Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen Gardens is a 9,127-acre property about 20 minutes south of Myrtle Beach that combines one of the finest outdoor sculpture collections in the world with stunning botanical gardens, a small zoo featuring native Lowcountry animals, and pristine tidal creek habitats accessible by boat. This National Historic Landmark transcends the typical family attraction category — it is a place where art, nature, and wildlife intersect in ways that surprise and engage children who might think a sculpture garden sounds boring.

The sculpture gardens are the heart of Brookgreen and house over 2,000 works of figurative sculpture displayed along pathways shaded by ancient live oaks draped in Spanish moss. For families, the key is framing the experience as a scavenger hunt. Kids who might glaze over at the phrase "American figurative sculpture" light up when challenged to find the bronze fox hiding in the garden, the dolphins leaping from a fountain, or the life-size horse emerging from the hedge.

The Enchanted Storybook Forest section translates classic fairy tales into garden vignettes that younger children follow with genuine delight.

The Lowcountry Zoo is a revelation for families expecting only gardens. This accredited zoo focuses exclusively on animals native to the southeastern coastal plain, displayed in naturalistic habitats woven throughout the garden landscape. American alligators bask in a recreated cypress swamp.

Red foxes, white-tailed deer, river otters, and bald eagles occupy habitats that feel like extensions of the surrounding wilderness. The raptor aviary and the daily bird of prey demonstrations are particular favorites with children.

The creek excursion boat tour is the experience most families name as their highlight. These narrated pontoon boat rides venture into the tidal creeks and salt marshes of the surrounding property, where bottlenose dolphins surface regularly, great blue herons wade in the shallows, and ospreys dive for fish. Depending on the season, you may spot bald eagles nesting in riverside trees.

The naturalist guides are knowledgeable and great with kids, turning every wildlife sighting into a teaching moment without being preachy.

The property's scale is both an asset and a planning consideration. The main garden area that most families focus on covers a walkable area that takes 2-3 hours to explore thoroughly. Adding the zoo extends the visit to 3-4 hours.

The creek excursion adds another 90 minutes. Attempting everything in a single visit, especially in summer heat, often leads to exhausted children and frustrated parents.

This is where the 7-day ticket becomes Brookgreen's secret weapon for vacationing families. Since admission is valid for 7 consecutive days, you can visit the gardens and zoo one morning, return another day for the creek excursion, and even pop back a third time for a focused walk through a section you loved. No other attraction in the Myrtle Beach area offers this kind of flexibility, and it transforms Brookgreen from a single visit into a recurring anchor for your vacation week.