Add these 5 Myrtle Beach area adventures beyond the beach to add to your upcoming vacation!
You’ll find everything from walking and shopping to a Castle, so let’s pack and go!
Myrtle Beach Area Adventures To Seek Out
As a young girl, I traveled back and forth to the Myrtle Beach area so many times I’ve lost track of exactly how many.
Myrtle Beach was a reasonably sane drive for a family out of Pennsylvania, where it was a 1-day trip to get there.
Once situated in the Myrtle Beach area, it was time for fun in the sun and sunburn.
Well, when you are sunburned or you don’t need to be on the beach all day, try out these 5 Myrtle Beach Area adventures beyond the beach.
There’s more to Myrtle Beach than just the beach!
Each of these 5 different Myrtle Beach area adventures is different.
None of them are taxing, but they all either fully outdoors or in and out.
So I won’t say that you will use these for a rainy day, but I will say try them to break sunburn before you leave!
Then save that last day to top off all that fun in the sun!
Spoken like a true beach girl right?
Are These Myrtle Beach Area Adventures just Walking On A Beach?
Nope! Not at all!
Rather, Myrtle Beach has great adventures from uncovering cute streetscapes and towns to down and dirty behind the seat of a race car.
In fact, there’s something for every age.
Plus, did you know that the Myrtle Beach Grand Strand is a 60 miles long destination?
We’ve got lots of territories to cover, so buckle up for these adventures and let’s start making your vacation planning list!
No. 1 Brookgreen Gardens
Did you know that the Brookgreen Botanical Garden space ranks among the top 10 in the USA?
A large parking lot, plenty of space to walk, and just breathtaking.
Wear your tracker to earn your steps to earn ‘feasting rights’ for more seafood on your plate by night, lol!
Green, Lush & Gorgeous are the only words I can use to describe what might be a hidden treasure inside Myrtle Beach.
This is an outdoor journey through the property, and if it’s raining not so sure I’d be here.
However, if you are sunburned, this is the perfect place to walk under shaded trees and on pathways to stay out of the constant sun.
Flat pathways lead to the divine, manicured gardens.
Add Brookgreen to your Myrtle Beach Area Adventures list
You’ll be traveling to the Murrells Inlet area.
Sculptures are not my thing, but here, they captivated me
Perhaps it is the very colorful botanical gardens that surround it?
No worrying about age restrictions because there are not any.
Push a stroller, bring a date, the family, or meet up as friends at the Brookgreen Gardens.
A Myrtle Beach Area Adventures that won’t break the Bank$$!
Besides the beauty inside, the beauty of the ‘bargain’ is the price point.
I have to confess this is an incredible value for those staying anywhere along the Myrtle Beach Grand Strand.
Once you purchase your ticket and begin to use it, the ticket is valid for 7 continuous days.
Why is this Myrtle Beach Area adventure so incredible?
When you have the opportunity to linger longer, around sculptures one day, and something else the next, you truly gain value in time well spent.
Split your time up there, maybe visit one day in the morning, another in the afternoon.
Or visit the sculptures one day, the Enchanted Children’s Forest another.
As a bonus point, for those of you with children, it’s great to let them run off their energy here.
Tip for Brookgreen
Wear your walking shoes, as we did an abbreviated tour and I logged in thousands of steps in just about 2 hours.
It is quite possible to hit 10k in steps before you leave!
Cheers to passive exercise.
Summary of Brookgreen Gardens
Inside Brookgreen Gardens you will find nature, and history coupled together.
Additionally, there is a zoo, and tours of the Huntington Sculpture Garden, Creek Excursions.
While walking visit the Stanley and Naomi Bleifield gallery (inside) or on the outside, American Sculpture exhibits crafted by Anna Hyatt Huntingdon.
Keep walking and you will find a large Enchanted Storybook Forest, as well as a Butterfly House.
You don’t need a guide to visit, you just need time as well as walking shoes, and I always suggest a bottle of water.
No. 2 Myrtle Beach Area Adventures: Wildlife Extravaganza
Who loves alligators, birds, eagles, oysters, and large spaces to run about?
If you answered, ‘ME’ you are going to love Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet.
I got to spend time with the famed Nature Photographer Austin Bond.
Huntington Beach State Park has salt marshes, maritime forests, and a very lush ambiance?
For those with patience and the love of bird watching, there are over more than 300 species of birds for you to sit back and seek!
Things to Know About Huntington Beach State Park
Parking inside is all free and entrance into the park is dirt.
After you spend time here as part of your Myrtle Beach area adventures beyond the beach, you will be rich in memories and images!
Seek Out Atalaya Castle
You will walk, and enjoy the lovely sunshine and gorgeous weather and you will have a marvelous, unexpected find, the Atalaya Castle.
Who knew right in the Myrtle Beach area there’s a castle!
Atalaya Castle is a National Historic Landmark in Huntington Beach Park that you don’t want to miss.
The sculptures you can see at Brookgreen Botanical Gardens came from a sculptor named Anna Hyatt Huntington, who lived here in the winter and worked.
A little trivia – she actually used wild animals for her models.
She had a room off of the castle where they were put in to stay as she sculpted. Freaky? Cool? Or totally Artistic, what’s your take?
Tickets are very inexpensive and allow you to be fortunate enough to roam through 28 rooms.
Walk the grounds, enjoy the brick on the interior and see how functional this castle was.
TIP: Have your camera ready to snap photos, it’s very unique and scenic throughout!
No. 3 Wine Tasting as part of your Myrtle Beach Area Adventures
What is a vacation without a little wine?
The answer is, “BORING!”
A lovely setting is close by at La Bella Amie Vineyard.
Sip, buy, and spend a little time!
Oh, for the love of wine, do I have a great winery for you to visit.
La Belle Amie Vineyard Little River SC offers a spectacular tasting, frozen wine options, and a lovely outdoor area to sit and sip while live music plays.
Where is La Belle Amie Vineyard?
Are you in the popular Myrtle Beach areas of Pawleys Island, Murrell’s Inlet, Garden City, Surfside, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach?
Visit, you are close!
La Bella Amie Vineyard offers the brand name of ‘Twisted Sisters Wines’ and there’s a great gift shop with everything wine you could want.
No. 4 Myrtle Beach Area Adventures: Historic District of Conway
Saunter Through The Historic District Of Conway is number 4 of my suggested Myrtle Beach area adventures beyond the beach.
Conway has always been one of my favorite stops along the way.
The streets and locally-owned shops are reminiscent of those you see in lovely parades in quaint towns in movies.
Some might even say a few of them resemble the Hallmark Channel.
We toured here because we had an hour plus before our luncheon reservation, which allowed me to enjoy the shops, architecture, and a riverwalk to enjoy the waterways.
Walk To Enjoy Architecture and The Old Southern Charm Feel which is why it makes the list of my Myrtle beach area adventures.
Head over towards the Kingston Presbyterian Church.
You’ll want to stop and gawk at Kingston Lake behind.
It’s a beautiful property and makes for incredible photo opportunities.
There’s no noise, it is just tranquil and makes for a great walk and time well spent with yourself.
Peaceful, and tranquil might be 2 great descriptors for the area, however, it’s also right in the heart of everything.
Birds were chirping, fish were jumping and I happened to watch a boat glide through the waterway.
It’s beautiful and a short ride from the very busy beach areas.
A getaway inside of your getaway.
Alleys & A Park in Conway
After walking about, I headed through the town.
One of the prettiest brick alleys was there.
I am intrigued by brick alleyways, beautiful architecture, and clean cities.
Truly Conway meets everything on my checklist.
The Town Clock Cannon Barrel in Conway
Walk towards the Town Clock Cannon Barrel which is a historic landmark, so you don’t want to miss it.
You will find the Town Clock Cannon Barrel at Main Street and Third Avenue.
Or perhaps you want to see a very well-manicured garden?
Head to 1000-1006, 4th Avenue in Conway SC and you will arrive at Kingston Park.
You can’t miss the larger-than-life mural on the brick wall and the gardens.
Stop, sit, enjoy.
I believe this is the true charm of Conway, it’s right in the midst of everything, but away from it all.
KINGSTONE PARK IN CONWAY SC
No. 5 Myrtle Beach Speedway: Ride Baby Ride!
Have you read my article where I hiked the Red Rock Canyon in stilettos because we had another meeting right after visiting that area?
Well, today, I was dressed for a winery visit and I guess you could say this is another ‘Dana dressing moment’ that will go down in history.
I slinked into the passenger side of the race car with my jean skirt on – definitely not proper, but I got the job done!
The Myrtle Beach Speedway lets those of you release your need for speed.
Trust me, if you like death-defying experiences, or want to be in the front seat of a race car without driving it, this is where the action is.
It was totally under control, every step of the way even though I felt out of control.
Sign your waiver, get your helmet on (and wear the appropriate clothing, shorts, or jeans), and get buckled in.
You will skim the walls, almost kiss the corner cone and hug the curves all unscathed and breathless.
5 Interesting Myrtle Beach Area Adventures are Waiting For you
There really is a lot to do, when you have had enough fun in the sun for the day!
Myrtle Beach is a great girlfriend getaway, perfect for romantic escapes and more importantly, families.
Visiting Conway South Carolina, the Speedway, Kingston Park and so many other fun day adventures you can rest assured there is always something fun to do!
If you are familiar with the phrase, “what you don’t know won’t hurt you,” and if you live by this, you are missing out on so much.
I hope you find these 5 Myrtle Beach Area adventures beyond the beach interesting enough to go try them! ~ Dana XO
My trip was part of a press trip visiting the area. Images and thoughts are my own. Dana