Myrtle Beach Zoos

One of the things that kids love to do when on vacation is to visit the zoo, and visitors to Myrtle Beach will find a selection of zoological gardens in the area to choose from.

Located just to the south of Murrell’s Inlet, and well within the reach of Captain’s Quarters Resort, is Brookgreen Gardens, home to the LowCountry Zoo. The animals you’ll see here can be split into two groups: Native animals – animals that are native to this part of South Carolina, and domestic animals – a collection of rare historic domestic breeds.

Brookgreen Gardens and its zoo are open daily, and you get to choose from a selection of guided tours or, if you are the sort of person who finds guided tours too restrictive, you can stroll around at your own pace. The LowCountry Zoo is the only zoo on the coast of North and South Carolina that has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The native animals in the zoo were either bred and raised in captivity or, in some cases, have sustained a major disability due to injury.

It is most likely that, as you stroll through the gardens, you will catch a glimpse of some of the wild animals that also inhabit the region. These include alligators, snakes, bald eagles, grey and red foxes, hawks, owls, otters and white tailed deer. The domestic animals on show are breeds that were commonly found in the area during the 1800’s and today are considered "historic rare breeds". These include Dominique Chickens, Marsh Tacky Horses, Mules, Red Devon Cows, Tunis Sheep, Spanish Goats and wild turkeys.

Another Myrtle Beach zoo is the Waccatee Zoological Farm. This zoo was first created over 20 years ago as a private collection of domestic and exotic animals. Today is home to more than 100 different animal species. Expect to see herds of zebra and buffalo grazing, as well as a caged leopard, lion, cougar and tiger. This zoo is located on more than 500 acres of privately owned woodland, and can be found at the intersection of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Waccamaw River near Murrells Inlet, and about 6 miles from central Myrtle Beach and a pretty easy drive from Captain’s Quarters Resort.

You will also find a collection of animals at T.I.G.E.R.S., which is an acronym for The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species. The Institute has two locations. The Preservation Station, which is located at Barefoot Landing, is a free wildlife exhibit and living tiger museum where you’ll see Bengal tigers, Siberian tigers, Royal White Bengal tigers and the rarest tiger in the world, the Golden Tabby tiger. 17 miles to the South of the preservation station lies the 50-acre Wild Encounters Tour, which is not free, but where the guided tour will take you past tigers, wolves, leopards, chimpanzees, orangutans, and other rare and endangered species.

And if you’re staying at Captain’s Quarters Resort make sure to take along your VMB Card for a small discount at all three locations. T.I.G.E.R.S. is closed during the winter months, so make sure to check with them first before setting out. For contact information and details on the deals you get as a guest of Captain's Quarters at these zoos, visit the Captain's Quarters Myrtle Beach discounts page.