Being Savvy: Activities, things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Charleston, SC

Lionfish, tiger sharks and otters, oh my! Discovering the wilderness of the urban jungle

by Nicole

Many of our out-of-town visitors have been surprised to learn that Charleston doesn't have a real zoo. (The state's large zoo, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden , is located about two hours away in Columbia.) However, that doesn't mean there is a shortage of wildlife to be found. With our coastal location and love of all things maritime, it makes sense that the best place for spotting animals in ... Read more >

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Five Best Day Trips (within an hour's drive)

by Nicole

1. Edisto Island I pink puffy heart Edisto in all of its simplicity: beaches, gift shops and family restaurants, and lots of unspoiled natural spaces. Edisto offers the best seashell finds of any nearby shore, as well as the Lowcountry's only Serpentarium . (Don't be a sissy they won't get cha.) 2. Caw Caw Nature and History Interpretive Center Out Highway 17 South, this county-run center ... Read more >

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Enriching your seashore experience

by Nicole

It definitely feels like summer already in Charleston, and one of the best ways too cool off when the temperature spikes and the humidity sticks is to head to the beach. The beaches near Charleston are easy to access and, on the whole, quite family-friendly. You can spend plenty of time splashing in the surf and building sand castles on the shore, but why not learn a little something about sea ... Read more >

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Tales from Four Holes Swamp

by Nicole

We had a family outing this weekend to Four Holes Swamp/Francis Beidler Forest , as we wanted to share this special place with my in-laws visiting from Arizona. A short drive from Charleston just off of I-26, this swamp boasts the world's largest stand of virgin cypress-tupelo forest. And that forest is home to lots of critters: snakes, birds, and turtles have been seen on every visit we've ... Read more >

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a walk on the wild side: sea turtle release

by Nicole

If your child thinks she might want to be an animal doctor, this experience will make her want to specialize and become a sea turtle doctor. For the rest of us, it'll just be really cool. The South Carolina Aquarium has a sea turtle hospital designed to rehabilitate injured turtles and, when possible, return them to their natural home. A loggerhead turtle named "North Litchfield" has been fixed ... Read more >

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weekend events for the whole family: August 16-17, 2008

by Nicole

It's the last weekend before school starts! Time to get out and enjoy! Why leave Fido out of the family fun? The Animal Planet Expo is coming to town on Saturday, bringing with it exotic species, Frisbee-catching dogs, pet adoptions, a kids' zone, and water and misting stations (misting stations!) for your pet. Trot on over to the Ladson Exchange Park Fairgrounds from 10 am - 4pm for some ... Read more >

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daytrip adventure: bear island wildlife management area

by Nicole

My husband has a remarkable wanderlust -- one that has taken him to several continents and that seems to take our family in search of hidden corners of the Lowcountry. This weekend we headed south to the Bear Island Wildlife Management Area . What a gem! This place is a beautiful wetland refuge low on facilities but full of wildlife spotting opportunities. We drove back into the marsh along the ... Read more >

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