Have a few troubles weighing heavy on your mind? There’s one refuge for contemplation that includes three miles of beautiful hiking paths, scenic water views, and oh yeah… a wishing tree, so you can stop and leave an earthy token before making a wish along the trail. If you’ve never explored the botanical goodness found at Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens, then you’ve been missing out.

The waterside gardens include 115 acres of forest and marsh that extends from Highway 17 near Little River all the way to the Intracoastal Waterway.

TripAdvisor/ladyme1

Found at the far end of the loop trail, the Intracoastal Waterway is the halfway point for this 2.4-mile hike. The banks of the waterway here are covered in old oyster shells, perfectly bleached by the sun. Grab one before you make the turn back to the start of the trail.

TripAdvisor/Fletcher F

Throughout the hike, visitors will enjoy both panoramic marsh and water views as well as a lowland forest.

alltrails/Clint Shaw

Wildflowers galore are scattered along the floor of the forest and along the edges of the sandy trail. But, there are also a few unexpected surprises along the way:

alltrails/Clint Shaw

A random headcast, for instance, is affixed to a tree giving the appearance that two limbs could perhaps be the arms. Is the man welcoming hikers with outstretched open arms?

Google Local/Joanne Guerra

And further along, a section of the forest has been converted into a wishing tree shrine. A sign hangs inviting guests to make a wish and hang an oyster to propel that wish forward.

Google Local/JW Pence

Whether or not you believe you can make your cares go away by merely wishing it so doesn’t matter. It’s the intention that counts. Putting that thought out there is all you need to set your own actions in a positive direction to bring about a change.

TripAdvisor/Tim And April W

Oh, and you’ll also be doing yourself a solid favor if, when you’re over on the Intracoastal Waterway looking for a perfect shell for the Wishing Tree, you pick one with a hole in it.

TripAdvisor/Beejoy1747 (Lest your one earthly token attached to your wish actually goes tumbling down to the ground because it didn’t have a hole… )

Plan to carve out plenty of time for some contemplation and the chance for renewal as you reconnect with many of nature’s best elements on this short little hike. Most people can finish the trip in 2-3 hours.

alltrails/Capt. Lyman Stuart

Be sure to bring plenty of drinking water, especially on a hot day.

alltrails.com

Do you believe at least some wishes come true? Maybe it’s time to pay a visit to the oyster shell wishing tree!

TripAdvisor/ladyme1

TripAdvisor/Fletcher F

alltrails/Clint Shaw

Google Local/Joanne Guerra

Google Local/JW Pence

TripAdvisor/Tim And April W

TripAdvisor/Beejoy1747

(Lest your one earthly token attached to your wish actually goes tumbling down to the ground because it didn’t have a hole… )

alltrails/Capt. Lyman Stuart

alltrails.com

Vereen Memorial Gardens is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more from the official website for Horry County Government. If you’d like more information at the loop trail, consult our friends at AllTrails.

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Address: 2250 SC-179, Little River, SC 29566, USA