Ramble On!

In our current issue, writer Stratton Lawrence serves up 30 day-trips—fun, cultural, educational, and downright quirky destinations for summer adventures (“Ramble On,” June 2013). So naturally, we are wondering if you’ve channeled your inner explorer and checked out those on our list, or even discovered some of your own. Share your day-trip images with us via Instagram or Twitter. Simply tag @charlestonmag and include a brief caption and #chsdaytrips. Images will be selected by the Charleston creative staff and published in the August 2013 issue.

If you haven’t hit the road yet, here are some suggested outings for the weekend ahead:

Rock out in a Blueberry Patch:
Blue Pearl Farms’ Blueberry Festival, McClellanville
What’s better than harvesting your own basket of juicy blueberries straight from the bush? How about enjoying them while relaxing to live music beside a pretty little pond? This Sunday (June 23), the folks at Blue Pearl Farms celebrate the berries ripening by hosting their annual Blueberry Festival, with a lineup of live music, cooking demos, food vendors, crafts, and more.
Sunday, June 23, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $10; free for child 14 & under. 9760 Randall Rd., McClellanville. (843) 887-3554. For more info, click here.

Explore Botany Bay Plantation, Edisto Island
There’s arguably no place wilder along the S.C. coast, yet accessible by car and foot. This 3,363-acre tract is open for the public to explore, from the lengthy boneyard beach to the dense maritime forest and lagoons rich with bird life (plus poison ivy, alligators, snakes, and spiders). It’s also home to Native American shell rings and the ruins of plantation homes left over from the days when its fields abundantly produced Sea Island cotton. If you’re more comfortable with someone showing you the way, biologist Meg Hoyle recently founded Botany Bay Ecotours to offer boat trips, sea-turtle walks, and “island safaris” to families and visitors looking for interpretive guidance into the reserve.
Admission: Free, but must obtain permit at entrance gate. Hours: Wednesday-Monday, half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Botany Bay Ecotours: (843) 869-2998

Cool Down at Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet
This popular attraction is far more than just pretty flowers (although its exquisite landscaping has earned international acclaim). There’s also a zoo full of native animals, a butterfly house, a boating lake, and sculpture in every direction. Now’s the best time to visit, as the garden remains open after-hours from Wednesday to Friday, hosting live music, children’s activities, and dinner in the Pavilion Restaurant. This Friday’s Concert on the Lawn features U-N-I (pronounced “You and I”), an entertaining ensemble specializing in jazz, swing, and blues.
Admission: $14; $12 senior; $7 child ages four-12; free for child under four. 1931 Brookgreen Dr., Murrells Inlet, (843) 235-6000. For more info, click here.

To read the full “Ramble On” feature, click here.

Sign up to win this week’s giveaway: two general admission tickets to Brookgreen Gardens (three winners will be selected at random). To enter, click here.