Low Country Holidays - Myrtle Beach - attractions

Myrtle Beach attractions	Barefoot Landing	Broadway at the Beach
	Alligator Adventure	Ripley's Aquarium

There is only one small exhibition room on the entry level and then you go down to the spacious lower level to the discovery centre, a riot of colour and neon. We were there on a cold January day in 2001 so there were few visitors. It is evident that the layout is designed to cope with many visitors and the guide book indicates an anticlockwise walk. If you do not buy a guide book the layout can be confusing and difficult to see where to go next without doubling back or missing something.

The ''Funny Fish" exhibit of 20 species whilst interesting, is clearly aimed at children. There are numerous riddles on the walls for children to lift a flap and get a silly answer. The whole accent is on humour which we found slightly overdone.

All the marine environments have been skilfully created and the fish have plenty of room. We thought the most spectacular was the Dangerous reef where a 330ft glidepath moves through a crystal clear tunnel on the ocean floor. The effect is wonderful to have huge sawfish, eels, sharks and many other varieties swimming all around you. Ever wondered what a stingray looks like underneath? Well this is your chance to find out.

We were told that it is not possible to use real coral or greenery and it is a little disconcerting at first to see plastic weeds. However the fish are so spectacular that soon we did not notice.

There are opportunities to touch a ray and shark and hold a horeshoe crab for those so inclined!

We think the Aquarium will appeal to anyone who would like the chance to see fish "live" that they would be unable to see otherwise. However good the filming no television programme can do justice to the colours and accurately indicate size and there is simply no sustitute for seeing the real thing.

visit Ripley's Aquarium official site

South Carolina's most visited attraction
winner of the 1999 Govenors Cup.