Cool Summer Evenings-Brookgreen Gardens. Wednesdays through Fridays, Now thru August 15th. Open til 9pm. Enjoy live entertainment and evening cruises down the creeks in the cool of the summer evenings. Gift Shop and food service are available. www.brookgreen.org

LITCHFIELD BEACH & GOLF RESORT TO HOST CAROLINA COUPLES EVENT
June 20, 2009, Pawleys Island, S.C. – The 13th annual Carolina Couples Classic, the premier couples’ golf tournament in South Carolina, will be held October 8-11, 2009, at Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort in historic Pawleys Island. The Carolina Couples Classic attracts couples from across the country to compete for gifts and prizes.

Over the 12 years of the tournament, more than 700 couples have participated representing states such as Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. In addition to the two-person team competition, this year’s event again includes an Intra-Club Competition with additional prizes for the teams representing the winning golf club.

“The Carolina Couples Classic is the premier couples’ golf event in the Carolina’s,” said Jim Woodring, vice president of golf operations for the Myrtle Beach National Company. “We welcome back many couples who mark the Classic dates on their calendar every year and come for the competition, the great golf and to see longtime friends that they’ve met at prior Carolina Couples Classics. We’re looking forward to the biggest weekend in Classic history this year.” Participating golfers will receive one round of golf on both River Club and Willbrook Plantation; three nights of accommodations in a four-bedroom fairway villa at Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort, with single suite upgrades available; a daily breakfast buffet; a welcome reception and cocktail party on Thursday night; lunch on Friday and Saturday; Saturday night’s awards party; a welcome gift at registration; and tournament prizes.

Demo Day, an annual tradition at the Carolina Couples Classic, is scheduled for Friday, October 9th at the Litchfield Country Club driving range from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m. Demo Day offers Carolina Classic participants the opportunity to test the latest in golf equipment technology from manufacturers including Callaway, Nike, Ping and Taylor Made. Carolina Couples participants will receive complimentary club fitting and substantial discounts on all golf purchases.

The entry fee for the 2009 Carolina Couples Classic is $955 per couple, and group leaders who bring three or more couples will receive a $50 gift certificate to the River Club or Willbrook pro shops. To register, golfers should call 1-888-714-5935, or visit CarolinaCouplesGolf.com.

About Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort
Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort is one of the leading vacation and golf resorts on the east coast. The Resort features a variety of amenities including luxurious accommodations, three championship golf courses, one of America’s top tennis facilities, a full-service health club, and more. Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort is located on U.S. Highway 17 South in Pawleys Island, along the Waccamaw Golf Trail, just twenty minutes south of Myrtle Beach and one hour north of Charleston. For more information, call 1-888-766-4633 or visit LitchfieldBeach.com.

The Oaks Plantation
History & Nature Trail Open!
Phase II of The Oaks History and Nature Trail at Brookgreen Gardens opened to the public in March. The one-mile, self-guided trail is open daily from 11 AM to 3 PM. Interpretive signage gives visitors opportunity to experience an “off the beaten path” area of historic significance – to learn about the culture and daily lives of individuals at The Oaks Plantation and in the Lowcountry during rice-producing years.

Phase II of the Trail meanders through archaeological sites believed to be the remnants of a vineyard and along a “street” where enslaved Africans lived during the 1800s. Interpretive panels describe the lives, the work and deaths of these people with stories told in their own words taken from interviews from Library of Congress records. The “Slave Narratives” are interviews conducted in Georgetown County and throughout the south with individuals born as slaves who were still alive to tell their stories in the early 1930s.

The Oaks Plantation was owned by the Allston/Alston family from the 1730s through the early 1900s and was home to SC Governor Joseph Alston and his wife Theodosia Burr Alston, the daughter of Aaron Burr, a former Vice President of the US. Her marriage in 1801 was followed by a series of tragedies that ended with her tragic disappearance at sea in January of 1813.

Since Phase I of the Trail opened in October 2007, more than 2,700 visitors have taken a walk through history and learned about nature along the way. Due to its remote location, access to the Trail is only available via Brookgreen Gardens’ mini-bus and tickets are $3 per person.

Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and non-profit organization, is located on US 17 between Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island. It is open to the public daily. Admission is good for seven delightful days , $12 for adults; $10 for seniors 65 and older; $5 for children six through twelve; children five and younger are free. For more information, visit brookgreen.org or call 800.849.1931 or 843.235-6000.

Pawleys Plantation Among Nation’s Top Fifty Golf Resorts
Pawleys Plantation has been ranked as one of the Top 50 Golf Resorts in the US in Golf World's first-ever ranking of the best public, private and resort facilities in the country. Standings were published in the October edition of the magazine.

Pawleys Plantation ranked number 35 on a list that with world-famous destinations that included Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Pinehurst and the TPC at Sawgrass.

“We're excited to be on Golf World's first-ever readers' choice list,” said Jann Walker, director of marketing at Pawleys Plantation. “There are so many choices for people looking to enjoy a getaway at a top-rate golf resort. This is especially rewarding because we deliver an experience that Golf World readers believe compares to resorts that are far more expensive than Pawleys Plantation.”

Unlike other rankings, which are produced by panelists, editors and course designers, this list was created by Golf World readers. More than 21,000 individual golf course evaluations were received.

The Golf World ranking is the latest in a long list of honors for Pawleys Plantation, including being named “one of the most underrated golf resorts” in the Southeastern US by readers of Travel + Leisure Golf magazine.

The Phil Ritson-Mel Sole Golf School was once again named one of the “Top 25 Golf Schools In America” by Golf Magazine, and Hole. No. 13 at Pawleys Plantation's award-winning Jack Nicklaus-designed course was recently featured as one the Grand Strand's “Dream 18” holes by The Sun News in Myrtle Beach.

Waccamaw River’s “Blue Trail” Taking Shape
Thanks to a generous grant from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, American Rivers, in league with partners – Winyah Rivers Foundation’s Waccamaw Riverkeeper® and the Pee Dee Land Trust – will begin work in Horry and Georgetown Counties to create a blue trail on the Waccamaw River. Goals of this three-year project are to improve recreation opportunities and public support for the river to be sure it remains as healthy as is possible.

Collaboration with communities in Horry and Georgetown Counties to establish the Waccamaw River Blue Trail is essential. Blue trails, the water equivalent to hiking trails, help facilitate recreation in and along rivers and are used by paddlers, anglers, hikers, picnickers, and those simply in search of solitude.

While the Blue Trail will certainly improve recreational opportunities, it will also help educate citizens, local governments and elected officials about the importance of the river as a community asset.

“A healthy Waccamaw River that provides the community benefits of clean water, recreation and nature-based tourism will depend on protecting this incredible resource” said Gerrit Jobsis, American Rivers’ Southeast Regional Director. This River delivers multiple community benefits including scenic landscapes, diverse fish and wildlife populations, drinking water, and endless recreation; it is an economic engine serving a fast growing geographic area. Unfortunately, as a consequence of unchecked development, rural woodlands and agricultural areas are being paved. Protecting the natural character of the surrounding watershed is essential for a healthy Waccamaw River.”

“The Blue Trail project will help us engage local citizens in stewardship of their watershed,” said Waccamaw Riverkeeper, Christine Ellis, who serves as the local voice for the Waccamaw River. “This project is among our top priorities because of the benefits for the community and the long-term health of the River.”

This Blue Trail is part of a much grander effort. It will serve as an innovative model for how to bring people back to their rivers through recreation and work to protect and restore these valuable assets. American Rivers also recently launched an ambitious network of blue trails on the Congaree and Wateree rivers in SC and have published the Blue Trails Guide (bluetrailsguide.org) to help other communities interested in developing blue trails.

River Room Rocks a Quarter Century
Seafood platters were $7.95 when the first guests enjoyed meals at The River Room. Of course, 25 years ago, buildings on the Georgetown waterfront sold for $14,000. Since those original diners enjoyed fried scallops and deviled crab, much change has taken shape – although much has remained blissfully same.

Partners Sid Hood and Sally Swineford opened their original location in 1984. It was a short romp down the street from today’s River Room. The leased space flooded when it rained, and customers trying to enjoy their cheeseburgers sometimes ended up ankle-deep in water. Despite the inconvenience, the restaurant was extremely popular. Quickly, the need arose to provide more than the 48 seats the little eatery offered.

"The menu was limited due to the size of the kitchen," Sally remembers. "We served food on paper plates in little basket liners, and we washed the silverware in the bar's triple sink. We served lunch and dinner, but we didn't do much for dinner because not many people came downtown for dinner back then."

When the right opportunity presented itself, Sid and Sally decided to buy a building and move the River Room. Soon, their dream property became available: a nineteenth-century commercial building beside a city park in the middle of Georgetown's Historic District. Score!

The River Room, at the intersection of Front and Broad streets, was built in 1888 as the J.B. Steele Building. It housed two businesses known as the Steele-Moses stores. Downstairs, customers inspected dry goods and groceries displayed on massive hardwood counters. Upstairs they could be fitted for custom-made hats.

The Steele-Moses stores remained in operation for fifty years; then, they were used for a series of department and shoe stores. The upstairs became a tailor shop and, finally, an apartment and office space.

In 1986, Sid and Sally took the building down to its bones when they started a two-year renovation. They uncovered handsome antique brick walls and repaired an ancient elevator. Beneath layers of linoleum, they discovered spectacular hardwood floors of varying plank-widths. Between the linoleum and the wood was a layer of turn-of-the-century newspapers; many of which are now framed and on display in the restaurant.

Shortly after renovations were completed, Chef Joe O'Hara went to work in the River Room kitchen. He's there today making creamy Shrimp and Grits with tasso ham, McClellanville Crab Balls, Spicy Crawfish Dip, Herb-Crusted Grouper with Citrus Mojo, and Petite Filet with Oysters. They’re waiting for you and yours.

Leisure Travel Trending Upward
According to the February TravelHorizons™ survey, the US Traveler Sentiment Index rose to 90.2 in February, 2009 from 78.2 in October,2008 due to an increase in the perceived "affordability of travel."

The spike in the perceived affordability of travel appears to be a direct result of travel suppliers' recent efforts to stimulate short-term demand through the aggressive promotion of discounted fares and rates. Promotional pricing and related incentives are now offered by suppliers representing practically every segment of the travel industry from airlines to cruise lines, hotel companies, attractions and rental car companies, some of which are featuring rates and fares that are up to fifty percent off prices quoted six short months ago.

"We are very encouraged that more people are signaling a willingness to travel for leisure purposes," said Peter C. Yesawich, chairman and CEO of Ypartnership, and speaker at this year's Governor's Conference on Tourism and Travel. "This is the first increase we have observed in the Index since January, 2008 … this is actually a terrific time to travel because some of these deals are sure to disappear once the industry begins to recover."