Alligator Adventure

Alligator Adventure is the Grand Strand's reptile park and the place to see, safely and up close, the animals that live in the marshes and ponds all around the coast. It occupies about 15 acres beside Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, laid out along boardwalks through swampy pools and planted enclosures, and its numbers are startling: more than 800 alligators in all, from hatchlings in the juvenile pond to massive adults, plus rarities such as albino alligators, whose white skin and pale eyes make them one of the park's most photographed residents, and a small display of the critically endangered Chinese alligator. Croc Cove holds the giants, crocodiles that grow up to 21 feet long and can weigh as much as 2,600 pounds, and the park's best-loved individual is Bob, a female alligator born here in 1997 with no tail, a birth defect that has made her a local celebrity. Beyond the reptiles, more than 230 other species fill out the collection, including kookaburras, macaws, Chilean flamingos, eagle owls, bobcats and tortoises. Several live shows run through the day, with keepers handling animals and explaining reptile biology, and in summer the live alligator feedings are the big draw. The park is open year-round, although the alligators are slower and less visible in cold weather, so a mild, sunny day is best in winter. Visit in daylight, then walk next door to Barefoot Landing for lunch or dinner on the waterway.

Timing your visit: alligators are cold-blooded, and their activity follows the temperature. On warm days they bask, slide into the water and, at feeding times in summer, explode into action; on chilly winter days many stay submerged or motionless. In November and the cooler months, go around midday on a sunny day for the best viewing, and check the show schedule on arrival so you can build the walk around the keeper talks.

What children like most: the albino alligators, Bob the tailless gator, the sheer number of animals stacked along the banks, and the giant crocodiles in Croc Cove, whose size is hard to believe until you are standing above them. The bird and mammal exhibits break up the reptile viewing and suit younger visitors who tire of scales. The boardwalks are stroller-friendly, and the whole loop takes about two hours at an easy pace.

Fit and pairing: Alligator Adventure is a strong half-day pick for families staying in North Myrtle Beach, and an easy pairing with Barefoot Landing's shops and restaurants and an evening show at the Alabama Theatre. If you will also visit Huntington Beach State Park on the South Strand, where wild alligators often bask along the causeway, the park makes a good primer on what you are looking at. The link goes to Destination North Myrtle Beach's official article on the park, which links to its listing for current hours and tickets.