Spending a day on the water with Captain Fuzzy Davis
Redfish are plentiful in the waters of the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Spending the day on the water in the South Carolina Lowcountry is always a good idea. Booking a charter fishing trip with Hilton Head’s nationally acclaimed Silva Dolla Fishing Charters with Fuzzy Davis is brilliant! Davis has been fishing the waters around Hilton Head for over 40 years.
He has been featured in magazines and television shows. Not to brag, but he has held the SC State Tarpon Record since 1986, and Saltwater Sportsman Magazine ranked him in the “Top 50 Boat Captains in the US”.
Captain Fuzzy Davis
Davis’ skill on the water and great personality make him a
favorite for locals and tourists alike. He’s the boat captain my family calls
on for a day of fishing.
The day begins bright and early at the Boathouse dock. Davis
is ready and waiting. His boat is loaded with ice, bait, tackle, fishing
license, bottled water and all the fishing trivia you can handle.
After loading up, you will head off in pursuit of fish in the saltwater creeks, rivers, sounds or offshore. Inshore excursions focus on redfish and sea trout. Nearshore trips target Tarpon, shark, redfish, trout, and cobia.
The first catch was a bonnethead shark.
The first catch of the day is always exciting. Per dad’s request, the group started fishing for sharks. It didn’t take long to start pulling in some beauties. This bonnethead shark put up quite the fight before being hauled on board. Bonnetheads live in subtropical waters from North Carolina to the Caribbean. They typically grow between two and five feet long.
Dad gets in on the action.
Reeling in a shark is exhilarating.
The proud catch.
The last catch of the day brought out the competition in the girls. They came out even though because one redfish weighs more while the other is longer.
Catching redfish brings out friendly competition.
After four hours of reeling in sharks, stingrays, and redfish, the fishing party was amply satisfied and exhausted. Great memories were made, and bonds were strengthened. The next morning plans were made for the next fishing excursion with Fuzzy.
Take a journey through unspoiled terrain at Webb WMA
The lakes at Webb WMA are perfect for fishing and canoeing.
A black water wonderland sits along the Savannah River in the heart of Hampton County. The Webb Wildlife Management Area is protected by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to protect and preserve the wildlife habitat on the historic property. This care has also created opportunities for public recreation.
Follow the oak-lined drive into the WMA. Photo by Zadok Moss.
Follow the brown binocular signs 2.7 miles from Garnet to the oak tree-lined drive that leads to the wildlife center complex. The office is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. -4:30 p.m.
Inside you’ll find maps and a restroom. Maps can also be found at the sign-in kiosk outside if your visit falls on a weekend. Follow the Bluff Lake directional signs to find the 2.1-mile Savannah River Nature Trail and a 1.2-mile canoe trail.
Alligators can be seen sunbathing on the banks. Photo by Zadok Moss.
Webb WMA Wildlife
There are many opportunities along the way to spot local wildlife. Managed fields and openings are great places to spot white-tailed deer, fox squirrels, and turkeys. The Savannah River and its tributaries offer glimpses of alligators and turtles. Two oxbow lakes provide great opportunities for fishing and canoeing.
The rare and endangered red-cockaded woodpecker can be seen at the WMA. Photo by Karen Marts.
Webb WMA is featured in the South Carolina Nature Viewing Guide. This book showcases selected sites for nature observation in the state. The WMA also has a rookery where viewers can get glimpses of swallow-tailed kites, prothonotary warblers, painted buntings and even the extremely rare red-cockaded woodpecker.
Trees painted with white rings mark nesting activity of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Photo by Karen Marts.
While
driving through the upland pine forest, keep an eye out for white rings painted
on trees. These rings mark nest activity sites of the endangered red-cockaded
woodpecker.
The plantation house is the home to the WMA offices and visitor information. Photo by Zadok Moss.
The Webb Wildlife Center Office
The Webb Wildlife Center office is housed in what was once the plantation house of a long-gone race-horse training facility. The state acquired the 5,866-acre property in 1941 and set out to protect and preserve the unspoiled property. The area’s pineland forest, wildlife openings, bottomland hardwood forests, and cypress-tupelo swamps make the perfect spot for a woodland hike along the Savannah River.
Pitcher plants native to the South Carolina wetlands can be seen here. Photo by Zadok Moss.
Bring your bug spray, binoculars, camera, and walking shoes. There are 40 miles of trails and roads to explore. The area is open year-round during daylight hours but will close on certain days for special hunts.
Turtles can also be spotted here. Photo by Zadok Moss.
A quick hop off the interstate lets you stretch your legs and engage your mind.
The Blue
Heron Nature Trail, Harold Turpin Park and Morris Center for Lowcountry
Heritage are located just seconds off Ridgeland’s I-95 Exit 21.
Turtles often perch on logs along the banks of the Blue Heron pond. Photo Credit: Lyn Boyles
The Blue Heron Nature Center
The 10-acre Blue Heron Nature Center offers relief for the road-weary, and it’s as easy to get to as any rest area.
The
loop trail includes a section of boardwalk through a forested wetland filled
with ferns and native plants.
A boardwalk leads through the forested wetlands. Photo Credit: Lyn Boyles
This 10-acre green space boasts a quarter-mile recycled rubber trail around a three-acre pond and a quarter-mile of boardwalk through forested wetlands. The property also includes a butterfly garden, picnic area, outdoor classroom, observation decks, and a 4,200-square-foot Learning Center. Permanent trailside displays help visitors learn more about the native flora and fauna of Jasper County and the Lowcountry.
There are several scenic overlooks to observe wildlife. Photo Credit: Lyn Boyles
The nature trail leads you around the pond with several scenic overlooks along the way. Along the trail you will find benches, swings, and an attractive butterfly garden.
In addition to the herons, you may see ducks, turtles, fish, alligators, and other wildlife here. Also, several boardwalks take you through the surrounding forested wetlands. Get out of the traffic and spend some time relaxing while you wander around this natural gem.
Benches are placed along the trail to rest and enjoy nature. Photo Credit: Lyn Boyles
The
nature trail is open daily dawn to dusk. The Nature Center is open Monday thru
Friday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Here you’ll find many displays of
animals and other interesting facts about the South Carolina Lowcountry.
There is a parking lot that has plenty of room for a camper. The nature trail is also dog-friendly but be sure to pick up what you put down.
The Harold Turpin Park is a wonderland for children.
The Harold Turpin Park
The Harold Turpin Park is located very close by. It is a great spot to bring a picnic and lets the kids take a break from the back seat. The recently updated park has a treehouse and zip line, as well as a water feature and many other goodies.
A water feature is a perfect addition for hot summer days.
The Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage
If you need more of a respite from I-95 traffic head into town just a few blocks to the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage. Their mission is to cultivate community experiences through education, preservation, and celebration of the region’s rich history and culture. Here you can see changing exhibits connected to the Lowcountry heritage.
3-D Honey Hill Battlefield Display Get a feel for how this significant battle of the Civil War played out. This display features a three-dimensional diorama of the Honey Hill Battlefield that took place in Ridgeland, South Carolina on November 30, 1864.
If you are in search of a great oceanfront campground, look no further than Edisto Beach State Park. The park is rich in Native American history, wildlife, hiking and biking opportunities, as well as two campgrounds, cabins and 1.5 miles of pristine shell-covered beachfront.
Marsh view at Edisto Beach State Park. Image by Ecogardengroup.
The park is made up of 1,255 acres of maritime forest along the beautiful SC coastline. There you will find the environmental learning center, ranger station, and welcome station.
Shell hunting is a favorite pastime on Edisto Beach. Photo by Danie Becknell.
Edisto Beach, along with its neighboring Botany Bay, is famous for its seashells. While Botany Bay does not allow the collection of shells, Edisto Beach State Park does.
There are many trails for hiking and biking. Photo by R2ontheroad.
The Edisto Beach State Park also has 4 miles of ADA accessible trails for hiking and biking. These trails take you through maritime forest, historic monuments, and a Native American shell mound. These trails are also great for bird watching. Many shore and wading birds can be seen here.
A baby Sea Turtle heads for the ocean. Photo by Walterborolive.
The park is a nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles. You can also spot white-tailed deer, raccoons, alligators, bobcats, and opossums.
Stay in one of the seven furnished cabins. Photo by Elizabeth Faulkner
Furnished cabins sit nestled in the woods, and campsites can be found along the Edisto Island oceanfront or in the shaded maritime forest. There are 120 campsites that accommodate RVs or tents. There are seven cabins located on the salt marsh.
Photo of the environmental learning center by Elizabeth Faulkner.
While visiting the environmental learning center you can learn about the ACE Basin and more, featuring interactive displays including a touch tank. The ACE Basin is an estuary that is made from the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers. This is the largest undeveloped estuary along the Atlantic Coast.
These two sets of tracks show a turtle coming and going. Photo by Cole Rise.
Mornings at Edisto State Park can be spent hunting for turtle tracks. You can also cast a line and enjoy some of the island’s best fishing in Scott Creek Inlet. If you’re a boater, launch into Big Bay Creek and enjoy a day of fishing or exploring the waters of the ACE Basin.
Picnic tables can be found scattered in the shade of oaks near the beach. Photo by Crystal Golden.
The park also includes picnic shelters and a park store.
There are many fishing spots at Edisto Island State Park. Photo by Jeff Wayne.
The park offers a mile and a half of beach where surf fishing is allowed. Other locations include Steamboat Landing, Old bridge replaced by the McKinley Washington Bridge, and along the banks of Scott’s Creek along the Spanish Mount trail. There is also a small dock in the cabin area for cabin guests only.
The sun rises and sets beautifully over Edisto Island State Park. Photo by Joshua Mattingly.
The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of opportunities to explore and enjoy the great outdoors from sunrise to sunset every day. You can observe and photograph wildlife, fish, or during the season, hunt white-tailed deer.
Egret image by Joe DeLorme.
Make the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center your first stop when visiting the refuge. Located on Hwy 17 between Hardeeville and Savannah, it is open Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but closed Sundays and all federal holidays.
Established in 1927, the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge protects old rice fields & numerous species of wildlife including ducks, birds, deer, & alligators. The 4-mile driving tour is free and open sunrise to sunset.
Former rice fields are preserved at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.
The Visitor Center provides visitors a more enhanced refuge
experience. Friendly and knowledgeable staff and volunteers are always on-hand
at the front desk to help get you where you need to go, as well as answer any
questions you may have.
Rice trunks are still in use.
While there be sure to watch the 10-minute video about the refuge, its history, and current management practices. The center also includes interactive exhibits to further your understanding of the refuge’s vast wildlife and habitat resources.
Outside you’ll find the Beech Hill Trail, which leads visitors along a short, paved interpretive pathway that borders the edge of a cypress swamp. There’s also a pollinator garden filled with plants that are beneficial to butterflies, bees, dragonflies and more. It’s most active from late spring through fall.
Egret photo by Vlad Hrybok.
A bird sanctuary contains a small arrangement of birdbaths, misters, and feeders that attract a variety of birds throughout the year; especially during the spring and fall when many birds are migrating through the refuge.
Photo by April Zarzycki.
The Visitor Center has clean, spacious restrooms and ample
parking for vehicles, including buses and RVs. Be sure to use the facilities
here, because the refuge is a short drive away, and has no restroom facilities.
After a trip to the Visitor Center turn left on Hwy 17, then
left again onto SC 170 to head to the refuge for a driving, hiking or cycling
tour.
Wood Stork image by Julie Strickland.
Wildlife viewing is excellent for photography, especially during fall, winter, and spring, along the 4-mile Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive and adjacent hiking/bicycling trails.
The American alligator is king here, with upwards of 25 individuals having been reported seen during one visit. Many species of wading and marsh birds can also be spotted here throughout the year.
The trails adjacent to the Kingfisher Pond Recreation Area are great for watching woodland songbirds such as prothonotary warblers and American redstarts during spring and fall migrations. Summertime brings in purple gallinules in the managed impoundments and swallow-tailed kites soaring in the sky; both species nest on the Refuge.
Blue Heron image by Pamela Clisbee.
The Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive affords photographers of all skill levels excellent opportunities to photograph wildlife, especially American alligators and a variety of different wading birds. Visitors may also utilize the photo blind located along the Cistern Trail.
The drive into Savannah NWR.
The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is a part of the Savannah Coastal Refuges GeoTrail! There is a special geocache for each refuge in our complex to help you learn more about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex!
Robert grew up behind this house on Beaufort’s Prince Street. Image from Wikimedia.
Robert Smalls was born into slavery on April 5, 1839. Robert and his mother lived in a two-room shack behind 511 Prince Street in Beaufort. Robert was treated very well by his owners, Henry and Jane McKee, for it was rumored that Mr. McKee was Robert’s father.
Young Robert Smalls Image from navymemorial.org.
Early Years
At the request of his mother, twelve-year-old Robert was sent to Charleston and hired out as a laborer. Most of his earnings were returned to his owner, but he could keep $1 per week for himself. He first worked in a hotel and as a lamplighter. His love of the ocean led him to find work on the docks. He began as a longshoreman and worked his way up to wheelman. His experience gave him great knowledge of ships and the Charleston harbor. Robert married Hannah Jones in 1856 and started a family. He was only 17. After a time, his goal was to purchase their freedom, but the price was very steep for someone of his circumstance.
Robert Smalls, Pilot of the Steamboat Planter Image from US Naval History and Heritage Command.
During the Civil War
The Civil War began with the Battle of Fort Sumter in April of 1861. The well-respected Robert was assigned to steer the CCS Planter, a Confederate military transport.
He piloted the Planter along the coast from South Carolina to Florida. Robert and the slave labor crew of the Planter were aware of the Federal blockade line just past the Charleston harbor.
In April of 1862, Robert began planning an escape. The following month, the Planter picked up four large guns that were bound for the Charleston harbor. They also took on 200 pounds of ammunition. The families of the crew were stationed nearby.
On the evening of May 12th, Robert and the rest of the crew were left unattended on the Planter. Smalls and seven of the eight slave crewmen escaped to the Union blockade. Smalls put on the captain’s uniform and straw hat. He sailed the Planter past the Southern Wharf and proceeded to pick up his wife, children and the families of other crewmen.
Robert guided the Planter past the Charleston harbor and Fort Sumter. He and his crew expertly headed straight for the Union Navy fleet. They replaced the Rebel flags with a white bedsheet. He surrendered the Planter and her cargo to the US Navy. Robert was just 23 years old.
Robert Smalls, captain of the gunboat Planter, which was run out of Charleston in May 1862. Photograph from Library of Congress.
He quickly became known for his heroic actions. He joined the US Navy and earned much fame as a pilot. Word of his exploits was published throughout the north. He was then promoted and made the captain of the Planter.
Image from socialstudiesforkids.com.
In 1864 Robert was voted an unofficial delegate to the Republican National Convention. He also spent time in Philadelphia. While there he learned to read and write and became a supporter of the Port Royal Experiment.
This was an effort to raise money to support the education of former slaves. It brought doctors and teachers to assist the former slaves into a new way of life. It also led to the founding of the Penn School.
Yours truly Robert Smalls Image from National Portrait Gallery Smithsonian Institute.
In December of 1864, Robert and the Planter made their way to Savannah while Sherman Marched to the Sea. In 1865 Robert sailed the Planter to the Charleston harbor where the American flag was returned to Fort Sumter.
After this ceremonial act, Robert retired from military life. He continued to pilot the Planter, but his missions turned humanitarian. He took food and supplies to freedmen as a member of the Freedmen’s Bureau.
Robert Smalls House 511 Prince Street Photo by Carmen Pinckney.
Back in Beaufort
Upon his return to Beaufort, Robert purchased the house where he was formerly a slave. One day, his previous owner Jane McKee, suffering from dementia, walked back to the house she had loved on Prince Street. Robert greeted her, brought her inside, cared for her and allowed her to remain there until her death.
Image from historymugs.us.
Robert went on to become a successful businessman and politician. He had a distinguished career of public service including serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives, the United States Senate, and four terms in the United States House of Representatives. Smalls also served as a major general in the state militia and later served as Port Collector for Beaufort.
Image found on owlcation.com from public domain.
In 1915, at the age of 75, Robert died of malaria and diabetes. He was buried in the Tabernacle Baptist Churchyard in downtown Beaufort. A monument to Robert proudly stands beside the church. It is inscribed: “My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be the equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.” He made this statement to the South Carolina legislature in 1895.
Tabernacle Baptist Church Image by Carmen Pinckney.
Robert Smalls’ Legacy
Built in 1840, the Tabernacle Baptist Church was originally used as a meetinghouse and lecture room. In 1863, a 500 member African American congregation acquired the building and turned it into the church that is still in use today. This historic church and the Robert Smalls memorial statue are located at 901 Craven Street in historic downtown Beaufort.
This bust of Robert Smalls is positioned proudly beside the Tabernacle Baptist Church in downtown Beaufort. Image by Carmen Pinckney.
The astonishing true story of Robert Smalls’ journey from slave to Union hero and ultimately United States Congressman can be found in the book Be Free or Die. If you would like a copy, the Frampton Plantation gift shop keeps it in stock.
Be Free or Die tells the amazing story of Robert Smalls’ escape from slavery to union hero.
Giant oyster shells have popped up like daisies throughout historic Bluffton. The Shell Art Trail is a fun public art trail that both entertains and educates. The cultural exhibit has 21 giant oyster shells placed throughout Bluffton. The shells have been uniquely painted by local artists. While hunting for shells, you will learn interesting oyster facts along the way.
The Shell Art Trail
First things first – download and print your Shell Art Trail Passbook. Review the map and plan your route. The passbook includes a map and questions that can be answered by reading the fact plaques located at each sculpture.
Spend a day roaming around downtown Bluffton in search of these beautiful sculptures, all of which contain interesting facts about oysters. Questions can be found on the back of the shell art passbook. Each can be answered by reading the plaque attached to each shell.
Be sure to take plenty of pictures along the way.
Tag @LowcountryOysterTrail, and use #LowCountryOysterTrail
#HEARTofBluffton #SeeShellsinBluffton while completing the trail!
After the shell hunt, head into one of the wonderful restaurants for lunch. The Sugaree makes the best chicken salad BLT and bagel chips.
After lunch be sure to head into some of the unique shopping opportunities downtown Bluffton has to offer.
Visit downtown Beaufort’s historic John Mark Verdier House Museum for a step back in time. The impressive Federal-style mansion was built around 1804 by John Mark Verdier, a successful merchant and planter.
Verdier acquired significant wealth by trading indigo. He then purchased over 1,000 acres which he used to grow sea island cotton. The house on Bay Street was a highly visible statement of his wealth and status as a member of Beaufort’s planter class.
The John Mark Verdier House Museum
This museum is a wonderfully engaging attraction for many reasons. As the only historic planter’s house in the city open to the public, the 1804 estate presents an accurate portrait of how Beaufort’s wealthiest citizens lived during the height of the pre-Civil War Antebellum period when cotton was king and wealth was everything. The house has an impressive wide interior and four elaborate hand-carved fireplaces.
The house has seen some very important visitors. The Marquis de Lafayette stopped here on his Southern Tour in 1825. It was also used as Federal Headquarters by Union troops during the occupation of Beaufort during the Civil War. It was even home to the first telephone in Beaufort!
Luckily the Verdier House, or Lafayette House as it was called then, was protected and remained in family hands until the 1940s. A group of visionary citizens rallied to save the house from demolition. This group evolved into the Historic Beaufort Foundation. They worked diligently to register the house as a National Historic Landmark in 1971. They went on to open it as a museum in 1976.
The Verdier House Today
The Verdier House has withstood time and factors that erased many other grand buildings from the area. The home was spared flame during the Civil War and held fast during devastating hurricanes.
This is in part to innovative shipbuilding techniques that used beams and hand-cut horizontal boards. Visitors will also notice the house does not include a kitchen, bathrooms or closets. While the house was maintained by the family, it was never updated; keeping it true to the period of construction. The kitchens and privy would have been located outside. Clothing was stored in trunks and wardrobes.
The John Mark Verdier House Museum also houses three permanent exhibits highlighting Robert Smalls, the First African American to serve in the U.S. Congress 1875 – 1886, Civil War photos by Samuel Cooley, and The Beaufort Volunteer Artillery.
Docent-guided tours are available every hour on the ½ hour from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The museum is closed on Sundays and holidays. Visitors are invited to visit and admire the house and its exhibits. For more information visit the Historic Beaufort Foundation, or call the museum at 843-379-6335.
The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge is home to a vast array of waterfowl, fish, shellfish and many other animals. It is also the home of Oak Grove Plantation House. Since 1992, the former rice plantation has been under the protection of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge
According to the Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge’s website:
The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge helps protect the largest undeveloped estuary along the Atlantic Coast, with rich bottomland hardwoods and fresh and saltwater marsh offering food and cover to a variety of wildlife. ACE Basin stands for the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto Rivers, which form the estuary and parts of the Refuge boundary. The entire basin encompasses more than 350,000 acres, of which the Refuge comprises just less than 12,000 acres.
Part of the historical values of the ACE Basin were also protected. The refuge office, a former rice plantation house built in 1828, is one of a few antebellum mansions that survived the civil war in the ACE Basin area. Former owners ensured it would be preserved by placing it on the National Register of Historical Places. Undeveloped and unpolluted, the habitat remains diverse and extremely productive.
Photo by Carmen Pinckney.
The Oak Grove Plantation House
The Oak Grove Plantation House is a fine example of late-Federal plantation-style architecture. It has polygonal rooms and projecting symmetrical bays. The elliptical fanlight over the front entry, double-hung windows, clapboard siding, and overall symmetry are all examples of this architectural style.
From the early 1700s to the mid-1800s, the plantation grew rice, producing much wealth. After the rice culture declined in the late 1800s, the plantation and many others in the area were used as hunting retreats. The area was tended wisely to preserve and protect the wildlife.
Photo by Carmen Pinckney.
A walk behind the house leads visitors to the former rice fields. Rows, dikes, trunks, and gates are still visible today. The paths are marked and meander around the rice fields and through wooded areas. Make sure to bring your camera and be on the lookout for wildlife.
Photo by Carmen Pinckney.
Rice Trunks
This is one of many rice trunks still in use today. Irrigation of rice fields was completed using great ingenuity to raise and lower water levels in the fields.
The rice trunk was an ingenious, yet simple apparatus that made large-scale planting and irrigation control possible in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Rice trunks are wooden sluices installed in “banks” or dikes of rice fields for irrigation or flood control. They are long, narrow, wooden boxes made of thick planks, and each has a door at each end. Hung on uprights, the swinging doors, called gates, may be raised or lowered to drain or flood a field. When the gate on the river end of a trunk is raised, the water in the field runs into the river at low tide. As the tide turns, the rising water exerts pressure on the river gate and swings it tightly shut, preventing water from returning to the field. To flood the field, the process is reversed.
Rice, a particularly labor-intensive crop, was dependent on slaves for its cultivation. Following Emancipation, the rice industry collapsed.
Photo by Carmen Pinckney.
The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin has long been known for its tremendous diversity of wildlife. The intricate network of marshes, tidal creeks, uplands, and wetlands has supported a myriad of plants and animals. The ACE Basin has long been home to a vast array of waterfowl, songbirds, fish, shellfish, and upland animals. Alligators, wood storks, bobcats, deer, and other animals live in the diverse habitats of the refuge.
Photo by Carmen Pinckney.
The refuge grounds are open daily, from sunrise to sunset. The Administration Office is generally open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Photo by Carmen Pinckney.
Brochures and maps are located on the ground floor of the Plantation House.
For more information on the Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge visit their WEBSITE.
There is a beautiful wildlife sanctuary located in the middle of the historic and picturesque city of Walterboro, SC.
Easily reached from I-95, the Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to leave the traffic behind, stretch your legs and enjoy nature. The sanctuary contains a network of boardwalks, hiking, biking and canoe trails that are perfect for viewing a diversity of a black water bottomland habitat.
Photo by dreamplango.
Wildlife is abundant in the sanctuary. Wild turkey, deer,
raccoons, beaver, otter, mink, opossum, squirrels, fox, alligators and wildcats
have been spotted here.
Photo by Brent Hughes.
History, culture, recreation and educational opportunities are waiting for you. The 600-acre sanctuary features a “braided creek” swamp, which divides into an interlocking, or tangled network of several small branching and reuniting creeks, resembling a braid.
Photo by Brent Hughes.
The 3.5-mile loop is paved and well maintained. The most historically significant path here follows the Colonial-era Charleston-to-Savannah Stagecoach Road. The former road still bears the remains of cypress built and long-fallen bridges.
Photo by Carmen Pinckney.
A Discovery Center has been constructed just a few miles away at 100 S. Jefferies Blvd. It includes a multi-purpose classroom, exhibit area and amphitheater.
Photo by Brent Hughes.
From I-95, take Exit 53 and head into Walterboro. The first entrance is located to the left at the corner of S. Jefferies & Ivanhoe Roads. There is also parking at 399 Detreville Street and Washington Street.
Photo by Brent Hughes.
Bikes and dogs on leashes are welcome on the pathways of the sanctuary, so load up the family and make your way to this nature-based tourism gem that Trip Advisor gives 4 ½ stars. See you soon.
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SOUTH CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY
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The Lowcountry & Resort Islands Region of South Carolina includes the four, southern-most counties in the state, Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton, which are bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the Savannah River and the state of Georgia.
The South Carolina Lowcountry Guidebook is filled with many things to see and do in the beautiful Lowcountry of South Carolina. Please fill out the information and we will send you a FREE GUIDE BOOK.
