Bay View Resort is one of the newer resorts to the Grand Strand. Situated along the 1.2 mile Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, close to many attractions, restaurants and shopping. But, if you are looking to see how and where Myrtle Beach became a tourist hotspot for so many, you will want to first start with a trip to Brookgreen Gardens.
Located in Murrells Inlet, about 30 minutes south of Bay View Resort. Brookgreen is home to a 9,100-acre sculpture garden and wildlife preserve featuring several lush and expansive botanical gardens, each with its own distinct theme. And, containing 2,000-plus artworks by more than 400 artists, the grounds also showcase the nation’s most comprehensive collection of American figurative sculpture. But perhaps of more interest to the history buff, this official National Historic Landmark is also home to a trio of historic rice plantations: Laurel Hill Plantation, Springfield Plantation and The Oaks Plantation. There are many events throughout the year to celebrate the history and what it used to be and what it has developed into.
You can’t visit Brookgreen Gardens without a trip to Atalaya Castle at Huntington State Park. The former winter home of industrialist/philanthropist Archer M. Huntington and his sculptor wife Anna Hyatt Huntington, this 30-room Spanish-Moorish style mansion in Murrells Inlet overlooks the Atlantic Ocean at Huntington Beach State Park. To learn more about circa-1930s castle Atalaya (which means “watchtower” in Spanish) and its history. These two places go together and will really help you shape your vision of yesteryear.
Below are a few other options you may also include.
Hobcaw Barony: Encompassing 16,000 acres of unspoiled land on the coast near Georgetown, it has a unique mix of natural, cultural, educational and historical resources that draws researchers, students and tourists from far and wide. To learn more about Hobcaw Barony and its many historical offerings, visit hobcawbarony.org.
Hopsewee Plantation: Built 40 years before the Revolutionary War in 1735, this National Historic Landmark near Georgetown was a major Lowcountry rice plantation and holds a special place in history as the birthplace of Thomas Lynch Jr., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Opened Tuesdays through Saturdays throughout most of the year. Visit hopsewee.com to learn more.
The Rice Museum: In the 1840s, the Georgetown area produced nearly half of America’s rice crop? This museum located in the Old Market Building in Georgetown teaches visitors about the area’s role in history as a major center of rice cultivation with dioramas, maps, paintings, artifacts and other exhibits. Learn more at ricemuseum.org.
After enjoying the historical parts of the Grand Strand, head back to your oceanfront room and relax on your balcony.
