Eerie Prehistoric Beach Will Bring You Back in Time At South Carolina’s Botany Bay
I’m a big fan of the South Carolina Coast. I’ve been to almost every beach town in the state, but this beach is a first for me. On my way to Edisto Island, I drove by it but didn’t know about this unbelievably beautiful old plantation just ten minutes up the road. Botany Bay in South Carolina is worth the trip.
Botany Bay has over 4,600 acres of unspoiled beauty: ponds, historical buildings, and the beach.
South Carolina’s Botany Bay is Located on an Old Plantation
First, the drive into the old plantation immediately gets your attention. It looks like a scene from a Hollywood movie, with live oaks forming a canopy, as if it’s a welcome gift for you to discover this place. It gets better from here.
My drive from North Augusta, South Carolina, to Botany Bay was less than three hours. The trip is all backroads, which I love. I arrived around 9:30 AM and stopped at the entrance to grab a free self-guided driving tour guide. The entire drive is about 6.5 miles.
What to See at South Carolina’s Boneyard Beach
I prioritized seeing the beach, which has almost three miles of shoreline. It almost looked like a movie set, with dead trees along the beach, and it looked untouched. It is breathtaking, and there is a picture everywhere you look. I was one of about ten people on the beach on this chilly Friday morning.
I spent about an hour walking around and decided I would be back to spend more time soon. The driving tour is nice, too. You’ll see an old ice house where ice was shipped in from the north in the winter and was packed in sawdust underground. You can’t help but think how spoiled we are now. I mean, we push a button and get ice!
Tips for Visiting Botany Bay in Edisto Island
- Here are some tips for visiting Botany Bay in Edisto Island.
- Plan to spend at least half a day exploring. Trust me, you’ll enjoy your time here.
- Boneyard Beach is a must-see, but check to ensure you visit during low tide. I arrived around 9:30 AM, and it was high tide. The walkway to the beach was covered in water, and you couldn’t access the beach. I waited a few hours, and it was worth the wait!
- Make sure you grab a map (free) at the kiosk as you enter the plantation. Each place of interest along the driving tour is numbered and will describe what you’re seeing, like the ice house, some ruins, and even a couple of ponds.
- Don’t remove the shells from the beach. If you do, the fine is $470.
Admission is free!
