This nice little camp site boasts a quiet marsh view and both RV and tent camping. There's a small…read morebathroom and shower that are better than nothing and a boat ramp just a short ways from the camp site. The primitive sites are first come first serve, but there is a large overflow field just before the campground. It is also the start of the Awendaw passage of the Palmetto Trail which is really pretty once you get farther into it and there are quite a few marsh views. Overnight parking is cheap in the overflow area if you wanted to park and hike into the trail for some dispersed camping. It's probably the most tame camping spot in the national forest.

Revisited Buck Hall this past week and the wash rooms/showers were clean. Camp sites were clean and…read morelevel. The fishing dock has a large hole in the wood plank and needs fixing. Campers were friendly & we enjoyed their company. A nice surprise that was long over due.

Just over the Cooper River Bridge from Charleston is the Town of Mt. Pleasant. It's not merely a…read more"suburb" of Charleston- Mt. Pleasant is a thriving community. The roads here are excellent, with synced traffic lights and an access/frontage road that helps with traffic along Hwy 17. Mt. Pleasant has a dedicated Farmer's Market space and holds markets every Tuesday. If you're looking for something to do on Friday nights, there are often concerts and "Party in the Park" events. Happy Hour on Shem Creek or at one of the many restaurants is a great way to spend time, especially at restaurants on the water. Besides that you're super close to two beautiful beaches- Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island. Charleston's only one bridge away, and if you're into the more rural and rustic scene, you're not TOO far from the Francis Marion Forest. Growing up somewhat close to the area, I've seen Mt. Pleasant thrive in the last 20-25 years. I remember when Towne Center was built in the late 1990s and people wondered who would ever drive that far north to go to the mall. I also remember the "old" Wando high school. A lot has changed over the years, but MTP is a booming place to be!

I moved to MP just over a year ago. We looked all over the Charleston area and settled on MP based…read moreon drive time to work and proximity of shopping we were used to. I truly enjoy the fact that I don't have to spend 45 minutes to an hour driving to work. Parks throughout Charleston and MP leave allot to be desired and considering the amount of taxes we pay doesn't make sense. Street lighting is another failure by the city. The Waste Management department in MP is subpar. What I enjoy about MP is the shopping. MP has the shops I was used to in my previous city and has allot of upscale grocery stores spread throughout the city. The food scene has definitely improved since just year and will be even better in the coming years

There are many units of the NWR, so be sure if you are using GPS, you choose the one you want. That…read morebeing said, a GPS accident took us to the Cuddo unit, which ended up being fantastic!! You have a scenic drive through the unit that really gives you a feel for the nature in the area. Complete with an alligator alley that probably sees a fair share when it's warm and sunny, there are many things to do! Hiking trails, picturesque overlooks, and all from your vehicle! The main unit (Bluff I think but not sure!) has Fort Watson, which was a British fort, or the remains of it anyway, and an ancient Indian Burial Mound, with a platform and stairs with an amazing lake view from the top. There's also birding opportunities and a visitor center with more lake overlooks and selfie opportunities if you are into that sort of thing. It's not a terribly long drive from town, either, so if you're like me and just need "nature breaks" once a month to get out of the grind, the Santee Cooper area has plenty to offer!

We went on a misty cloudy late September day around 4 pm. We happened to see an alligator behind…read morethe Alligator Alley sign. It was our lucky day. The alligator was lying in the water, resting, ignoring us completely. We didn't try to bother him. We continued on the 7.5 mile wildlife drive of the Cuddo Unit. It was a good one hour diversion on our way to the Charleston airport. The photo shows the alligator was mostly under the water.

This historical marker along US-17 is in front of the Hampton Plantation Historic site and provides…read morea brief overview of the history. This is old Charleston, dating back to Colonial times, and even in condensed form the place carries more weight than the marker can hold. It notes the Horry and Rutledge families and the plantation's early eighteenth century origins, but it leaves out the deeper story of the rice economy built through the labor and agricultural knowledge of enslaved Africans whose work shaped every field along the Santee. The front of the marker reads, "Hampton Plantation, 2 mi. N.W., was established by 1730 and was one of the earliest rice plantations on the Santee River, in an area settled by Huguenots and often called "French Santee." The house, built in the 1730's for Elias Horry, later passed to his granddaughter Harriott Horry, who married Frederick Rutledge in 1797. The plantation remained in the Rutledge family until 1971." And the reverse, "One of Hampton's best-known owners was Archibald Rutledge (1883-1973), educator, man of letters, and first poet laureate of S.C. He wrote of life there in Home by the River (1941), calling it "the mother plantation of this old plantation country." Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970, it has been Hampton Plantation State Park since the state acquired it in 1971." The limited space on the marker omits much. Including the near‑loss of the house in the twentieth century and Archibald Rutledge's role in reviving interest, as well as the long‑loved Washington Oak that tradition links to George Washington's 1791 visit. Today the unfurnished house and quiet grounds at Hampton Plantation State Park offer a clearer sense of the layered past than the roadside text suggests, inviting visitors to step beyond the marker and into a landscape where memory, myth, and history still mingle. It is marker number 1040 and it was erected in 2001 by the St. James-Santee Parish Historical Society. [Review 107 of 2026 - 1377 in South Carolina - 25297 overall]

The site is still in the process of improvement, but even just walking the grounds is a memorable…read moreexperience. A history trail has been added with some visually and intellectually stimulating exhibits. The mansion is rarely if ever open but offers some interesting views. And a walk through the abandoned rice fields yields both wildlife sightings and hints of the place's past. There is a charge to get in, but they waived it for me as I stopped in just at the end of the day to take a quick walk. There are a variety of more developed areas that give private plantation tours, but this outdoor setting is an entirely worthy state park.

We are current residents at Newbrook and wanted to share our experience. Once our year-long lease…read moreexpires, we will not be renewing. I would strongly recommend considering other apartments off Clements Ferry Road. During our tenancy, we've dealt with multiple issues that have not been resolved: Water intrusion from the unit above that led to a persistent mildew/odor in the bathroom Ongoing roach activity that began after the water issue. Pest control is included in rent, but you have to request service. After multiple attempts with no results, the "solution" was simply being handed a can of Raid Primary shower floor damage present since move-in, covered with a tape-like patch over a cracked shower floor, which limited use of the bathroom Noise disturbances that were raised but not addressed. The tenants above us were frequently fighting at all hours, resulting in multiple police calls, and management did not take action Despite raising these concerns through emails, phone calls, and in-person conversations, there was no meaningful follow-through and the underlying problems were never fixed. For example, the water issue was considered "resolved" based on moisture readings, but the odor and condition remained. The pest issue also persisted despite repeated attempts to address it. While the property may appear attractive due to its newer construction, our experience was extremely poor. We dealt with persistent mildew odor, ongoing roach activity despite being very clean, and repeated noise disturbances that affected our ability to sleep. Based on our experience, we would not rent here again or recommend this property to anyone.

We found mold in our apartment causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage to our personal…read moreproperty and thousands of dollars in medical expense. The lady at the front office was rude and dismissive even laughing at our situation. Extremely frustrating and disappointin.

Thornton was a terrific captain and guide through the rivers behind Hunting Island in search of…read moredolphins and other wildlife. He found pods of dolphins for us to observe, a few birds (it was high tide). A very capable pilot, Thornton was at his best as a wildlife interpreter of the tidal wetland ecology and its conservation. A fabulous tour!

My school came here today (May 21, 2026) and we had a great time! We went to Drum Island and before…read morethat, we went kayaking, both times I've had an amazing experience! 5 stars!

I very much enjoyed this park and the walking trials that was offered. Very beautiful scenery…read morethroughout the park. There is an admission fee. There also is parking onsite with accessible restrooms. I recommend this park for nature lovers.

I followed the Woodland trail and the Alligator trail when I came. The plan was to do the whole…read moreouter loop from the Woodland trail, but at the end of the Woodland trail we could not find the connection to the other trails like the map indicated. We still had a good time regardless, getting to see the swamp topography and wildlife. I did not try the museum on this visit, but entry is included with the $5/person entry fee to the park.

Visiting from OHio... We were both SO IMPRESSED with the whole area…read more First,it was incredibly inexpensive: the park fee was nothing; the boat tour was too; everything was so clean! The boat tour was the highlight. Relaxing and informative not to mention scenic. So much to see. It is obviously off season but fun nonetheless . They whole park was so nice and everyone was unbelievable friendly. First impressions are literally everything!

Cypress Gardens is a nice park built around a swamp but that is about it…read more One person at the booth collecting the fees and one person running the boat rental, the rest is on your own. Butterfly display had only a few butterflies despite the heated environment in early February Swamparium had a good number of reptiles, not all local and after seeing this we had no desire to get a paddle boat to ride around the swamp in what must be 45 degree water full of algae A couple of alligators and a couple of beautiful peacocks in separate enclosures without any legends to describe their age or anything else due to their limited budget i would think

This is a beautiful nature preserve with several miles of trails through gorgeous woods and a…read morecypress swamp. We've found so many different birds here, including prothonotary warblers, northern parulas, hairy woodpeckers, and more. There is a boardwalk over a pond where wood storks nest - it's off limits a few months a year. It's a peaceful and quiet place to hike. I wish there were bathrooms though.

Beautiful fall weather in Charleston, so decided to get some sunshine and fresh air while being one…read morewith nature at Dungannon Heritage nature preserve. The preserve is located off of SC highway #162 near Hollywood. Entrance to the preserve is free. This is a dog friendly park, so feel free to bring your fur babies! This is a beautiful park spanning 643- acres. There are several scenic trails that wander along the property. Bring your camera as there is a lot to see. The preserve has been set up to provide feeding and roosting areas for a variety of birds, Wood storks, Great Egrets and Blue Herons. You may also see alligators, deer and squirrels along the way. The trails are well maintained and clearly marked. There is not a restroom or picnic tables at this park. However, there is a gorgeous 300- foot boardwalk with an observation deck overlooking the swamp/pond. I had a picnic lunch here as I watched an alligator sun bathe and fish jump. It was so peaceful. If you are looking for a few hours to get back to nature and see beautiful views and some wildlife, you need to add Dungannon to your "Must See" list.

I stopped by the park to have lunch at the Pavilion during a work day in John's island. The…read morePavillion is next to a pond that has a nice native plant buffer around it and a lot of wildlife to watch.

Not nearly as nice as James Island park but it serves a different audience/reason. This park is…read moremore a collection of sports fields and whatnot. Was free to park though and had public restroom.