South Carolina's Best State Parks
Huntington Beach State Park (17 miles south of Myrtle Beach on U.S. 17) - This award-winning park is one of the best preserved examples of South Carolina's natural coast. All of the elements of a coastal landscape, from sandy beach and saltwater marsh to freshwater lagoon and maritime forest - exist at this 2,500-acre park. Its natural features support such an amazing variety of wildlife that birdwatchers have recorded nearly 400 species on the park and have dubbed Huntington Beach one of the best birding sites along the East Coast. In addition to its striking natural features, Huntington Beach has a 186-site campground, boardwalks and observation decks overlooking the marsh and lagoon, and daily educational programs that teach visitors about the value of the coastal environment.
Huntington Beach also features a bit of cultural heritage - a historic structure called "Atalaya" or the Spanish-Moorish term for "castle in the sand," served as the winter home of American sculptress Anna Hyatt Huntington. Her husband, Archer, followed old Mediterranean architecture styles when he designed and built the home in 1924. Huntington Beach is considered an award-winning park because, for the second consecutive year, Southern Living magazine readers voted it as one of the best state parks in a 20-state Southeastern region. The park also won an environmental stewardship award from South Carolina's Department of Natural Resources for its special care to trees and the environment during recent park improvements.
Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area (Jones Gap State Park and Caesars Head State Park) - This first rate wilderness area is located in the northwest corner of South Carolina, a region shaped by the gentle rises of the Blue Ridge and the spectacular natural environment associated with it. Roughly 10,000 acres make up the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, which is anchored by Jones Gap State Park in the valley and Caesars Head State Park in the mountains. Trails between the two parks wind through the rugged backcountry and provide some of the most challenging backpacking experiences in the state. In addition to regular visitor amenities, Caesars Head State Park has an overlook that provides sweeping views of the hills and valley below. Jones Gap State Park has an environmental education center near the scenic Middle Saluda River at which school students and park visitors discover the mountain aquatic environment.
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