Little River between nature, history and water

Little River brings together marshland, traces of history and connections to the water, offering a range of reasons to visit. At Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens, forest and marshland meet the Intracoastal Waterway; nature trails, boardwalks and a section of the colonial Kings Highway give the area a distinctive landscape and historical perspective. Water activities, festivals and Lowcountry cuisine round out the experience.

Nature and history at Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens

Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens span more than 115 acres of forest and marshland along the Intracoastal Waterway. About three miles of nature trails and boardwalks wind through the grounds. The approximate distance offers a practical guide for planning; anyone looking to explore the landscape in depth can make the trails and boardwalks a dedicated part of their itinerary.

History is also tied to a specific place: a section of the original Kings Highway has been preserved in the Gardens. The colonial route ran between Boston and Charleston. This makes it possible to locate a piece of this regional connection in Little River without equating the preserved section with the entire route.

Another distinctive feature is the Wishing Tree, a work of natural public art and part of the Myrtle Beach Arts & Gallery Trail. Visitors to Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens can make a wish there. This combines a personal ritual with an arts and cultural experience, adding a different perspective to the visit than the trails and historic routes.

Waterways, events and cuisine

The Southeast Coast Saltwater Paddling Trail spans a much larger geographic area: the South Carolina section is 295 miles long, runs along the coast from the Georgia border and ends in Little River at the North Carolina border. Little River is therefore the endpoint of this long coastal section. For trip planning, this offers a different connection to the water than the landscape of the Gardens.

Several local providers offer inshore fishing charters and deep-sea trips to the Gulf Stream. The two types of excursions described differ primarily in where they take place: inshore waters or the deep waters of the Gulf Stream. Ask the provider directly where the tour departs from.

Events offer their own distinctive highlights. The 20th annual Little River ShrimpFest was scheduled for Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at Historic Little River Waterfront. If you’re planning a trip for a future edition, check the dates. The World Famous Blue Crab Festival began in 1981 as a small waterfront event. The two festivals tell different stories: ShrimpFest is a specific, dated event, while the Blue Crab Festival has a history of humble beginnings.

Blue Drum Waterfront Restaurant is located on the Intracoastal Waterway in Little River and serves Lowcountry classics such as she-crab soup, shrimp and grits, and crab cakes. Anyone wishing to include regional cuisine in their travel plans will find it offers a concrete culinary connection to the Lowcountry.

Choose a vacation rental to suit your trip

When looking for a vacation rental in Little River, it helps to first decide what you’d like to focus on: nature trails and history at the Gardens, an event date, water activities in the area or Lowcountry cuisine. The Gardens bring together landscape, a historical trace and art; the paddling route and boat trips offer different highlights.

Discover more destinations

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