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Hop in the car, take a drive, see beautiful things, challenge your mind and enjoy gourmet dining! The Arts Grand Strand has started the area's first Art Trail with 18 fine art galleries and 3 restaurants participating. Laid out on a 4x9 rack card, the Art Trail stretches the entire 60 mile length of the Grand Strand from Calabash to Conway to Georgetown. The purpose of the trail, like those in other cities, is to provide art lovers with an easy-to-follow map to see much of the best artwork in the area, most of which is for sale. For visitors…

Hopsewee Plantation -while just about 30 miles south of central Myrtle Beach-feels worlds away. This National Historic Landmark was built about 40 years before the American Revolutionary War, and is the birthplace of Thomas Lynch, Jr., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. This private residence is open from January 30 through December 15 in 2018, Tuesday through Saturday, with tours on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This historically significant local landmark is by far one of my favorite places to take visiting friends and…

The Myrtle Beach area is home to two outstanding South Carolina State Parks: Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park . As an outdoor enthusiast, I enjoy spending time in both of these parks throughout the year. In fact, we’re annual pass holders--something I definitely recommend investing in if you are a South Carolina resident. When we’re on the southern end of the Grand Strand towards Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, I always like to stop at Huntington Beach State Park. The park is home to a wide, pristine beach, over 300…

While I often recommend the Myrtle Beach Art Museum as an ideal spot for those waiting for clouds to pass or a sunburn to subside, the truth is it’s a great stop even on the sunniest of days. The Franklin G. Burroughs Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is housed within historic Springmaid villa and has been open to the public since 1997. There is so much to love about the museum. For starters, admission is free for everyone. The museum houses 11 galleries with exhibitions that change throughout the year featuring a variety of artists and types of work…

As a year round resident of the Grand Strand, I like to keep a running list of all the fun, free things to do throughout the busy summer season. While we love to take advantage of the many wonderful family-friendly attractions the Myrtle Beach area has to offer, it would get pricey if we were doing something with an admission fee every single day. One of my favorite free places to visit any time of year is Vereen Historical Memorial Gardens . Beyond being absolutely free to enter and explore, Vereen Historical Memorial Gardens is a must do for…

Explore more than 20 African American cultural sites along the Grand Strand, in both Horry and Georgetown Counties. The South Carolina African American Heritage Commission (SCAAHC) has created The Green Book of South Carolina, the first mobile web travel guide to African American cultural sites across South Carolina. This mobile book offers visitors and residents a user-friendly guide to celebrating and enriching cultural experiences across South Carolina, including several historic sites throughout the Grand Strand. It’s a contemporary homage…

When people find out the Myrtle Beach area is home to a fantastic symphony orchestra that performs more than 15 concerts a year, they usually say, “I had no idea!” Well, we think you should know that the Long Bay Symphony (LBS) offers world-class talent and an exciting array of performances between September and late April each year. They also strive to provide high-quality educational programs for both young people and adults. Education initiatives include the Long Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra, Musicians in the Schools program, annual young…

Flowers are peeking through the dirt, trees are preparing to bud and the sun is shining just a bit more. The first day of spring must be close! I’ve always loved the new beginnings that spring brings, which is also why it’s one of my favorite times of year to get away and reconnect with my loved ones: after the chillier months have passed and before the school year rushes to a close. Here is a list of some of the best places to welcome this new season: State Parks Spring is nearly synonymous with flowers, but of course all of nature comes to…

It’s hard to believe another year is coming to a close, and with it will be a barrage of lists that celebrate the best and the worst of the past year. For me, though, I always like to look forward, so this list will focus on the best of what’s to come. Here is my list of the top 10 must-do in travel for 2016. 10. Visit the beach. There is something so serene, so fulfilling and so rejuvenating about the ocean . I’m refreshed every time I catch its wonder. Don’t let 2016 pass without giving it a glance. 9. Get cultured. There is so much value, for…

A tradition going back decades returns to Brookgreen Gardens starting this Saturday, with the National Sculpture Society’s 82 nd Annual Awards Exhibition. Available for viewing Aug. 8 through Nov. 1, 2015, this annual juried exhibition presents works from the greats right alongside works from up-and-comers in American sculpture. The National Sculpture Society, America’s oldest professional organization of sculptors, will present 15 awards. In addition, the popular People’s Choice Award will be determined by the votes of Brookgreen Gardens…