The holiday season is especially merry and bright in the Palmetto State with a variety of family-oriented events that bring everyone together to celebrate the season. From a town that transforms into ChristmasVille to a holiday lights safari where you may find yourself hand-feeding a zebra from your own car – and more, this year promises to deck the halls with holiday cheer. Each year, South Carolina’s number one outdoor attraction, Brookgreen Gardens delivers the best winter hike in South Carolina and it takes place at night under the glow of flickering candles and twinkling lights.
For a handful of magical nights this holiday season, Brookgreen Gardens is open at night for a spectacular lights display. The gates open at 3:00 p.m. for the event so you’ll get to see the transformation from daytime to night under the glow of more lights and displays than you can imagine.
Facebook/Brookgreen Gardens
Wander freely through the many sculpture gardens and gaze in awe as the lights shine perfectly to illuminate many of the sculptures and fountains.
Facebook/Brookgreen Gardens
But Nights of a Thousand Candles isn’t just about string lights and displays. Trees are expertly wrapped in thousands of lights, the fountains sparkle with reflections, and the feel of Christmas flows through the night air as visitors sip hot chocolate and wander the gardens.
Facebook/Brookgreen Gardens
Each afternoon, more than 2,700 candles are hand lit throughout the garden; some are even floating in the many reflecting pools. It’s such a magical display and a wonderful setting for the best winter hike in South Carolina!
TripAdvisor/syhink
Year after year, visitors clamor to get advance tickets for the 11 nights in December when Brookgreen opens for Nights of a Thousand Candles.
Facebook/Brookgreen Gardens
Each night at 5:45 p.m. there’s a ceremonial lighting of the enormous 85-foot tree bearing no less than 100,000 lights. (The photo below has the silhouette of a person standing at the base of the tree in the bottom right corner.)
TripAdvisor/Susan R
Warm cider and hot chocolate are available and you can walk the paths enjoying some holiday music as you make your way through the Nights of a Thousand Candles and the positively breathtaking light displays. If you’re seeking new (to you) things to do in winter in South Carolina, then this event belongs on your bucket list this year.
Facebook/Brookgreen Gardens
Nights of a Thousand Candles, the best winter hike in South Carolina, takes place on the following nights: December 5-8, December 12-15, and December 19 – 21, 2019. Tickets must be purchased in advance and they tend to sell out, so don’t wait. On these special event days the gardens are open from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth. Purchase tickets at this link or by calling 1-888-718-4253.
Facebook/Brookgreen Gardens
TripAdvisor/syhink
TripAdvisor/Susan R
For more ways to enjoy the season in the Palmetto State, check out some spots where you’ll find the best winter hiking in South Carolina.
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Address: 1931 Brookgreen Garden Dr, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Winter Hike In South Carolina November 02, 2019 Robin Jarvis What are the best walk-through light displays in South Carolina? By far, the best walk-through lights display for adults in South Carolina is found at Brookgreen Gardens on select nights during December. For eleven nights each year, the gardens are illuminated with more than 2,700 hand-lit candles and countless Christmas lights decorating the gardens. For more information, see the article above. There are other, more kid-friendly lights displays you can walk through in the Palmetto State, too. The Holiday Lights on the River in Columbia features a holiday lights trail you experience on foot after driving through a fantastic lights display. The event takes place at Saluda Shoals Park. And over in Aiken, Hopeland Gardens is adorned with more than 100,000 dazzling lights throughout, and is a winter wonderland (minus the snow) each year at Christmastime. Can I go hiking in the winter in South Carolina? Yes, you absolutely CAN go hiking in the winter in South Carolina! The mild temperatures experienced in most of the state during the winter months make hiking an enjoyable experience. Only in the higher elevations in the westernmost part of the state will you find hiking trails closed due to inclement conditions. Here are 10 great suggestions for winter hikes in South Carolina. Enjoy! What are the best parks to visit in the winter in South Carolina? If it’s a chance to see fresh snowfall that you’re seeking, then you’ll want to head to Caesar’s Head State Park, Table Rock State Park, or Jones Gap State Park. And if it’s a chance to relax on the beach and catch some warmth from the sun on a particularly toasty day in South Carolina, then you’ll want to head to the coast to Hunting Island State Park, Edisto State Park, Huntington Beach State Park, or Myrtle Beach State Park.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Winter Hike In South Carolina
November 02, 2019
Robin Jarvis
What are the best walk-through light displays in South Carolina? By far, the best walk-through lights display for adults in South Carolina is found at Brookgreen Gardens on select nights during December. For eleven nights each year, the gardens are illuminated with more than 2,700 hand-lit candles and countless Christmas lights decorating the gardens. For more information, see the article above. There are other, more kid-friendly lights displays you can walk through in the Palmetto State, too. The Holiday Lights on the River in Columbia features a holiday lights trail you experience on foot after driving through a fantastic lights display. The event takes place at Saluda Shoals Park. And over in Aiken, Hopeland Gardens is adorned with more than 100,000 dazzling lights throughout, and is a winter wonderland (minus the snow) each year at Christmastime. Can I go hiking in the winter in South Carolina? Yes, you absolutely CAN go hiking in the winter in South Carolina! The mild temperatures experienced in most of the state during the winter months make hiking an enjoyable experience. Only in the higher elevations in the westernmost part of the state will you find hiking trails closed due to inclement conditions. Here are 10 great suggestions for winter hikes in South Carolina. Enjoy! What are the best parks to visit in the winter in South Carolina? If it’s a chance to see fresh snowfall that you’re seeking, then you’ll want to head to Caesar’s Head State Park, Table Rock State Park, or Jones Gap State Park. And if it’s a chance to relax on the beach and catch some warmth from the sun on a particularly toasty day in South Carolina, then you’ll want to head to the coast to Hunting Island State Park, Edisto State Park, Huntington Beach State Park, or Myrtle Beach State Park.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
By far, the best walk-through lights display for adults in South Carolina is found at Brookgreen Gardens on select nights during December. For eleven nights each year, the gardens are illuminated with more than 2,700 hand-lit candles and countless Christmas lights decorating the gardens. For more information, see the article above.
There are other, more kid-friendly lights displays you can walk through in the Palmetto State, too. The Holiday Lights on the River in Columbia features a holiday lights trail you experience on foot after driving through a fantastic lights display. The event takes place at Saluda Shoals Park. And over in Aiken, Hopeland Gardens is adorned with more than 100,000 dazzling lights throughout, and is a winter wonderland (minus the snow) each year at Christmastime.
Can I go hiking in the winter in South Carolina?
Yes, you absolutely CAN go hiking in the winter in South Carolina! The mild temperatures experienced in most of the state during the winter months make hiking an enjoyable experience. Only in the higher elevations in the westernmost part of the state will you find hiking trails closed due to inclement conditions. Here are 10 great suggestions for winter hikes in South Carolina. Enjoy!
What are the best parks to visit in the winter in South Carolina?
If it’s a chance to see fresh snowfall that you’re seeking, then you’ll want to head to Caesar’s Head State Park, Table Rock State Park, or Jones Gap State Park. And if it’s a chance to relax on the beach and catch some warmth from the sun on a particularly toasty day in South Carolina, then you’ll want to head to the coast to Hunting Island State Park, Edisto State Park, Huntington Beach State Park, or Myrtle Beach State Park.
