Historic Charleston
First settled in 1670, the city of Charleston, South Carolina remains one of the United States’ oldest treasures. On the coast of the Atlantic, Charleston has endured the battles and hardships of this country’s two major wars and has been ravaged by hurricanes and fires. Through this, Charleston has kept its charm and history intact. Seventy-three of Charleston’s historic building pre-date the Revolutionary War and approximately 750 more structures were constructed at the end of the war through the 1840s.
Some of these historic buildings include the Aiken-Rhett House, unaltered since 1858, which showcases the antebellum life of the Old South. Middleton Plantation is an 18th century rice plantation – the crop that built South Carolina’s economy before tobacco. The Ashley River Historic District proudly points to Drayton Hall, one of the first examples of Palladian style in America. One of 16 historic churches, the 1761 St. Michael's Episcopal Church is the oldest church in the city. And on Charleston's High Battery, visitors find the 1825 Edmondston-Alston House is where Confederate General Beauregard oversaw the bombardment of Fort Sumter, the first U.S. garrison to fall to the Confederacy, thus initiating the Civil War. The Fort Sumter memorial is found in Charleston Harbor.
Other places of interest in historic Charleston include the Charleston Museum – America’s first museum. Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum is the largest of its kind in the U.S. It is home to the famous USS Yorktown, a destroyer, a Coast Guard cutter, a submarine and 25 aircraft. The Avery Research Center for African-American History and Culture and the Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens – a working plantation with a magnificent oak tree-lined avenue are two other locations that reflect the unique southern heritage.
Walking or horse-drawn carriage tours are available through the historic district.
Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
Located on “The Grand Strand” Myrtle Beach is one of South Carolina’s top vacation destinations. Over 60 miles of sandy beaches, 119 lush green golf courses, shopping, attractions and lots of fun for everyone is found in this beach community in northeast South Carolina along the Atlantic Ocean. Named for the wax myrtle trees common in the area, Myrtle Beach attracts upwards of 14 million visitors per year.
The newest and largest shopping mall in the Grand Strand area is found at the Coastal Grand Mall. Top-notch restaurants, famous for fresh seafood, amusement parks, live theater, and plenty of watersports ensure that there is entertainment for everyone in the family.
Other points of interest in the Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand area include South Carolina’s top attraction, Ripley’s Aquarium and the Brookgreen Gardens, a collection of figurative sculpture in an outdoor, natural setting that covers 9,000 acres. Brookgreen Gardens features a zoo and an aquarium as is located between Pawleys Island and Myrtle Beach. Nearby Pawleys Island is a laid-back, simple place. This 3.5 mile-long island is famous for its legendary “ghost” who warns residents of impending hurricanes.
Ripley's Aquarium
Located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is the state’s most popular attraction, Ripley’s Aquarium. Over 87,000 square feet of space contains a fascinating collection of the world’s most unique, dangerous, and beautiful aquatic creatures all brought together in one location in the Grand Strand area.
The shark feature at Ripley’s Aquarium is viewed on a 330-foot glidepath where visitors are taken on the attraction surrounded by the enclosed, 10-foot sharks. The Ray Bay is another attraction, featuring rays from over the world and even a “petting” area where visitors can touch some of the rays or even a bonnet-head shark. Other attractions feature the brilliant colored fish of the more tropical regions of the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean seen through giant windows.
The Sea-For-Yourself Discovery Center provides interactive play areas as well as educational information for adults and children. Ripley’s Aquarium also presents dive shows and marine classes throughout the day. A host of exhibits and celebrity guest appearances are frequently featured. Family camps and “Sleep with the Sharks” are some of the other popular events.
Ripley’s Aquarium is open daily.