Attractions

Ripley’s Aquarium is South Carolina’s most visited attraction for good reason. Impressive, educative and entertaining, there’s a dive-in theatre, a ride through a shark tank and we all enjoyed their current exhibition “Lethal Weapons” which chronicles the many bizarre ways in which marine life can kill! Magiquest at Broadway on the beach is a high-tech journey through a detailed world of magic kingdoms and portals where you use your magic wand to perform quests of ever increasing difficulty. At the other end of the spectrum, good old-fashioned fishing from the end of the pier proved to be the highlight of the entire trip for Tim when he caught (and released) his first shark.

Charleston

One of the great virtues of vacationing in Myrtle Beach is its close proximity to the stately city of Charleston. Just two hours drive southwards lays South Carolina’s best preserved antebellum city, a city of cobblestone streets, courtly homes, gracious hospitality, nooks and crannies overhung with wisteria and jasmine and over 70 pre-Revolutionary buildings. We explored the picturesque streets, admired the views over the harbour to Fort Sumter where the first shots of the civil War were fired; we explored the newly restored market and took a horse-drawn carriage ride with Palmetto Carriage Works through this unique city.

Conway

One of the twelve communities that comprise Myrtle Beach, Conway is a quiet, genteel community, first settled in 1735. It’s a lovely place to spend a slow-paced day, relaxing under the stately, lichen-draped oaks, browsing the small town shops such as Pop’s Glass Gallery and Studio, and strolling the peaceful boardwalk along the Waccamaw River.

Parks and Gardens

Though the family resorts line much of Myrtle Beach, nature is never too far distant, and we found some delightful places to experience some of South Carolina’s many natural wonders. Closest of all - a short walk down the beach – is Myrtle Beach State Park, featuring a wide open beach, a fishing pier (this was where Tim caught his shark) and meandering paths through oceanfront maritime forest. Huntington Beach State park features a bizarre Moorish-style winter mansion, superlative bird watching and chance to see alligators in the wild. But the star attraction is Brookgreen Gardens, the “floral jewel of South Carolina’s coastal community” – a glorious mix of impressive sculpture and native fauna set in verdant landscaped gardens at the edge of southern swamplands.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

There is an inverse relationship in travel between the ease of travelling to a place and the unspoilt nature of that place. And by ‘unspoilt’, I mean the degree to which the destination remains true to its own culture and not homogenized into "AnywhereVille". And so St. Vincent and the Grenadines remains true to its Caribbean roots, the vibrant fusion of native, African and European peoples that epitomises what is so wonderful about this part of the world, and where we chose to confirm our commitment to each other after 30 years of marriage.