If you are a nature enthusiast and enjoy soaking in all the great outdoors has to offer, you’ll want to be sure to visit the Charleston area nature parks. Several are listed below: North Charleston Wannamaker County Park | 8888 University Boulevard | | North Charleston, SC 29406 | | 843-572-7275 or 843-795-4386 |
This is one of our favorite of the area parks. With over 1,015 acres of beautiful woodlands and wetlands, it provides guests with a variety of activities including picnicking at one of the parks many picnic areas, walking, bicycling or skating along the two-miles of paved trails, horseshoe pits, sand volleyball, and a large play hill next to two large playgrounds—one of which is designated just for tots! The main attraction of this fabulous park is the "Whirlin' Waters" water park. Featuring a 27,000 square foot wave pool, an 870-ft lazy river, a six-lane racing slide, a 300-ft long tubular twister multi-slide complext with three different selections of thrilling spills, a big splash tree house, and a toddler area--your're sure to find something for the entire family to enjoy. Annual passes are available. Additional amenities for reasonable costs are the rentals of pedal boats and kayaks for exploring the 5-acre lagoon system with two islands. Ravenel Caw Caw Interpretive Center | 5200 Savannah Highway | | Highway 17 South | | Ravenel, SC 29470 | | 843-889-8898 or 843-795-4386 |
Rich in natural, cultural and historical resources, Caw Caw was once part of several rice plantations and home to enslaved Africans who applied their technology and skills in agriculture to carve the series of rice fields out of cypress swamps. This great nature park features: - Over 6 miles of trails with trailside exhibits
- Elevated boardwalks through wetlands (1,435 ft.)
- Interpretive exhibits, displays, and programs
- Former 18th and 19th century rice fields and on one of the important sites of the Stono Rebellion
- Thousands of naturalized tea plants from a 20th century tea farm
- Areas managed for wildlife including waterfowl, songbirds, otters, deer, and more
- Favored habitats for rare wildlife: American Alligators, Swallow-tailed Kites, Bald Eagles, and others
Colonial Dorchester State Park | Highway 642 | | Dorchester Rd. | | Summerville, SC 29485 |
Located on the Ashley River, this site was established as a trading town in 1695. After being abandoned at the end of the Revolutionary War, this 325-acre site and surrounding forest has been protected and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The most intact structures left on the site are the brick church tower and the fort made of tabby. This park has a great open area for children to enjoy and, although there is are no bicycle or walking trails, it’s a great place to have a picnic and take in some history of the area. Nature Parks in the Charleston area make our community fun. |