I know, I know - you don't want to leave the beach. But if you can drag those tootsies out of the sand, Brookgreen Gardens is well worth your time. I knew there would be lovely gardens and dramatic sculptures to gaze upon, but I truly didn't realize how much more this place offers. Also - let me blow your mind here - this place is great for young kids. You're thinking, "Yeah, right, my kid is ALL about sculpture." But would your kid enjoy the birds of prey aviary? The butterfly garden? An alligator-spotting boat ride down the Waccamaw River? I was surprised and impressed. We saw the butterfly house; the Lowcountry Zoo, with its aforementioned eagles and owls, as well as otters, gators, and barnyard animals; walked a trail that showed us the outlines of a former rice plantation; AND checked out the sculpture gardens - but we could easily have spent more time there. In fact, one of the great things about Brookgreen is that the $12 entry fee is good for a whole week, so you can take your time basking in your surroundings and enjoying everything they have to offer. read more

Brookgreen Gardens - Museums Near Me - Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

Brookgreen Gardens is a treasure worth exploring many times. There's so much to see. I went two days in a row. The first day I toured the sculpture garden, and the second day, the wildlife. The docents are quite knowledgeable and friendly. The gift shop offers wonderful and unique items -- seeds, garden sculptures, cards, clothing, condiments, sweets, jams and sauces. Brookgreen was founded by Archer Huntington, son of Arabella Huntington. How tickled I was to discover Brookgreen is related to the Huntington Library in San Marino where my papers are archived. That must explain why Brookgreen feels like home. Maybe even better than home; Paradise. If I lived nearby, I could see spending many hours here, discovering. The vistas are gorgeous -- live oaks with Spanish moss hanging. There's a really cool bench where a sculpture Bernard Baruch is sitting, smiling, I'd like to read next to him. Maybe even perform a monologue. I once spoke at Baruch College in NYC which might explain this strange attraction. read more

First off don't let my 3 stars stop you from going. I'm going to explain why I'm giving only three. We took a vacation to MB from ohio and bought a groupon which was priced good. It was myself my wife and our kids ages 3 and 10 months. Brookgreen gardens is a neat place nestled back away from the main road but nice trees. We decided to take the kids to the zoo which is kind of small and not really a zoo just a hand full of animals. We did take a tour from a nice older guy and he gave us some insight about the animals. It was our first whole dale in the MB area and it was really hot which we were not used to just yet being from ohio. The heat took a toll on the kids. They do have a little play area across from the zoo for the kids. My opinion is this is not a good place to go if you have younger kids. We really did not check anything else out besides the zoo so I can't really say much about this place. They do offer and transportation service to shuttle around people on their property. The scenery here is amazing and the place interestingly has a lovely smell. Again my three stars should not reflect the place as much as just my frustration of not getting to see what the place really offers read more

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The staff was so friendly. Fred was friendly and personable. We did the creek tour and it was a nice breezy relaxing 45 minutes. Very informative. The food by the low country trail was passable, but nothing extraordinary. The smoothies were delicious and the staff was friendly. The zoo is a native zoo, so basic animals like foxes, alligators, and birds. We had a great time! read more

This was a lovely day and well maintained gardens.. My only note is that I wish there were more signs available as you walk through this immense property directing you to the various statues... Quite often my friend and I felt lost looking for everything but did our best with the map...also look for admission deals with groupon which helps since you will pay extra for the boat ride and zoo admission ect... Took the boat ride and learned a lot about the history.. Amazing read more

Ticket are good for 7 days. Reason why, the place is just to big to be seen in one day.. The Gardens are just beautiful but teenagers will get bored quickly. read more

This is a jewel. Glorious, extensive beautifully manicured gardens, world class art on grounds and in attractive exhibition spaces. A fabulous series of outdoor activities on extensive grounds , including the not to be missed (guide) commented pontoon boat rides through the old rice field waterways seeing seasonal marsh dwellers, like alligator, great herons, rare osprey and more. Lovely historic tours of outlying areas, e.g. ancestral burial ground of the renowned Allston family, eateries, gift shop, nature programs, a children's park and much, much more. A single ticket affords week long entry, so best advice is to buy early in your stay in the Low Country, returning for new experiences every day.CBF, DC read more

One of my favorite places!! Beauty beyond compare! Something for everyone! Gardens, sculptures, zoo, boat ride, butterfly house....all wonderful. Admission also good for 7 days....who does that?? All of our company/visitors agree this is a mandatory visit every time they come down. read more

Oh my gosh! What a beautiful place to come visit. I'm from out of state, so seeing the big oak trees with Spanish moss on them was breathtaking. Not to mention the beautiful statues everywhere that make the most incredible photos. I really, really wish we could be here for the night of a thousand candles. They're setting up for it and it looks like its going to be nothing short of spectacular!!! Plus, even if you don't see everything in one day, your ticket is good for six days! How cool is that!?! Definitely a must see if you're in the area. read more

This is a must see about a half hour south of Myrtle Beach. Such a refreshing break from the tackiness of Myrtle Beach. The gardens are absolutely breathtaking. The sculptures are thoughtfully mixed throughout the grounds. We thoroughly enjoyed the low country pontoon excursion. While the excursion is an additional charge, it is well worth it. The staff were so kind, knowledgeable and helpful. A real trip highlight! read more

Brookgreen Gardens - Oak Alley - Museums Near Me - Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

Went over for the music but walked around in the gardens. This is a beautiful place. I hope it will be maintained for years to come. Every family should experience Brookgreen Gardens. read more

We've been coming to Pawleys Island for many years and never went here. This trip we went and were amazed at how beautiful the estate is. There is lot's to do and they give you a ticket which is good for 6 days. We went 3 days in a row, going for 2 hours in the morning before it got too hot to walk. We took the boat trip, walked the low country trail and saw lots of beautiful sculpture combined with incredible plantings. There was even an alligator in one of the flower beds (I don't think he belonged there). I highly recommend this gem. read more

If you're not into dealing with the filthy debauchery that is Myrtle Beach, there aren't many attractions outside of the beach in the North Litchfield area. BrookGreen Gardens is a cool little area that gives people something else to do if they want a break from the beach. I was surprised at how large and open this place was, but considering that what used to be here was 4 plantations makes sense. The statues are pretty cool, and the accents, as well as the garden grounds themselves, are very well maintained. The zoo area was interesting, not too much diversity there, but the bird exhibit was interesting, if not a little intimidating due to the birds constant murder stares and bird on bird violence that occasionally occurs. We were a little disappointed that the butterfly exhibit had a charge, considering you already pay to get into the place so it was kind of annoying. We didn't go in out of principle but it looked cool. Although I do wonder, what is the deal with the slavery exhibit? All the sound for them is done is some strained southern accent by an African American voice actor (for the slave parts), and some southern gentleman white dude for the "overseer" and slave owner parts. It seemed pretty tacky and borderline offensive, also goofy as hell, even though it was unintended. The views are nice from that area that, so at least that can distract you from the nonsense. Overall, it's a cool place to go look around if you're sick of the beach/relatives and just need an afternoon getaway. read more

Very beautiful. Art lovers will love the variety of sculptors throughout the gardens. Amazing how they have placed certain sculptors in positions that make them seem life like. A lot to see. Didn't get a chance to go to the zoo of butterfly sanctuary. read more

Worth every dime of the ten dollar admission. The ticket gets you in for five days. Best in spring and summer as plants are in bloom but a great escape anytime of the year. read more

Amazingly beautiful place. You can spend days exploring it. Our kids even love it. The gardens are gorgeous. The sculptures are amazing. There are animals, a butterfly pavillion and a childrens area.The ticket is good for 7 days so you can return at your leisure. Groupon has deals here at times. We always seem to visit when it's brutally hot (note- bathrooms and sculpture buildings are air conditioned). Best time to visit- a few weeknite they stay open late- highly recommend going then! read more

A little disappointed by tonight's event. I like coming to BG because it has always been a non-smoking venue, but not tonight. While they had a smoking "area", we could still smell the smoke. I had sextuple bypass surgery three years ago and was very disappointed to see BG changed their policy. I hope future events will be smoke free. read more

Excellent way to spend a day. Very beautiful grounds. Admission is good for a week, you will need it. We spent 5 hours there and only saw about half of the grounds. There's a lot of history with the family that owned the grounds within the community and the slave industry. Good for all ages. Bring your comfy walk shoes. read more

The art work and handmade jewelry is beautiful. The day we went I was with my sister and her husband and he was having back trouble as was my husband, but the sculptures are something to see. The sculptured horses out front are incredible and of course the gardens are very pretty. I would highly recommend this for locals as well as tourists. read more

The lunch here was surprisingly good. Don't usually get food this good on sight of an attraction. The turkey sandwich was large and excellent. Hubby really liked the chili. Also reasonably priced. Service was also very good. read more

Absolutely a must see for any art lover. This spacious garden is loaded with sculptures and roaming open areas with interests for all ages. Please give yourself a few day to take in this experience!! read more

Words cannot even express how much I loved it here. It was beautiful, mesmerizing, and a ton of fun. The sculptures were beautifully crafted and placed in beautiful settings. There were flowers everywhere and it smelled of flowers for the most part. The boat tour was fun. I did this one which was about 45 minutes, and the next day I did the Waccamaw one, which was about two hours. Brookgreen gardens boat tour I enjoyed more. I enjoyed them both, but I liked this one more. The butterfly house was awesome, just be careful not to step on the little ones. It's worth the $2 (if memory serves me correctly). Now for the little zoo that they have their. Before reading this, if you decide to go, WEAR BOOTS. There are signs before you enter the zoo that there may be poisonous snakes and insects on the trail. As I stood there reading this sign, a very large snake popped out of the bushes and surprised me. I recognized the type, at the time, and it wasn't a poisonous one. But, if they aren't scared to get that close to you, the poisonous ones may not be either. Wear boots, seriously! And insect repellent! There is a man who drives a trolley for free and he is super nice and sweet. They aren't allowed to accept tips, or I would have. I adored the zoo I happened upon a tour on accident. It was an older and very polite gentleman, whom I wish I could remember his name. He was really nice, informative, and he kept your attention. I was getting sick at my stomach from the meal I had that morning, so I had to leave in the middle of the tour, and as he saw me walking away he made sure to pull me to the side and thank me for coming out and ask if I liked the tour. I really did. There are foxes, otters, alligators, tons of different birds in cages, a walk in bird room where they feed them on the tour and they fly all around you (its seriously mesmerizing), horses, cows, and a few others Im sure. I can't remember it all, because like I said I left a little early and it's been about a month. Tips: - If you are staying for about a week or so, its good to get your ticket on your first day, because the ticket is good for an entire week, so you can go back anytime during that week with your ticket. You pay one time, and return whenever you want. SO, if you don't have the energy to do it all, you can another day. - Bring insect repellent. - The bees are used to human presence and tend to avoid them. However, if you begin to swat or be hostile towards them they WILL sting you, and it can mess up the ecosystem of this place, so please just take a few steps outside of the area. - Wear boots. - Get a schedule for the times of the free trolley, and the locations, and you won't have to walk to much. - Get a free map at the info area, your going to need it the sculpture garden is huge. - Go early in the morning, your going to spend all day here if you have the energy. - Pack a small cup of sugar water. If you see a bee lying on the ground, their blood sugar actually gets low, and you can put a few drops on a spoon and put it next to the bee. It will drink its fill and go on its way, and youve helped the place out. - There are places to eat on site, but I did not go. I had no particular reason, but maybe look up a menu ahead of time. - Bring extra cash, they have an awesome gift shop. - Get some of the tea at the giftshop, its grown on site, and tastes amazing. I drank it all within a few days. read more

Amazing place. One of my all time favorites. Simply beautiful, a cultural master piece. A must see if within 100 miles.

Being a new resident of Myrtle Beach, my friend that lives here asked if I wanted to go here to see 1,000 lights. She has lived here for several years and is a yearly pass owner. The place was gorgeous and just full of lights, sculptures, entertainment and people! I sort of wish it was daylight so I could see more, so I think I will be going there again in the spring. Having my friend with me was like having my own private tour guide. I have to say that the huge Oak trees with the moss hanging from them, reminded me of my history class and Abraham Lincoln. I felt that I was back in that era. The bronze sculptures are incredible. I loved the exhibits of poinsettias and wreathes along with different era decorated Christmas trees, including that silver one that we once had in the sixties. The toys around the bottom of the tree were from the era of the tree. There was even a Schwinn bicycle there and Raggedy Ann and Andy were sitting at a little table having a tea party. I was lucky enough to meet someone from up north that lived the next town over from where I moved from. I loved seeing the pansies and petunias growing in December. Daisies are one of my favorites and even they were growing. It's a really nice place to visit, and like I said, I want to go back while it's daylight so I can see more. The place also has golf carts from their handicapped parking area to help those that need it and they have adult strollers so that everyone can go and you don't really need a big wheelchair. I only wish that the ticket for this (NO discounts allowed for 1,000 lights) was for more than just one night because there really is so much to see. I don't know if I got to see it all. read more

This review is about the "Night of A Thousand Candles" that takes place in December every year. We are season pass holders and purchased our tickets with a $2.00 discount. We arrived at 3:30 (event starts at 3:00 - weather permitting). The volunteer staff that ushered the parking, were very rude, rude enough I had to lash back out!! I wasn't shocked that I had to do that. These were/are Conway, Georgetown, Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet people. They seem to always be rude. - I had to stop because the female in front of me stopped. She was asking a parking attendant if she and her mother could get a lift to the front; apparently her mother was handicapped. As she was sitting there talking, one of the volunteers started to yell at me to move, I was blocking the way (there was only one car behind us). He yelled at me, along with a couple more volunteers joining in 4 more times until I finally rolled down my window and yelled back "You can see, correct? There is no where for me to go. Either you go up there and park for her or shut the f*ck up" He shut up and walked away and she finally moved. Once parked, I got our stuff together to get out and one of the parking volunteers was standing in front of my car; waiting. I took at least 5 minutes because I was trying to calm down from that prior issue. I figured he was waiting to see why I said what I did or whatnot, so I was getting ready for that. As I opened my door he walked up along side my side and forced my door closed on my ankle none the less. I pushed back and he told me to sit still. I forced my door open and I said "No I think not" and got out. It did knock him a little off balance and he then saw he couldn't bully me with this temporary "authority complex" most of them have. Then another volunteer tried to force us on a golf cart to go up front along with the guy that just tried to close my door on my ankle. We said "no thank you" but they would not take that for an answer. As we started to walk away they were talking down to us. I turned around and said "we aren't tourist, we're members." (I've read and have been told the volunteers and staff mock and belittle the visitors) ; once I said that they looked shocked. We were not parked no more than 15 steps from the front entrance. The parking experience was terrible and we arrived way before the 'rush'. Disney had it more together and honestly, their parking IS terrible. As we walked through, they had the candles set up ready to go but not lit. It was still light out. There were a few in the water ponds around the sculptures and lights wrapped around the trees. We were there earlier in the month, and in November and watched them do some tree light wrapping then. The lights finally came on around 5pm and noticed some candles being lit a little after. As time rolled on, the only colors that were displayed were white, some blue, a little light yellow and a few reds. At 5:49 the Christmas tree was lit. It was all in white. Nothing else. That was disappointing. It started off looking like a black triangle, then once lit, just white. They had a refreshment & food tent (heated) for hot chocolate (they called it gourmet hot chocolate which was just Swiss Miss) *sigh*, wine, Champagne and other drinks. Prices to fit and then a little higher. The Old Kitchen was open (restaurant). We didn't purchase anything because the prices didn't fit the asking. There was music playing by bands and they had a small showing of bell players near the food tent. The christmas lights and candles were okay, but honestly, we won't be going back. They have the exact same thing, lights, candles and all, the same every year, from what I've read and was told from the workers inside the event. As we were leaving, which as just at 6:00pm - yes, we left that early - the traffic on the opposite side was backed longer than 7 football fields. ...starting at the admission office/entrance. The police helped with traffic going in and going out. We were disappointed and this was our first time. We wouldn't had of gone in the first place, if this event didn't have such rave reviews. Advice; from what I've seen from this event: - If you must go - go in early; like right when the event starts (3pm usually) - Don't expect much. Remember the ticket price. You get what you pay for. - Member parking is in a different area than 'standard' parking - they WILL NOT tell you that! For those that are "sensitive" - can experience the afterlife/spirits - Visit the Oaks (actually the best lit in the whole area, unfortunately) and the close by area (the hanging tree is what I call it) during the light and stay away once it gets dark. Those that are "sensitive" have their own levels, but once the Christmas Tree lighting took place, it got [much] worse for me around that area and it finally cleared up for me around the Keepsakes store. It was too crowded to enjoy it. read more

Ive unfortunately only been able to visit this place one time in my life, but the lasting memory was enough to recommend it to anyone who visit's the area. The sculpture garden itself hardly sticks in my mind but the nature walk outside the regular garden area offers some interesting wildlife and I seem to remember seeing otters there in a nice set up. Happy otters are always worth the visit. read more

This place is very neat. A lot to see. It's a very large garden. It's more sculpture than flower garden. We did the boat ride, which was a very neat way to learn about the history of the place. We also saw some alligators on the boat ride. We didn't get to go to the zoo, due to time but I am sure it's interesting as well. It's a very good place to walk around learning new things. The tickets are good for 7 days, can't beat that!! read more

Lovely place, perfect for beautiful photos. They had a butterfly exhibit when we visited (extra price). The ticket is good for 7 days. You definitely will be back if you buy it at the beginning of your trip. You will see a lot of lively local animals as well. read more

A very nice place to visit if in the Myrtle Beach area. The gardens are more about the sculputres (great) and nice walkways and sweeping lawns and trees, so don't expect much other in terms of other gardens (like flowers). It's about 20-30 minutes south of Myrtle Beach, and will take a good 3 hours or more to get through all of the exhibits and tours. I suggest taking the day to visit Brookgreen when it first opens (before it gets too hot), and then head over to Pawley's Island to enjoy the beach in the afternoon. I highly recommend taking the boat tour of the rice plantations as you will learn some interesting South Carolina history while taking in a nice slow boat ride through the private lands. The zoo area is just okay with some nice close-up views of Otters and Herons, but don't expect much variety and you wont' be disappointed. And the zoo walk-through is mostly shaded. The Butterfly exhibit (seasonal) is worth a look if you are into that. One other note, there is a tram that will take you from the visitor's center to other areas of the gardens (zoo, and boat dock), but the walk is really not that far as it appears on the provided maps. You can easily walk from the visitor's garden to the boat dock while touring the sculpture garden unless it is bad weather. They warned us about the boat tours selling out on many days, so plan accordingly and get tickets first for one of the afternoon boats, so you can tour the rest of the gardens or have a nice lunch at leisure. read more

OMG what a beautiful, interesting and educational place from gardens to sculptures and Christmas lights. We went to the 10,000 lights event they have in December, excellent food, wonderful entertainment and glorious twinkling lights and thousands of hand lit candles. Incredible place, worth the visit with or without the lights. It is a must see. read more

If you're looking for something to do in South Carolina other than the various beaches and Boardwalk, this is it. A piece of history and things to learn about. Beautiful marble sculptures, extravagant plants. The best thing is though, that tickets last for 7 days so you could split up the park for several days. It is an incredible value for something to do with all the kids. There's a zoo, butterfly garden, guided walking and boat tours. Animals and a gift shop. Beautiful place to visit, the only complaint is that I'm not from around here. But the next time I'm in South Carolina, I will definitely visit. read more

There is a reason why this place was made a National Landmark. It's 9,200 acre park is loaded with 250 year old oak trees, ponds, gardens, sculptures, and wildlife. I bring the wife here every time we come to Litchfield Beach. Be prepared to walk a lot, but it's worth the 3-4 hours you will need to see everything. Bring the camera! Some of the best pictures I have ever taken, were at Brookgreen Gardens. Worth the $12 admission! read more

We visited on July 27, 2015. Me, hubby and 2 teen boys. Tip: Search for a Groupon and save big bucks! We got one for $30 which is 50% off! Loved saving $30. The ticket prices, even at full price, are reasonable given the fact that the place is so large. There are gorgeous sculptures, beautiful gardens, a zoo, an aviary, a butterfly exhibit, an on-site restaurant and café, gift shop...etc. Tons to see and do. We spent about 3 hours and still did not see everything. The grounds are absolutely beautiful. We took tons of pictures. The staff were all very friendly and informative. The 2 tour guides at the Welcome Center were friendly and gave us tips on what to see. Sadly, we missed the art exhibit showing African American art. We met a staff person along the tour and she was so nice and offered more tips. It was VERY hot and humid. Tip #2: wear comfortable walking shoes, bring a towel to wipe your sweat, a huge water bottle (they sell them there but they are small and $2 each) and bring an umbrella for shade. I walked around with my portable shade (my umbrella) and it was much better. The ticket admission allows you 7 consecutive days of admission. However, we only went for 1 day. I can't see going back for a second or third day. Maybe if you have small children you might want to break it up into several days but we had teens so.... ENJOY! read more

By long and far the highlight of all my Myrtle Beach destinations. I have literally shot hundreds of photos in a single visit and willingly roamed and aimless roam through the stunning grounds. Everything is a sensual delight from the plantlife, butterflies and dragonflies, to the sculptures and fountains. Inspiring, awestriking, and pure romticism. Take something by Annie Dillard to read and you might just change your life. read more

Yep....5-stars for this place! This place will definitely be on my list to visit when I come back; however, let it be known, that it isn't for everyone. Frankly, I wouldn't come back by myself...BUT, when she is with me....this is one heck of a fun place for date-day.... definitely worth the money and very pleasant. We did the pontoon boat tour which I would do again in a heart beat. We would love to walk the grounds more, but didn't have the time to do everything. Great place to enjoy your significant other and appreciate the arts and landscaping... read more

What a treasure! If you are: a fan of nature or art or sculpture or environment or farms or history - this is one place not to miss on the South Carolina coast. Acres and acres of amazing early 20th century sculptures, old rice fields, walking paths, a small "farm" zoo, and excellent explanations of what you are seeing. Brookgreen Gardens is yours to explore. I recommend starting at the Low Country Center - where you will walk on a floor that's actually a map of the rice plantations and low country; and, you'll be able to pick up any number of brochures and maps to the walking trails as well as sign up for a guided tour or a boat ride in the flooded rice plains. While the $15 fee might seem a bit high, it is actually good for a week - so if you're living in the area, or visiting for more than a day, it's a great deal. See one part one day, and go back another day for more. The gift shop is full of wonderful things related to the gardens, sculpture, local crafts and nature. read more

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Amazing! So much more than we expected. We had thought we'd spend 2 hours touring some gardens but this is a HUGE complex with not only gardens but sculptures everywhere, poetry, fountains and other art exhibits. It is more comparable to a large arboretum you might find in a major metro area. The tickets are good for 6 days so be sure to take advantage of that and visit more than once. I cannot say enough good things about this- was only surprised that we never heard about it marketing-wise. If we lived nearby I would visit every week. read more

So glad we came here. Meet the animals were amazing. Something special for kids. We saw a snake, owl, and skunk up closet but we were not allowed to touch. The zoo area was very nice and unique. It was so hot outside but the trees that you walk under on THE ZOO path gave us some relief. It's also great to know that this zoo only exists because the animals were injured and won't survive in the wild, except the skunk, who was abandoned with no food or water when the owners moved. The trees with moss hanging off was breathtaking. We will 100%be back if we visit MB again. I also love that the tickets are good for 7 consecutive days, so you get your monies worth. read more

This was a fun afternoon. The walk around the gardens is peaceful and relaxing. The collection of art runs the gamut and it was fun to vote for a fan choice in the gallery. read more

A peaceful place to visit and explore. Not a huge crowded area. Nice place to go when you just want space to explore and get fresh air. Would recommend more bathrooms in the park. read more