vacation experience.
Guests at Paradise Resort can spend their sunny summer and fall days soaking up the sun, surf and sand on the beach or playing on our indoor and outdoor pool decks. Even though there are so many fun things to do and see in the Myrtle Beach area, many guests are tempted to spend their entire vacation enjoying the amenities at Paradise Resort.
But if you and your crew are going to get out and experience all the great things the Grand Strand has to offer, Brookgreen Gardens is a must-visit, especially for those coming in the late summer and early fall. The 9,100-acre Lowcountry property is the oldest and largest botanical sculpture garden on the East Coast. Many say it’s also the prettiest, as its statues intermingle with native flowers, shrubs and trees to create a breathtakingly beautiful landscape.
Visitors can spend hours strolling through the scenic gardens and snapping postcard-worthy photos, but there’s a lot more to Brookgreen Gardens than meets the eye. In addition to the miles of trails and countless displays, Brookgreen Gardens also boasts popular side attractions like its Native Wildlife Zoo and Gullah cultural programs, as well as shops and galleries. Visitors can tour the historic Oaks Plantation History & Nature Trail and take a boat tour of the surrounding creeks and rivers.
Brookgreen Gardens also knows how to throw a party, and visitors during the summer and autumn have a lot of festivals to choose from, including ones paying tribute to pop music, cold beer and a rare meteorological event. With the Cool Summer Evenings program coming to a close Friday, August 11, the gates are open to a series of late summer/early fall events you won’t want to miss. Here’s a partial list of the family-friendly festivals and events at Brookgreen Gardens in August, September and October:
* August 21, Solar Eclipse Festival: Make the upcoming solar eclipse a memorable event in more ways than one by attending this all-day party from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Brookgreen Gardens will host live music by Oracle Blue and provide free glasses for viewing the eclipse. Brookgreen will also live stream NASA’s coverage of the event, as well as images from the on-site aviary. Admission will also include free access to the Whispering Wings Butterfly Experience.
* September 7-10, The Music of Motown: Put on your dancing shoes for this four-night party at Brookgreen Gardens as Blue Eyed Theatrical returns for another year to celebrate the sounds of Motown. Check out the gardens by day and stick around for the 7:30 p.m. musical showcase, featuring the hits of The Jackson 5, The Temptations, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Commodores and more. Tickets are $35, and they won’t last long.
* September 23, Brew at the Zoo: This may be the wildest craft-beer festival ever, given the close proximity of gators, otters and other native species. Guests can sample more than 30 different craft beers from around the region and nation while also taking in the sights and sounds of the Native Wildlife Zoo. Tickets are $40 (designated drivers are admitted for $15), which includes a souvenir glass, unlimited tastings and a silent auction.
* October 7-8, Harvest Home Weekend Festival: Dive into autumn at this annual gathering, which offers live entertainment, hayrides, pumpkin decorating, scarecrow making and more fun fall festivities. For more information about this or other fall events, visit http://www.brookgreen.org.
After an exciting day at Brookgreen Gardens, visit Huntington Beach State Park just across Ocean Highway, or stop off for a seafood feast at the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk before heading back to Paradise Resort, your oceanfront headquarters for the ultimate Myrtle Beach vacation.
