My family went on a spontaneous local adventure this past weekend. We ventured 10 miles from our house to a ferry that sails to Bull's Island, South Carolina. The ferry drops you off at 9:00 am and returns at 4:00 pm. You are left on the island to spend the day wandering, eating a packed picnic, and taking it all in.
I've never seen a place quite like it, and I live practically down the street. The 4,900 acre island is worth a much longer journey than ours.
The ferry ride was picturesque. We saw hundreds of birds enjoying the shelter of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.
When we arrived, we were greeted by warm sun and an expansive green space. We headed across the island for the beach on the other side.
On the way we passed acres of cattails, more than I've ever seen in one place.
Waterways filled with lily pads surrounded by palm trees create a calm and otherworldly space. Bodies of saltwater meeting pockets of freshwater makes for an interesting and strange mix of plant and animal life. It was here I felt small and -for a second- like we were trapped in a Jurassic Park.
Light shone through the end of our path, and my 8-year-old took off for the beach. His mission for the day was to find a sand dollar, a missing piece to his collection that has eluded him for some time.
Creatures were spotted all along our path.
If we hadn't just been on a ferry with 15 other people, we might have thought we were the only ones here. Boneyard Beach is a spot where the forest has been encroached on by the sea, and made us feel as if shipwrecked and lost.
Sand Dollar found!
We walked through the forest and water until we encountered too much water to keep going. It was high tide and not the best time of day to make it all the way around the island. So we opted to explore the interior instead.
Though not exactly dinosaurs, alligators frequently sunbathe all over the island paths. We saw six of them laid out before us. We were told that they would not bother us if we walked through, and that we could just walk over them if need be. Maybe next time, we decided.
They lurked in and out of the water all around.
This is as close as I got.
We were told that the island looks very different depending on when you go. For instance, shelling is supposed to be better at low tide, Loggerhead Turtles nest there in September and October, and 293 species of bird come through the island at different times. You may also see deer on the island, who were able to get there by swimming, something I've never heard or seen before. Bobcats and raccoons also leave their footprints behind. We'll surely be back again in the spring to witness the differences and explore further.
Some of my son's found treasures.
More information: The ferry line is run by knowledgeable and dedicated naturalists who can answer all of your questions and then some. http://www.bullsislandferry.com/
All Photos © Jaime Zollars