California and the Gulf Coast have some nice beaches and nature areas, but North Carolina and South Carolina are centrally located to millions and millions of people, and have some of the best nature and tourist areas in the country.
Today we’re going to explore some of them, and help you decide which direction to go in as you think about the different areas available.
The North Carolina mountains have a special place in many people’s hearts, and while they offer some amusement park areas like Tweetsy railroad, the outdoors really is the draw. Places like Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain, the Pisgah National Forest, Linville Gorge and the Blue Ridge Parkway are all big tourist destinations for people that love the mountains.
The North Carolina Zoo covers more than 500 acres and is the largest walk through natural habitat zoos, with more than 1,100 animals from 250 species.
On the way to the coast, you can check out the Museum of Life and Science, a 78 acre facility with over 50,000 feet of interactive science and technology exhibits in such things aerospace technology, climate change, geology and more. If you have a budding scientist in your family this is a must see.
In South Carolina the Children’s Museum of the Upstate is a great place to spend some time, and there is a lot of other stuff in the Greenville area including Ceasars Head State Park, the Greenville Zoo and The Museum & Gallery at Heritage Green.
In the low country southeast of Columbia you will find the Congaree National Park, which has a lot of historical information, from the large numbers of dinosaurs that inhabited this area of the world to the first Spaniards in the area looking for an overland route to Mexico in the 1500’s.
Anywhere on the coast in the Carolinas is treat, but Wilmington and the Outer Banks are beyond belief, as is Pawley’s Island and Edisto Island.
The South Carolina Aquarium is a must see, and Charleston has more good seafood joints you can shake a stick at – Hyman’s is great but it is not the only one.
That brings us to the top spot in the Carolinas – Myrtle Beach. Like anywhere in the Carolina’s it has some of the best nature preserves and state parks in the area, including the Huntington Beach State Park and the Myrtle Beach State Parks, but that is not why people come to Myrtle Beach – they come for one of the finest beaches on the East Coast and the Strand, the # 2 vacation spot in the US for more years than not, Myrtle Beach has developed into a city that has something to please everyone!
From the hustle and bustle of the Strand, the Boardwalk and the SkyWheel to the Waccatee Zoo, a great little old fashioned family run zoo to the famous Family Kingdom Amusement park and some of the best golfing in the eastern half of the United States, Myrtle Beach has the fabulous beaches – and enough variety that anyone will have a great time!
The Author writes about traveling, family life and how to enjoy both at once, and can’t wait to get back to the North Myrtle Beach resorts!
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