Need rest from Christmas rush? Try hiking, art, or ice skating

Anyone overwhelmed by the rush and pace of the yuletide season might need a break, especially since the marketing push for Christmas starts before Halloween and skips right on through, almost making forgotten, the Thanksgiving holiday.

For a respite from shopping, the countdown until Dec. 25, and the reminders about the extra preparations about getting together with relatives (Think of the Griswold family in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” or better yet, Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis in “Christmas with the Kranks”), give yourself a gift this month, such as an outing for miniature golfing at many of the courses still open after the summer and fall shoulder tourist seasons, or visiting the Myrtle Beach and Huntington Beach state parks, open at 6 a.m. every day of the year.

Here are some other ideas outlined:

Get out for a special, memorable stroll

These two sites are kind of hidden treasures that are free to see, with scenic hiking, great chances to see wildlife, and simply beautiful to walk at any time of year, even in the lull of wintertime.

▪ Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens, at C.B. Berry Historical & Community Center, 2250 S.C. 179, Little River. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. 843-249-4157 or www.parksandrec.horrycounty.org.

▪ Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, which stretches across swaths of Horry and Georgetown counties, with a visitor center at the headquarters, 1424 N. Fraser St. (U.S. 701), on U.S. 701, 15 miles south of Conway and 20 miles north of Georgetown, at Georgetown/Horry County line, and open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 843-527-8069 or www.fws.gov/waccamaw.

Immerse yourself in art some afternoon

Check out some captivating art this month. Of course, anyone could buy an artwork from a gallery as a gift for someone ...

▪ Annual “Small Works Show,” with 160 pieces by 64 local artists, and no work exceeding 12 inches in any dimension, through Dec. 19 at Artspace 506, 506 37th Ave. S., North Myrtle Beach. Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays. 843-273-0399 or www.artspace506.com.

▪ Fall Art Show, with more than 100 new works, through Jan. 18 at Collectors Cafe & Art Gallery, 7740 N. Kings HIghway, Myrtle Beach. Open noon-11 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. 843-449-9370 or www.collectorscafeandgallery.com.

▪ Three exhibits showcasing S.C. history – “Rice: Paintings by Jonathan Green,” “Indigo: Works in Denim by Jim Arendt” and “Remnants of the Rice Culture: Photographs by David Shriver Soliday,” all through Jan. 7 – and “Contemporary Conversations II,” with about 40 works by S.C. artists, through Dec. 27, at Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum, 3100 S. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach, across from Midway Par 3 Golf and Springmaid Beach Resort. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Free. Details at 843-238-2510 or www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org.

Also, for art and style in classic cars, try Wheels of Yesteryear, 413 Hospitality Lane, near Carolina Forest, off U.S. 501, across from main entrance to Tanger Outlets, by Myrtle Beach Speedway. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. $9 ages 16 and older, $6 ages 9-15, and free ages 8 and younger. 843-903-4774 or www.wheelsofyesteryearmb.com.

Stop the itching to go ice skating

The Grand Strand has had seasonal ice skating in recent years, such as the syntheic surface at The Market Common, and last year with ice on a small pad inside Myrtle Beach Mall. For a day trip or an overnighter, take advantage of these full-scale ice rinks.

The Florence Civic Center, 3300 W. Radio Drive, at Interstates 95 and 20, with two-hour sessions at 6 p.m. Dec. 10-13, 16-20, 26-27, 29-31 and Jan. 2; and 3 p.m. Dec. 12-13, 19-20, and 26-27, and Jan. 2. $7 ages 13 and older, otherwise $5; and skate rental is $3. 843-679-9417 and www.florenceciviccenter.com/events/detail/ice_skating.

Other regional rinks, all open year round, and each with separate admission and skate rental rates, are:

▪ Wilmington (N.C.) Ice House, 7201 Ogden Business Lane, east of the city, north off Market Street (U.S. 17) – turn left at corner with little white church, and veer right toward the rink, on left side of road. 910-686-1987 or www.wilmingtonice.com.

▪ Carolina Ice Palace, 7665 Northwoods Blvd., North Charleston, next to Northwoods Mall, off Interstate 26 at Exit 209 for Ashley Phosphate Road, about 20 minutes north of downtown Charleston. Head through interaction at exit; rink’s a half-mile way, on left. 843-572-2717 or www.carolinaicepalace.com.

▪ Plex Ice Sports in Irmo, off I-26, at Exit 97, then left on U.S. 176, on north end of suburban Columbia, 803-732-1900 or plexindoorsports.com/irmoice.

▪ In suburban Raleigh, N.C.: Polar Ice House in Garner (919-861-7465 or www.icehousegarner.com) and Polar Ice House in Cary (919-460-2756 or www.icehousecary.com).

Also, check out two seasonal outdoor rinks; rates vary per site, and yuletide music might be playing:

▪ City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department’s annual “Main Street Ice,” through Jan. 18 at Boyd Plaza, at Main and Hampton streets in front of Columbia Museum of Art. 4-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays (and until midnight on Dec. 31), 4-10 p.m. Fridays (but closed Dec. 25), 10 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, and 1-9 p.m. Sundays. Extra hours, Dec. 21-Jan. 1, include staying open till 9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and opening at noon Jan. 1. 803-545-3100 or columbiaparksandrecreationfoundation.org/mainstreetice/.

▪ “Holiday on Ice,” daily through Jan. 3 at NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza, 400 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Charlotte. 5 -10 p.m. Dec. 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 and 25; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Dec. 12, 19-24 and 26-30; and Jan. 1 and 2; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 13 and Jan. 3; and 10 a.m.-midnight Dec. 31. 704-390-3766 or wbt.com/shows/holiday-on-ice/.

Escape to see pucks drop for ice hockey

Hockey fans have numerous teams to see, with four minor league franchises, one of which marks the top part of the Carolina Hurricanes’ developmental system:

▪ S.C. Carolina Stingrays, Double-A, East Coast Hockey League affiliate of Washington Capitals – and 1999, 2001 and 2009 Kelly Cup Champions – in North Charleston Coliseum, 5001 Coliseum Drive, between International Boulevard and Montague Avenue, off Exit 213 from Interstate 26 – or take Interstate 526 from Mount Pleasant to one exit past I-26. Games at 7:05 p.m. Dec. 12, 18, 19 and 26; Jan. 2, 16, 22 and 23; Feb. 5, 6 and 16; March 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 and 29; and April 1 and 2. Also, 3:05 p.m. Dec. 13 and 27; Jan. 3 and 17; Feb. 21; and March 20. $8, $16, $22 or $24. 843-744-2248 orwww.stingrayshockey.com.

▪ Greenville Swamp Rabbits, ECHL affiliate of New York Rangers, in Bon Secours Wellness Arena (formerly Bi-Lo Center), 650 N. Academy St., Greenville. 7 p.m. Dec. 19; Jan. 7, 8. 9. 14, 19 and 22; Feb. 13, 19 and 20; March 5, 10, 11, 12, 18 and 31; and April 1, 2 and 8. Also, 3 p.m. Dec. 20 and 27. $12, $18, $27 or $29. 864-674-7825 or www.swamprabbits.com.

▪ Fayetteville FireAntz, in Southern Professional Hockey League, in Crown Center Coliseum, 1960 Coliseum Drive, Fayetteville, N.C. 7:05 p.m. Dec. 23, 26 and 31; Jan. 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 and 26; Feb. 5, 6, 12 and 19; and March 1, 11, 12 and 25. Also, 4:05 p.m. Dec. 27 and Feb. 21. $15, $17, $19 or $21 ages 13 and older, and $7 ages 12 and younger. 910-321-0123 or www.fireantzhockey.com.

▪ Carolina Hurricanes, 2006 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Champions – formerly Hartford (Conn.) Whalers, 1972-79 in former World Hockey Association, and 1979-97 in NHL – at PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh, N.C. (From I-95, take I-40 west to Exit 290 to N.C. 54.) 7 p.m. Dec. 18, 21 and 26; Jan. 2, 8, 12, 15, 22 and 26; Feb. 12, 13, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26 and 28; March 8, 22, 26 and 31; and April 2 and 7. Also, 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and Jan. 24; and 5 p.m. March 27. Tickets start at $30-$45. 919-861-2323, 866-645-2263 (NHL-CANES) or hurricanes.nhl.com.

▪ Charlotte Checkers, Triple-A American Hockey League affiliate of Carolina Hurricanes, in Bojangles Coliseum, 210 E Trade St., Charlotte, N.C. 7 p.m. Dec. 15, 17 and 19; Jan. 12 and 13; Feb. 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 13; March 8, 10 and 12; and April 1, 2, 5, 6 and 9. Also, 1 p.m. Dec. 20 and March 13; 6 p.m. Jan. 16 and 23; 4:30 p.m. Jan. 17, 8 p.m. Jan. 22, 7:30 p.m. March 4 and 5, and noon April 10. $13, $16.25, $21.50, $32.25, or $86. 704-342-4423 or gocheckers.com/home.

Lucky 7 for places to roll some balls

Anybody seeking some strikes and spares has seven local sites for bowling, although the surroundings and speaker sounds might be decked out for this time of year:

▪ Brunswick County Bowling Center, 630 Village Road S.W., Shallotte, N.C. 910-754-2695 or www.brunswickcountybowl.com.

▪ Frank Theatres’ CineBowl & Grille, at Inlet Square, at U.S. 17 Business and U.S. 17 Bypass in Murrells Inlet. 843-651-9400 or cinebowlandgrille.com.

▪ Little River Lanes, 300 Bowling Lane, Little River, off River Hills Drive, northwest of U.S. 17. 843-249-0055.

▪ Myrtle Beach Bowl (formerly Waccamaw Bowling Center), 101 Gray Drive, west of Myrtle Beach, off U.S. 501, just west of River Oaks Drive and Intracoastal Waterway. 843-236-1020 or myrtlebeachbowl.com.

▪ Planet Fun! at 349 Whiteville Road, Shallotte, N.C. 910-755-2386 (2FUN) or www.planetfuncenter.com

▪ 710 Burgers, Bocce, Beer & Bowling (formerly North Myrtle Beach Bowling Center), 1105 U.S. 17 S., North Myrtle Beach. 843-663-2695 or www.710bowling.com.

▪ Surfside Bowl Family Entertainment Center, 510 U.S. 17 Business N., Surfside Beach. 843-238-2695 or www.surfsidebowlingcenter.com.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Need rest from Christmas rush? Try hiking, art, or ice skating."