Looking for some fun, healthy ways to stay active? Here are some of great ideas:
Explore history and nature at Vereen Memorial Gardens
Vereen Memorial Gardens is a hidden gem that features picnicking, hiking, bicycling, birding, fishing and a nature trail.
Outdoorsy types will appreciate the wide variety of plants and trees, highlighted by interpretive signage. A three-mile loop of trails through the 114-acre park allows users to travel through beautiful woods and boardwalks over the salt marsh. Find serenity at an observation deck overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.
The park also features the Vereen family cemetery, which includes Revolutionary War graves, and one of the few stretches of the Kings Highway to retain its unpaved original appearance.
Prepare for a moderate drive – the park is about half an hour from Myrtle Beach and an hour from Murrells Inlet.
More Information: http://www.lovemyrtlebeach.net/vereen-memorial-gardens.html
Location: 2250 South Carolina Highway 179 in Little River
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Free
Go birding At Huntington Beach State Park
Family-friendly Huntington Beach State Park is one of the best places in South Carolina to go birding. More than 300 bird species have been spotted at this beachfront park, including the bald eagle. The best spots are along the causeway, the jetty or the beach.
While you’re there, take a stroll along one of the park’s three recreational trails, ranging in length from 0.1 miles to two miles. It’s also a great place to access the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway (see below for more).
Walk With a Doc
You can walk your way to better health and get your health questions answered by a Tidelands Health physician at the same time.
Walk With a Doc is held every month in The Market Common community of Horry County. At each event, a physician offers a brief presentation about a health topic before leading the group on a refreshing, one-mile walk around the lake at Grand Park.
More information: http://www.tidelandshealth.org/walkwithadoc
Location: The picnic pavilion adjacent to Forbus Court near the baseball fields in Grand Park across from The Market Common. The walk takes place rain or shine.
Time: 9 a.m. on the second Saturday of every month
Admission: Free
Search for shells and shark teeth at Myrtle Beach State Park
The offseason is a great time to hunt for shells and shark teeth, with arguably no better spot to search than Myrtle Beach State Park. Grab a sweatshirt to explore the park’s one-mile stretch of relatively undeveloped beach.
After you’re done, take the children to one of the park’s three playgrounds or go for a stroll on either of the two recreational trails.
Location: 4401 South Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
More information: https://southcarolinaparks.com/myrtle-beach
Admission: $5 adults; $3.25 for seniors, $3 for children ages 6-15. Free for children 5 and younger.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Bike, Walk or Run the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway
The Waccamaw Neck Bikeway is a popular multi-purpose path that travels parallel to Route 17 from Murrells Inlet to Pawleys Island.
The paved portion of the path extends about 15 miles, although not all of it is contiguous. As a result, travelers will need to share the road between completed sections.Man Walking Dog In Nature
The section that travels through Huntington Beach State Park features beautiful woodlands and pristine wetlands. Trail users are urged to use caution in that area due to damage caused by Hurricane Matthew.
According to discoversouthcarolina.com, the best public parking areas to access the trail include:
- Morse Park Landing in Murrells Inlet
- Huntington Beach State Park (admission fees apply)
- The north parking lot at the Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort
- The Food Lion at the south causeway
- Website: N/A
Admission: None (if using public parking)
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Take a stroll in Georgetown
There’s little more relaxing than a peaceful stroll along the Harborwalk in Georgetown. Enjoy beautiful views of the Sampit River and the boats traveling in the water. Hop off the 12-foot-wide wooden promenade and take a self-guided tour of the area’s historic homes, or visit one of the area’s excellent restaurants for a drink or bite to eat.
Once you’re done, head down Front Street to Morgan Park, where several short boardwalks and trails will lead you through the woods to some great views of the Sampit River and Winyah Bay.
Website: N/A
Admission: N/A
Hours: N/A
