Â鶹APP

Top 5 best parks and gardens in Charleston, South Carolina

Image: Pixabay

Parks offer the best of nature and relaxation. Most cities or towns you visit around the world have parks that serve the city’s population and also tourists. Charleston, the third-largest city in South Carolina is no exception. It has tens of parks in different places around the area, which have interesting stories behind them. Different organizations are managing some of the parks and trails; Charleston County parks are made up of about 11, 000 acres of land managed by the Charleston County & Recreational Parks. All the parks in this beautiful place are amazing and offer different amenities but the most important is that they all are places where one can relax, and enjoy nature. There are over 33 parks in Charleston managed by them and one has to visit a few of these when in Charleston. South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism manages several trails within the State and some of the trails in these gardens are managed by them.Ìý

Here are five of the best parks in the town!

1. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Drayton Hall
Image: Wikimedia Commons

ÌýIf you love flowers, vast spaces, trees, nature, and peace, the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is the perfect place for you. The Drayton Family owned and lived on this property for centuries and is still owned by the family and now run by a board of governors. Thomas and Anne Drayton first built the first house on the property in 1676. There is a ton of things to experience at the Magnolia Gardens- one can see the Zoo and Nature Center, the orientation center, the Historic Gardens with a maze, the Conservatory which has tropical plants of the Caribbean origin, the Gilliard Garden Center as well as a gift center. There are tours you can take, some of them are Boat Tours; where one can see the rice plantations, the birds, some wildlife and even alligators, Bird walks, Audubon Swamp Gardens, Nature Trams where people get to see very beautiful woodlands, marshes, rivers, landscapes, and lakes all found in the property, Slavery to Freedom where one gets see the Slavery cabins where slaves lived during different times in history. One can also buy souvenirs at the gift shop at the 400-acre piece of history!

2. James Island County Park

Image: Wikimedia Commons

This park in Charleston is amazing because the feel and nature trail that one experiences here are out of this world. In this park, one can get to walk their dog, enjoy the sun, take part in saltwater fishing, wall climbing, skating, cycling, playing golf, pedal boarding, camping, having a picnic, kayaking and even paddle boarding all these in the family-friendly 643-acre piece of land in Charleston. The grounds are vast and well-kept to ensure maximum fun for the people who visit the park. The park was created to be enjoyed by the people, and it evident by the number of amenities available there. One can however not cycle or go on their rollerblades at the docks and also, dogs are allowed though they must be on leashes all the time. The park is just about 12 miles north of Charleston and is positioned between Downtown Charleston and Folly Beach.

3. Palmetto Islands County Park

Image: Wikimedia Commons

The 943-acre park is ideal for families and groups. If you want to grill, or have a picnic or ride your bikes, play some games with the children as you enjoy nature, then this park is for you. There are also many nature trails, there is a waterpark, snack bars, kayak, boat, and bike rentals as well as paved roads for cycling enthusiasts. It also has a lot of covered shelters within the park where one can reserve which has picnic tables, fans, grills, depending on the size one needs. Stepping into the Palmetto Park feels like one is stepping into a tropical dream; the beauty and serenity that the place has is amazing! The trails are gorgeous and one can get to see several trees like sweet-gum, cedar, magnolia, cedar, and palmetto oak; flowers, plants, and even some birds! At the Park Center, one can get a map of the place, there is also an observation tower which is 50 feet tall where one can get a panoramic view of the park, the park peninsula is also accessible where people can enjoy some peace by hiking, there is also a marsh island where one can get to using a boardwalk. The park is open a few months a year- January, May, and September to December and one can make reservations.

4. Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park

Image: Wikimedia Commons

This is a park, like no other. At the Mount Pleasant area of Charleston is a beautiful park. Here, people can get to some games, picnics, cycling, dog walking, enjoy some ice cream, and even just taking a stroll. The park is usually open from 6 AM to 11 PM. It is located at the base of the Ravenel Bridge, and the Mount Pleasant Pier, a 1250-foot-long pier, which is also an attraction at the park. At the pier, people can attempt fishing as they enjoy the views, and one can also indulge in some history, at the Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Pavilion where one can interact and buy some wares from the basket weavers, the Visitor’s Center and War Memorial and have coffee are the River Watch Cafe. The park is under a bridge and the views of the harbor and the city’s skyline are to die for! Get some amazing photos while at the park, which has been regarded as the crown jewel of Mount Pleasant!

5. North Charleston Wannamaker County Park

charlestonchronicles.net

This 1,050-acre park is extremely beautiful. Ideal for running, biking, camping, hiking, and just enjoying nature. It is ideal for families and groups and has a lot of amenities to cater for everyone. The park has two playgrounds- Tot Lots and Fun Lots, an off-leash dog park, picnic sites with tables, grills, park center with a snack bar where one can buy water and snacks, it has washrooms, it has open meadows, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, bicycle rentals, and a waterpark and even grounds for events and concerts. The Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark is also open during summer. If one needs information, then the park office is always open and ready to avail of the information.Ìý