Amazing herons, ibis and egrets grace the cypress swamp aviary at Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen Gardens features the only known aviary built atop an actual cypress swamp. Here you can enjoy a leisurely stroll on the boardwalk while watching magnificent birds feeding and flying in a natural setting: great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, egrets, hooded merganser, white ibis, redhead and wood ducks. Free with general admission ($12 adults, [...]

It’s a Zoo! Come see Brookgreen Gardens’ native wildlife and rare farm breeds

Brookgreen Gardens is most famous for its exquisite collection of American sculptures and lavish gardens. They are also great preservation stewards of native wildlife and rare farm animal breeds. Here foxes, alligators, deer, wild turkeys, river otters and many wading birds live in a natural habitat. At the farm you can enjoy seeing (and sometimes [...]

Carolina Children’s Garden, Columbia free, fun and magical things to do

Recently we visited the Carolina Children’s Garden inside the Clemson Research and Education Center, right across the Sandhills shopping center. The garden is open daily from dawn to dusk and admission is free. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leash at all times. The view from inside the park is spectacular. I’ve seen [...]

Trout hatchery tour, free things to do in beautiful Pisgah National Forest

One fish two fish red fish blue fish… Western North Carolina, the land of the waterfalls, is truly breathtaking in the fall. Recently, we spend a weekend hiking between Hendersonville and Brevard. We had fun visiting the Bobby N. Setzer Fish Hatchery and Raceway Exhibit housed at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. This is [...]

New at Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia wild fun thing to do!

I haven’t been to Riverbanks since the “Lights Before Christmas” event. Last Saturday my daughter and I braved the crowds and the heat to see what’s new at the zoo. Newest exhibit: Kangaroo Walkabout Although is hard to replace the feisty sea lions (remember Big Boy?) the kangaroos and wallabies held their own on the [...]

All roads lead to Fort Walker? The Port Royal Battle, the Blockade, the Charleston Siege, and the first Gullah town (Hilton Head historic tour)

The Hilton Head Island history is rich and powerful, with the Civil War period as its most fascinating and nation-impacting act. We were lucky to experience it last summer, during the “Forts of Port Royal” tour provided by the Coastal Discovery Museum. Things to know before you go • The cost is $12 for adults [...]

Free walking tour of historic Southport, half an hour between Wilmington and Sunset Beach

Nestled on the mouth of Cape Fear River, Southport is one of the most charming cities along the North Carolina coast, with an incredibly rich naval and military history. In 1500s and 1600s European explorers such as Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon and William Hilton discovered its riches; in 1700s ruthless pirates like Blackbeard and Stede [...]

From Charleston to Savannah with love…Favorite places to visit with my kid in the Lowcountry

Here are the most surprising places I have found during my travel adventures in South Carolina (all approved by my preschool daughter). Today I’ll go over the Lowcountry: Charleston, Edisto, Beaufort, Hilton Head and Savannah. The American LaFrance Fire Museum in North Charleston This place is FUN with capital letters! Best of all its free [...]

Free and romantic Hilton Head attractions: mysterous Leamington Lighthouse, a ghost legend and military treasure

Featured on the National Register of Historic Places, the Leamington Lighthouse, is a legendary historic site on Hilton Head Island. Originally known as the Hilton Head Range Light Station, the unusual skeleton and cypress wood structure was built to guide ships into Port Royal Sound. It is the only historic lighthouse on Hilton Head Island [...]

Life is good at Sea Pines! Hilton Head free fun things to do with kids

On our second Hilton Head vacation I finally got a chance to explore the amazing Sea Pines Forest Preserve. Admission is free, however visitors need $5 all day guest pass to get inside the Sea Pines Plantation. In less than 2 hours we came close to alligators, anhingas and blue herons, and stepped back in [...]