Fun in Downtown Ridgeland

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.

Blue Heron Nature Trail
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.

Blue Heron Nature Trail
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.

Scenic overlook at a pond
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.

Blue Heron Nature Trail
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.

Harold Turpin Park Ridgeland, SC
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.

Harold Turpin Park Ridgeland, SC
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.

Morris Center  3-D Honey Hill Battlefield Display

For more information on activities along the SC Lowcountry visit the South Carolina Lowcountry Day Trips page.

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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.

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