A visit to Botany Bay, located in Edisto South Carolina, is like visiting another world. It’s a great place to stop during a weekend getaway.

Last April, while visiting my parents, we hopped in the car and drove to another world. Nah, it wasn’t really another world, but it felt like it. Plus it sounds so dramatic to say so. And I’m all into the drama of it all.

botany bay

Oooooh.

botany bay beach

Aaaaah.

botany bay beach

Ohhhh.

edisto sc

Back to the point of the post.

Botany Bay on Edisto Island is like no other coastline I’ve experienced in South Carolina. And growing up in SC I’ve seen much of its coast. Botany Bay is on the wild side. And that’s a good thing.

dirt road

Beaches, maritime forests, salt marsh, tidal creeks, freshwater ponds and hammock islands make up the 4,630 acres of natural beauty to enjoy at Botany Bay. The land, formerly owned by the late Margaret Pepper, is now managed by the SC Department of Natural Resources and is open to the public for educational and recreational opportunities. Mrs. Pepper’s goal was to preserve the natural state of the land. And I’m glad she did. It’s beautiful.

We spent most of our time at the beach. Even though it was an unusually cold and windy day for April in the Low Country, we strolled out to the beach to wonder in awe at the view. It was almost shocking. And while it looks like a war zone this cycle of erosion has been happening here for years as beaches are built up in some areas and washed away in others; to and fro, back and forth the land moves.

edisto sc

It’s a fun place to explore.

family travel

The perfect place for a game of hide-n-seek.

weekend getaways

Everywhere I looked there were unusual pieces of wood, shells and trees calling out to be photographed.

botany bay beach sc botany bay beach sc botany bay beach sc

Below is the underside of a tree trunk. Cool huh?

botany bay edisto sc

I could take pictures of shells everyday. I’d be happy with that.

botany bay shells

A professional shell photographer I shall be, shooting shells by the seashore.

shells in botany bay beach sc

Botany Bay is definitely a photographers dream.

beaches in sc

We can’t wait until our next trip. It will be interesting to see how much the beach has changed.

If you’re interested in visiting Botany Bay or learning more about it, here are a few links you may find helpful:

Botany Bay Ecotours

An article by South Carolina Wildlife (Department of Natural Resources)

Edisto Island Preservation Alliance – Botany Bay

Do you know of any natural preserves to visit that you’d like to tell us about? Please share.