Brookgreen Gardens is a unique destination near Myrtle Beach that blends nature, art, and history to create an award-winning sculpture garden, the only of its kind in South Carolina. In addition to the famous sculptures and landscaping, Brookgreen Gardens also features the Lowcountry Zoo, a butterfly house, educational programs, special events, and more. This family-friendly destination in Murrells Inlet makes a perfect day trip from our Myrtle Beach resort, less than an hour away.
Things to do at Brookgreen Gardens
1. See the Sculpture Collection
Brookgreen Gardens is home to the largest and most comprehensive collection of American figurative sculpture in the country, spread across their famous gardens, three galleries, and a visible storage and research facility. There isn’t just one place to see sculptures here – in fact, the sculpture gardens at Brookgreen Gardens encompass most of the property, with sculptures dotted throughout.
Some of the most popular sculptures in Brookgreen Gardens include the Fountain of the Muses beside Future Conservatory, Dionysis near Rosen Carolina Terrace, and Diana of the Chase (Diana Pool) at the start of Live Oak Allée.
2. Visit the Lowcountry Zoo
One of only five institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in South Carolina, the Lowcountry Zoo is home to a host of native animals. Some of the native species you’ll see at the Brookgreen Gardens zoo include red foxes, owls, hawks, alligators, river otters, ducks, herons, white-tailed deer, and gray foxes. Brookgreen Gardens is also home to a number of wild native species that enjoy the outer areas of the gardens, like wild turkeys, eagles, snakes, and alligators.
Visit the Lowcountry Zoo to experience Mother Nature’s Cafe – a twice-daily tour (11 am and 1 pm) led by an interpreter that allows guests to observe animals’ natural behavior while they’re fed a yummy snack. This family-friendly activity at Brookgreen Gardens lasts about 50 minutes.
3. Stroll the Botanical Gardens
Brookgreen’s gardens span nearly 10,000 acres, preserving this historic site’s natural landscape and featuring cultivated areas like Live Oak Allée, the butterfly garden, Brenda W. Rosen Carolina Terrace Garden, and The Palmetto Garden. The southeast’s weather allows at least a few things in bloom year-round – this frequently-updated list of seasonal blooms at Brookgreen Gardens has all the details, including photos of the blooms so you know what to look out for.
One of the most popular times to visit Brookgreen Gardens botanical gardens is actually in the winter, when Brookgreen puts on the spectacular Nights of a Thousand Candles event that transforms the gardens into a sparkling winter wonderland decorated with thousands of hand-lit candles and twinkling lights. Early mornings are also a great time to visit the gardens, when smaller crowds give guests a chance for more tranquil experiences among the landscape.
4. Book a Boat Tour at Brookgreen Gardens
Give your walking shoes a break and book a boat tour of the creeks surrounding Brookgreen Gardens. Before becoming a stunning destination for recreation and education, the property was home to four rice plantations. You’ll cruise the creeks on a 48-foot pontoon boat and get the stories behind the historic rice fields and understand the role of enslaved Africans in cultivating this successful crop that ultimately shaped the history of the Lowcountry. This boat tour of the area around Brookgreen Gardens lasts about 45 minutes.
Tickets to the boat tour at Brookgreen are only available on-site at Brookgreen Gardens, inside the Gardener’s Cottage and the Lowcountry Center, and sell out fast. The garden recommends purchasing tickets as soon as you arrive. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children, in addition to your ticket to the gardens. The boat tour at Brookgreen Gardens runs four times daily: 11 am, noon, 2 pm, and 3 pm.
5. Admire the Gardens and Sculptures at Night
Brookgreen Gardens hosts several special nighttime events, including their famous Nights of a Thousand Candles during the winter. Throughout the year, Brookgreen offers Art After Hours, with extended hours (open ‘til dusk!) on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Many visitors use these extended hours to enjoy an indulgent dinner at Harvest Restaurant after an evening stroll through the gardens.
Visiting Myrtle Beach in the winter? The best of Brookgreen Gardens events at night awaits at Nights of a Thousand Candles. The gardens are transformed into a sparkling winter wonderland with the help of 2,700 hand-lit candles, thousands of twinkling lights, and light-infused art installments. In addition to the stunning scenery, guests also enjoy live local bands, a nightly tree lighting, and hot cider. This highly-anticipated holiday event sells out almost immediately after tickets are released, so buy early to avoid missing out!
6. Attend an Educational Program
Brookgreen Gardens offers a rotating list of education exhibits and workshops for visitors of all ages. Often in conjunction with other events happening on the property, like the photography workshop ahead of Nights of a Thousand Candles that focuses on getting the perfect shot in low light conditions, the educational programs at Brookgreen Gardens are varied and a huge testament to the range of expertise available to visitors. Local and visiting authors, artists, professors, naturalists, and more offer learning opportunities at Brookgreen, from photography and art to Tibetan sound bowl meditation and the art of Gullah Geechee doll making.
Among the family activities at Brookgreen Gardens, guests will find Gratitude Walks, DIY terrarium workshops, Mother Nature’s Cafe, and more programs offered by the gardens. Check out this daily schedule, or consult their full event calendar to see what’s happening at Brookgreen Gardens!
7. Enjoy Dining Options at Brookgreen Gardens
Whether you work up an appetite strolling the gardens or just come to treat yourself to a dinner at Harvest Restaurant, there are plenty of delicious flavors to savor at Brookgreen Gardens. The Courtyard Cafe, The Old Kitchen, and Harvest Restaurant are all located at Brookgreen, offering varied menus to satisfy all tastes.
The Courtyard Cafe, open daily from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm, is located in Lowcountry Center and serves up crisp salads, tasty wraps, and easy-to-eat sandwiches.
The Old Kitchen, open daily from 10 am to 4 pm, is located at the end of Live Oak Alleé and offers salads, sandwiches, wraps, and other light refreshments, plus desserts. Guests love The Old Kitchen’s porch that overlooks the gardens.
Harvest Restaurant, open daily from 11 am to 3 pm with longer hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays for Art After Dark, is the full-service dining option at Brookgreen. Their menu features fresh seafood, decadent meats, and crisp salads, plus Lowcountry specialties like fried green tomatoes and she crab soup.
8. Take Part in Seasonal Events and Festivals
Brookgreen Gardens hosts a variety of seasonal events, including Nights of a Thousand Candles, Harvest Home Weekend, and Art in Bloom. These Brookgreen Gardens festivals and events add extra excitement to an already-awesome destination.
Harvest Home Weekend – October 5 and 6, 2024
Verdant Textures: Art in Bloom – October 6 to November 17, 2024
Art After Hours – Wednesdays and Saturdays in 2024, subject to change
In the Pink Walk – October 19, 2024
Gratitude Walk – November 23, 2024
Nights of a Thousand Candles Preview Benefit – November 29, 2024
Nights of a Thousand Candles 2024 – November 30, 2024 to January 5, 2025
Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in nature, learn about the Lowcountry’s rich history, explore a new art form, or simply enjoy a peaceful day with family, Brookgreen Gardens offers an experience you’ll never forget. With Dayton House Resort just a short drive away, you can enjoy the comfort and convenience of an oceanfront resort as you explore both Myrtle Beach and nearby Murrells Inlet. Make your Myrtle Beach vacation even more memorable with a trip to Brookgreen Gardens.