This museum constitutes what looks like a residential building which has a few rooms of exhibits…read more It focuses on the Gullah history of the island, but also includes a significant amount of natural history. Part of it ties into the abandoned plantation of Botany Bay, which apparently is technically a different island but it's close enough. For people who haven't been around this area, it will be an interesting introduction, but I got some cultural knowledge out of it even as a seasoned visitor. You probably won't spend a ton of time here, so whether it's worth the admission fee will depend on things like the weather, one's schedule, and interests. I also found the museum advertised some events, and I subsequently went to a lecture on colonial history which was held nearby. It was surprisingly crowded with locals who stuffed into a church to hear about the Spanish and the French trying and failing to colonize South Carolina. These events are presumably only occasional, but it's worth taking a look at the museum's website to see if anything is going on.

We really enjoyed ourselves doing a self guided tour around this museum. There is a scavenger hunt…read morefor the kids that was very helpful in keeping our kids engaged, (ages 5, 8, 10, and 11.) Since the kids were busy with the scavenger hunt I was able to spend more time reading information about the items in this museum. I do believe the kids also learned more because they had to really search to find the items on the list. The gift shop up front also has some unique art items local to the area. The ladies running the gift shop were very helpful and friendly. I am only giving it four stars because I wish it were bigger! Kids under 10 were free, adults five dollars each and students over 10 two dollars each. Worth the money spent.

Ok so my mom has lived in Edisto for 10+ years now and I lived in Charleston for like 10 years…read morebefore that, but somehow 2026 was the FIRST year I ever came to the Serpentarium. We went with my bestie and her 6 yo son and it was such a fun time. Idk what I was expecting, but free roaming snakes just feet away from you without any kind of netting or enclosure definitely wasn't it. We stayed for 2 of the stage shows and the staff was super informative as well as entertaining. It was really cool to see everything up close and learn so much about these misunderstood creatures.

Super bummed that the whole outdoor area wasn't open yet on march 7th when sign outside said the…read moreplace opens on march 5th Disappointed to not be able to see gators

Nice visitor's center with a gift shop and extremely clean restrooms. There's an outdoor seating…read morearea out back and a pet walk next to the parking area. They even had a pet bowl filled with water on the front porch.

If you're heading south on Highway-17 on your way to Beaufort or Savannah, make the detour to…read moreFrampton Plantation to spend a half hour or so. Conveniently located immediately off 17-A (and with road signs to let you know you're approaching), the historic Frampton Plantation is a free Visitors Center/Gift Shop/Mini Museum. It's great to stop in to learn a bit more about the area, take a photo op, pick up a gift for someone, or even use the restroom. During COVID, you must be wearing a mask and the gift shop employee will meet you at the door to spritz sanitizer in your hands before you can enter the building. After you go through the building, make sure to wander to the back of the house to view the start of the SC Revolution Trail located in the Gazebo and view the remnants of an earthen work trenches from a Civil War scrimmage that occurred on the property.

The end of a long day we decided to come here. It was just perfect for that after a long day but…read morestill something to do kind of activity. Wish we walked around more but as my son kept saying he was tired of walking lol. Of course he wasn't to tired to go check out the gift shop :P

The Coastal Discovery Museum came up in a search of things to do on a rainy day in Hilton Head…read more While there is a museum component in the main house, much of the attractions are outdoors, so something to keep in mind should you visit when it's raining or when the weather isn't ideal. The outdoor component includes several boardwalks, sculptures, a butterfly enclosure, and gardens. It's meant to introduce you to the coastal ecosystem and marsh life, which makes it quite unique. Admission is complimentary and there's a decent amount of parking. The main house and museum (the Discovery House) I would rate a 3.5 out of 5 stars. The volunteers on hand do a good job in welcoming guests and introducing the site so that guests aren't just left to wander on their own. While the permanent exhibits explaining the local area, ecosystem, and history were decent, I felt the more modern artwork was quite underwhelming, with many of the works on display having price tags (leads me to believe it was amateur artwork for sale). It left me wishing the weather was nice so I could explore the grounds, but that wasn't meant to be as there was a downpour of rain outside. If you have free time in Hilton Head, I'd recommend a visit to the Coastal Discovery Museum, but probably moreso when the weather is nice so you can explore the grounds.

My family was gifted a SC Aquarium family membership. My wife and kid have been a couple of times,…read morebut I finally had the opportunity to come with my kid. There is a lot to like about visiting. My interactions with staff were all very positive. How nice and personable staff were really stood out for me and my kid. We came on a slow Sunday afternoon so parking was decently easy at the garage across the street. Since this was my first time everything was fun to see for the first time. We loved the otters, the large tank with mermaids, and the touch tank. My kid also loved the indoor playground which we spent a good deal of time at. I really love the blend of semi-outdoor areas and the sundeck area. I really loved the variety of fish and animals. It was also really cool to see the snowy white barn owl downstairs. I am not sure how I would feel had I bought tickets to visit and it will also be interesting to see how often animals change which makes multiple visits fun and interesting.

Visited for the first time today…read more We purchased tickets ahead of time with a specific entry time. I would say the crowd level was bordering on too crowded. I'm not sure if they actually turn walk-ups away or not. We had to wait to get up close to some displays but not for too long. I guess that's to be expected on a Saturday. The touch pools and sting ray feeding areas were fun. There was a nice selection of fish, turtles and the river otters were adorable. It took us less than 1.5 hours to get through the whole thing, and that was taking our time. I guess that's what made it a little underwhelming. Probably wouldn't spend $80 to do it again.

What a fun little museum! This place packs a lot of information into a moderately sized space and…read morecovers much of South Carolina's history from the early indigenous days to the Revolution and Civil War. There is also a wonderful exhibit on Natural History, full of bones, skeletons, and various fossils that all tie back to the state. While we didn't have small children with us, we did stop in to check out the special kids exhibit (Kidstory) that features multiple hands-on mini exhibits. There were a variety of activities for children to do to get them interested in and involved with the history. Staff were friendly and welcoming. Admission to the museum Is priced well, and, if you're looking to knock a few places off your list in one day, you can purchase multi-site tickets and tour other affiliated properties for an even better deal. We purchased tickets online and the process was seamless. All we had to do was give our last name at the front desk to receive our tickets. Our tickets allowed us all day access so we could come and go if necessary. If parking in the museum lot (located behind the museum), be sure to have someone at the front desk validate your parking before leaving for the day. There is also parking located across the street from the museum at the visitors center -- this is important to note as the museum lot isn't large. There is a small gift shop located next to the front desk containing a variety of items. The space is handicap accessible with entrance ramps, elevators, and ADA accessible bathrooms.

The employees are very helpful about the museum, the package tours, and the bus/trolley system…read more The museum is well organized and the lighting low. There is a lot of reading.

Fantastic place for a family tour! We went for the gardens and nature, but we were really struck by…read morehow impactful the 'Slavery to Freedom tour' was for us! John's storytelling alone was worth the trip. The sordid history of slavery was framed in a context that made it feel personal, digestible, and meaningful to the listener. At least it felt that way to me. Hearing the stories before walking through the cabins, I could just feel the moment in history... rather than reading and digesting paragraphs on paragraphs of historical accounts on the walls while inside such a historical space. The nature tram tour and the animal conservatory ended up being the icing on the cake. It was beautiful to see and be immersed in all of the nature. The only drawback is that the main house tours were booked up and we didn't learn that until we got there. It worked out for us because I would much rather have had the slavery history tour and our time was already limited. All in all, this place is a must see (especially in April, when the azaleas are in bloom)!

Touring the Magnolia Plantation was a highlight of our trip to Charleston. We went with a small…read moretour group (12 people) we signed up at the Charleston visitor center so all three tours and transportation to and from were included in the price. We had the House tour which was very well done, interesting and educational. Throughly enjoyed it. We also did the tram tour through the property which we enjoyed a lot. The path was dry so we did get a dusty ride. In hindsight if the trail could have been lightly watered down to help with the dust this ride would have been much more enjoyable. The best of the three tours was the "Slavery to Freedom" tour. John was incredible telling the story of slavery and more importantly what these people went through. It was so educational hearing the story (instead of dates,) but emotionally moving. It made me realize that the history books used when I was in school were so generic and lacking any kind of detail and real life experiences these people went through. Seeing the slave houses with our hearing John's presentation would not have anywhere near the effect of seeing them after his presentation. John brought the real life detail to us. I told John that he should record his presentation and send a copy to every history school teacher in America. If you only go to one tour at the Magnolia Plantation, definitely go to John's "Slavery to Freedom" presentation.

Drayton Hall is beautiful and is filled with rich history of slave life and family heritage. It's…read moreworth it to take 1-2 hours out of your day to enjoy the property! The entrance fee is $32 dollars. It is $18 for ages 7-15, and ages 7 and under are free. You save $3 if you pay online. The extensive driveway and parking lot is not paved and was pretty bad for potholes last February. We arrived about 5 minutes after the 4:00 o'clock tour, and the staff were kind enough to take us to our tour group via a golf cart. If you want to see the inside of the plantation, you HAVE to take a guided tour. The guided tour lasts about 1-1.5 hours and is extremely detailed with many points of interest and knowledgeable tour guides. Parking may be an issue if busy, but there is an auxiliary lot so you should be alright. After your tour is complete, there are some small cottages to explore on your own, a gift shop, and a small museum. Out of all the things to do in Charleston, Drayton Hall should be towards the top of your list. We had a good time!

Drayton Hall is a plantation that is in a state of conservation. There is a tendency in the area to…read moretry to conserve rather than restore buildings. About 20 miles SE of Summerville and on the right bank of the Ashley River and the pretty Hwy 61 is located this Palladian style mansion that survived both the Revolutionary war and the Civil War and that means a lot when you consider that the Revolutionary War was won in South Carolina regardless of what some will say, you win some and you lose some. The tendency to conserve rather than to restore makes you use your imagination to see how this house must've been back in the early days. Some of the materials were imported from the old world like the heavy columns, quite an achievement considering today would require the use of heavy cranes so the use of labor and imagination directing a large number of people must've been a delicate task. Can't deny the fact that they acknowledge that enslaved people took an important roll in building and running this place, delicate subject but well recognized by the tour guide and the museum in site. The house is the focus of the 600 acre property that was in the hands of seven generations of the Drayton family, amazing structure considering there were no Palladian architects in the area back in 1738 when John Drayton bought the land and it took him 15 years to build. A lot a lot more can be said about this place but I am not a historian just simply recommend everyone to come and experience this place that will transport you in time and will make you appreciate history and legacy. Just wish money was no object to the conservation effort.

I recently visited during the NOGs Tour of Hidden Gardens and was reminded what a lovely home this…read moreis! Truly one of my favorite homes to tour in Savannah. Wonderful history and they do a fabulous job. I also love that they are a part of the Coastal Heritage Society. I often get the annual pass to visit this home as well as other Savannah sites.

I visited this historic home after seeing a couple of the rooms featured in the movie Bride Hard…read more Once I was there to experience the well preserved beauty of the home it was easy to see why it was chosen as a film location. My tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the house and even other movies filmed there. The tour started in the basement with stories about slave workers. The tour ends in the upstairs bedroom, learning about about Alida "Harper" Fowlkes. It you are interest in historic homes, definitely check out the Harper-Fowlkes House if you are in Savannah.

What a wonderful educational day trip this place makes for people or children of any age. You can…read morelearn more about the environment and animal life that can be found in this area. They also offer tours (which we didn't try yet but certainly plan to). You can walk around for free (however they do kindly ask for a donation).

A drive through the islands leads one past this building (perhaps an old oyster factory from the…read morelooks of things) with a spectacular view and a story to tell. There are a couple of rooms worth of free exhibits describing the environment, the wildlife, and the human interactions with the area. It's free, and notably there is a loop that runs under the highway so it is reasonably easy to get to the museum from either direction. The place is not open on Sunday, which is common in the South but not ideal from my perspective as that would be when I would most likely be wanting to do some outdoor activity. When I finally found my way there on a Saturday, albeit kind of an unplanned visit, I saw that they offered kayak tours, but apparently these require advance registration and I could not go on one having just shown up, which is kind of disappointing. It looks like a very nice area to see from the water. I would certainly encourage tourists to make the stop regardless.