Showtime on the Coast in Myrtle Beach
One of the favorite vacation destinations in the Southeast, Myrtle Beach has developed quite a menu of attractions and activity options for visitors. The Greater Myrtle Beach area covers some 60 miles of South Carolina’s Atlantic coastline, stretching from Little River in the north to Georgetown in the south. But for tour groups, the highlight of Myrtle Beach is its abundance of music and entertainment.
The Myrtle Beach area has a number of theaters that offer live music, comedy, magic and other performances, giving groups an opportunity to see a different show each night they are in town. Audiences have long enjoyed musical revues at the Carolina Opry, the Alabama Theatre and Legends in Concert; Pirates Voyage and Medieval Times present interactive dinner shows with stunts, music and comedy.
The GTS Theatre, one of the newest options in the area, offers a number of shows, including a Motown review and a pair of Christmas shows. Coming in 2018 is the Asher Theatre, which will feature a celebrity impressionist.
While you’re there: Among the most interesting stops in the area is Pawleys Island, where Huntington Beach State Park has more than six miles of flat trails through lush terrain. It also features Atalaya, a home built in the style of a Moorish castle. Sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, whose work is on display in nearby Brookgreen Gardens, used the home as a winter estate.
Scenic Cruises in Charleston
Charleston is among the most scenic and historic cities on Southern waterfronts, and Spirit Line Cruises is a family-owned business that helps tourists make the most of their visits to the city. The company operates various cruises around Charleston, including a 90-minute narrated harbor cruise that showcases some of the city’s most historic sites.
During a cruise, visitors see beautiful antebellum homes along the Battery, as well as a World War II aircraft carrier at Patriot’s Point. The company is also the official concessionaire for Fort Sumter National Monument, an offshore island where the first engagement of the Civil War took place in 1861. The cruise departs six times daily during peak season and takes visitors on a 20-minute ride to the fort, where they spend another hour talking with rangers or taking a self-guided tour.
In the evening, the company delights guests with luxurious excursions on the Spirit of Carolina. These three-hour cruises include entertainment, dancing and local cuisine.
While you’re there: Charleston’s long history has left a substantial spiritual legacy, and interested groups can learn more about the area’s religious heritage by visiting historic houses of worship throughout the city. Circular Congregational Church still has weekly meetings, and its cemetery has graves that date to 1695. Kahal Kdosh Beth Elohim is the city’s most historic synagogue.
Gullah Culture in Hilton Head
People travel to Hilton Head, an island destination in southern South Carolina, for its pristine beaches and unspoiled natural environment. The island was one of the first eco-planned destinations in the country, and all the resorts and amenities are designed to blend seamlessly with the area’s lush surroundings. But the island also has a fascinating cultural heritage that centers around the distinctive Gullah culture of coastal South Carolina.
At the Coastal Discovery Museum, groups learn about the Gullah community, which is of African descent and has thrived on the island for centuries. Galleries highlight the history of the group and showcase its signature artisanal item: the sweetgrass basket.
In addition to seeing the baskets on display, groups can arrange sweetgrass weaving demonstrations and classes led by seventh-generation basket weavers that share some of the heritage of the art form, brought to the Carolina low country by enslaved Africans.
While you’re there: For another take on local culture, groups can stop at the Bluffton Oyster Company, the last hand shucking oyster house in the state. During oyster season, visitors see the day’s catch being unloaded at the dock and watch women shucking oysters. The company also sells fresh shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops and other seafood brought in by local fishermen.
