Hang An Oyster Shell And Make A Wish At The Wishing Tree On The Vereen Memorial Gardens Loop Trail In South Carolina
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.
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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.
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.
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:
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?
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.
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.
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.
(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.
Do you believe at least some wishes come true? Maybe it’s time to pay a visit to the oyster shell wishing tree!
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.
Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: [email protected]
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