This is a wonderful place to spend a day or more. You can use your ticket purchase for 7 days. This was the site of four plantations. The works of art are from founder Anna Hyatt Huntington from other prominent American sculptors. There are wonderful gardens where the sculptures are exhibited as well as a gallery and a boat tour of the area where the plantations and rice fields once stood. There is a special area where children can interact with the garden and statues. It is not too far a drive from Myrtle Beach at Pawley's Island and should not be missed.

We went the day before thinking that we could see the gardens in a few hours. After we watched the introductory film about the gardens at the welcome center, we realized we needed a whole day. Our tickets to the gardens were good for 7 days, so we decided to come back the next day.

It is really worth spending the whole day there. The gardens are a combination of plantations purchased later by an American sculptor and her husband and converted into the sculpture garden we see today. The gardens are laid out in the shape of a butterfly. It’s a beautiful place full of flowers, sculptures, pools, and fountains. All of the sculptures were done by American artists.

In addition to the gardens, there is a restaurant; gift shop; animal reserve, including bird aviaries; and rice field. There’s a boat tour of the waterway that was used to flood the rice fields. Our tour guide explained how the rice plantation would have been worked during the times of slavery. All in all, it was not only beautiful, but also very informative, relaxing, and a day well spent.

BrookGreen Gardens is located about 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach at Murrell’s Inlet. It’s a huge property filled with wonderful gardens, 900 sculptures by 300 artists, wildlife, and history. It was founded in 1931 by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington to preserve the native flora and fauna and to display beautiful art in this setting.

They didn’t have any wheelchairs there, and with acres to cover, I skipped the wildlife and just saw the gardens and sculptures. The sculpture garden covers 50 acres alone, so I suggest bringing your own wheelchair, preferably motorized. If you have trouble walking, plan to see the property on multiple visits.

The grounds were broken up into separate gardens with themed sculptures, like animals, Greek figures, individuals, etc. They were set against perfectly manicured lawns, beautiful flowers in many varieties, and water fountains. You have a map that will guide you through the property, although it wasn’t the easiest to follow.

Of particular interest was the area with the sculptures Pegasus, Diana, and Fountain of the Muses. With the fountains highlighting them, they were perfect to photograph and spectacular to look at. Other notable areas were Live Oak Allée and Palmetto Garden. I suppose it was the clean lines of the design that attracted me. At that end of the property is the Old Kitchen, where I enjoyed a coffee and muffin. Also notable was the sculpture court that contained some very beautiful sculptures in an unusual tunnel-like setting. They do an excellent job with the flowers, having so many varieties and an array of colors. On a sunny day, this place is a photographer’s dream.

There was one exhibit titled "Chairs, Coins and Candlesticks: Sculpture in Everyday Life" offering a perspective of the importance of sculpture in our daily lives. That gave me something to think about, which I guess is usually the goal. This exhibit was a temporary one, which usually stays at the gardens for a few months. Another permanent exhibit titled "Exploring American Sculpture" gives you an interactive lesson on the process of creating a sculpture.

Besides the sculpture garden, Brookgreen Gardens also has native animal habitats and an exhibit called "Domestic Animals of the Plantation." What seemed to be popular was the Creek Excursion aboard the Springfield, which is a 48-foot pontoon boat that takes you on a 1-hour cruise to see alligators and other wildlife. There are also a number of guided tours exploring the sculptures and plants.

At the welcome center you can see a 10-minute introduction video of the property. There is a gift shop on the property and two additional places for food. Your $12 ticket lasts for 7 days, so check out the evening live entertainment schedule for music, dramas, and more.

I hadn’t experienced a lot of sculpture in the art exhibits I’ve seen in the past. I still prefer paintings, but it was fascinating and beautiful nonetheless.

This is a most relaxing place to visit. They have tours by pontoon boat through the rice fields, buggy rides to old plantation ruins and cemetery, etc. The grounds are always immaculate.

Plan on spending a whole day there. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy! There is a lot to see for everyone, including a pontoon boat ride through the marshes to see the wildlife.