photo by flickr user jek in the box

Update, January 1, 2012:  About 50 people gathered at the Myrtle Beach State Park this morning at 10:30 a.m. for the two-hour, 1.5 mile hike through the maritime forest and on the beach, encouraging participants to get outside, move, and enjoy nature.

MyrtleBeachforFamilies.com wrote a review of the event and included pictures.  This was the perfect opportunity for everyone of all ages to take in the beautiful scenery while learning more about the local ecosystem and environment.  You can read the full write-up here.

First report, December 26, 2011:  South Carolina’s state parks will join a national movement on Sunday, Jan. 1, to help people start the New Year refreshed and rejuvenated by taking a hike. First Day Hikes, coordinated by America’s State Parks, will be hosted by 15 South Carolina State Parks. The ranger-led programs provide a good, close-to-home opportunity for families to recover from the holidays and rediscover the great outdoors.

Location:  Myrtle Beach State Park
New Year’s Resolutions You Can "Nature-ly" Enjoy All Year
Sunday, January 1- 10:30am-12:30pm
Registration Deadline: Friday, December 30 by 4 pm - please call (843) 238-0874
Meeting Place: Nature Center
What to Bring: Wear shoes that can be worn both on the beach and in the woods. Please no cell phones.

Get outside at Myrtle Beach State Park on the first day of this new year and resolve to spend more of the upcoming year outside enjoying the natural world. Feel, see, hear, and smell your way through a diversity of coastal habitats as we enjoy a 1.5-mile stroll and appreciate the serenity that the maritime forest and beach provide. Let’s unplug and unwind from our fast paced world for just a few hours and be inspired by nature and its calming ways.