Charleston County Park Guide
Of the countless reasons we love living in the South Carolina Lowcountry, the abundance of natural beauty is near the top of the list. Everyone on the Poston & Co. team gets to the beaches often, whether it’s with our families for a day in the sun or to start the morning off right with a sunrise stroll. We golf, walk, and jog our way throughout the Lowcountry often, soaking up the landscape as we do.
One of our favorite ways to embrace the outdoors is to pay a visit to one of our local parks. The Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission runs close to two dozen outstanding parks spread throughout the Lowcountry, each with its own personality. Here’s a roundup of a few that we recommend most often to both locals and visitors.
James Island County Park. With everything it has to offer, you could spend a full day at this James Island rec space. There are miles of paved trails for running, walking, and biking that wind through native flora. There’s also a climbing wall, pool and water park, splash zone, spacious playground, lake for paddle boarding, and huge dog park.
Palmetto Islands County Park. Here’s our go-to on the Mount Pleasant side of town. Again, there are miles and miles worth of lush, shaded, paved trails, plus many nature trails. It offers a Splash Island Waterpark during the summer months, bike and pedal boat rentals, tidal fishing, a kayak launch, and an off-leash dog park.
Folly Beach County Park. Here’s a perfect place to hit the beach with kids. Located on the west end of Folly, this wide strip of beach is monitored by lifeguards and boasts recently renovated dressing rooms, outdoor showers, and a snack bar, plus handicap accessibility.
Kiawah Beachwalker Park. If you’re up for a longer drive or are starting from Johns Island, Kiawah Beachwalker Park is an awesome beach-day option too. It offers the same perks as Folly Beach County Park—outdoor showers, dressing areas, umbrella and chair rentals, handicap accessibility, lifeguards, and snacks—but is often less crowded.
McLeod Plantation Historic Site. This CCPRC-run location is an important historical landmark that offers educational and cultural walking tours. The 37-acre park is a Gullah-Geechee heritage site that tells the story of a plantation established in 1851. You’ll see and hear the stories of those who lived on the site—the white and the black, the family who lived in the plantation home and those who were enslaved and worked and lived on the property.