It seems every other day Charleston, SC shows up in some travel article’s top something or other list. This time it’s USA Today’s and their 51 Great Places to Hike feature. Local treasure Magnolia Plantation is featured as a place to hike in South Carolina.
About Magnolia Plantation USA Today says “Hiking boardwalks through eerie cypress swamps is not your typical walk in the woods. But Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is a journey through South Carolina history in a heavenly setting.”
The Plantation was founded in 1697 and is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry and the oldest public gardens in America, having opened their doors to the public in 1870. They’ve won several awards for their restoration and preservation of former slave cabins located on the grounds.
It’s hard to be partial when there is so much beauty, education, history and importance in all of the area’s plantations. But if a family can only visit one, I usually would recommend Magnolia. From the Audobon Swam Garden , the petting zoo and nature center and a miniature horse ranch (I am a sucker for the animals), a nature train tour, a boat tour, a house tour- they’ve got it all to the keep the young and old alike equally entertained.
I once spent a good hour stationed in one spot in the swamp garden watching an alligator. Living in the Lowcountry has definitely made me even more aware of the awesomeness of nature than I was before.