The Audubon Swamp in Charleston is America’s most unique garden and wildlife preserve, a remarkable, must see family experience.
Alligator soaking the sun next to his best pal
The swamp garden became famous when John J. Audubon visited 150 years ago in search of waterfowl specimens for his paintings.
Fast forward to our time, it shined again as the filming site of the movie “The Swamp Thing”.
Audubon is an unequaled biodiversity with thousands of plant and animal species coexisting in the 60 acres of blackwater cypress and tupelo swamp.
The pristine waters are home to nesting blue herons and great egrets, impassable alligators, playful otters, slender deer, mysterious turtles and slithering snakes.
Several boardwalks, dikes and bridges traverse the wilderness allowing you to observe animals in their natural habitat. You may encounter small animals such as rabbits, foxes, squirrels and opossums.
Boardwalk over the eerie swamp
Bird lovers will be delighted to observe blue herons, great egrets, blue-winged teal, common moorhen, pied-billed grebe, wood ducks, white ibis, red-shouldered hawk, yellow warbler, and occasionally, a majestic bold eagle.
Older kids will enjoy reading the centuries old headstones in the graveyard…
Old graveyard inside Audubon Swamp Garden
And visiting the pre Civil War slave cabins.
Inside slave cabin at Magnolia Plantation in Charleston
Touring the swamp takes about an hour, more for the nature enthusiast. Best time to observe wildlife is late afternoon.
The Audubon Swamp Garden is open year around from 8AM to 5:30PM (8:30 – 5 in winter) and can be accessed via Magnolia Plantation. Standalone admission is $7 for individuals (free for kids under 6) and $4 for groups that are also visiting the Magnolia Plantation (here are more price details to all the attractions).
The Swamp Troubadours at Magnolia Plantation
Reward your inner beauty at the Audubon Swamp Garden and the historic Magnolia Plantation, one of top 25 most visited homes in America!
And if that’s not enough drive to the modern Edisto Island Serpentarium to rub elbows giant alligators, exotic turtles and fearsome snakes of all shapes and sizes.
Filed under: Animals and Pets, Beaufort, Bird watching, Carolina Beaches, Charleston, Daniel Island, Edisto Island, Folly Beach, Historic Carolina Sites, Isle of Palms, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Outdoor Activities, Parks and Gardens, Sullivan's Island, Walking and Jogging Tagged: | amazing alligator photos, Audubon Magnolia Gardens kids attractions, Audubon Swamp alligators and birds pictures, Audubon Swamp Garden at Magnolia Plantation, Charleston activities under $10, Charleston best plantation gardens, Charleston outdoor family attractions, Great egrets nesting images, incredible Carolina swamp wildlife pictures, most incredible popular Spring Garden destination, top Charleston family getaway outing, weekend fun times outside with kids in North Charleston, what kids love to do inside Magnolia Plantation
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