Segway Tour
Though you typically imagine Segway tours zipping along busy street sidewalks, this method of transportation also works well for moving quickly through remote natural areas with paved paths. The Myrtle Beach Segway company offers guided tours of Huntington Beach State Park, an easy way for groups to discover the Grand Strand’s wetlands and uncommercialized beaches.
“I just went on the Segway tour through Huntington Beach State Park,” said Ellis. “The guide is so knowledgeable on the hundreds of bird species that come through the area. I have learned so much. We saw all kinds of wildlife.”
Participants first undergo hands-on training to ensure a safe and enjoyable ride. Once everyone is comfortable on their Segways, the tour moves quickly into wilderness while the guide watches out for some of the more than 300 bird species that can be seen within the park.
Tour participants almost always see alligators at the park’s freshwater lake. Guides also frequently spot minks and loggerhead sea turtles. The park’s natural beauty initially attracted Anna Hyatt and Archer Huntington, who created the adjacent Brookgreen Gardens. Tours tell the story of the Hyatts’ time in the area and swing by Atalaya, a Moorish-style castle the couple used as their residence and sculpting studio.
The two-hour Segway tours also leave time to relax on the park’s three-mile-long pristine beach.
Dolphin-Watching Cruise
Imagine getting so close to a dolphin that it splashes you as it playfully leaps into the air. These close encounters occur regularly on dolphin-watching cruises in Myrtle Beach.
“Myrtle Beach has several dolphin and sunset cruises that are all wonderful,” said Ellis. “Getting to see dolphins on a cruise is an amazing experience.”
Groups should opt for the cruises that take off early in the morning or in the evening during feeding times. Since dolphins live together in pods, groups often will spot not just one dolphin but anywhere from 10 to 30 swimming and leaping together.
Two dolphin cruise options for groups are Voyager in North Myrtle Beach and Crazy Sister Marina south of Myrtle Beach. Voyager features naturalist guides who explain aquatic facts as the boat cruises along for two and a half hours. The crew will haul aboard a basket of sea animals for guests to admire.
Crazy Sister Marina’s dolphin cruises follow over 40 resident dolphins in hopes of not only seeing them but also, under the right conditions, hearing their vocalizations using a hydrophone. The cruise company also offers trips into the local saltwater marsh for more chances to see ospreys, eagles, turtles and a live crabbing demonstration.
