Top 5 Things to do in Myrtle Beach This Spring

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Myrtle Beach boasts more to see and do than anyone could cover during one spring break. Between the beach, golf courses, shops and restaurants, there’s no problem keeping busy. But for those looking for a little something different, somewhere you won’t get lost in the crowds, check out this list of five places that are perfect for a spring break excursion:

* Brookgreen Gardens: Humans aren't the only ones getting active during spring break. So are the birds and the bees and, particularly in the case of Brookgreen Gardens, the flowers and the trees. This 9,100-acre botanical sculpture garden, the first and largest of its type on the East Coast, is located in Murrells Inlet on a former rice and indigo plantation. Featuring blooming flowers and shrubs amid scenic statues, Brookgreen Gardens is the ideal place to usher in spring with a day soaked in art and nature. The property also boasts a Gullah Cultural Center and the Lowcountry Zoo, which includes gators coming out to bask in the sun and otters playfully swimming in the tidal creeks. There's a lot to see and do in one day, but admission is good for a full week.

* Huntington Beach State Park: While you are on the south side of the Strand at Brookgreen Gardens, check out this lovely state park just across Highway 17. Featuring 350 acres of scenic Lowcountry terrain, Huntington Beach has beautiful beaches lined with towering dunes, swamps and salt marshes with feeding alligators and birds of prey, hiking trails through lush landscapes and Atalaya, a charming Spanish castle that is open for tours. A jetty on the south end of the park borders the mouth of Murrells Inlet, a popular fishing spot for anglers who don't mind getting wet and taking a bit of a hike.

* Go Ape Zipline and Treetop Adventure: The woods are blooming with beauty this spring, and there's no better view of the colorful display than high in the treetops. Go Ape gives brave patrons the chance to fly through the forest on a zipline and hang out with the birds on a series of obstacle ropes courses. Experience the thrill of flight and freefall from the towering pines at the new North Myrtle Beach Sports and Recreation Complex. Guests go through a safety course with trained instructors before embarking on a high-flying adventure.

* Ripley's Aquarium: Rainy and cloudy days might be able to keep you away from the beach, but they can't stop you from surrounding yourself with sea life. This Broadway at the Beach attraction gives visitors and up close and personal experience with the creatures of the oceans, from menacing sharks to petable stingrays. Discover the diversity of aquatic life with exhibits featuring fish from the Amazon Rain Forest, the Great Barrier Reef and the waters just off the coast of the Grand Strand. The 325-foot glideaway carrier you through a 750,000-gallon tank filled with a wide range of sharks. Feeding shows, the educational Discovery Center and mermaid shows are part of the lineup.

* Pelicans Baseball: Spring means one thing to sports fans – baseball. Myrtle Beach's outlet for America's pastime comes in the form of the minor-league Pelicans; a Class A affiliates of the Chicago Cubs. Take your crew out to the ballgame for family-themed fun that you don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy. Between-innings stunts, contests and mascot shows are all part of the action. Load up on hot dogs; popcorn, peanuts and Cracker Jack's, and the grownups can knock down a few brews on Thirsty Thursdays for $1 drafts. The season opens April 9.

 

(Posted: 3/13/15)