Lowcountry Zoo

The Lowcountry Zoo at Brookgreen Gardens offers something different from typical zoo experiences — instead of exotic African and Asian animals, it specializes in native South Carolina wildlife that lives in and around the very coastal environment families are visiting on their Myrtle Beach trip.

The animals on display represent the actual ecosystem of the South Carolina lowcountry: river otters playing in their tank, American alligators basking with prehistoric indifference, white-tailed deer, red wolves, bald eagles, and other species that call this coastal region home. For children who've been wading in the same marshes and waterways these animals inhabit, seeing them up close creates a genuine connection that exotic zoo animals can't replicate.

The river otter exhibit is the consistent family favorite. Otters are inherently entertaining animals — playful, fast, and seemingly always performing. Arriving early (9:30AM at opening) maximizes the chance of seeing them at peak activity before the afternoon heat reduces animal movement.

The zoo is embedded within Brookgreen Gardens, one of South Carolina's most beautiful historic properties featuring exceptional sculpture gardens and natural landscape. The combined admission ticket for both the zoo and gardens provides significantly better value than separate entry, and adds an entirely different dimension to the visit for adults while kids cover the animal exhibits.

Location note: Brookgreen Gardens is in Murrells Inlet, south of Myrtle Beach — about 20-25 minutes from the main strip. Factor driving time into planning.