51 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.ShemCreekRestaurants.com recreational activities such as paved walking and biking trails, the seasonal Splash Zone Waterpark, the climbing wall, freshwater lakes for fishing, a playground area and an off-leash dog park for Fido. Visit CCPRC’s website for rates and reservations: ccprc.com/1434/Campground. Capers Island- If remote camping better suits your nature, Capers Island, situated about 15 miles north of Charleston, provides a unique opportunity to experience a tranquil, pristine coastal wilderness. It’s only accessible by boat, there are no facilities and camping there requires obtaining a (free) permit through SCDNR. This is camping at its most primitive, so if you can’t forego bathrooms and electricity, Capers isn’t for you. But its status as an undeveloped and uninhabited barrier island also makes Capers ideally suited for viewing wildlife. Featuring a large impoundment and a hiking trail that traverses the island, Capers’ diverse habitats support alligators, raccoons, snakes, loggerhead sea turtles, deer, herons, egrets, ibises, wood storks, bitterns and more. Dead trees dotting “Boneyard Beach” evoke a scene of stark beauty. Learn more at SC DNR’s website: https://www2.dnr.sc.gov/ ManagedLands/ManagedLand/ManagedLand/666. KOA- KOA Mount Pleasant campground off Highway 17 offers tent sites, RV sites, extended stays and cabins, giving you the option of everything from a traditional camping experience to more comfortable indoor lodging. Plenty of activities to entertain families such as a pool, fishing, bike and boat rentals, a walking trail, a playground, basketball, disc golf and cornhole. Propane, firewood, WiFi and cable TV are all available. Dog-friendly. For more info: koa.com/campgrounds/mount-pleasant-charleston/. Oak Plantation Campground- Family-owned and operated, Oak Plantation Campground on Johns Island encompasses more than 200 campsites, clean and modern shower and restroom facilities, a park-like setting, a pool and a convenience store. Perfect for pop-up campers and RVs. No tent camping or primitive camping. Additional onsite amenities include a picnic shelter, freshwater fishing lake, dog run, play area, laundry and Wi-Fi and cable TV availability. For rates and reservations: oakplantationcampground.com/index.html. WEEKEND WANDERS Edisto Beach State Park- Step out of your tent, dip your toes in the sand and feel that refreshing ocean breeze. Edisto Beach State Park has two campgrounds accommodating both tent and RV sites that allow you to set up stakes right on or near the beach. Camping with electrical and water hook-ups is available either oceanside or adjacent to the salt marsh. Offers easy access to a nature center and several short trails within the park. Remember to plan a side trip to Botany Bay! Clean and modern restroom and shower facilities located on site. Dog-friendly. More details at: southcarolinaparks.com/edisto-beach/camping. Huntington Beach State Park- Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet is one of the best places to view wildlife in South Carolina. The citizen science birding app eBird lists Huntington as the state’s top birding hot spot, with 339 species observed. An extraordinary natural area such as this encompassing a beach and wetlands can warrant more than a day trip, and fortunately the park permits tent and RV camping. All sites excluding their designated tent sites have water and electrical hookups and convenient access to hot showers and restrooms. Additional recreational activities include hiking, swimming, fishing, biking, picnicking and boating. The park also houses a nature center with exhibits and a touch tank. Dog-friendly. For rates and reservations, visit: southcarolinaparks.com/ huntington-beach/camping. our town
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