Landmarks and Landscapes
T
he Santee-Cooper lakes, specifically Moultrie and Marion, cover Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg and Sumter counties, providing nearly limitless recreational opportunities for those who love the outdoors in small or large doses. These counties boast Revolutionary War battle sites, grave markers of war heroes, museums dedicated to preserving watershed moments in state and even American history, beautiful churches that have sheltered the worship of Jesus Christ for more than two centuries; and wildlife reserves, swampland and nationally-recognized forests. For those people looking to pursue more in these areas than government meetings, cotillions and the annual events that each individual town cherishes, this compiled list should help explorers see what else is going on.
BERKELEY COUNTY
The Berkeley County Blueways consist of 175 miles of waterway comprised of 23 paddling trails in Lake Moultrie, lower Lake Marion, the Santee River and Francis Marion National Forest. Operated primarily by the Berkeley Soil and Water Conservation District, with funds from Berkeley County government and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the blueways are always viewed as an open invitation for recreational paddlers to experience and enjoy this region’s beautiful lakes, rivers, streams and wildlife. For more information, visit www.berkeleyblueways. com, email berkconsdist@homexpressway. net, or call (843) 719-4146. The Cypress Gardens, located on S.C. 52, eight miles east of Moncks Corner, provide a 250-acre park that features more than 80 acres of open swamp covered in bald cypress and water tupelo to make a unique habitat for waterfowl, numerous butterfly species, deer, opossum, bobcats, raccoons and the occasional snake and alligator. Specific attractions include the gardens’ Butterfly House, with live butterflies, birds, ponds and exhibits detailing the beautiful creatures’ life cycle; the Swamparium, an observa4 November • December 2010 | Lakeside
Berkley County •Calhoun County • Orangeburg County & Sumter County tion area featuring fish, amphibians and reptiles, including venomous snakes native to the area; and several walking trails made from dikes dating back to the rice fields previously cultivated at the site. The gardens feature a 24,000-gallon freshwater aquarium and flat-bottom boats, which hold up to six people, that meander through a designated path in the swamp. As long as they have a least one adult present, groups can see alligators and other wildlife. One upcoming event is “Santa in the Swamp,” where kids and even pets can take photos with Santa on Dec. 18. Local vendors will also present their unique handmade crafts right before the Christmas gift-giving season. The park is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, including Sundays, with last admission at 4 p.m. The park is closed only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year’s Day, and parking is free. Admission is $10 for adults; $9, for seniors ages 65 and older; $5, for children 6-12; and free for children 5 and younger who are not part of an educational or youth group. The guided boat ride is $5, and on-site reservation is required. For more information, call (843) 553-0515 or visit www.cypressgardens.info. Francis Marion’s Gravestone is a popular attraction at Belle Isle Plantation Cemetery off S.C. 45 between S.C. 6 and Eadytown. Francis Marion National Forest was practically destroyed in 1989 by Hurricane Hugo, but the young growth that survived on its 252,368 acres situated in Charleston and Berkeley counties has emerged to make it a popular tourist attraction. The forest itself contains the towns of Awendaw, Huger,
Jamestown and McClellanville, and its headquarters are in Columbia, as are those of Sumter National Forest. Recreational opportunities include campsites, rifle ranges, boat ramps, hiking and biking trails and the famous Palmetto Trail. Mepkin Abbey, a community of Roman Catholic monks, was built in 1949 on the Cooper River, S.C. 402, north of Charleston, where historic Mepkin Plantation once stood. The brothers at Mepkin belong to the worldwide Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, popularly known as trappist. Visitors are usually interested in the church and the Nancy Bryan Luce Gardens. A guestmaster greets them at the Reception Center, answers any questions and directs them to the gardens. Guided tours of the church are provided at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday; and 3 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The abbey is closed to visitors on Mondays. Groups of 10 or more visitors are asked to make reservations by calling (843) 761-8509. Old Santee Canal Park and Berkeley Museum are located on S.C. 52, near the Tailrace Canal in Monck’s Corner. Through Nov. 29, visitors can learn about “The First South Carolinians: The Life and Times of the First Cultures in the Palmetto State,” an exhibit that will be displayed 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day the park is open through the end of November. Anthropologists believe that lands once connected Russia and Alaska, giving the Paleo Indians a way to cross into North America; within 1,000 years of that immigration, South Carolina had its earliest residents. Featuring 27 exhibit panels and eight objects, this traveling exhibit from the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia is free with