Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
Cannons boom. Muskets bark. Interpretive rangers in 17th century dress tend heirloom crops. They’re all part of the “new” Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site. Here is where English settlers landed with indentured servants and African slaves after a stormy sail from Barbados in 1670. Here they established what would become the birthplace of the Carolinas, the plantation system of the American South, and one of the continent’s first major port cities. A highlight of the site is the new Visitor Center, which includes extensive, interactive exhibits that tell the story of settlement and survival in the 17th-century Lowcountry wilderness. Kids especially will enjoy the "digital dig," a hands-on display that brings archeology to life. Other highlights are the history trail, which includes the colonial crop garden and fortified area; the Animal Forest, home to native wildlife such as pumas and bison at the time of the settlement; the Adventure, a full size replica 17th century trading ship built on site; and ongoing archeological digs.In March, Carolina-Caribbean Day explores the connection between Charles Towne and the Caribbean, especially the sugar plantations of Barbados. In April, Founders’ Day features colonial encampment, black powder gun demonstration and archeologists.
(Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site is located at 1500 Old Towne Road (SC 171) near Exit 216-A off Interstate 26. For further information, call 843-852-4200.)
Aiken State Natural Area
Four spring-fed lakes and the meandering South Edisto River make Aiken State Natural Area a popular destination. The park is a combination of a river swamp, bottomland hardwood forest and dry sandhill pine forest; the latter provides evidence of an era when the sea reached this far inland. Built in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this 1,067-acre park features a variety of animal and plant life, making it an excellent location for nature study and birding. The park also offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities such as canoeing the classic blackwater South Fork of the Edisto River, fishing in one of the park lakes, picnicking, camping and hiking the trails.Springtime is an excellent time to canoe down the South Fork of the Edisto River. The water level is usually up and it provides excellent scenery. It’s an easy 1.7 miles between two canoe landings and there is a cleared canoe path in the log-filled river through the dense canopy of trees for an unusual tunnel effect.
(The park is 16 miles east of Aiken off US 78 or off 302 from Columbia. For further information, call 803-649-2857.)
Devils Fork State Park
Less is more at Devils Fork State Park on Lake Jocassee in Oconee County. As one of South Carolina’s least developed lakes, Lake Jocassee offers outstanding fishing, boating, camping and other natural opportunities with spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The park provides the only public access to the cool, deep waters of the Jocassee, where anglers try their luck for trout, bass, bream, catfish and other species, and boaters drive to remote islands or sites of waterfalls spilling into the lake from the forested hillsides.This 644-acre park is easily accessible from SC 11 and serves as both a site for and gateway to the region’s wide range of natural, historic and recreational activities, including Chattooga National Wild & Scenic River, numerous waterfalls and state parks. Devils Fork State Park was created to blend natural and recreational amenities while minimizing disturbance of the surrounding habitat. Two nature trails include the easy-to-walk 1.5-mile Oconee Bell Nature Trail named for the rare wildflower in bloom along it in the spring. An abundance of other flora and fauna are highlights for visitors, who also may spot foxes, wild turkeys, deer and maybe an elusive black bear. Eagle-eyed birders also may spot tanagers, vireos and a wide variety of warblers -- and, of course, eagles.
Overnight visitors have a variety of options, ranging from the 84-site main campground to full-featured mountain villas to a primitive boat-in site at the base of Musterground Mountain on the northern shore of the lake.
(Park is located 5 miles north of Salem off SC 11 on Jocassee Lake Road and 15 miles northwest of Pickens. For further information, call 864-944-2639.)
