The nature center at huntington beach state park
The Nature Center at Huntington Beach State Park is nothing to overlook! I say that and will admit that it took us 1 whole year from the time we moved to finally step foot inside. But we were fools and you don’t have to be a fool. I’ll tell you a few of our favorite things about it and you can go tomorrow!
1. it's new and well-maintained.
The previous nature center burned after a lightening strike ignited it 2016. The new one was completed in 2020 and everyone is glad to have it back and better than ever. It’s in such a beautiful location with big windows that look out onto the saltwater marsh. It’s hard not to daydream about having a personal view like that!
2. the touch tank and other animal tanks
The highlight for my kids is the touch tank. It houses a horseshoe crab, stingray, and a few fish (puffer fish, I think). They’re very easy to see and seem to enjoy interacting with the visitors who are eager to see and pet them.
There are two other tanks in the main room. One contains small alligators and the other has some seahorses and types of starfish. The education room has 8 more animals and another fish tank.
3. It was not overwhelming.
The Nature Center is pretty small but it’s very effective at educating on the animals and habitats of HBSP. My kids did super great focusing on things they’d normally breeze past.
It’s partly that my kids are getting to the age where they can appreciate educational components more. And largely because the staff does a great job organizing things so kids won’t get overwhelmed. The telephone bird-call center and binoculars were both big hits.
4. The programs.
HBSP offers several different programs each week. We have done a few of them and think they’re all very nicely done. We just happened to be in the Nature Center at the right time during our visit to learn about a turtle nest inventory happening that same evening.
We went later that day and wrote about it here. They don’t publicize these because they don’t want them getting too large for safety reasons. But if you can get yourself connected or in the loop well enough to learn about one then it’s so.so.so cool!
5. the pollination garden
The Nature Center looks out over the saltwater marsh and a little pollination garden designed to attract birds and insects. This is what the kids were looking at in their binoculars. But it’s alway nice to walk down to take a better look up close. And while you’re there you must walk out on the saltwater marsh boardwalks.
Make sure you carve out some time to check out the Nature Center. And check out all our info on Myrtle Beach State Park and the other features of Huntington Beach State Park.