Brookgreen Gardens

Located on the site of a former rice plantation, the picturesque Brookgreen Gardens offer so much more than their name suggests. As well as a multitude of stunning themed gardens, including a fantastic sculpture garden, this 682-hectare park is also home to a wealth of historical sites, plentiful walking trails and one of the best zoos in the state. Now where else can you combine outdoor adventure, art, history, zoology, botany and horticulture?

These lovely gardens cater really well for families, with a huge scope of child-friendly exhibits and educational adventures geared towards teaching young visitors about art, history and nature. On arrival, head straight to the welcome centre to pick up a map of the gardens and the Brookgreen Detective’s Booklet which will keep the little ones entertained for hours.

More animal sanctuary than zoo, the Lowcountry Zoo is home to a wide variety of native animals, many of whom were born in captivity and, through injury or circumstance, could not survive in the wild. Here visitors will find native animals like alligators, river otters and bald eagles as well as Spanish goats and rare breeds of horse. Don’t leave without taking part in Mother Nature’s Café. On this free 50-minute tour, visitors can observe animals being fed and learn about their habits from knowledgeable guides.

Take a breather in the gorgeous sculpture garden and contemplate over 1,400 figurative artworks. Follow this with a bite to eat in the on-site restaurant before tackling the garden’s network of nature trails. Step back in time on the Lowcountry Trail where informative panels give visitors a glimpse of what life was life for indentured slaves. Pick up a free audio guide and explore at your leisure, keeping an eye out for the archaeological remains of the overseer’s residence, kitchen and smokehouse.

Only 32 kilometres south of Myrtle Beach, this is the perfect destination for a fun-filled day trip. Finally, the best thing about Brookgreen Gardens is the value for money as your ticket is valid for seven days, so if you don’t catch everything in one day, you can always come back for a second helping!