Charleston's trademarks are its Antebellum history and Lowcountry beauty. And when you experience its many plantations and gardens, you get the best of both worlds!Spring is the perfect time to take in Charleston’s flourishing natural world, starting with these historic and breathtaking gardens. Pack a lunch, and bring the family along!Boone Hall Gardens: Boone Hall is one of the most stunning sites Charleston has to offer. Between its sprawling mansion, live oak trees, and Spanish moss draped paths, the entrance to this charming plantation alone is worth the trip! Take a self-guided garden tour, and see the many various plants, flowers, and trees that are currently growing in the beautiful gardens on the front lawn. Be sure to stop and smell the gorgeous antique roses that are over 100 years old.Cypress Gardens: Travel to Berkeley County’s Cypress Gardens for the utmost adventure and wildlife in one outing! Visitors from all over the country come to experience Cypress Gardens’ magical grounds, gardens, greenhouse, and swamparium. Enjoy picturesque views along 3.5 miles of walking and hiking trails, which loop through the swamp and gardens. The peak azaleas bloom by the month’s end, and while you take in the beautiful wildflowers, you can also spot yellow-throated warblers, red-shouldered hawks, and Carolina chickadees.Magnolia Plantation and Gardens: Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation has the oldest public gardens in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1870. The gardens at Magnolia Plantation are of such beauty and variety that they have brought tourists from around the world to view them. Today there are thousands of flowers to take in—from camellias, daffodils, and azaleas to countless other species in bloom year round.Hampton Plantation State Park: Tucked away among live oaks and magnolias, Hampton Plantation State Historic Siteis home to the remains of a colonial-era rice plantation. Take in the splendor and history of this scenic site during an easy hike along the nature trail loop. You’ll take in several ecosystems and discover how the landscape and wildlife changed over the 250 years this land has been known as Hampton Plantation.
Which of Charleston’s unforgettable gardens is your favorite to visit?
