1. Enjoy the boardwalk
A walk along the 1.2-mile boardwalk, which opened in April, is a great chance to take in some scenery in the heart of Myrtle Beach, catch some rays and even grab some great eats.
Food options include high-class cuisine at Pier 14 Restaurant & Lounge, wings and burgers at Marvin's and oysters at the recently opened Dirty Don's Oyster Bar & Grill. In addition, you can stop for a drink at Sharkey's, which features an outdoor sand volleyball court, or catch some live music at Oceanfront Bar & Grill or the Bowery.
Through Aug. 16 the area will also host Oceanfront Merchants Association's Hot Summer Nights, which features live entertainment nightly with street performers, fireworks and bands performing on the stage in Plyler Park.
Where: Downtown Myrtle Beach between 14th Avenue North and Second Avenue South.
Cost: Free.
Bottom line : It's hard to overestimate the effect the addition of the boardwalk has had on downtown. For the first time since The Pavilion closed, people have a real reason to hang out there. Plus, the new Second Avenue Pier, anchoring the boardwalk's south end, opened in July.
Details: www.myrtlebeachdowntown.com
2. Soar & explore
WonderWorks, a children's science attraction known for its upside-down building, won't open its new 29,000-square-foot museum until spring 2011, but it has already made an impact on the Broadway at the Beach landscape with its Soar & Explore zipline and Ropes Course.
While Wonderworks' goal is to work the mind, this recently opened attraction is intended to promote physical activity.
The pirate-themed rope course is 40 feet tall and has 33 "elements" that adventure seekers will maneuver over, under and through - including a tremor bridge, vertical angle stairs, swinging steps and a tightrope walk. It takes the average person about 20 to 25 minutes to go through the ropes course.
The zipline will take participants soaring 50 feet above water on a course that travels between towers. Featuring a constant tension system, the dual-line course ensures participants a smooth "zip" with intense fun.
Where: 1313 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach (near Tripp's).
Cost: Ropes challenge, $11.99; Zipline Adventure, $19.99; combo rate: $26.99 for both activities.
Hours: Noon-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Hours will vary by season.
Bottom line: If the prospect of soaring 1,000 feet through the air isn't enough to get your heart racing, the fearful thought of being dropped into Broadway Lake and nibbled by the unnaturally large fish in it should be.
Details: 843 -448-7627; www.soarandexplore.com
3. See some insects
The most recent addition to Brookgreen Gardens' growing collection of beautiful things is the Whispering Wings Butterfly Experience. This exhibit, part of Brookgreen's Lowcountry Zoo, features 18 species and more than 1,000 butterflies native to the Southeast in a greenhouse-like environment.
The area is screened in a woven aluminum mesh and holds various plants for the insects to feed from. This not only keeps the butterflies in but also lowers the temperature inside by 5 to 10 degrees - an added bonus in the heat of summer.
"You get to see a lot of great species, and get up-close with the butterflies," says Andrea DeMuth, Brookgreen's curator of animals. "It's a pleasant place to come sit and watch them flit around from place to place."
The exhibit, which began in April, will remain open through October with a changing array of seasonal butterflies.
Where: Inside Brookgreen Gardens, 1931 Brookgreen Drive, Murrells Inlet, S.C.
Cost: $3; $2 for ages 4-12 (3 and younger, free) for a 30-minute timed visit in addition to garden admission. ($12; $10 for 65 and older; $6 for ages 4-12; 3 and younger, free.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. During the Cool Summer Evenings promotion - with Brookgreen open until 9 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, through Aug. 13 - the butterfly house is open until 6:30 p.m.
Bottom line: Being among these beautiful insects can be fascinating, but it's not the most exciting item on this list. However, when you add in a trip to the zoo and walk through the gardens' breathtaking collection of sculptures, there's lots of low-key fun to be had at Brookgreen.
Details: 843-235-6000; www.brookgreen.org.
