Dare to be Scared at Ripley's Haunted Adventure

Ripley’s attractions are a staple of the Myrtle Beach entertainment scene.  There are five fantastic attractions in the Grand Strand area, including Ripley’s Aquarium, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Ripley’s Moving Theater and Ripley’s Mirror Maze.  For over thirty years families have been flocking to these affordable family attractions that add unbelievable fun to any beach vacation.

If you dare to be scared visit Ripley’s Haunted Adventure for a terrifying trip through a three-story haunted house.  High-tech animatronics, live actors, dozens of gory scenes and pitch-black areas will haunt you until you escape the attraction.   As you walk through the haunted scenes, your heart will race, your senses will heighten and you’ll know you are in the fright zone.  Stay with your group and enjoy the scare!

Plus, it’s located right next door to Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Moving Theater and Mirror Maze attractions so you can conveniently add even more Ripley’s attractions to your itinerary. 

Note: Ripley’s Haunted Adventure can be quite frightening, and is not recommended for children.   

Wind Your Way through Ripley's Mirror Maze

Ripley’s attractions are a staple of the Myrtle Beach entertainment scene.  There are five fantastic attractions in the Grand Strand area, including Ripley’s Aquarium, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Ripley’s Moving Theater and Ripley’s Mirror Maze.  For over thirty years families have been flocking to these affordable family attractions that add unbelievable fun to any beach vacation.

At Ripley’s Mirror Maze you are tested to see if you can find the way out.  It’s great fun and a different experience every time you try!  There are over 100 mirrors, LED lights and surround sound bringing together an atmosphere of infinite reflections.  Encounter surprising corners, dead ends and continuous circles until you find the way through the maze.  You can go through the maze as many times as you’d like with your Ripley’s Mirror Maze tickets.  Compete for the best time and let the winner earn a free ice cream on the boardwalk! 

Plus, it’s located right next door to the Haunted Adventure, Moving Theater and Museum attractions so you can conveniently add even more Ripley’s attractions to your itinerary. 

Action-Packed Adventure Awaits at Ripley's Moving Theater

Ripley’s attractions are a staple of the Myrtle Beach entertainment scene.  There are five fantastic attractions in the Grand Strand area, including Ripley’s Aquarium, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Ripley’s Moving Theater and Ripley’s Mirror Maze.  For over thirty years families have been flocking to these affordable family attractions that add unbelievable fun to any beach vacation.

If you want to experience a movie that you ride, head to Ripleys Moving Theater Myrtle Beach.   Prepare for a motion simulator ride featuring action-packed adventure flicks with special effects ad moving seats, Six-channel surround sound, a large movie screen, and 4-D imagery adds to the only virtual reality attraction in Myrtle Beach.  Two movies are shown, and they are on continuous runs, so you can stop in to ride Ripley’s Moving Theater any time!  Plus, the attraction does have non-moving seats for guests that would rather not feel every bump, twist and dip. 

Ripley's Moving Theater is located right next door to the Haunted Adventure, Mirror Maze and Museum attractions so you can conveniently add even more Ripley’s attractions to your itinerary. 

See If You Believe It or Not at Ripley's Museum Myrtle Beach

Ripley’s attractions are a staple of the Myrtle Beach entertainment scene.  There are five fantastic attractions in the Grand Strand area, including Ripley’s Aquarium, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Ripley’s Moving Theater and Ripley’s Mirror Maze.  For over thirty years families have been flocking to these affordable family attractions that add unbelievable fun to any beach vacation.

At Ripleys Believe It or Not Myrtle Beach you can explore a museum filled with oddities, treasures and unique exhibits.  The cracked façade of the over the building houses over 500 bizarre, strange and interesting items.  Take a look at shrunken head, gape at a 6-legged calf, and compare yourself to the world’s tallest man.  Marvel at the oddities before you and see if you believe it or not!  A visit to the Ripley’s Museum is an interesting way to spend a few hours.  Plus, it’s located right next door to the Haunted Adventure, Mirror Maze and Moving Theater attractions so you can conveniently add even more Ripley’s attractions to your itinerary. 

Reserve Ripleys Believe It or Not tickets to discover a world of the strange, bizarre and downright unusual.   

Brookgreen Gardens Combines Sculptures & South Carolina Scenery

Escape to Brookgreen Gardens for a memorable day in Myrtle Beach.  The sculpture garden and wildlife preserve is located in Murrell’s Inlet, just a short drive from the popular beach destination.  Quaint, peaceful and serene, Brookgreen Gardens puts the full beauty of South Carolina on display.  Take a stroll through the manicured lawns and blooming gardens, admire the world-renowned sculptures and visit the wildlife that call the Gardens home.

There is something simply spectacular about the 9,200 acres of Brookgreen Gardens South Carolina.  From its beginnings in 1931, when Archer and Anna Huntington founded the estate, the focus of Brookgreen has been to preserve the native flora and fauna of the area while incorporating beautiful pieces of art into the natural setting.  That focus has led Brookgreen Gardens to earn a spot on the National Historic Landmark list and the Gardens are also recognized as having one of the most significant collections of American sculpture.    A varied mix of landscapes, from forested swamps to salt marshes, and low-hanging, twisting trees over 100 years old, make the setting of Brookgreen Gardens extremely picturesque. 
 

Live Oak Allee

Plan to spend several hours at Brookgreen Gardens as there is a lot to explore.  Every day a selection of tours, programs, excursion and exhibits are planned.  Walk the Lowcountry Trail to discover some of the area’s history, while a visit to the Zoo will put you up-close to native animals of the Carolinas like alligators, eagles, wild turkeys and deer.  A cypress aviary and butterfly house add to the Zoo, which is the only Zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on the coast of North and South Carolina.  



Samson and the Lion

One of my favorite places at the Gardens was the Live Oak Allee garden.  Here I found an area comprised of 250 year old oak trees planted when this land was used as a rice plantation.  Spanish moss and fern hang from the trees lined the garden space, framing it in a an ever-so-artful manner.  The heart and soul of the Brookgreen Gardens are the sculptures, which beautifully blend with the natural scenery and vibrant flowers.  There are over 1,400 works total, by over 350 artists.  Some of the standout pieces include the Alligator Bender, Diana of the Chase, Samson and the Lion, and Fountain of the Muses. 

Make time for a visit Brookgreen Gardens.  The expansive attraction is a hidden gem for many visitors, but ask any local and they rave about all the Gardens have to offer.  Plus, your admission to Brookgreen Gardens I valid for seven consecutive days so you can come back, explore even more or simply spend time in the solitude of this splendid South Carolina treasure. 

Experience the Old-World Charm of Biltmore Estate

Visit Biltmore Estate to tour one of America’s grandest estates, all while being immersed in the breathtaking beauty of Asheville, North Carolina.  The Biltmore experience centers around America’s largest home, a sprawling 250-room French Chateau located on 8,000 secluded acres.  George Vanderbilt created Biltmore as an escape from everyday life. Now, you are invited to explore that escape for yourself.

During my visit to Biltmore Estate, I had a day exploration before me.  My Biltmore admission included self-guided tours of the Biltmore House and Gardens and the Antler Hill Village—featuring the Winery, The Biltmore Legacy, Village Green, and Farm.   You’ll want to take an entire day to really take in all Biltmore has to offer.  Touring the Biltmore House is an intriguing look into the life of the Vanderbilt’s, who built a home for entertaining and relaxing.  The house, which takes about 1 ½ hours to tour, spans three floors and a basement.  Throughout the floors of the home you’ll see the Biltmore as it was in its prime, with displays of vintage clothing, accessories and period pieces illustrating the lives of the Vanderbilt family.  You’ll see masterpieces from China, Japan and Europe, along with original art by Pierre Auguste Renoir and John Singer Sargent and magnificent 16th century tapestries.  If that wasn’t enough to impress me, the library with 10,000 volumes, 65 fireplaces, banquet hall with 70 foot ceiling, and basement with indoor pool and bowling alley surely were.  Take a minute to stop on the back terrace and admire the view of the surround Blue Ridge Mountains before strolling the gardens of the estate. 

Designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who designed Central Park in New York City, the gardens are a serene yet enchanting escape.  Vibrant colors paint the Walled Garden, and are especially beautiful in the spring when it blooms with thousands of tulips.  The Italian Garden feature classic statues and formal water gardens, and was a nice place to relax, while the Rose Garden and Azalea Garden blossom with over 50 varieties of roses and over 15 acres of Azaleas. 

After enjoying the lush beauty of the Gardens I made my way to Antler Hill Village.  Home to dining, shopping, historic exhibits, a winery and outdoor adventure center, Antler Hill connects the estate’s present and past.  Stop in for delicious bite to eat the Bistro, serving contemporary American fare with fresh and local ingredients are highlighting dishes.  Then, take a trip to the Winery were you can sample the wines created on site at Biltmore Estate.  Live entertainment is offered on the Village Green and you can explore farm life of the early 1900s at the Farm.  If you’re looking to play in the Biltmore Estate’s magnificent backyard head to the Outdoor Adventure Center. They offer an array of activities, including river float trips, biking, fly fishing, and horseback rides.

Let the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville inspire you as you discover all that Biltmore Estate has to offer.

Prepare to be Amazed at Illusions of Magic in Myrtle Beach

Prepare to be amazed when you see Illusions of Magic in Myrtle Beach.  The show, which is performed at the Palace Theatre, is hosted by skilled magician Dale Scott.  He has spent years honing his craft and now he wows crowds nightly with his astonishing illusions.

The fast-paced, entertaining two hour show is loaded with action, special effects and performances by amazing dancers.  Starting with human cyber-bots, floating orbs and light sabers, the show immediately astounds as Dale makes his stunning assistant Ana levitate, disappear and reappear to the glee of audience members. During one number two girls reappear in place of one, which definitely had the audience asking “How’d he do that?”  Dance numbers set to backlight backdrops and even a “Gangnam Style” dance number added to the fun on stage. 

A nostalgic look back at classic magicians Cardini and Houdini were some of the standout segments of Illusions of Magic Myrtle Beach.  Sleight of hand tricks and a metamorphosis illusion paid homage to the history of magic and magnified how, even with technological advances, some of the simplest illusions are still the best.  A jungle themed routine featuring a beautiful Bengal tiger was dramatic and engaging but you need to see the show to believe the magic performed.  Audience participation is a large part of the show, too.  One of the best audience participation moments occurred during Chop-O-Matic, where an audience member may or may not have lost his head (side note: he lived.) 

The segment showcasing the mysteries of the Orient featuring kabuki dance and thrilling sword tricks was intriguing, and added a nice cultural flavor to the Illusions of Magic show.  The show-stopping, end of the night illusion is too stunning to reveal much about but a motorcycle and NASCAR car are involved and you won’t believe what happens to them as Dale works his magic! 

A night at Illusions of Magic is family-fun.  Be ready to participate in the show, and make your cheers known.  During my visit, the louder the crowd the more stunning the illusions became. Plus, you can have your picture taken with Dasha, the Bengal tiger, for a wonderful memento of your evening.