Tag: Wilmington

5 Things to Do in Myrtle Beach, SC

Why visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina? For one, there is more than 60 miles of wide beach peppered with charming beach towns to explore as you wind your way through the sand. Another reason is the fabulous glamping location that is Carolina Shores RV Resort where the vacation cottages provide the perfect accommodations for a beach vacation. On-site amenities include a swimming pool, a lazy river, mini-golf and beach access. And here are just a few don’t miss things when visiting the area:

Lazy River at Carolina Shores RV Resort
Lazy River at Carolina Shores RV Resort

1. Myrtle Beach State Park: Developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s, this 312-acre state park was the first state park to open in South Carolina. Since 1936, visitors have been fishing for flounder, mackerel and trout, to name a few, and catching glimpses of native wildlife. Several hiking trails will lead you to the beach while the Sculptured Oak Nature Trail will take you through a maritime forest. Swimming, birdwatching, geocaching and bike riding are also great activities that can be done here.

Beach at Carolina Shores RV Resort
Beach at Carolina Shores RV Resort

2. Broadway at the Beach: If you can’t find something you like to do at Broadway at the Beach, then you might not know what fun is. And if that is the case, you will definitely find the meaning of fun out here. The question here is not “what can I do here?” but more “what can’t you do here?” at this 350-acre entertainment venue that has everything from ziplining adventures to live theater. Shopping, restaurants, escape rooms, the Ripley’s Aquarium and more can be found here. Check out broadwayatthebeach.com for details.

Brookgreen Gardens in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, SC
Brookgreen Gardens in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, SC

3. Brookgreen Gardens: Initially built as a retreat for his ailing wife, the founder of the gardens, wealthy industrialist Archer Milton Huntington later turned Brookgreen Gardens into a place with a mission to exhibit and preserve American figurative sculpture; to exhibit and preserve the plants of the Southeast; and finally, to exhibit and preserve the animals of the Southeast. Visitors today can stroll through the Botanical Garden which features Live Oak trees dating to the 1700s, the Sculpture Garden with over 2000 works on display, and the Lowcountry Zoo. For hours of operation, visit brookgreen.org.

Charleston, SC - The Historic District at Twilight
Charleston, SC – The Historic District at Twilight

4. Day Trips: A longer day trip would include the 90-mile drive to Charleston to see the historic Charleston City Market, Fort Sumter or take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city that highlights the antebellum mansions, the beautiful gardens and the city’s landmarks. A 75-mile drive will put you in Wilmington where the USS North Carolina, the World War II battleship that earned 15 battle stars, resides. The Wilmington Railroad Museum is also here. You could also take a drive to Pawleys Island, which is about 30 miles from Myrtle Beach and home to some of the best hammocks you can find at the Original Hammock Shop, which has been making comfortable hammocks for over 130 years. And even closer, and apparently, a seafood lovers’ haven, is Little River, which is great for fishing, eating seafood and visiting the La Belle Amie Vineyard, the local vineyard and winery.

5. Stroll the Boardwalk: While the original boardwalk dating to the 1930s is long gone, a casualty of age and weather, the new boardwalk was completed in 2010 and has been ranked #3 in the country by National Geographic and #2 by Travel and Leisure. Running a little over one mile along the ocean with lovely views and plenty of shops and restaurants, a stroll on the Boardwalk is a must. And there is also the SkyWheel, which stands 187-feet tall featuring 42 glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled gondolas and a spectacular vantage point!

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Black History Sites

The historic and famous Acorn Street in Boston

February is Black History Month. In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized the month of February as a time to “recognize the accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” However, the original concept to recognize black history dates to the early 1900s and is attributed to Carter G. Woodson, who is considered the “father of black history.” There are many historic sites throughout the US significant to black history, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016 in Washington DC. The museum is the largest destination dedicated to the African-American experience. A few more sites are listed here.

Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument: Part of the National Park System, this location in Wilberforce, Ohio, preserves and interprets the legacy of the Buffalo Soldier of the U.S. Army. Through photos and other multi-media exhibits, visitors can learn about these soldiers who served in America’s wars, beginning with the Civil War.

Wilberforce is approximately 30 miles from the cabins and cottages at Wilmington.

National Civil Rights Museum:  The museum, located in Memphis, Tennessee, explores the history of the Civil Rights Movement and houses more than 260 artifacts. Through these artifacts, films and other multi-media exhibits, visitors can trace the history of the movement beginning with the 17th century. The museum is built around the Lorraine Motel, which was the site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Memphis is approximately 68 miles from the cozy cabins at Cherokee Landing.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site: Visitors to this national park in Washington, D.C., can tour Cedar Hill, where Frederick Douglass lived from 1877 until his death in 1895, through a guided tour with a Park Ranger. There is also a film, Fighter for Freedom: The Frederick Douglass Story, as well as other historical exhibits.

Freedmen’s Town National Historic District: This neighborhood in Houston was one of several areas established by freed slaves after the Civil War. Roughly 1000 freed slaves settled the community after leaving the cotton plantations of Texas. The history of the area can be explored at the Rutherford B.H. Yates Museum and the African American Library at the Gregory School.

Houston is about 50 miles from Lake Conroe, where you can stay in a cozy cabin.

African American National Historic Site/Black Heritage Trail: The Black Heritage Trail runs through the city of Boston, Massachusetts, and highlights 15 pre-Civil War structures and historic sites important to black history. The African Meeting House, which is the oldest surviving black church in the United States, dating to 1806, is on the trail. The trail also includes the home of John Coburn, an African-American abolitionist who aided the efforts of the Underground Railroad.

Boston is 45 miles from the Tuxbury Tiny House Village.