This park is so much bigger than I anticipated! It was well maintained as well…read more I went to Limestone trail and parked along the road so I could sit by the water. There were a few families fishing. I walked to the campground area and that seemed really nice as well. The park is pet friendly. We did not see any alligators, but we were warned they had a lot so I kept my dogs away from the water. I would definitely make sure you have bug spray when you visit!

Conveniently located 10 minutes off I-95 so great ease of use! You don't feel near I-95. Easy…read morehiking trails at the campgrounds. Lake views and nice restrooms! Enjoyed local restaurants and history nearby.

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.

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!

The State of SC established the Santee National Wildlife Refuge in 1941 to compensate for the…read morehabitat destruction caused by the creation and flooding of the Santee Cooper Lakes. The refuge includes over 15,000 acres (4,448 owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service) and the rest in coordination with the South Carolina Public Service Authority. Visitors can enjoy 39 miles of shoreline along Lake Marion, SC's largest lake. Birders can enjoy migratory ducks and geese in winter, in addition to song birds, raptors, marsh birds, and wetlands wildlife in multiple migratory bird sanctuaries. The refuge includes four units with diverse which offer wildlife observation, education, interpretation, photography, hunting and fishing opportunities. There is a Visitors Center and 7.5-mile wildlife drive (Caddo unit), a canoe trail, observation towers, miles of hiking/biking trails, elevated boardwalks, towers and some of the best bird watching in America. The Santee Christmas Bird Count is touted as one of the best, if not the best, inland CBC east of the Mississippi and north of Florida. You can't miss visiting the thousand year old Indian Mound, built by the matrilineal Santee tribe. During the Revolutionary War, it became Fort Watson, a British battlement overtaken by General Francis Marion-- the "Swamp Fox." This story also introduced the word "mayhem" into the English language. The fighting here proved Marion's tactical skill and makes this one of the most pivotal victories of the American struggle for independence.

Nice park in the middle of neighborhood. Picnic tables, playground for big and small kids. Small…read morepond to walk around with ducks. No bathrooms. Was a nice stop during road trip.

Driving to Hilton Head from Charlotte we needed a pit stop. This was out of the way and off the…read moremain highway but well worth the few extra minutes it took to get there. The park itself is really small, more of a neighborhood pocket park than a sprawling city green space. The playstructures were in great shape, there was a lovely pond with ducks and a small walking trail around the perimeter. Mature trees provide shade and there was even a lovely little gazebo for that extra dash of small-town, Americana charm. The kids played, we stretched our legs and everyone was ready for the road.

This was such a great spot for a field trip. The adaptive equipment was great for individuals in…read morewheelchairs. There was a diverse selection of slides and swings. A splash pad area was in use, very cool for a hot day. There was plenty of parking available. A shaded area with picnic tables and benches all throughout the park. Restroom facilities available on site as well.

This was such a great park to visit! Was looking for somewhere toto get in my morning walk and…read morestumbled upon this gem. Lots to do for your family. There are tennis , basketball , volleyball and pickle ball courts. The walking trail is nice. Plenty for children in the dedicated play area. They also have ping pong tables and plenty of seating around the park.

Driving up to this park takes one through downtown Orangeburg, which was virtually abandoned when I…read morepassed through. The park was no less eerie. A parking lot overlooked the green space, which had a road running through the center of it before one gets to the water. A boardwalk yielded some decent riverside nature, but also a broken water wheel. The parking lot had a handful of people who were simply sitting in their cars for reasons I could not discern. I found the design of the park strange, as a memorial space was immediately facing the parking lot and did not seem like a peaceful place of remembrance. The rose gardens were well manicured, and it seemed like whatever money the city has they put into maintaining them, but signs warned to stay away due to pesticides. There were a number of facilities as far as bathrooms and gathering places, and perhaps the park is more lively at some times, but I would not go out of my way to visit the place on its own merits.

Went to visit the Garden sometime ago when the roses were still in bloom. Not far from I-95 the…read moreEdisto gardens are in Orangeburg with an impressive amount of rose plants, something like 4800 with over four hundred varieties. Best time to go the weekend before Mother's Day. We were there the day before

Beautiful park overall! Very nice trails throughout, and a nice swimming area near the park office…read more Restrooms were in great condition as well

This was a nice place to go for a hike with friends and a dog.People that are there seem to be…read moreextremely friendly. It's a clean park with a lot of different trails. It also has a playground, kayaking and boating. You're also allowed to fish there. I would recommend this. This park also offers a lot of benches to sit down in rest while Hiking. Please for a day trip with the family or friends.

For those driving along I-95, you could stop at a rest stop, or you could take a detour less than…read more10 minutes off the highway in order to arrive at this picturesque Carolinian wetland. A sign helpfully points out what to do if you have a half an hour or a half a day. I was closer to the former, but the boardwalk out into the blackwater swamp yielded some fantastic sights in the time I had. Despite signage, I did not see any alligators, but neither was I mobbed by insects. A few light splashes more suggestive of frogs and the occasional bird in the distance provided most of the soundtrack. It is definitely a vibe you wouldn't get in any other part of the country. And for those that do have more time, the couple I saw dragging kayaks into the water looked ready for an excellent day as well.

We were looking for a spot to stop and have lunch on the way to the shore. This is a super quiet…read morepark, off the beaten path but perfect for a picnic and to walk around! There was a shelter with a grill and several picnic tables, plenty of clean bathrooms and even a little store. There is a small boardwalk after walking down the dirt trail for maybe 5 minutes ? We didn't proceed, too many alligator signs and the water was fairly close to the boardwalk! Overall great spot!

I had absolutely no idea this existed and would not have found it unless I was detoured off I-26…read moreand also searching for "park" to picnic with my Bojangles. The UFO Welcome Center came up and I have GOT to check this out. I've seen a few bits of weird kitsch but this is definitely a top ten crazy thing. I mean, this is BOWMAN SOUTH CAROLINA. It's practically in the middle of nowhere. But yes, it's a welcome center for aliens to park their spacecraft, hit the restroom and maybe take a nap. The space ship is visible from the road and there is parking nearby. If you want to tour it, that's an option but it is not free. The Welcome Center is only a couple of miles off I-26 and if you're planning to connect to I-95 southbound, it's maybe a five minute detour. Totally worth it. [Review 14845 overall, 347 of 2021, number 810 in South Carolina.]

Found this spot on Roadside America and just had to take a detour to see it. Designed to make…read morealiens feel welcome upon meeting Earthlings for the first time. Ohhhhh kay. If you like quirky and kitschy, this is the stop for you. Otherwise, I don't think I'd make a special trip to see it!

This is such a magical place! The ancient cypress swamp has trees over 1,000 years old. There is a…read morebeautiful 2 mile boardwalk to experience all kinds of nature. This is the nesting ground for the Prothonotary Warbler - a bright yellow bird nicknamed the swamp canary. Many unique kinds of fireflies can be seen here at night for the ticketed special event called Firefly Nights in May and June. Kayak adventures are hosted spring and fall through the black water river. There are so many unique species to be seen here year round. The staff are very knowledgeable and kind. Did you know mosquitoes don't like this swamp due to the moving water? It's a wonderful place to explore in every season.

I was greeted by an absolute swarm of some kind of biting fly as I parked my car. Apparently the…read moreflies have learned that cars have delicious humans inside as they were aggressively pounding the windows. This is of course par for the course in swampy South Carolina, but something to keep in mind as bringing some bug spray and applying it in advance is probably a good idea. The price to enter the boardwalk is per person, so while the place is family-friendly it can get up there if you have a group. The boardwalk you're paying for does have some impressive sights and a lot of signage talking about the history of the area. I saw a few interesting creatures while keeping on the move to avoid the flies. Upon my return to the visitor center, their captive snake was being fed. The center also has nice facilities and the whole area is well maintained. This is not Congaree (which is bigger, more interesting, and free), but I'm glad it is preserved for public enjoyment.