AREA ATTRACTIONS

Atalaya (Murrels Inlet)

Atalaya Rd, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 • atalayacastle.com

Atalaya, meaning “watchtower” in Spanish, was built near the Atlantic Ocean in northeastern South Carolina by industrialist and philanthropist Archer M. Huntington and his wife, the sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, and now lies within present day Huntington Beach State Park. The location was chosen as a milder winter retreat for the health of Anna Huntington, who suffered from tuberculosis from the mid-twenties to the mid-thirties. The 40,000 square foot home covers nearly one acre — the living quarters consisting of 30 rooms around three sides of the perimeter. The studio includes a 25-foot skylight which opens onto a small, enclosed courtyard where Mrs. Huntington would work on her sculpture. The exteriors of many of the windows feature hand-wrought iron grills designed by Mrs. Huntington were installed along with shutters for protection against hurricane winds. This exquisite home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992 and can be enjoyed with self-guided audio or docent-lead tours.

Huntington Beach State Park (Murrells Inlet) • 843-237-4440

16148 Ocean Highway, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 • huntingtonbeachstatepark.net

Pristine beaches, the finest bird-watching on the East Coast, the chance to see endangered plants and animals up close and endless options for outdoor activities make this 2,500 acre state park located at the southern end of the Myrtle Beach Area a great item to add to your itinerary. Get your lines wet with ocean jetty fishing, access the inlet, marshes and back bays via a boat ramp, get the blood running on a two mile or ¼ mile hiking trail, and stay the night camping.

Myrtle Beach State Park (Myrtle Beach) • 843-238-5325

4401 South Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 • myrtlebeachstatepark.net

You would never ex pect to find an oceanfront 312 acre state park in the heart of one of the east coasts major tourist destinations. Donated in 1934 by Myrtle Beach Farms, this state park offers nature tours, engaging programs and educational programs surrounding the natural resources of the park. Nature trails, equestrian trails, bike paths, an ocean fishing pier, and tent and RV camping in the oceanfront woods just 300 yards from the beach are just the beginning.

Pawleys Island Historic District (Pawleys Island)

321 Myrtle Ave, Pawleys Island, SC 29585-6215

One of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast, Pawleys Island has developed an old-time charm that still remains from its roots in the early 1700s. Remaining today are 12 residences in the historic district, which date from the late 1700s to the mid-1800s. In the historic district, signs describe brief histories of the antebellum homes. Known for its shoeless, carefree, laid-back life style, Pawleys locals and visitors alike enjoy activities which include crabbing in local creeks, fishing, ghost stories, lounging in hammocks and an abundant stretch of wide beach and sand dunes. Pawleys Island abounds with simple virtue. Pawleys Island is a barrier island nearly four miles long and for the most part only one house wide. The island, set apart from the mainland by a exquisite salt marsh, can be accessed by two short causeways – a physical marker of entering a time long gone, filled with peace and contentment.

Area Attractions

Museums

Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum (Myrtle Beach) • 843-238-2510

3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC • myrtlebeachartmuseum.org

The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand’s only art museum. Since 1997, it has stood as a beacon of culture for residents who visit from Horry and Georgetown counties, as well as for thousands of visitors from throughout our state, country and world.

Georgetown County Museum (Georgetown)

120 Broad Street at The History Center • georgetowncountymuseum.com • 843-5457020

Preserves and displays of over 300 years of history and culture. Get a close look at Native American artifacts, relics of local plantation culture (clothing, toys, slave bills). Learn about the rice culture and the lumber industry. 60 minutes, $2-$4

Horry County Museum and L.W. Paul Living History Farm (Conway) • 843-915-5320

805 Main Street, Conway, South Carolina 29526 • HCGMuseum@horrycounty.org

The Horry County Museum currently serves the people Horry County and its visitors through the presentation of exhibits on the history, prehistory, and natural history of the county at the museum’s main location. The majority of the museum’s collections are stored at the Main Street location and include a highly acclaimed photographic collection as well as historic artifacts documenting the unique history and culture of Horry County. The L.W. Paul Living History Farm, is a branch of the Museum.

Kaminski House Museum (Georgetown)

1003 Front St., Georgetown, SC, 29440 • kaminskimuseum.org • 843-546-7706

A beautiful waterfront colonial home open to the public. From the promise of the colonial period to the difficulties of the Civil War and Reconstruction to the current day, the site serves as a backdrop to the growth and changes in the Georgetown area. 60 minutes. $7 - Group discounts available.

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum (Mount Pleasant)

40 Patriots Point Rd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 • patriotspoint.org • 843-884-2727

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum strives to preserve the living history of our nation’s bravest men and women while telling their stories in honorable, educational and engaging ways. Explore a fleet of National Historic Landmark ships, including the USS YORKTOWN, Cold War Memorial and the only Vietnam Support Base Camp in the U.S.

The Gullah Museum (Georgetown)

123 King Street, Unit 7, Georgetown, S.C. 29440 • gullahmuseumsc.com • 843-527-1851

The Gullah Museum and Gullah O’oman Shop educate visitors about the history of the Gullah people inhabiting the southeastern Atlantic coastal region of the United States. The Gullah still practice their own language, cuisine and observances. In the heart of Pawleys Island, the museum and shop are a must stop shop stop for handcrafted items in the Gullah tradition – sweetgrass baskets, artisan quilts, Gullah clothing and toys.

Visitor And Local Information

Legends of the Grand Strand

The South Carolina coastal waters were especially productive for pirates, and the coves and inlets along the Grand Strand provided great hiding places for these marauders. Pirates who became local legends include Edward Teach, called Blackbeard because of his coalblack beard, and Drunken Jack, who was left behind on an island with a huge stash of stolen rum (and died with a smile on his face).

We love our ghosts – especially the good ones, which most of them are. The most enduring ghost stories are of Alice Flagg, ghost of the Hermitage, and the Gray Man. Alice roams beside the waters of Murrells Inlet, searching for a ring she received from a young man her family did not approve of. As she lay in bed ill with a fever, her brother discovered the ring on a ribbon around her neck, being enraged, and flung it into the inlet. The story of the Gray Man also involves a tragic love story, as a soldier returns home to marry his sweetheart. Riding on horseback, he has an accident and is killed. His spirit, however, lives on, and he is able to warn his lover of an approaching hurricane and save her life. Since that time, many people have reported seeing the Gray Man before a hurricane and heeded his ghostly warning to seek safety.

Beach-Going Wheelchairs

In Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Surfside Beach, beach-going wheelchairs are available for use free of charge. These chairs are sturdy and come equipped with an umbrella and large balloon tires for maneuvering through soft sand.

In Myrtle Beach, beach wheelchairs are available at the following lifeguard stands: 77th Ave. N.; 72nd Ave. N.; 54th Ave. N.; 24th Ave. N.; 8th Ave. N.; 8th Ave. S.; 20th Ave. S. (wheelchairs); 21st Ave. S. (handicap access) these locations also offer handicap parking. For more information, call 918-1000

In North Myrtle Beach, wheelchairs are available M–F at the Recreation Center on Possum Trot Road. Call 280-5584 to reserve one. Handicap beach access at the following locations: Main St.; Sea Mountain Hwy.; 4th Ave. N.; 6th Ave. S.; 9th Ave. S.; 15th Ave. S.; 17th Ave. S.; 21st Ave. S.; 27th Ave. S.; 39th Ave. S. 46th Ave. S.

In Surfside Beach, wheelchairs are available by calling 913-6368. Handicap beach access at the following locations: 3rd Ave. N.; Surfside Drive at Surfside Pier; Melody Lane.

Shag Dancing

A dance described as “Southern tradition of style and grace,” the shag was born decades ago along this stretch of Carolina coastline. Here shagging is a phenomenon, transcending age and bringing together thousands of enthusiasts seeking to perfect its laid-back, seemingly effortless moves. The shag is so much a part of the culture, it has been declared South Carolina’s official dance.

A close cousin of the 1930s craze called the Big Apple, the shag has been the subject of a movie, books, and countless magazine and newspapers articles. And although the jazz sounds of the 1930s helped to create the acrobatic Big Apple, we Southerners slowed it down and smoothed out a bit.

Much more than a dance, the shag is also a feeling – of friendship, and of sand, salt, and surf combined with smoothly worn hardwood floors. It’s the unhurried moves of a dance that knows no age barriers, a way of life set to rhythm and blues, an opportunity to re-live youth.

Seashells and Fossils

More than 700 species of shells live in the waters of South Carolina. Among the most common are whelks, angel wings, arks, pen shells, augers, cockles, slipper shells, jingles, coquina, and olive shells. Starfish, sea urchins, and sand dollars also can be found on local beaches.

When sand dollars are alive, they have a dark, fur-like covering. When they wash up on the beach, the sun bleaches them white. Sand dollars are extremely fragile.

The most common fossils found on area beaches are sharks teeth, which are usually black or dark brown. Fossilized shark’s teeth are millions of years old. Other fossils found in the area include animal bones, horses’ teeth and fossilized shells.

The best times to look for shells and fossils are on an outgoing tide, during a new moon or full moon, and after a storm.