Spread over a 3,682-hectare site, Brookgreen Gardens has plenty of varied activities suitable for the whole family.
One of the most popular places to visit is the sculpture garden, which boasts some 1,400 works of art from more than 350 different artists. The work is dotted throughout the garden, which is also criss-crossed with trails, which are home to over 2000 plant species.
Younger visitors will love the Lowcountry Zoo where they can see alligators, river otters and birds of prey as well as rare breed horses, cows, sheep and goats. The zoo is also a sanctuary for several injured animals rescued from the wild. If you want to find out more, you can take the free 50-minute tour of the zoo available each day. In the Mother Nature Zoo Tour, you will get the chance meet the animals and watch them being fed.
There are also walking tours of the whole area on offer or you can choose to explore at your own pace. Pick up a map of the gardens and gather other information you may need for your visit from the Welcome Centre. Along the trails, there are plaques which give interesting background information on what you are observing. There is also an audio tour describing what life was like for the many African slaves who used to work on the rice plantations that once stood here. Look out for sites of historic interest such as the structures that were discovered during an archaeological dig and which are now visible from the Lowcountry Trail.
The Welcome Centre also offers a children’s pack for younger visitors. The booklet highlights points of interest for children to look out for as they tour the gardens.
If you are in need of refreshments, there are two cafés and a restaurant on site.
Open daily, Brookgreen Gardens is approximately 32 kilometres south of Myrtle Beach. The admission price includes unlimited entry for a whole week from the date of your first visit. It also includes access to the gardens and activities on the daily programme as well as most tours and exhibits.
