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Find Beauty, Serenity at Nearby Myrtle Beach State Park

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Myrtle Beach is well-known as a great place to escape the daily grind. And one Grand Strand destination in particular allows visitors to truly make a break from the modern world’s hustle and bustle. Located on the southern end of Myrtle Beach’s coastline – and just 6 miles south of The Caribbean Resort & Villas – Myrtle Beach State Park stands as a true oasis of solitude and natural beauty.

Offering 316 acres of maritime forest and undeveloped beaches, Myrtle Beach State Park opened as the first park in the South Carolina State Parks system in 1936. It provides visitors with an array of opportunities for outdoor activity, all available with an entry fee of $5 per adult/$3 per child age 6-15. When you’re seeking some outdoor fun during your next visit to Myrtle Beach, consider the following activities on tap at Myrtle Beach State Park:

Camping – With 300-plus campsites available and six cabins on-site to rent, there are plenty of spots at Myrtle Beach State Park where you can relax and enjoy some quality time with nature and one another. The campground, whose six loops include standard tent sites featuring electricity and water as well as RV-ready sites with electricity, water and sewer hookups, is situated within a short walk of the beach. And for those who don’t want to completely break away from the modern world, free Wi-Fi is available throughout the campground.

Hiking – A half-mile in length, the park’s Sculptured Oak Trail offers a trek though a maritime forest filled with wax myrtles, oaks, poplars, magnolias and more, as well as many species of birds, reptiles and amphibians. The 0.4-mile Yaupon Trail features similar wildlife and scenery, and both trails take hikers to the beach.

Fishing – Visitors can drop a line into the Atlantic from the pier or the beach at Myrtle Beach State Park. While no license is required to fish from the pier, a daily fee of $5 per adult/$2.50 per child age 6-15 is charged. There’s no fee for surf fishing, but it does require a South Carolina saltwater fishing license. Rod rentals are available at the pier gift shop for $10/day, and common catches at the park include trout, whiting, flounder, mackerel, drum and blues.

Visiting the Beach – The park’s mile-long stretch of beautiful, largely undeveloped beach can be easily reached via a number of on-property boardwalks, and conveniences like bathrooms and outdoor showers for rinsing off after a swim can be found nearby. Lifeguards are stationed on the north section of the beach from mid-May through mid-September, and they offer umbrella and beach-chair rentals to interested visitors.

Picnicking – Several first-come, first-served picnic areas are available at the park, and many are outfitted with both grills and picnic tables. In addition, seven picnic shelters of various sizes are available for rent. For the younger set at your picnic, the main picnic area near the beach features a playground.

Learning – The park’s nature center houses a collection of saltwater aquariums, interactive natural history displays and live reptiles, and a nearby outdoor wildlife habitat features bird feeders, bird houses, a butterfly garden and nature sculptures. The park also presents a range of programs and events throughout the year.

Horseback Riding – For those with horses, horseback riding is allowed on the park’s mile-long stretch of beach from late November through the end of February. A fee of $25 per horse is required, and horses can’t be kept in the park overnight.

During your next visit to The Caribbean Resort & Villas, make the scenic drive south to Myrtle Beach State Park to truly get into the great outdoors and away from it all. Click here to learn more about the park, and book your getaway at The Caribbean Resort & Villas today!