Your Guide to Wildlife Attractions in North Myrtle Beach

 

When you think of Myrtle Beach, wildlife might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but did you know the area is home to a variety of entertaining and educational experiences, featuring all kinds of animals? You’ll find adventures, featuring everything from reptiles to marine life to exotic animals.

Here are three must-visit wildlife attractions in North Myrtle Beach:

Alligator Adventure

Located adjacent to Barefoot Landing, Alligator Adventure is a 15-acre self-guided park, featuring hundreds of species of reptiles, along with other exotic animals, birds, and mammals. But like its namesake, the alligators are definitely the main attraction with hundreds on the premises. The park is one of the largest facilities for reptile life in the world.

Guests can take in feeding shows where handlers coax the alligators out of the water and onto dry land to enjoy a meal or hop on over to Alligator Adventure for a live gator-handling show.

Watching hundreds of gators and crocodiles in their natural environment sunbathing on the shore of the natural lake that runs through the park property is quite a sight to behold. Ten-foot, 15-foot, and even a 20-foot croc named Utan roam the grounds and waters just like in the wild.

In addition to reptiles, Alligator Adventure is famous for its rare collection of other reptiles, including the Snake House, which displays deadly venomous snakes from around the world and species that are native to the Carolinas. Guests will also be wowed by exhibits that include Chilean flamingos, Eurasian eagle owls, squirrel monkeys, spotted hyenas, and mountain lions.

Ripley’s Aquarium

If you ever wondered what life is like under the sea, then Ripley’s Aquarium is the place to go. Two levels of fascinating fishes and sea creatures, including barracudas, jellyfish, octopi, eels, and sharks, await guests at this Myrtle Beach attraction.

Guests will enjoy the brand-new Sloth Encounters, the Penguin Playhouse where you can interact and pet the playful penguins, and the Stingray Experience where you can wade in the water and snorkel while guided by an experienced Ripley’s diver.

Before you leave, set sail on Ripley’s glass bottom boat and glide over Dangerous Reef with only three inches of glass separating you from the predators below. During this experience, you’ll venture into the heart of the shark tank where you’ll be surrounded by the marine life that inhabits Atlantic and Caribbean reefs.

T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Center

An attraction and conservation effort in one, the T.I.G.E.R.S. preserve at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach is a free-living tiger exhibit. Guests can get nose-to-nose with 500-pound adult tigers with only a pane of glass in between. The free exhibit features live tiger cubs and other rare and endangered species.

If you want to get even closer, head about 17 miles up the road of the Grand Strand to the preserve’s second facility, Myrtle Beach Safari. This site features a large collection of animals, including tigers, elephants, monkeys, cheetahs, and others, and their trained handlers with lots of room to roam. Visitors can pet, feed, and take photos with some of the tamer species on hand, as well as embark on a variety of safari tours.

Ready for a wildlife adventure of your own? Visit Myrtle Beach and stay at one of our Salty Stay luxe vacation rentals, located within steps of the beach and a short drive from wildlife attractions in North Myrtle Beach.