Robert Slick NRBA, RDCPro, Trident/CCAR MLS

Christmas is right around the corner! Get into the Holiday Spirit this year and make a trip to Brookgreen Gardens on Highway 17 Bypass across from the Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC. Brookgreen Gardens has an event every holiday season called “Nights of a Thousand Candles”. This year’s festivities are the first three weekends in December (December 2-3, December 9-10, and December 15, 16, and 17). Hours are from 3pm to 10pm.

Brookgreen Gardens comes to life during this event! More than 5500 hand-lit candles are placed through the walkways and countless sparkling white lights cling to the branches of the old oak and moss trees. The staff really makes it a breath taking magical wonderland with over 30 acres of lights that illuminate the gardens. Also, every night, they have musical performances throughout the gardens. Classical and current holiday favorites are played and you may see an array of musicians walking along the lighted paths.

You can even do your holiday shopping at Keepsakes, the Brookgreen Shop. They have a variety of items available including hand-made jewelry, books, art and gifts for children. Shipping is available.

Visitors to this event can also have dinner served buffet-style in a huge heated tent. (for an additional cost). Light refreshments and beverages, including hot chocolate, coffee, hot tea, sodas, beer and wine, are available throughout the gardens for an additional cost.

Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens is one of South Carolina’s best holiday event that you don’t want to miss! It’s rated one of the Top 20 events in the Southeast. Purchase your tickets now through November 30, 2011 and receive a discount on adult tickets. Pay only $13 per adult. In DECEMBER, adult tickets will be $16. Children ages 4-12 are $7, no matter when you purchase. Children 3 and under are free. You can purchase your tickets by calling (843) 235-6016 or go online at www.brookgreen.org. Tickets are non-refundable. Unused tickets will be considered a donation to Brookgreen Gardens.

For more information, visit www.brookgreen.org. Be sure to put Nights of a Thousand Candles on your calendar!

For those of you out there that enjoy horseback riding on Georgetown County beaches, a new rule was approved by the Georgetown County Council at a recent meeting to shorten the time frame as to when you can horseback ride on the beach. Prior to this new rule, you could enjoy horseback riding on Georgetown County beaches from September through March. With the new rule, horseback riding is only permitted from November 15 to March 15. The Georgetown County Council also considered prohibiting horses from the beach all year. The county claims that this change had to be implemented due to the fact that the beaches are used by tourists and local residents and public parking is limited near the beaches. Also, the way the beaches are laid out doesn’t allow the horses to cross the dunes safely to enter the beaches. Georgetown County does not have enough employees to clean up the beaches. They also don’t have enough employees to make owners clean up after their horses. For more information about the Georgetown County Council, visit their website at www.georgetowncountysc.org/officials/countycouncil.html.

If you've never been to Folly Beach, SC you are missing out on a terrific South Carolina Beach experience. Parking is reasonable- $5 and there is a pier and wonderful beach. Center Street is the heart of the "commercial district." It has a very bohemian feel with hand painted signs on some stores and a laid back attitude. Folly Beach is a very popular break for surfers and body boarders. Visit Folly Beach for the day, week or even the entire season. Rentals are available all year and are reasonably priced. Come enjoy one of South Carolina's most enjoyable beach towns.

Fresh Market opened in Pawleys Island, SC yesterday. I was driving past and decided to pull in and go through the parking lot. The parking lot was FULL! There was a line outside waiting to get into the store prior to opening at 9AM. This has been a much awaited opening even though there is no shortage of food outlets in Pawleys Island, SC. The store looks nice even though it is a behemoth by Pawleys Island, SC standards.

The parking lot is undersized for the store and maneuvering through it was tough with a full-sized vehicle. Small parking lots and ones that require defensive driving are common in Pawleys Island where the building footprints tend to be large for the parcel sizes.

When the buzz dies down I will venture inside Fresh Market and see what they have to offer.

I was making some usual rounds in Myrtle Beach this morning and came across this accident. Luckily everyone was out of the vehicles and appeared to be unhurt. There was no ambulance called. This is the intersection of Robert Edge Parkway and Hwy 31 in North Myrtle Beach and it's plenty congested this time of year. Friends, please drive safely and don't be in a hurry in Myrtle Beach traffic.

I always have my camera handy in the car and thought I'd share this cautionary picture as a reminder. Let's enjoy all that Myrtle Beach has to offer safely and treat each other with respect. Happy Father's Day and a special prayer for single parents!