Located just a short drive north of Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort, Brookgreen Gardens puts on the Cool Summer Evenings program beginning June 8 and running through Aug. 5. Held every Wednesday and Friday night, the gardens stay open until 9 p.m. so you can enjoy the scenery with sunset servings as a beautiful backdrop on the former rice plantation. The additional two hours are prime hours for beating the heat and soaking in all the art and nature Brookgreen Gardens has to offer.
As the temperature starts to drop and the sun sinks behind the palmetto and live oak trees, the gardens come alive with the sounds of music. Local and regional acts take the stage and play a picture-perfect sound track for the lovely surroundings, ranging from jazz, classic rock, beach music and more. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or beach chairs to relax while enjoying the show, and there's plenty of room for dancing barefoot on the lawn or enjoying food and drinks under the stars.
The Plantation Restaurant stays open late for those who decide to dine at Brookgreen, and special concession stands offer soft drinks, cold beer, popcorn and other snacks. But for those who prefer to pass on the meal and use the extra hours to do more exploring, Brookgreen has several nature-based programs with extended hours as well. The Lowcountry Zoo, featuring native species of alligators, otters, and birds of prey in a natural habitat, stays open till 8 p.m. for early evening visitors.
Perhaps the most popular activity is the boat tour of the property's waterways, which include the Intracoastal Waterway and the creeks and streams that flow into the Waccamaw Neck. For an additional charge of $8 above regular park admission, passengers can discover the beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry's swamps and salt marshes, wetlands and woodlands, and even the submerged fields where so much rice was grown and harvested that the area was once the world's No. 1 exporter.
Guests can also explore the former Oaks Plantation with a walking tour that is steeped in beauty and history. See where the former Alston family plantation home once stood, along with barns, slave quarters and even an old cemetery. Visitors with children may prefer to check out the special LEGO Connects With Nature touring exhibit, which features building-block figures that reflect an aspect of the natural world. Kids can also use the 30,000 LEGO pieces on hand to make their own masterpieces.
And all these bonus attractions are in addition to the most obvious draw – the gardens themselves. Featuring works of art posing alongside the natural beauty of the grounds, such as flowers, shrubs and trees that pre-date the Revolutionary War, Brookgreen Gardens is a wonder of art and nature that should not be missed during your Grand Strand vacation. Each admission ticket is good for seven days, so you can come back anytime during that span to get the full experience.
After a Cool Summer Evening at Brookgreen, return to your cozy accommodations at Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort and enjoy the rest of the night in tranquility and luxury. It’s all part of what makes Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort your vacation home away from home.
