Walterboro | Day Trips

Walterboro Day Trips

Option 1 – Historic Downtown

1. Walterboro Wildlife Center, 843-782-6081 

100 S. Jeffries Blvd, located off I-95 at Exit 53

The Walterboro Welcome Center has information that will enhance your visit to this historic town. While there, make sure to pick up a copy of the self-guided tour pamphlet.

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2. Self-guided tour of Historic Walterboro

Spend the morning walking under the canopy of ancient live oak tree-lines streets enjoying the beauty of this historic town. Learn about the homes and government buildings that make this town so unique.
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Colleton Courthouse

alt3. Lunch at a Local Restaurant

Walterboro offers locally owned diners that offer the best of Lowcountry cuisine, and many of the nationally recognizable restaurants you already enjoy. Come to Walterboro and see what everyone is talking about.

4. Colleton Museum, 843-549-2303colleton museum

506 E Washington St

The Colleton Museum features exhibits on Colleton County’s history, and
Natural Resources, Plantation Era relics. Listed on the National Register
of Historic Places.

5. Artisan Center, 843-549-0011

334 Wichman St

Art from over 300 of the State’s finest juried artists and craftsmen can be purchased here. Demonstrations and exhibits can also be seen here. . It’s mission is to preserve and perpetuate the folk art and fine craftsmanship of South Carolina artisans while creating a better understanding of the state’s rich cultural heritage.

SC Artisan Center

altOption 2 – Historic Downtown

1. Bedon-Lucas House Museum, 843-549-9633

205 Church St

Built in the 1820’s, this is one of Walterboro’s five remaining “high houses,” named for the structure’s high height off the ground. It is one of the key historic properties in the Walterboro Historic District. The well-preserved interior features original heart pine floors and an excellent display of antique furnishings. The home serves as The Museum of Colleton County Historical and Preservation Society.
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alt2. Lunch At A Local Restaurant

Walterboro offers locally owned “diners” that offer the best of Lowcountry cuisine, and many of the nationally recognizable restaurants you already enjoy. Come to Walterboro and see what everyone is talking about.

alt4. Tuskegee Airmen Monument

537 Aviation Way, Walterboro Airport

This monument commemorates the heroism of America’s first black military airmen, who enlisted during World War II. Before being sent into the action of war, these men received their final three months of training at the Walterboro Army Airfield. They learned to fly three types of aircraft that were used to escort larger planes into battle. During the war, 1,000 Tuskegee Airmen flew 1,578 missions. This monument celebrates the courage, bravery and dedication of the African-American men who fought during the war.

altOption 3 – Nature Tour

1. Tour ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge, 843-521-3099

8675 Willtown Road

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 salt water marsh offering food and cover to a variety of wildlife. ACE Basin stands for the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto Rivers. Click on the picture to the right for detailed directions to the refuge.
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alt2. Bear Island Wildlife Sanctuary – picnic and observe wildlife, 843-844-2957 

TiTi Rd, Green Pond, off Hwy 17

This area is considered to be one of the best birding areas in the state. Visitors can see a wide variety of rare species. The area provides quality habitat for wintering waterfowl and other wetland wildlife. Bird watchers will find threatened and endangered species such as wood storks and bald eagles. The diverse area is excellent for attracting waterfowl, wading birds and shore birds as well. Two observation platforms and miles of dikes provide optimum wildlife viewing opportunities. The area is free and open to the general public.
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Option 4 – Nature Tour

alt1. Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary, 843-538-4353

399 DeTreville St

Walterboro’s nature-based sanctuary offers visitors a Lowcountry experience combining history, culture, recreation and education in a southern lowlands setting. A network of boardwalks, hiking, biking and nature trails provide a perfect vantage point to observe the diversity of plants and wildlife inhabiting the black-water bottomland of Colleton County. Located within the ACE Basin, the 842-acre sanctuary features the only braided creek swamp accessible to the public. Admission is free.
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alt2. Donnelley Wildlife Area picnic and observe wildlife, 843-844-8957 

585 Donnelley Dr, off Hwy 17

This wildlife management area is designated as an important birding area, providing vital habitat for birds. It is owned and managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.  It encompasses a unique diversity of managed rice fields, forested wetlands, tidal marsh, and agricultural land. The area has two designated nature trails and miles of dirt roads for hikers and bicyclists to explore. Late winter through early spring provided optimum bird-watching opportunities. Alligators are also in abundance here. A driving tour of the area is an option for those who are mobility impaired.
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Option 5 – A day on the River

alt1. Canoe or kayak day trip (See Visitors – Water sports)

Kayak or canoe on the longest, free-flowing  of black water river in the Southeast. Paddle through miles of undeveloped shoreline to observe nature at its purest. Don’t forget to bring the camera.

picnic 2(1)2. Picnic along the shore

After a day paddling along the Edisto River, relax on the shore with a picnic and enjoy the sunshine of the afternoon.

Option 6 – Colleton State Park

Just off I-95, on Hwy 15 in Canadys, 843-538-8206


1. Camp

The main roads at the park and in the campground are paved. Each site is packed sand and has individual water and electrical hookups. Some sites accommodate RVs up to 40 feet, others up to 25 feet. The campground is convenient to restrooms with hot showers.
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2. Fish

Enjoy fishing in the Edisto River for bream, redbreast and catfish. A valid South Carolina fishing license is required. This park participates in the Tackle Loaner Program sponsored by the SC Dept of Natural Resources. Rods and reels are available for loan at the park office.

3. Canoe

This park serves as the headquarters for the Edisto River canoe and kayak trail. A canoe trail between altColleton and Givhans Ferry is 21 miles by river and 15 miles by highway. Thirteen to fifteen paddling time is required for the full distance depending on current.

Option 7 – Biking in Donnelley Wildlife Area 

585 Donnelley Dr, off Hwy 17, 843-844-8957

Donnelley 21. Boynton Nature Trail

Stop at the kiosk when entering the wildlife area or click HERE to get a map of the trails. Enjoy the morning viewing nature from a mountain bike.

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2. Picnic
Pack a picnic and enjoy lunch in one of the many beautiful spots in the wildlife area.

alt3. Backwater Trail
After lunch continue biking through the Backwater trail.

Option 8 – Wildlife Experience

1. Walterboro Wildlife Center

100 S Jefferies Blvd, Walterboro, (843)782-6081
The Walterboro Wildlife Center is an interpretive exhibit hall showcasing the plant and animal life in the Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary and the Lowcountry. The 7,000 square foot discovery center coordinates with the Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary.
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Walterboro | Sights to See

Colleton County/Walterboro | Sights to See

ACE Basin Greenway/The ACE Trail
Intersection of SC Highway 303 & Folly Creek Lane
The Historic Ace Trail is located on a three acre site about 2 miles north of the intersection of US Hwy 17 and SC Hwy 303 in Colleton County.  It is adjacent a CSX rail crossing in the Green Pond community. The 3-mile trail is ideal for walking, biking, general exercise and bird watching.
Trail Map
SC Lowcountry Wildlife Preserves and Nature Trails Blog Post

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area
42 TiTi Road, Green Pond | (843) 844-8957
The Bear Island Wildlife Management Area is managed to provide quality habitat for wintering waterfowl and other wetland wildlife including threatened and endangered species such as wood storks and bald eagles; to provide habitat for upland game and nongame species; and to provide recreational opportunities for the hunting and nonhunting public. Open Feb. 9th – Oct. 31st. Sunrise to sunset. Located between the Ashepoo and South Edisto Rivers, off US Hwy 17 and approx. 2 miles east of Green Pond.  Regulated hunting. 
Trail Map
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area Blog

The Bedon-Lucas House Museum
205 Church Street, Walterboro | (843) 549-9633
Located in the historic district at 205 Church Street, this 1820’s “high house” was purchased and restored by the Colleton County Historical and Preservation Society. The interior has been preserved and features original heart of pine floors.
Walterboro’s Bedon-Lucas House Blog Post

Bee City Zoo
1066 Holly Ridge Lane, Cottageville | (843) 835-5912
This honey bee farm, petting zoo, café and gift shop is an experience that all should have. See honey bees at work from a screened observation area. See the Wallabies, Coatimundis, Serval Cats, Cavies as well as many farm animals: Miniature horses and donkeys, turkeys, chickens, quail, pheasants, etc.

Colleton Museum & Farmers Market
506 E Washington Street, Walterboro | (843) 549-2303
Located in the Historic District of Downtown Walterboro, the museum features a permanent collection that explores the county’s history from prehistoric times to the early 1900s. The museum also has an ongoing exhibit on “Animals of the ACE,” a natural history display featuring wild animals indigenous to the South Carolina Lowcountry. The museum also features changing art collections monthly. The Colleton Farmers Market offers fresh vegetables and fruits, local honey, local crafts, plants, baked goods, prepared food, music, and much more.

Colleton County Courthouse
101 Hampton Street, Walterboro
Completed in the fall of 1822, the outside walls are three bricks (28″) thick. The first nullification meeting in South Carolina was held here in 1828, when Robert Barnwell Rhett called for the immediate secession of the state legislature in protest of Federal tax laws. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Colleton State Park
147 Wayside Lane, Walterboro | (843) 538-8206
A paddler’s paradise, this Lowcountry park sits a short distance from I-95 and connects to Givhans Ferry State Park via 23 miles of blackwater river. Colleton State Park provides easy access to the Edisto River, one of the longest free flowing, blackwater rivers in the country, and serves as the headquarters for the Edisto River canoe and kayak trail.
Colleton State Park Blog Post

Donnelly Wildlife Management Area
585 Donnelley Drive, Green Pond | (843) 844-8957
With more than 8,000 acres of diverse habitats, Donnelley Wildlife Management Area is a favorite Lowcountry destination for birders looking to run up their list of avian sightings. Located in Green Pond on land once used for rice cultivation, the property features a historic rice field system now managed to attract waterfowl and other migratory birds. Among its impressive resident and visitor population are roseate spoonbills, Eurasian wigeon ducks, red-cockaded woodpeckers, bald eagles, painted buntings and the rare sandhill crane.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area Blog Post

Edisto Nature Trail
17038 Ace Basin Parkway, Round O
In addition to local flora and fauna, see historical landmarks such as the King’s Highway, (dating from the 1700’s) former rice fields, and an old phosphate plant site. The Edisto Nature Trail is a 1.5 mile loop trail that takes visitors along the Edisto River and through several different types of forests, from maritime to pine.
Hiking the Edisto Nature Trail Blog Post

Ernest F Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge
8675 Willtown Road, Hollywood | (843) 889-3084
ACE stands for the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto rivers basin system. The refuge is home to migratory and resident birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish and other wildlife. You can enjoy hiking and biking, photography, birding and observing other wildlife, hunting and fishing.
Located within the Edisto Unit is the Grove Plantation. Originally built by George Washington Morris in 1828. Today, the house is one of the few antebellum mansions left in the area after the Civil War. Come tour the historical home and rice fields today!
ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge

Herd It Here Farm
541 Sullivans Ferry Road, Cottageville | (703) 597-4839
This is a one-of-a kind agritourism destination that provides an enjoyable and educational experience for visitors of all ages.  Learn about alpacas, silkie chickens, fainting goats, and more.
Herd It Here Farm Blog Post

Pon Pon Chapel of Ease
Parkers Ferry Road, Round O
The Pon Pon Chapel Ruins are situated on what was once the Parkers Ferry Road, 1 mile from SC 64. One of two chapels of ease established by an Act of the General Assembly in 1725 to serve St. Bartholomew’s Parish. This chapel burned in 1801 & 1832. It was known as Burnt Church after 1832. The ruins today are enough to distinguish the chapel’s gracious features.
Pon Pon Chapel of Ease Blog Post

South Carolina Artisans Center
334 Wichman Street, Walterboro | (843) 549-0011
The South Carolina Artisans Center is the premier travel destination in the Lowcountry for handcrafted art. Designated by our legislature as the “Official South Carolina Folk Art and Craft Center,” the retail center features the artwork of more than 300 of South Carolina’s finest, juried artists. We invite you to explore our handcrafted art from handpicked artists. See, touch, smell, taste, and shop…Representing over 200 of the State’s finest juried artists and craftsmen, demonstrations & exhibits.
A Menagerie of Art | South Carolina Artisans Center Blog Post

Tuskegee Airmen Monument
Lowcountry Regional Airport, 537 Aviation Way, Walterboro
During World War II, the Walterboro Army Airfield served as a training ground for the Army airmen including a group of the Tuskegee Airmen. A monument honoring the bravery & dedication of the Tuskegee Airmen was placed in Walterboro Army Airfield Memorial Park at the site of the original airfield in May 1997. This was also the site of a POW camp & base hospital.

Walterboro Library Society Building (Little Library)
803 Wichman Street, Walterboro | (843) 549-9633
Now headquarters of the Colleton County Historical & Preservation Society, the “Little Library” was built in 1820 when the Library Society was established. The small frame building is an excellent example of Federal architecture. Listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

Walterboro Wildlife Center
100 S Jefferies Boulevard, Walterboro | (843) 782-6081
The Walterboro Wildlife Center is an interpretive exhibit hall showcasing the plant and animal life in the Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary and the Lowcountry. The 7,000 square foot discovery center coordinates with the Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary.
Walterboro Wildlife Center Blog Post

Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary
Detreville Street, Walterboro
Comprised of over 600 acres of braided creek and  hardwood flats. The sanctuary offers an asphalt bike/walking trail, a canoe/kayak-looped  trail, a beaver pond, a duck pond, a butterfly garden, wildlife food plots, and feeding stations. Bridges, boardwalks, and a natural walking trail,  including a portion of Charleston to Savannah Wagon/Stagecoach Road.
Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary Blog Post

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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.

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