Mermaid swimmers to perform at Myrtle Beach

Mermaid swimmers to perform at Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — The mermaid swimmers who perform at Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida are coming to Myrtle Beach.

It will be the first time in the 61 years of the Florida attraction that the mermaids have performed away from their home.

The mermaids will perform their underwater choreography Aug. 1-3 at Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach. The swimmers will perform in Ray Bay — an 85,000 gallon saltwater tank.

The Weeki Wachee Theater opened in 1947 on Florida’s west coast and during the 1950s was one of the most popular tourist stops in the nation.

Black-footed ferrets return to national park

WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, S.D. — Visitors to Wind Cave National Park this summer have the chance to see black-footed ferrets at night.

To mark the one-year anniversary of the reintroduction of the creatures to the Black Hills park, rangers are offering night hikes through prairie dog towns in hopes of seeing the rare animal.

The program starts at Elk Mountain Campground at 9 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through Aug. 16. No reservations are necessary.

After a brief presentation, the group will caravan to a nearby prairie dog town where rangers will lead the group across the prairie.

Visitors can also see the cave on a variety of ranger-led tours for which tickets must be purchased.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/wica.

New children’s museum location offers more

DOVER, N.H. — A new space for a New Hampshire children’s museum includes old favorites as well as new attractions in a building that is fully accessible for children with wheelchairs and other mobility issues.

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire opened recently at 6 Washington St., in Dover, in a 20,000-square-foot building on the Cocheco River surrounded by a park.

The museum outgrew its original location in Portsmouth, but it still has a popular exhibit from the original site, the Yellow Submarine, designed to replicate the experience of a deep-sea dive. Other features include a play space for babies and toddlers, an area where kids can dig for fossils, a display about the ecosystem of the river, and “Build It, Fly It,” about aerodynamics.

For more information, visit www.childrens-museum.org.

Mario Andretti appears at Monterey Historic

MONTEREY, Calif. — Mario Andretti will be the guest of honor at this year’s Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races, taking place at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., Aug. 15-17.

The classic-car auto race is celebrating its 35th anniversary.

Andretti will drive some demonstration laps in his Formula One Championship-winning Lotus 79.

Cars on display will include a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C-2900B Mille Miglia Spyder, part of fashion designer Ralph Lauren’s car collection.

The winner of the eight-lap Toyota Race of Legends will earn $25,000 to be donated to the charity of his choice.

For more information, visit www.montereyhistoric.com.

Associated Press