Cypress Gardens, Charleston
Address 3030 Cypress Gardens Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461 Map, Tel 843-553-0515 Call, Website
Cypress Gardens is outside of Charleston but worth the side trip. It was originally part of a 3,000 acre rice plantation that flourished until the Civil War. The 163 acre swamp at the center of the plantation was used to flood the surrounding inland rice fields.
Kids will love the abundant wildlife outdoors and in the Fresh Water Aquarium and Butterfly House. Two nature trails allow families to share the swamp with alligators, pileated woodpeckers, wood ducks, otter, barred owls, and other species that inhabit the swamp.
Probably the best part is exploring the inky blackwater swamp. You can take a guided boat tours as an expert nature guide points out the local flora and fauna, or paddle your own boat and venture off the beaten trail. Scenes from "The Patriot" and "The Notebook" were filmed here.