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Nature, History Highlights of Charleston Area Parks

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We’re fortunate here in the Charleston region to have public parks ripe for exploration. They are not only beautiful places to visit but many are rich in history, culture and environmental resources. Here are three parks on the outskirts of Charleston you can put on your must-visit list:

 

Caw Caw Nature & History Interpretive Center
Photo/Charleston County Parks

Caw Caw Nature & History Interpretive Center has more than 6 miles of trails, elevated boardwalks through wetlands areas plus exhibits, displays and programs. The park is a former 18th and 19th century rice field and is filled with alligators, swallow-tailed kites, bald eagles and other rare wildlife.

The park is part of the Charleston County park system so admission is just $1 (free for children 2 and under). Caw Caw Nature Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Dogs and bicycles are not permitted. The park is located at 5200 Savannah Highway (Highway 17 South) in Ravenel.

Old Santee Canal Park is a 195-acre park in Moncks Corner celebrating the area’s rich history and habitat. Among its attractions are the Stony Landing House, built in 1843, and 4 miles of boardwalks winding through the backwaters of Biggin Creek and its surrounding swamp. Be sure to visit the Interpretive Center that chronicles the area’s history as far back as 4000 B.C., including the 1863 construction of the Little David, a semi-submersible Confederate torpedo boat used in the Civil War. The Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center is also located within the park’s gates.

Visitors can enjoy canoe and picnic shelter rentals as well as audio tours and scavenger hunts. The Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center includes exhibits and artifacts about Brig. Gen. Francis Marion (known as “the Swamp Fox”), American Indians, Colonial life, the Civil War, early medicine, rural electrification, early education and the Francis Marion National Forest. Please note, the museum is closed on Mondays.

The park is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $3 per person; $2 for seniors and groups and free for children 6 and under.

Givhans Ferry State Park
Photo/South Carolina State Parks

Not far from Summerville, you’ll find Givhans Ferry State Park a peaceful retreat situated at the end of the 21-mile stretch of Edisto River ideas for kayaking and canoeing that begins at Colleton State Park. The Edisto is the longest free-flowing, blackwater river in North America and it is a highlight of this state park. The park has cabins, a shaded campground, a nature trail and picnic shelters. Visitors can enjoy kayaking and canoeing, trails, fishing and more.

Park hours vary depending on the season, and admission is $2 adults; $1.25 South Carolina seniors; and free for ages 15 and younger. Pets are not allowed in the cabins or the cabin areas. Pets are allowed in most other outdoor areas provided they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet.

Let us know if you visit one of these parks and what other parks you like exploring while in Charleston.

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Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

Additional Places to Explore

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