We had a chance to visit Cypress Gardens last week and were reminded that it’s well worth the drive beyond Charleston’s city limits. The drive itself is nice jaunt off the beaten path between Goose Creek and Moncks Corner in Berkeley County. It truly is a hidden gem of swamplands, history, plants and wildlife.
Great for nature-loving adults and children who love creepy crawlies, Cypress Gardens has a bit of everything. Check out the Butterfly House, an expansive greenhouse filled with flowering plants, butterflies, a pond and an observation beehive. It’s a great place to learn about the different stages of the butterfly’s life cycle.
The Swamptarium – part aquarium, part reptile center – has tanks of fish, amphibians, and reptiles (including venomous snakes) native to swamp and nearby waterways. Be sure to stop just outside the Swamptarium to see the three alligators hanging out in the sunshine.
And be sure to wear your walking shoes to explore the 3.5 miles of trails through the gardens and swamp. Or take boat ride for a different view of the swamp with its cypress and tupelo trees.
Cypress Gardens is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all week; closed only on Thanksgiving , Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The price is right too: just $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and under. Plus, parking is free.