Are you looking for Atlanta Black history sites to visit and learn about the Civil Rights Movement? Atlanta, GA has a number of important black history sites and parks, including the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. We visited some of Atlanta’s Civil Rights historic sites, and gathered all the information you need for a visit.
America has a rich and diverse history. It’s filled with the good, the bad, and the ugly. Learning about as much of it as possible is essential to understand current affairs better. I recently combined our love for Atlanta with our quest for knowledge.
I’m glad that Atlanta is just a short drive away because I feel like we’ve barely scratched the surface! Georgia’s capital isn’t just the birthplace of one of the most iconic people from the Civil Rights Movement; it’s home to the stories of so many other important people in the Black History of America.
Black History Sites in Atlanta: Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
The place where Martin Luther King, Jr., was born and became the historical figure we all know is just about a block from where he was laid to rest. *Fun Fact: Did you know that Martin was actually Michael at birth? After a trip to Germany, Michael King Sr. was inspired by the religious leader Martin Luther and changed his and his 5-year-old son’s name from Michael King to Martin Luther King.
The MLK National Historical Park is a self-guided walkable tour, with convenient parking behind the social justice center, next to Ebenezer Church. It’s open rain or shine, so we didn’t let the sprinkle stop us. If your kids are inquisitive, be prepared to answer tons of questions.
For children ages 6-12, there is a Junior Ranger program they can complete. You can print out the official activity booklet at home and bring it with you to complete. *Fun Fact: Did you know that MLK was such a gifted student that he skipped grades 9 and 12, making him only 15 years old when he began college life at Morehouse.
Seeing the things currently open should take about 2 hours and is stroller-friendly.
Black History Sites in Atlanta: National Center For Civil and Human Rights
This modern center, dedicated to the fight for equal rights, is a place where you could spend the entire day. The exhibits include a lunch counter sit-in experience, view documents from Martin Luther King, Jr., attend a workshop, and more.
The Center is open Tuesday – Friday and Sundays 12 pm – 5 pm and Saturdays 10 am – 5 pm. The last entry is 4 pm daily.
Sitting in the shadow of the behemoth Mercedes Benz Stadium in the heart of downtown Atlanta is a beautiful home. To look at it, you wouldn’t know the history it holds from the outside. The century-old home (1910) was built by the first Black millionaire in Georgia, Alonzo Herndon. Born into slavery, Alonzo was 20 with just a few dollars in his pocket when he left the life he’d always known to find something better.
He cut his first head of hair, which led him down the success path that helped him create affordable housing in the Black communities. Mr. Herndon’s story is inspiring, and this beautiful home is a lasting legacy to all that this once enslaved gentleman overcame.
*Interesting Fact: His father was the plantation owner that his mother and brother were enslaved to. This aided them in being emancipated because the plantation owner’s wife wanted the reminder of her husband’s misdeeds out of view.
Long before John Lewis served 17 terms as a Georgia Congressman, he was a peer of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was one of the “Big Six” civil rights leaders who organized the March on Washington. The end of legalized segregation in the United States was primarily due to the things he did. John Lewis led what became the first of three separate marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, across the Edmund Pettus bridge in 1965.
Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and The Reverend Billy Graham, Lewis was ordained as a Baptist minister. In 2012, at the mural dedication, Lewis added the final touch to the work of art by painting the dot over the “i” in his last name. He passed away in the summer of 2020 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
*Fun Fact: In 1977, President Jimmy Carter put John Lewis in charge of a federal volunteer agency that oversaw programs including the Peace Corps. This was nearly ten years before he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time.
Would you like to rent a vacation home with paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and other water gear the guests can use? You have found the right list. Start planning a family vacation where you can enjoy a lake, river, or beach! These vacation homes in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia not only look like great places to spend time with your family, but also include kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and/or other water gear for your enjoyment.
This piece contains STAY22 affiliate links. Kidding Around earns when you book through these links.
A note on safety: Be sure to use included life jackets when enjoying the water gear at these properties. Know where it is safe to use the included water gear at these VRBOs and closely watch children. This list is intended for information purposes only and is not a specific endorsement of these properties and equipment.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to go snow tubing, Frozen Falls Tube Park at Sapphire Valley is the perfect option. Kidding Around contributor Kristina took her kids and had quite the adventure, which she is sharing with our readers.
Having already gone snow tubing once with my kids, they were more than thrilled to learn we were going to do it again, this time at a place where our family has vacationed twice – but only in the summer. Experiencing the Sapphire Valley in Cashiers, North Carolina has a whole other feel in winter and just as fun!
The Inn on the River in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee has lots of great amenities for families as they enjoy time together and exploring the fun town of Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At the time of writing (January 2025), The Inn on The River in Pigeon Forge was voted the #1 best hotel in Pigeon Forge for 2024!
A complimentary stay was given to us so we could review the hotel. All opinions are those of the author.
If you’re looking for a central place to stay when you visit the Smoky Mountains that has a lot of great amenities that help your dollar stretch pretty far, then look no further than theInn on the River in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The hotel is centrally located amidst all the great attractions in Pigeon Forge, has several family-friendly amenities, and has staff that truly go the extra mile to make you feel at home.
The Inn on the River
The Inn on the River is exactly like it says, right on the Little Pigeon River. We had a riverfront view from our room, complete with chairs outside so we could sit and watch the calming river run by. We even saw a Blue Heron fishing for dinner on our first night there. Plus, we could see the Great Smoky Mountain Sky Wheel and were within walking distance to several attractions and restaurants.
In fact, our first night there, we walked across the street to try out Magiquest and then walked over to Five Guys for burgers and fries for dinner. It was really nice not to have to drive since we had just come from Greenville. There are several restaurants that you can walk to as well as shows and other entertainment. The Inn lists lots of those places on their website. Pigeon Forge is only a three-hour drive but I’m not a big fan of sitting in the car for long so this was perfect for us.
We explored several attractions during our visit and nothing was more than a six-minute drive. It was truly an ideal location. The 128 rooms have all been recently renovated and were clean and comfortable. Each room also has a customized Alexa device, which my kids endlessly used to request Dolly Parton songs and ask what cats sounded like, a coffee maker, a mini-fridge, and a microwave.
So Many Amenities at Inn on the River
The Pools
Let’s start with what kids care about: the pool. The Inn on the River has both an indoor heated pool with jacuzzi and an outdoor pool. We traveled there in January so we didn’t use the outdoor pool but I did need to tear my kids away from the indoor pool because they loved it. The water is heated and there are pool toys and goggles available. The room is so nice and warm, too, which felt amazing after being outside in the chilly air most of the days we were in Pigeon Forge. The hot tub is so relaxing as well. Each night we spent at the Inn included a pre-bedtime swim, which was just a great way to wind down the busy days.
Free Breakfast
The Inn on the River also provides free breakfast each morning and has an assortment of both hot and cold offerings like eggs, sausage, biscuits, fruit, waffles, and oatmeal. There is a beautiful sunroom that you can choose to eat your breakfast in that overlooks the river. It’s really nice and calming and we loved eating out there. Fill up on that breakfast so you can tackle all your fun plans while in the Smokies.
Free Hot Drinks and Popcorn
Additionally, the Inn offers free hot chocolate, coffee, and tea all day long. I cannot even count how many times we had hot chocolate during our visit. It was a lot. They also offer free popcorn from 7 pm – 10 pm every night. My kids were in heaven.
One thing that we didn’t make use of that I completely forgot about was the outdoor fire pit. It’s right on the river but I forgot because the kids wanted to use the pool at night. Next time!
Gifts for Kids
When we checked in, the hotel staff let each of my kids pick a little gift, which included a small toy. So cute and personable. Check-in was fast and the staff was very kind and helpful, letting us know when breakfast was, how late the pool was open, and also that they had free books and games available for guests to make use of while they enjoyed their stay. The lobby is very inviting as well, with comfortable couches to relax on in front of the fireplace.
Honest Mom Review of the Inn on the River
There are tons of choices of places to stay in Pigeon Forge and it’s hard to know which one is right for your family. I was impressed with the Inn on the River because firstly, their staff was very kind, helpful, and welcoming. Everyone from the front desk clerk and manager to the employees cleaning the tables and replenishing food during breakfast to those sweeping the floors of the hallways was so nice.
Secondly, the location was perfect. I didn’t need to travel much at all once we arrived to the hotel and it was easy to get around Pigeon Forge both by car and foot. And lastly, I don’t think it gets much better for kids on vacation to have a pool all year round. I’m a lot more lenient with my kids when it comes to their bedtimes when we are traveling and was happy to have them enjoy swimming for a couple later-than-usual nights. The hot chocolate was awesome, too, and a free breakfast is so helpful when traveling to save on meal costs.
I also really loved the location right next to the river. It was chilly when we went but I could open the curtains and watch the river, which I really enjoyed. Anything close to nature like that is a win for me.
Making Your Reservation
Be sure to sign up for their email newsletters and check their Specials page before you book as they offer some packages that may be of interest. All active duty military get 10% off their stays.
Like any hotel, costs vary depending on the season and room type. During the slower winter season, you can get a riverside room with two queen beds for around $159/night. That same room in the busiest months of July and October is around $285/night and in December, is about $259/night. If you have AAA or AARP, that will knock the price down about 10%.
The new Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail in Pigeon Forge, TN, less than three hours from Greenville, SC, is part of the three-month-long Winterfest that happens every year in East Tennessee.
For those not familiar with Winterfest in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, it is a months-long festival in the area that has more than six million lights to delight visitors. The festival starts in November and runs through February and encompasses not only free holiday lights around town but also holiday-themed shows, attractions, and other entertainment for the whole family.
The newest installment of Winterfest is the Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail, a free walk-through light display that has several access points along the river in Pigeon Forge. I visited towards the tail end of Winterfest in late January and it was perfection because the Christmas crowds had come and gone and the town was in one of its rare down times. It was awesome. And it’s back for the 2024-2025 season!
Winterfest runs from November 7, 2024 – February 16, 2025.
The New Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail
The trail runs from Pigeon Forge Municipal Parking Lot, which is at 2936 Teaster Lane between the LeConte Center and The Island in Pigeon Forge along the Riverwalk Greenway to Patriot Park, which is about a mile-and-a-half one way. There are more than 40 light displays along the paved path, including light tunnels (my favorite). It’s really neat and such a lovely display of lights.
We parked at the Island of Pigeon Forge to start at the beginning and before long, my kids and I were surrounded by blue and white sparkling lights that made a tunnel. Then we saw a huge display that looked like a fountain of lights with snowmen, stars, and snow mounds followed by blue and white stars hung high along the path and then a giant 52-foot long caterpillar – it was quite sparkly.
There are butterflies, shooting stars, deer, bears, squirrels, and all kinds of imaginative and fun characters along the way. My kids, ages 12 and 8, and I really enjoyed it.
Accessing the Walking Trail
So there are several access points along the route if you only want to do a part of it. A handy map can be found here that is very helpful.
Access points include where we started at the Island at Pigeon Forge, the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge, Patriot Park, the city’s Municipal Parking Lot, and the Old Mill. The entire path is paved so it is handicap and stroller-accessible. It’s also pet-friendly as long as pets are kept on a leash.
Visiting the Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail
There is no charge to visit the Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail in Pigeon Forge, which is awesome. Thank you to the City of Pigeon Forge!
You can walk the trail from November 7, 2024 – February 16, 2025.
After you walk the trail, you can visit the Island at Pigeon Forge, where you can ride the Great Smoky Mountain Sky Wheel, fly over the country at SkyFly America, enjoy shopping and dining, and watch the water light show. There are free trolleys available from the parking lot to the Island.
Looking for Spring Break vacation rentals on the South Carolina coast? We’ve done the work for you. These rentals on the South Carolina coast make an excellent Spring Break destination, plus they are available! Hurry and book them now, before someone else does!
Looking for things to do in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee? We sent KAG Contributor Kristina Hernandez to Wonderworks to check out all the exhibits and activities. She had a blast with her kids and is telling us all about the rides, 4D movies and activities like rock climbing, a ropes course and a bubble lab! Read on to find out why you should put Wonderworks on your Pigeon Forge itinerary.
Thinking about a vacation in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee? KAG Contributor Kristina Hernandez traveled to the Pigeon Forge Margaritaville Island Inn with her family. This hotel has so much to offer, including a spa, roof top pool and onsite dining. Kristina is sharing all the little details about this hotel that made is perfect for her family.
If you ever have a chance to go to Margaritaville, you go, right? When a hotel takes up the Margaritaville theme in a small mountain town that offers families everything from a theme park to dinner theater shows, from race tracks to the best magic and singing performances around – you pack up your family and go.
And if you’re just dying for some relaxation with your family or friends, a place called the Margaritaville Island Hotel is just the prescription.
I had the chance to stay at this four-star hotel in the heart of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee during their huge Winterfest celebration and I’m already planning a return trip because it was so amazing. If you’re thinking this aptly named hotel is all about the tequila and lime drink, well, you’re not wrong. But that’s only a small part of what the Margaritaville Island Hotel offers.
**I was given a complimentary room and spa treatments from the Margaritaville Island Hotel. The opinions in this article are all my honest opinions.
Rooftop Pool & Hot Tub
Kids love pools. Adults love pools and hot tubs. Put them together on a rooftop overlooking the Island at Pigeon Forge where the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel towers over you, then you’ve got the perfect mix.
The pool is heated for those chillier evenings and feels cool during the warmer months. The rooftop also has a full bar for summertime fun, cabanas and chairs for any time of year, and views that stretch out over the Island at Pigeon Forge and into the Great Smoky Mountains beyond. If you’re lucky, you can even see the snow-capped peaks during winter months.
To avoid overcrowding, the hotel only allows guests to enjoy the rooftop pool and bar.
Beautiful and Comfortable Rooms
The rooms are tastefully decorated in the beach vibe of Margaritaville, with cool blues and greens. The bathrooms – and specifically the shower – are gorgeous and spacious. I could have spent a lot of time in the shower but I had my kids with me so I couldn’t leave them unsupervised for too long. The shower is tiled with what looks to be wood but it’s actually tiles. It has a bench inside the shower and my favorite thing is that it has two shower heads, one that shoots water normally at an angle and then another above your head that makes it rain.
Please tell me I’m not the only person who is obsessed with beautiful showers.
OK, so after you’ve thoroughly enjoyed the amazing shower, you can relax in front of the gas fireplace (available October-April), lounge in the super soft beds, and enjoy coffee on your balcony. Rooms overlook the river, the village on the Island, or the most popular view: The Island’s Show Fountains.
There is a mini-fridge, coffee pot, and microwave in each room. There is also your own personal margarita-making station – the Frozen Concoction Makers they are called. You can either order all the margarita ingredients from the front desk or bring your own ingredients.
Rates vary per season. At this writing, a double queen overlooking the village started at $179. Prices will be highest during the busiest months of July and October.
I got a tour of the Penthouses at the hotel as well, which are on their own floor and span the entire top of the building. These are actually perfect for families, especially if you’re traveling with more than one family or extended family members. These rooms are massive, have more than one bathroom, and a full kitchen. Wraparound balconies adorn the outside so you can see the Island and the river. Of course, the make-your-own margarita section exists here as well. Prices vary depending on the season (at this writing, a night in January started at $779).
Dining at the Hotel
While the Margaritaville Island Hotel is situated at the Island at Pigeon Forge – which has several great restaurants – you don’t even need to leave the hotel to enjoy great food and a cozy atmosphere.
I grabbed a coffee one morning at the coffee shop that’s right off the lobby. They also have pastries and sandwiches, which make grab & go snacks as you head out the door for your fun day.
On the other side of the well-decorated lobby is the Finns Bar & Chill, which has lots of tables and couches for relaxing and enjoying one of their signature margaritas. I chose just a regular margarita with salt on the rim and it was delicious, as you may imagine. I thought the prices for the food and drinks were reasonable as well. My margarita was $7 and we also ordered pretzel bites with a mouth-watering cheese dip ($12.00) and the chicken fingers and fries off the kids menu ($8.00). The portions were huge and I almost want to go back to this place solely for the pretzels and margaritas.Check out their full menu.
Over the summer, the Chill Bar at the rooftop pool, where you can relax all day with margaritas close by. And Margaritaville at the hotel is a full-service, two-story restaurant that overlooks the Little Pigeon River. It’s laid back with live music and entertainment with menu items such as coconut shrimp, burgers, sandwiches, nachos, fried chicken, chicken fajitas, and spinach dip.
St. Somewhere Spa
After all the fun you’ll be having in Pigeon Forge, take a step back and relax at the St. Somewhere Spa at the hotel. It’s a beautiful retreat that offers massages, manicures, pedicures, haircut and coloring, expert facials, waxing, eyelash tinting, and foot baths.
My two girls, ages 7 and 4, received the Princess Mani-Pedi ($40+), where they were treated to warm towels on their little feet and nail polish of their choosing – which they took forever to pick out at the Port of Indecision wall. After the pedicure, they received a manicure that is a pared down version of what adults get – cleaning and cutting nail if need be and painting.
When my youngest was done with her pedicure, the woman taking care of her carried her over to the manicure chair so she wouldn’t have to walk and possibly ruin her cute toes. Now that’s service!
While my girls were enjoying their mani-pedis, I was drifting away to paradise with the Pedicure in Paradise ($90). This consisted of a “hydrating foot soak,nail care,exfoliation, foot detox mask, relaxing foot massage, luxurious paraffin treatment, and choice of polish or buffing.” I really didn’t want to leave.
The spa has two relaxation rooms with tea and water available. Luxuriously soft robes are available for guests, as is a shower if they like.
After your treatment, feel free to browse in the spa’s storefront for makeup and skincare products or gifts to take home for loved ones/yourself. The entire staff at the St. Somewhere Spa are very kind and welcoming. Certainly carve out some spa time when you visit the hotel.
Entertainment + Shopping + Food
The Margaritaville Island Hotel is located right on the Island at Pigeon Forge, an entertainment, dining and shopping mecca in the town. You can easily stay at the hotel and spend a couple days on the Island enjoying all it has to offer and never leave during your trip to Pigeon Forge.
Read my review of the Island at Pigeon Forge and learn about all the neat stuff you can do there!
Parking at the hotel is free in a lot that is maybe a 10 minute or less walk away. You can unload your car and then park it if you want. They also offer valet parking for, at the time of this writing, $25/per night.
The Margaritaville brand has other properties in the area, with one of them, the Margaritaville Island Inn, very close to the hotel in Pigeon Forge. They are different lodgings that offer slightly different amenities to the guest. They also have a property in Gatlinburg called the Margaritaville Resort.
Have you ever considered booking a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during the off season? We think it should be at the top of your list! Heading to the beach in the winter can be an excellent time to explore the Myrtle Beach area without crowds, while still enjoying all the fun the Grand Strand has to offer. Kidding Around will tell you why a trip to the coast of South Carolina in the off-season is not only a fun vacation, but also a budget-friendly one.
If you are looking for a fun and affordable family vacation with plenty of activities to keep you busy, Myrtle Beach is the place!
*Accommodations and a media pass were provided by Visit Myrtle Beach for the purpose of this guide, however, all opinions and words are that of the writer.
Why Vacation During the Myrtle Beach Off-Season?
Why would you plan a trip to the beach, and never actually go to the beach? It’s a funny thing to consider, but I’m going to give you a bunch of reasons why a trip to one of South Carolina’s most popular coastal destinations is a great idea during the winter!
Having spent the majority of my life near the ocean, I can assure you that there are plenty of things to do near the ocean that don’t involve the ocean. An excellent example of that is found at Myrtle Beach! Winter weather is typically very mild toward the coast, so all of those extra things you like to do while you are on a summertime beach vacation are still available in the winter.
The most alluring reason to book a trip in the winter is the savings. Because of the high volume of rooms in Myrtle Beach, winter rates in the off-season are drastically reduced. Where you might spend hundreds of dollars for a resort with indoor water features away from the coast, the same type of fun can be found for a fraction of the price, along with all of the fun Myrtle Beach has to offer.
Where to Stay: Myrtle Beach Winter Friendly Resorts
Depending on when you plan to take your off-season trip, there are a few things to consider when you book accommodations. Whether you want to look for hotels with views of the Atlantic Ocean, or resorts that are close to Broadway at the Beach and other year-round attractions, there is something for everyone to enjoy at Myrtle Beach, winter seasonal activities as well. However, you want to make sure the hotel fits your desires based on the fact that its colder and this may not be your typical beach trip. One thing we heard from readers when we polled them about trips to Myrtle Beach in the off-season, was making sure your hotel pool is really “indoor”.
This section contains STAY22 Affiliate links. Kidding Around earns when you book through these links.
My kids and I stayed here on our most recent trip, and we had so many things planned, we didn’t get to take full advantage of the resort amenities! The resort boasts 10+ pools, with a partially indoor set of pools, a lazy river, and hot tubs. The kid’s waterpark and waterslide are separate from the rest of the pool areas. Because none of the pools here are completely enclosed, I wouldn’t recommend a stay here in the colder months if a dip in the pool is an expectation on the trip.
The parking garage makes coming and going from your room easy. Less hauling of tired children through the hotel and onto elevators is always a plus. The hotel has a restaurant, a lounge, and a Starbucks coffee shop in the lobby which makes grabbing a bite to eat easy.
The room we stayed in at The Grande Cayman Resort had a small kitchen area that included a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, and a sink. One of the features I always love to see in hotels is a dining table. Our room had a full-size table and four chairs, along with a walk-out patio and chairs to enjoy coffee in the morning. Our room was spacious, had hard flooring which I prefer over carpeting in hotels, and comfortable beds. A feature that I have never seen before was the resort’s virtual assistant. I got a text from “Ivy”, and if I needed something like new towels, garbage service or information it was just a text message away.
This family of resorts is one of my family’s favorites. They share accommodations and by bouncing back and forth between resorts, your whole family can have a trip suited to them! Captain’s Quarters amenities include 15 water features! There’s a kid’s splash park, hot tubs, an arcade, a bowling alley, special weekend activities, and more. Hotel BLUE amenities include a swim-up bar, an indoor lazy river open year round, a Cafe, and a Starbucks in the lobby. Both locations have indoor, and completely enclosed water features, making a dip in the pool ok, any time of year.
Off Season Things to Do in Myrtle Beach: Winter Weather Approved!
There is so much to see and do in Myrtle Beach! Activities you probably always think “oh we should do that!’ during a beach trip, but then never get around to, you can do now! Off season is the perfect time.
The 2-story aquarium is home to over 10, 000 animals. Everything from sharks to penguins, and the elusive mermaid. Ripley’s Aquarium is conveniently located within the Broadway at the Beach entertainment and shopping complex, so you could easily spend an entire day of fun in this one location.
Expect to spend at least two hours visiting the aquarium. You may stay longer if you plan on adding one of the additional experiences to your visit. If you have a fan of mermaids in your family, be sure to make note of that days visit times in front of the Ray Bay Reef. The mermaids will make an appearance in the tank, and then afterward will pose with fans.
The aquarium is completely indoors, and is perfect for a day when it is too cold, or rainy day. The Ripley’s Aquarium also has special Holiday events like visits with Santa, Drive-in Movies, a Holiday Festival of Trees, and more.
Broadway at the Beach boasts 350-acres of shopping, dining, and entertainment in one convenient location. Aquariums, celebrity chef restaurants, surf shops, fireworks and more will keep your family busy all day. The added benefit of free parking will make this a favorite spot for all the members of your family. Some popular spots to check out are:
There are several different dinner show, year-round attractions in Myrtle Beach, and something for everyone. One of the most popular is the Medieval Times show. The show includes horse riding knights, jousting, an appearance by the queen, and more during the 2-hour long experience.
The sixth highest Ferris wheel in the US provides riders with amazing views of the beach and the boardwalk area. A ride on the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel is fun no matter what time of year it is. Check the SkyWheel Website for special events. They offer sunrise rides that include breakfast! Also, the Winter Wonderland at the Beach attraction set up in the square next to Sky Wheel.
Located just south of Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet is the lovely Brookgreen Gardens. During the winter months, you can see a stunning display of lights illuminating the gardens. The awe-inspiring display is affectionately deemed the Nights of a Thousand Candles due to the sheer amount of actual lit candles throughout the gardens, over 2700! Guests will hear holiday music, sip warm cider, and take in the refreshing ocean scents during their visit. Nights of a Thousand Candles begins at the end of November every year and runs through the first of January.
If you are visiting Myrtle Beach during the off-season, then catching a show at The Carolina Opry is certain to be on the itinerary. Every November through December, The Carolina Opry offers The Carolina Opry Christmas Special. The show is full of color, energy, and brightens the Christmas spirit with festive performances. You can also check out performances outside of the Christmas Special during the Myrtle Beach winter months, including concerts and performances from some of your favorite artists.
Kidding Around Readers Recommend Myrtle Beach Off-Season Travel
we just got back for a four day three night trip from Myrtle Beach. The kids had an amazing time and the resort we stayed at all the pools where heated we spent all our time in the outdoor pool and the kids played on the water slides…. It was our first time staying with them and we are planning on going back.
We always go in Oct or Nov.
Usually the weather is still warm enough for the kids to enjoy the water and i dont die of a heat stroke. Its less crowded and much quieter!
Elis ZG
We go every December. Alot less people, cheaper, weather isn’t blazing hot, absolutely prefer it to summer time and the kids ask for that to be part of their Christmas and they pick what we do while there
Crystal Proffitt Laird
We got back last night! We go every year tge weekend of Columbus Day. It’s awesome. Still warm enough to play on the beach and swim (especially because our condo place has heated pools and an indoor one too). It’s beautiful weather. It’s not as crowded. It’s not so hot you’re miserable in the sun. It’s one of my favorite long weekends of the year!!
It’s less expensive and less crowded. But some things are only open seasonally so you have to come up with what you want to do and check if it’s open. Unless you are a real big “get in the ocean “ type of person it’s probably easier and cheaper to go on off season.
Kody Ward
We went the first week of February for the weekend. It was cold but quiet. We got a suite for around 100 a night
Using the winter break from school as a chance to go away is becoming more popular. Some families even use a vacation away from home during Christmas. It’s a clutter-free way to celebrate in lieu of an avalanche of gifts on Christmas morning. Breaking away from tradition might be scary for some readers. However, my kids and I went to Orlando one year and woke up in a hotel room Christmas morning; we had a blast.
