We bought tickets online ahead of time and they were slightly cheaper and you paid for parking right then too. The park was great, we went for my son's first birthday and just walked around and enjoyed everything!! I used to go there as a kid so I wanted to take him there as well. We drove from Savannah, GA! Would definitely recommend for a family trip. Great place, looks clean, nice staff, easy pathways, animals look well taken care of. Fun all around!!

We were visiting from out of town and looking for something to do and what a pleasant surprise we loved the zoo and gardens! There's lots of animals to see, some we hadn't seen in any zoos back home. Then you can take their new sky tram (included in ticket) to visit the garden side. I'm not a huge fan of plants so I didn't have high expectations, but that side was excellent as well! Right now they have Lego sculptures on display which is fun. Lots of paths to explore and a huge kid area with water features (seasonal) and other fun things. If I were local I would definitely buy a membership.

I can’t believe this place is only an hour and a half from my house—how have I never been here before? I was absolutely blown away from top to bottom. The entire zoo is incredibly elaborate, and you get to see every type of animal, bird, reptile, and fish you can imagine. It was truly unbelievable. I saw stuff i never saw before and I am a zoo addict. The closeness to animals was amazing. Every animal looked happy and well cared for, and the enclosures were spotless. The price was very reasonable, and the staff was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they do. I’m still shocked by how many different animals you can see here. Five stars doesn’t even come close to doing it justice. If you’ve never been, you need to go. I visited at a time when there was almost no one there, but I’ve heard it can get busy, and annoying —so definitely try to pick your timing. Either way, it’s worth every minute and penny. Im coming back this week with my little brother sponsor.

Always love a trip to the Zoo with the family. This time we headed to the botanical gardens. Did not disappoint. Amazing staff, lots to see and the air ride over the lake was great amd saved us a walk between the Zoo and botanical gardens. Will definitely return in the spring.

Went on a fairly busy day, but were able to move through everything in about 3.5 hrs with two young kids. Loved this zoo. Its not too big and provides a lot of shade on the paths and theres a good mix of indoor/outdoor exhibits, so going in summer won't be horrible. Theres a lot of events for kids like animal feeding, obstacle courses, carousel, and lots of food/bathroom stations scattered around. For 2 adults and 2 kids, it was over $100 to get in, but that didnt include the extra costs for animal feeding and extra events.

We’ve been here twice already, and we really love this place! Everything is compact, so you don’t have to walk too much. There are so many animals, all of them are adorable. Sometimes you can even see the feeding time, usually around noon. The area is clean and well-kept. I love animals, so I try to come here as often as I can.

The animals at Riverbanks Zoo are well cared for and very well fed. The zoo is small enough to walk in an afternoon but has so many animals and things to see that you could easily spend the entire day! Definitely get the upgraded family membership. Feeding the animals over and over was a must when we went.

Hiked a few trails here and it was beautiful!! Nicely maintained even on the more difficult trails. They're currently working on half of the board walk so it was closed but the side that has been refinished is wonderful!

My first national park visit in the US! Lovely place! Private kayaking available which gives you the true experience of the place. Loved every bit of it! Whether you are looking for a casual stroll, or looking for a long hike, this place has it all. Truly blissful experience deep into nature. Highly recommend visiting here during spring and enjoy kayaking!

This was my first visit to Congaree National Park, and it will certainly not be my last. I chose to walk the Boardwalk Trail, which was absolutely stunning from start to finish. The midway point offered serene, picturesque views of Weston Lake—one of the highlights of the entire experience. What I appreciated most was how peaceful the park felt. Even with a few other hikers along the way, everyone seemed equally captivated by the beauty of late autumn, soaking in the final glimpses of fall foliage. The atmosphere was calm, safe, and incredibly grounding. For anyone planning a visit, I highly recommend bringing water, wearing comfortable shoes, and—if you’re hiking solo—bringing AirPods. Olivia Dean serenaded me the entire way, and it was truly easy to fall in love with Congaree. Even the fallen trees scattered throughout the quiet forest added a touch of charm to the experience. A beautiful, memorable adventure. Highly recommended. 🌿✨

It is a large National Park. Not a park I was familiar with until we went to South Carolina. The Park Service has done a wonderful job with the boardwalk. We went on the path that was over a mile long. We saw some wildlife. We saw a millipede that is pictured. We saw a couple of turtles in the swampy area. A naturalist working there pointed out an owl, alligator, ibis and a couple of alligator gar. Everything but the owl, turtles and skink were at the end area that is an observation deck. It was well worth our time and they also had a nice visitors center you must check out.

Not as flashy as other national parks but still pretty cool. We got to see lots of cool trees and I liked the self guided tour on the boardwalk. I highly recommend going in the fall when it's not too hot and there weren't any bugs.

Great national park and one of the most unique I have visited. The boardwalk loop was very nice, even though part of it was closed. Plenty of wildlife and plants to see including the bald cypress. Mosquitos were fine, but the horseflies were a bit annoying. The visitor center was nice and the rangers were helpful. 5 stars :)

While not the most majestic national park, Congaree was a magical and unique park to visit! Walking the boardwalk was very peaceful and you can almost full a unique energy to the park. It was definitely worth visiting! Unfortunately I did not see too much wild life but hope to come back one day and explore more the park. And maybe explore more of it when it is more wet! I went in early July and thankfully the mosquitoes were actually not bad at all so it can definitely be a hit or miss in terms of how many mosquitoes you run into!

Several times a year we visit the serenity here. Spring is our favorite. Everyone enjoys the music and lights at Christmas, everyone loves the colors of Fall, but the magic of Spring and all of the turtles, the flowers, the Koi pond and the crisp newness of the promise of our new year, this is my absolute favorite. You can walk the paths, sit on the benches, bird watch fish watch or swing on the swings up on the hill or walk your dog or have a small picnic. The most relaxing place in aiken sc !

Great place to take photos and create memories by feeding fish or visiting the historic parts.

Absolutely amazing. Very scenic and excellent layout. There is an abundance of wildlife. Very peaceful

How fun to find a botanical garden in the middle of Aiken. Enjoyed a picnic lunch there. There's also a horse racing museum there, but wasn't open on the Wednesday we were there.

Beautiful place to walk in nature and among the trees! And see one of the horses.

Very beautiful and peaceful place to take a walk and view history of Aiken. You can bring your dog too. I will go back when the flowers are in bloom. We saw giant coy fish, turtles, big bullfrog and many butterflies and birds. Such a special place for Aiken to have and share for free with visitors.

Had a good walk with family members. The labyrinth is a nice feature.

I highly recommend purchasing tickets in advance. It made the entrance easy and was able to plan ahead to think about what guided tours we wanted to do in advance. The grounds at Middleton are gorgeous! We learned about the Middleton family, some of the people who worked on the plantation through the years and the historical significance of plantation in shaping history. I wished the docent were more explicit about why the black slaves did not runaway or when they did the harsh repercussions. There was vert discussion about the psychological scarring of slavery and the fear instilled upon all.

It’s like taking a step back in time when entering this rice plantation. The gardens are kept in a way that you can feel the history and age. The knowledge from the staff and the few tours we did was impressive. We spent about 4hrs doing two small tours and enjoying the grounds.

I’m really glad I had the opportunity to visit this plantation. Its story is at the heart of America’s colonial beginnings. Several tours are included with the price of admission and I appreciated their Garden Tour as well as their Beyond Slavery Tour. Whether your walking the grounds, coming for lunch, or learning it’s deep history, one could easily spend the day here.

My daughters and I visited yesterday. We took the Beyond the Fields tour, about the Enslaved People's experience, with Linda. We all found it to be very informative and even emotional. The property is well preserved and tended and the docents are quite knowledgeable. The Middleton Oak is magnificent. Being mid-August, the weather was hot and humid which, combined with an approaching thunderstorm, cut our visit short. We agreed that our visit was a highlight of the trip.

This place is absolutely beautiful and the guides are great! Put on your walking shoes and prepare to see alligators. I would like to see access to the house included in admission price as it is not cheap. Also please have sandwiches/wraps in snack bar that is at entrance.

We were in town from Michigan to attend a Sunday wedding. The wind was very strong and the temperature really dropped. The wedding was held outside by the large trees. It was very scenic but quite a walk from the parking lot to spot wearing high heels. The parlor where the reception was held was a bit overwhelmed by the number of guests. There were no cocktail tables to place snacks and cocktails prior to the reception starting. The food was great and the bartenders were very attentive. It was a romantic spot for a wedding but from a logistics perspective, very challenging to get transportation to and from our hotel. Guests had to take the shuttle to and from the venue. The reception ended by 10:30 PM to account for the return shuttles to the hotel. Family and friends made it a wonderful event.

I could have spent days here instead of just a few hours. The vast grounds offer dazzling landscapes. There are tours and stories about the generations of families who lived here, both the enslaved and the plantation owners. It is a trip back in time.

Brilliant design which stands out in the distance of the Charleston skyline. However, what makes this bridge really unique is the public footpath for walking, running and cycling. Well worth a jog over.

I once drove our public school bus across the old Cooper River bridge to deposit it in Mount Pleasant for the summer, from Summerville - I was in the 11th grade! Times have changed, and so has the bridge. Both are beautiful in their own way!

An interesting and beautiful walk. For much of it, because you don't see the piers and you sense some movement due to traffic, it feels like you are walking on a floating concrete path.

Nearing the end of a great cruise in the waters surrounding Charleston. The bridge stands out in stark contrast to this beautiful historic city.

We got to see this bridge from The battery as we watched the sunrise. It’s in the distance but what a beautiful bridge

Great bridge walk, run, ride. Only entered from the north side. Lots of free parking underneath. Supposed to be walkers one one lane, bikes in other. Lots of people have problems with that concept.

11/24 We hiked to the bridge today end to end and back. A fantastic walk, good breeze and a little noisy at times. Just over 5 miles. Photos include boat ride after under the bridge. Excellent experience.

I had a great time exploring the U.S.S. Yorktown! I decided to add the Captain’s Tour to my tour experience and it was well worth it. My tour guide, Dan Bommarito, did a fantastic job making the tour entertaining, enlightening and all around more enjoyable for everyone in the group. As a marine, it was great to hear about the history of the ship from the perspective of a fellow Devil Dog. I look forward to taking my kids next time I go!

We visited both the Yorktown and the fort Sumter exhibits during our 1-day visit. It is reasonable to visit both in the same day if you get an early start, like by 10am. The ferry took us to Ft Sumpter and we stayed just about an hour there. At the fort there was no food drink or bathrooms, but the ferry had those on board. It was well worth the trip. After returning, we took in the Yorktown. It was well worth worth the 3 hours that we spent on board. We did not do a guided tour but we were able to see all the placards and got a good sense of the ship. Just be aware that there are a lot of steps/ ladders involved, but I think if you're reasonably able to negotiate them you would have a good time.

My two boys and I had an amazing time visiting Patriots Point. We spent hours exploring the USS Yorktown and the USS Laffey. It was incredible to walk the decks and learn about the ships’ history and the brave crews who served aboard them. The exhibits were both educational and engaging, and my kids were fascinated by all the interactive displays and aircraft. We also really enjoyed the Medal of Honor Museum. It was a powerful and inspiring experience that gave us a deeper appreciation for the heroes who have served our country. Overall, Patriots Point is a must-visit for families who love history and hands-on learning. It was the perfect mix of fun and education, and we’ll definitely be coming back!

A Great Family Outing! This is a fantastic place to visit with the family. Be prepared for plenty of walking and several steps throughout the ship — but that's all part of the experience. One highlight was the impressive Vietnam War dedication area, which was both educational and engaging for the kids. A meaningful and memorable visit for all ages!

This place was amazing! We took the ferry to Fort Sumtner and toured both the ships. My kids loved seeing the planes and helicopters on the air craft carrier. We spent about 4 hours total here and even saw some dolphins hanging out right next to the ships

A Must Visit Place in Charleston ! So many artifacts alongwith the history associated with it. Few points to note :- 1. Ready to climb so many stairs, so wear good shoes. 2. From ticket counter to Ship, you can get a free ride in shuttle service.

It was a great museum. Especially captain exclusive room was interesting. I bought captain’s Guided tour, I highly recommend visitor to buy it. Because you can look around something special spots for whom bought the Captain’s tour. Flight deck area was spectacular. There was a short documentary movie you can watch in theatre spot.

The Charleston City Market is always a fun stop when visiting the city. There’s a little bit of everything here, so it’s easy to find souvenirs or unique gifts. Prices can be on the higher side, but that’s pretty standard for a tourist spot. On one of my first visits, a kid handed me a palm rose, and before I knew it, a man was chasing me down asking for $5—it gave off a bit of a New York street hustle vibe. The market is usually crowded and can get very hot in the summer, but there’s a small indoor section with food options, air conditioning, and surprisingly clean bathrooms, which was a welcome break.

Love shopping at the Charleston city market! Lots of great Christmas and birthday gift ideas! People are friendly and there is so much to look at. We also took an E-bike ride to the pineapple fountain and enjoyed sitting by the waterfront. Don’t miss a horse-drawn carriage ride around the city, in the evening, complete with spooky ghost stories and delicious restaurants all around. Overall, Charleston is a fun walkable city with lots of history and a fun vibe!

A beautifully designed market with a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. Partially air-conditioned, featuring charming shops and stalls. The vendors are friendly, not pushy, and very customer-focused. There’s a great variety of products to discover, and plenty of good food options around the market. Definitely worth a visit!

A tourist thing in Charleston. You could buy some souvenirs and we got a really cute coaster and a meh magnet. Things are pricey but not incredulous. There is a callies hot biscuit to try. Some very cool art like metal art and real butterflies taxidermy. Went in pouring stormy weather but I can imagine a more laid back stroll at the market with a loved one would be nice. Not every stall is super different so maybe the nyc in me is spoiled and I am looking for novelty. The other thing would be if there were more snacks or bites to try. But overall decent. Not stunning.

The Charleston City Market is a fun indoor/partially outdoor shopping experience. It's easy to find souvenirs or unique Charleston gifts. Prices can be on the high side, but that’s standard in a tourist area, some vendors will haggle on prices. We were there mid November which was perfect for walking around, but if your there in the summer I would go early morning.

This is a must see, local artist, specialty booths and tons of Charleston charm. Had a wonderful time, bought a few Charleston Christmas Ornaments, a few pieces of jewelry and some gifts. The outdoor Market has air-conditioning for those hot days. Would recommend this as a place to visit .

Charleston City Market is a must see while visiting the city. The market is filled with artisans and vendors offering all kinds of goods. Everything from jewelery to food. The area around the market is surrounded by unique shops and restaurants offering a wide variety of food choices. The market is a fun way to spend the day looking for that one of a kind gift.

Stopped by on recent visit to Charleston. Nice place to sit and relax while walking thru town. Park is very clean and beautiful views of waterway. Pretty cool that you are allowed to actually walk in the fountain’s water. This is not a large area but again, nice to stop and take a break.

What can I say it's a fountain? And it works, it does have a nice view and surroundings. It's hard to get a very outstanding picture. Because there are so many other people standing around, and the only reason why I actually stopped is because my wife was all excited about seeing it. Period if you go, you'll feel safe.Everything's clean, just straight up.Good time, especially with all the trees down the walkways.

Couldn’t take many photos because my phone ran out of battery during the walk, but it’s such a beautiful place to stroll with a dog. Lots of people were running, walking, and biking while enjoying the scenery. I was worried the weather might be cloudy, but thankfully it cleared up, even though it was quite windy. The Pineapple Fountain wasn’t as big as I expected, but it was still worth seeing. I didn’t want to wait in line, so I took a photo from the other side, haha. The tree-shaded areas and piers were beautiful, and the vast wetlands with ocean views were stunning! Since it was Sunday, parking was free.

Waterfront Park is such a fun park to walk through or sit down in for a little bit. It has the most beautiful view of the channel, where, on a lucky day, you can see the families of dolphins surfacing to come up for air. Of course, it also has the Pineapple Fountain, and the other spray fountain (not sure what it's called) that the kids love to play in in the summertime. The only downsides are that if you're driving there, parking can be a little hard to find, and it can be VERY muggy in the summer. Other than that, I love simply sitting in Waterfront Park and taking in all of the beautiful scenery.

Beautiful and free to roam day or night. Lots of nice displays of monuments, art-sculptures, and beautiful homes. Great walking trail with piers to enjoy the water or fish. Lots of open green space to enjoy and a playground for the kids.

Very beautiful! Great spot to visit! It’s really awesome to sit on a swing and watch the ships go by. If you’re driving a car, there is a parking garage very close by. It’s also not too far from Market Street which is great.

Waterfront Park is one of Charleston's most popular places to unwind. This ten-acre park overlooks Charleston Harbor and Cooper River and offers waterfront and off-the-water paths. It is a favorite among Charleston locals and tourists alike. This park is ideal for a sunset picnic or a relaxing stroll, and it only adds to the romantic charm of Charleston. It won the 2007 Landmark Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects, confirming its status as a Charleston treasure. You can stroll through the gardens, walk the esplanade, or spend some time at one of the many fountains. Spanning over 8 acres and located less than a mile north of The Battery, Waterfront Park has become a beloved Charleston fixture. It is home to one of the city's most photographed sites: the pineapple fountain. In Charleston's scorching summer months (and we faced that too), visitors (especially children) can be found cooling off in the shallow water of the fountain. Wide walking paths, dozens of benches, well-manicured green spaces, picturesque Palmetto trees, and a famous Pineapple Fountain adorn the park.

A beautiful church where you can stop for a breath of fresh air along the way. You can enjoy the beautiful trees, the silence, and the peace. And of course, you can enjoy the tranquility. If you have small children, you can show them how to pump water from the well on the right of the entrance. They'll have a lot of fun. It's also possible to take a journey into history. You can park your car in the parking lot across the street.

It's free to see this cool piece of history. The grounds are well taken care of. There are picnic tables to sit and reflect or enjoy a nice lunch.

I love it. It's a cute few minutes stop to stretch after a long drive. It's nice and relaxing driving inside the "tree tunnel". The ground around the ruins is well maintained as well. It's a lovely, pretty old church ruins. FREE ADMISSION

A very interesting stop after leaving Edisto Island. The church ruins were empty, after a brief rain. Not even a mosquito; and this was July! The place takes you back in time. A lot of history here. Worth stopping.

Nicely maintained spot. Several headstones scattered about with varying degrees of maintenance. Picnic tables and an old timey water pump that works. Be mindful of this road and the way people drive here, way too fast. There is a parking area across the road which isn’t obvious at first. Some parking on the road but I don’t recommend it.

Absolutely beautiful landmark. Definitely worth the stop to view the ruins and visit a few of the graves of pioneers that settled there. Nice picnic area off to the side, parking across the road. Interesting that the hand pump on the well inside the gate still pumps water, can just imagine pumping water for the horses while families attended church 170 years ago

Absolutely love driving and seeing something that looks cool and turning around to check it out. This unplanned stop had a lot of history and was very well taken care of. This is the ruins of an old church, older than this country and gravesites that date back as far as the 1700's. Easy parking.

First of all, if you want to be one with nature, definitely stop by. If you love tea but don't know the process, you can learn more here. But I'm warning you, don't get your hopes up. :) It's a small business, and I'm sure they make more money from the gift shop and the troll tour than from the tea itself. The troll tour takes you to the tea fields, but since you can't get out of the vehicle, you only have to look at it from a distance. The gift shop offers hot and cold tea. However, I'm not much of a tea person, so I guess I didn't like it very much. (I've been on similar tours in England and Turkey before, and they were much better.)

We skipped the trolley tour and just did the free factory tour. Really interesting to learn how tea is made. The free tour is via a video on multiple tv screens. It’s informative and only took about 15 minutes. The shop had some products that seemed local, but most stuff is not made in the US. However, we still enjoyed the tea store. The plantation was beautiful and the drive in was stunning. Totally worth the visit!!

Had a great time learning how tea is harvested and made at the only tea farm in the United States. Trolley tour around farm was very informative. Gift shop was awesome. If you are in the area, it is a must see.

What a fun visit! I had no idea that the main teas were all made from the same plant. The video is very informative and will give you an approximation of the magical qualities of tea leaves. The gift shop has a lot of interesting items.

Spur of the moment side quest. 💯% worth it. The trolley tour was a beautiful, educational and entertaining experience. Our guide and trolley driver was great. We enjoyed ourselves beyond belief.

I came with low expectations and left with surprisingly high realizations. The trolley tour was more fun than I thought that it would be. The tour guide (Kimberly? I'm sorry if that isn't your name) was hilarious. The actual ride of the tour was not particularly special but the guide made it fun. I tried to watch the factory tour videos but someone released about a dozen ankle biters into the building. They were loud and made watching the video impossible. Still, seeing the process was interesting. They had free tea tasting samples. I might have indulged too much. Can tea make you drunk? Anyway... we ended up having a lot of fun. If a fat, middle aged, bearded white guy can have fun, so can you.

Great tea learning opportunity with friendly staff and fun and super interesting trolly tour the factory tour was good too the have free tasting of all both hot and cold and an awesome gift shop. Beautiful grounds and large restrooms everything is clean and well kept.

The park was very beautiful and handy to the restaurants and shops. You could have the view from the waterfront and the marina. Unfortunately the walkway by the waterfront was closed. Apparently there's some safety issues there with washout or something so you couldn't walk right against the edge. Even so, the park still had a lot of space and beautiful trees and flowers. So it was still a nice little walk and there were public restrooms in one section. So that was nice to have available as well.

Inviting, friendly, very clean, extremely relaxing. I went to the Lowcountry Music Festival 6/7/25. Good variety of music, plenty of space to relax. Many food vendors, watch the boats sail away, eat, drinks, a few officers in view. Limited parking. Had to park a few blocks away from river. Many shops and little boutiques. Overall a great experience! Will visit Beaufort again!

This park offers many amenities for the young, old and in between. The kiddos gate to the slides and swings squeaks VERY ANNOYINGLY loud on purpose!!! I promise you when you hear it you're gonna think why won't they get some WD 40 for this gate. But it's an effective SAFETY feature to keep the kids safely inside the play area. There's live country music at certain times. Lots of restaurants and dessert parlors to enjoy. Many places to sit and watch the lovely boats dock while enjoying your meal. There's a parking lot,plus paid parking on the streets. If you're an athlete enthusist there's a bridge close by that crosses the river. It's available to walk or run across the bridge for extreme exercise. For those that enjoy mild exercise a walk on the parks pathways while enjoying the river breeze is very relaxing. Many benches and tables are scattered here and there in the park for those that tire quickly. Plaques and statues in the park provide historical knowledge to everyone whose interested in the culture and history of the area. A day spent here in the park will be a good day for any family. Every age group will be satisfied with this park and it's treasures.

This is a beautiful waterfront park. On this visit our grandchildren enjoyed the swings and water views. We also saw the Dragonboat Races - which was fun. Great playground for kids and restrooms.

This park has easy parking, a beautiful view, and a lovely playground for kids. Plus, local eateries are closed by if you get famished. Great for picnics, dates, and cute photos.

Great little park with free parking. Large grass area, benches, tree swings. This park has lots of shade. It is right on the water, and there is a public boat dock. Also clean restrooms.

Great little area to go for a walk. There is multiple restaurants to pick from if you want a bite to eat with great views. The restaurant I went to allowed my dog to come with me. The only thing that bummed me out is the walkway closest to the water was blocked off this time.

The area was really pretty. Unfortunately the lighthouse is under renovation so it was fenced off. The island and water is very enjoyable and their were showers to rinse the sand and salt water off. We even got to see an alligator in the water we were swimming in! Would you get out?!

Love this place! The drive back to the lighthouse is picturesque. Great walking beach, shells, shark teeth, coral then water to rinse your feet

Area is beautiful but the lighthouse has been under renovations for over a year, so I have yet to see it clearly or able to walk up to the top. Clean area with a lot of paths.

Very peaceful. This time is was very windy but plenty of Sun and a great place to camp also.

Very pretty. We were a bit disappointed because it was closed when we arrived. It was under construction.

Wonderful beaches -- miles to walk along peace and quiet.

A beautiful lighthouse next to a very gorgeous beach. Yeah, you couldn't go in but I was still happy to see it.

Wide sandy beach. Beautiful sate park. We found a lot of sand dollars and a few sharks teeth.

An incredibly beautiful Beach and one of the best I've visited. Having visited beaches in Costa Rica and Antigua, this is up with the best of them. Due to a tornado many years ago, it gives the beach a unique tropical look, mixed in with an abundance of wildlife this is a must see in south Carolina.

We walked the Maeitime Forest Trail from the last parking area to the Nature Center this visit. About 2 miles one way. Then went over to Boneyatd Beach. We love this state park. The beach is great. Nice and wide at low tide. A great place for a beach day. The Nature Center and pier are definite must sees. Lots of dolphins play around in the area.

Beautifully kept campground, pristine and quiet beaches, bike and hiking trails through the maritime forests and marshes, nature center and fishing pier.

Fabulous place. Gorgeous beach, lots of wildlife, nice lighthouse. We had a great day!

It has been a tradition of my family for as long as I can remember. I literally grew up here. Although this beach isn't my favorite, there's always heavy nostalgia every time I return. Our recent visit was for a pop up family gathering and a continued celebration of moms bday.

Beautiful park! The history of the lighthouse is amazing. Cute playground for kids to play on. The marsh walk was easy & lots of birds. The boneyard was amazing! So beautiful! A bit of a walk from the pier parking lot, but well worth it.

Very well maintained, family-friendly park with a nice scenic view of the marsh and Broad Creek. There are plenty of seating areas along with covered picnic tables. There are normally food vendors in the area, so there is no need to worry about going hungry. Nice playground for the kids. If you prefer a restaurant before or after, just stroll across the street, and you will find pretty much anything you could want. Nice place to go and relax.

Beautiful park with lots to enjoy! Wide open spaces make it perfect for walking, kids, dogs, and community events. We visited before lunch and enjoyed taking our little one to the playground and strolling the sculpture trail. The grounds are very well maintained, with plenty of benches and shaded spots to sit and relax.

Absolutely beautiful! Must see spot. Plenty of images added.

A beautiful park sitting on the water, and at the foot of several wonderful shops and restaurants. Just a great spot for pictures, or a scenic walk

Shelter Cove Community Park is a very well-designed shopping center, community park for the whole family to enjoy. All of the photos were taken on our recent visit at Christmas and the park is just beautiful! The playground is great with rubber mulch and very cushioned for wild kids like mine:). Large grass area to run around or picnic with the family. Hilton Head puts on events there all the time such as movie nights under the stars, snow at the beach, 4th of July celebrations etc. Check with the community calendar to make sure you don't miss out on any of the great events going on there. This is a park we often take people that come to the beach to visit us. They always seem to maintain the park very well and we will continue to go there as it is just a great place to hang out, walk around, shop, eat, date night and of course go and see Santa Clause at Christmas!

This was one of our favorite stops as a family on our day-long biking trip! Beautiful waterfront views and a very well put-together park with lots of seating, a very nice playground (with video surveillance), and restrooms. This park is right next to the French Bakery and other good eateries.

This is a wonderful place to watch the sunset. There are walking trails, picnic benches and a nice playground for kids. Lots of children, families, teens and elderly enjoying the evening. Several people were walking their dogs. This location is near the marsh and is very peaceful. We saw lots of water birds flying overhead heading to the rookery for the night.

This is a beautiful beach with a small boardwalk that leads to the clean beach. The boardwalk is lined with lots of seating under covered structured areas. The restrooms and changing areas are separate and clean. There's a handicapped parking lot located at the entrance to the boardwalk. It has 10-15 spaces. As you enter the area there's a water fountain for children to play, surrounded by benches for the parents to sit and watch. Dogs are allowed on the beach before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Dogs must be leashed.

A beautiful public beach. They also have free parking nearby. The beach is clean and the white sands are nice. The ocean also was not very rough so you could go into the surf without fear. Lifeguards are present as well. They have chairs and umbrellas for rent. The walk to the beach is well cared for and the plaza is also clean and inviting. Public restrooms are also clean.

Great little park with restrooms, well-maintained paths around the park with great access to the ocean. Large parking lot located right across the street. Benches, great artwork, incredible landscaping, and a large fountain. Highly recommend you visit here. Great place for a picnic or family event. Was not too crowded when we were here. Park is wheelchair accessible with a great entrance, parking lot and restroom

A beautiful fine-sand beach with excellent amenities, including plentiful free parking, wifi hotspot, restrooms, rinse stations, even a bicycle tool and air up station! The park is located near Coligny Plaza Shopping, so you can walk the beach and then easily stroll to one of the many excellent restaurants very nearby. The beach is very clean and well kept, even includes a large shared toy box for the kids. Dog friendly, and typically not too crowded, at least in October when we like to visit. The views are beautiful, and you might see a fishing boat troll by. My favorite east coast beach by far. Free wifi and parking. Wheelchair accessible with a well maintained roll-out boardwalk to the sand. Miles of beach in each direction.

We went to this beach for the family vacation. It’s just a short walk from most rentals, safe, family-friendly, and never feels too crowded. The sand is soft and clean, perfect for walking barefoot, and even on cloudy days the weather stays mild. The water and waves are warm and gentle, making it a great spot to swim or just relax.

The perfect beach. There’s plenty of room. Nice water and nice sand. I need to come back this summer when the water is warmer. The bathrooms are extremely nice and parking is free!!!

The terrain of the beach is flat so you can walk atleast a hundred meters into the ocean, calm waves and white sand. One of the cleanest beach i visited so far. Great facilities for visitors like changing rooms, shower facility, a shack on the beach and lots more. Clean and green and ample parking space.

Overall great place to visit with a lot of attractions. Restaurants and pubs

Love e river side. A lot of things to do around. Restaurants, shops, bars, creamery stores…. Don’t miss it 💖

Lovely place, kid and dog friendly.. cute little boutique shops. A nice view of the river and you get to read about some of our war heroes.

Iconic strip with shops and food scene. Pralines and seafood are something you have to try. Nice get away for a weekend trip.

Parking $1.50 per 30 mins. Beautiful view of the river, all kinds of bars, restaurants, gift shops with t-shirts, magnets, etc. Couple pan handlers out there.

Well kept historic street full of shops, bars, eclectic restaurants all following the river. Bonus:.lots of friendly cops everywhere. You'll feel safe

Good walk, better to visit in evening

Love Savannah, 3 day visit. Sunday- Wednesday. Perfect time. No crowds, took the land and sea tour. Very informative and fun. Downtown Historic area is very easy to walk. Lots of beautiful sites and plenty of places to get a bit or get a cocktail.

Simply stated, it’s one of the most beautiful cities you can visit. This time of year the weather is perfect for touring the town. Take the Trolley tour. There are 16 stops and the drivers are very knowledgeable about all the history and the buildings/homes. The selection of restaurants is incredible, ranging from burgers to fresh seafood. It’s also very walkable, within reason. Parking can be very difficult to find in the Garden District. Take the trolley, it’s goes to many places around the city.

Savannah is a beautiful city to explore!! Lots of history. We unfortunately only had a day, and it definitely wasn't enough time. We did the hop on hop off trolley tours. It was nice to have transportation around the area for the day while also having the freedom to just get off and explore. Which I highly recommend you do! The cemetery was very neat to see. I hope on our next trip to see more of what Savannah has to offer. These photos are just a glimpse into what we saw and what you can look forward to seeing yourself.

Savannah’s Historic District is full of charm and history, and it’s easy to explore entirely on foot. The Riverwalk is a highlight, with plenty of shops, restaurants, and a great honey store worth stopping by. There are hop on hop off and trolley available. Beautiful green medians lined with weeping willow and oak trees give the area a peaceful feel. Don’t miss the old cemetery and historic buildings throughout – it’s a truly memorable place to visit.

Absolutely loved exploring the Savannah Historic District! 🌿✨ Such a beautiful and charming place filled with stunning architecture, cobblestone streets, and so much history. The vibe is peaceful yet lively, with amazing restaurants, cute shops, and scenic spots everywhere. A must-visit if you want to experience true Southern charm!"

Beautiful live oaks & huge old statues. Best part of Savannah! Stay at a hotel on River Street or Bryan Street and walk to all the great shops, bars, restaurants and live music. Great for a weekend girls getaway.

Absolutely love Savannahs historic downtown. Love the history and preservation of the old home. Each square has its own park surrounded by old homes. Monuments depicting special events and people who made Savannah such a memorable place. The River district has a charm all of its own.

A beautiful and grand church building. The tour is self-guided and can be completed in a relatively short time. A docent was present to speak with visitors. He was friendly and knowledgeable. If you like organ music, go early. We were told that the organist often practices during the first hour of the morning tour period. The best part: there is no admission fee! A nominal freewill offering is requested.

Absolutely beautiful! I did not take an official tour. Just went in and explored. Friendly staff. The front outside was under construction, but I think it will be lovely once it is restored. This is an historical landmark, beautiful, serene and definitely worth seeing. Don't forget to leave a donation before you leave; they need this to keep the cathedral beautiful and historic.

Beautiful place! It was easy to get in, and the views inside are absolutely stunning. They even share great info about the church while you’re there. I recommend checking their website for hours before you go, but we were able to walk right in and even caught a quick performance from a band — such a nice surprise!

The is an absolute stunning place of worship. Definitely take the time to sit and absorb all the beauty. As a devote Catholic, it was a wonderful place to connect with my Lord Jesus Christ. However, you don't have to be religious to appreciate how special this place is..... I highly recommend stopping by if you are in town looking for a moment that matters.

Highly recommend visiting! A must-see on your trip to Savannah. It is absolutely gorgeous and so peaceful. Stunning architecture inside and out. There are areas inside for prayer and candle lighting. You can come and go as you please. There are guides in there to answer questions or give more information if needed. I will be back again.

The Cathedral was beautiful. It is open to the public during certain times as listed outside the building, but does have an active congregation with masses. There is no admission charge, but donations are encouraged and appreciated. Guests are asked to be respectful and quiet so those around them can have a quiet prayer time. We are definitely glad we hopped off the tour bus to go inside and see the beauty inside.

Beautiful Church. The stainless is beautiful beautiful pipe organ located in the back on the upper level. They do offer tours. It is open to everyone. They are currently doing construction sonit looks closed but it is not. If in Savannah and you like checking out old churches I highly recommended visiting.

Beautiful place to go for a walk, have a picnic, or just chill on a bench and people- watch or read a book! The trees are absolutely amazing!!! They also have a really cool farmers’ market on Saturday mornings with fresh produce, of course, and much more - food, art, various artisan goods, and fun, quirky surprises waiting to be discovered!

This is where I'd go daily if I were living here. What a fantastic park to have an afternoon stroll, relax at one of the beaches and people watch, or find a little spot on the grass to end the day. Great history too and is famous with many films featuring the park.

Don't miss this stop. It's breath taking. Beautiful old oaks adorn this park and create an inviting place to read, nap or people watch. You could bike and run, but not this time :). Water fountain was being repaired so no water works. But beautiful non the less.

Forsyth Park is such a beautiful and dynamic place! There’s always something going on. people having picnics, kids playing, sports, and sometimes even live music. The vibe is amazing, full of life and good energy. It’s a perfect spot for walking, relaxing, or just spending time outdoors.

Really cool park in Savannah. Very popular with travelers and locals alike. The Fountain is probably the most popular draw. But, tucked away in a corner of the park is a walled garden. I've been there about 20 times and could only access it maybe 3 or 4 times. Kind of reminds you of the secret garden. Great place to stretch your legs, take your dogs, or even just relax and read a book.

This park is fabulous! It’s a busy place on Saturday with soccer, ultimate frisbee, tennis, basketball, and anything else you can imagine. It also features a wonderful market along the central, live oak-line walkway. The fountain is beautiful and there’s construction happening and it looks like maybe a new zen garden is coming. There is a stage and I’d love to come back for a concert one day. Locals and visitors should take advantage of this amazing outdoor space early and often!

Beautiful park and it should be one of the first places to visit when you are in Savannah. There is also free parking by the tenis courts and free bus that can take you from there to the waterfront and free ferry wich is great for sightseeing the whole downtown area.

Georgia's equivalent of Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC. Touring the fort gives you the ability to imagine what life was like for the soldiers during the 1800's. There are trails to different part of the islands. One of the trails takes you over to the beach where you can see the light house. Better view though by taking one of the Dolphin Boat Tours in the area. The park store is located inside of the fort walls and not at the Visitor Center. Bathrooms are only located at the Visitor Center. They have a large Fig Tree which you are invited to snack from while touring the fort.

Great Fort to learn about history and hike to a lighthouse. 4 stars because they need better signage to get to the trail for the lighthouse and an actual trail like with gravel or paved sidewalk so you know you are heading in the right direction. You have to go through the grass behind the fort to find the first sign to get to the lighthouse. It’s about 3/4 miles to get to lighthouse. The grass was not cut short and it had been drizzling so it was wet and soggy and in some places that you couldn’t see because of the grass your shoes are covered in water. You walk further down the trail and there’s puddles of mud which are hard to get around which I ended slipping a few times, but luckily didn’t fall. We saw hundreds of crabs 🦀 as you got closer to the water and they were climbing the trees 😳😬. I think there was 2 short boardwalks and then the viewing area for the lighthouse. 2 binoculars are at the viewing area, but we just zoomed in with our camera phones. Beware of mosquitoes 🦟 attacking you on the trail, so bring repellent. Enjoyed the fort with all the tunnels, lost my husband for a while. They also showed the visitors how the cannons were loaded and shot, so loud. It’s $10 per person unless you have a National Park Pass.

A childhood field trip staple if you grew up in the area. I had to comeback 40 years later to experience it as adult. Nice history presentations from staff. Alot of walking and probably should have used sunscreen. Found the light house trail that never did as a kid. A nice preservation of important history

Haven't visited this place in decades. So Otto and I made a special trip so he could check it out. Little did he know that he would be tapped as a Fort Pulaski Bark Ranger! He did a great job of sniffing inside and outside of the fort. He also greeted several people and especially enjoyed the children. This National Monument is definitely worth the visit! PS. Kudos to Ms Jan for being an awesome park volunteer!!!

This is a really fascinating place to visit. The visitor's center gave a lot of the back story on the Fort, the people and the slaves who were part of building it and the wars they fought. The short movie they show was really informative. Walking through it really put into perspective what they experienced.

We spent about three hours on the Fort Pulaski grounds. Very educational for people of all ages. Very well done introductory film in the Visitor Center.

Clean, well maintained site with very friendly staff and educators. There were also restrooms, a water station, and air conditioning inside the visitor center! Amazing opportunity to learn and experience history.

we absolutely love coming here to see the cats and more! highly recommend attending the evening feeding on Friday or Saturday to see all the animals at their most active. the volunteers do such an amazing job explaining what they’re doing and about the cats and the sanctuary in general this is such a unique experience, I go out of my way to bring new people each time and they always love it. and each time you visit, you fund improvements for next time! just in a couple short years they have installed so many new features for the animals, and new footpaths and pavilions for us humans

Catty Shack Ranch was a great place to visit. The staff and volunteers clearly care about the animals and take time to explain their stories. The place is clean, organized, and easy to walk through. I really enjoyed seeing the big cats up close, and the nighttime feeding was especially interesting. It’s a simple, relaxed experience — not commercialized, just genuine and educational. Overall, a nice spot to check out if you’re in Jacksonville and want to support a good cause.

The enclosures are very spacious and very well maintained. The animals look very healthy and well taken care of. It's hot during the day (time of our visit), so animals are very inactive. Only 1 tiger and bear were up, walking around to be able to see up close. We wanted to do a night feeding tour, but my grandsons wouldn't be in town. It's definitely worth a visit for the cost. I look forward to going back when it's cooler outside.

This is an awesome rescue. Very interesting. We went to a feeding. The price was great. 45 for entry, a t shirt and drink. I definitely recommend checking them out. I would wear tennis shoes next time and spray for mosquitoes. Great place I will be back.

Our Saturday evening visit to Catty Shack Ranch was great! On Friday and Saturday evening at the Catty Shack you can see the big cats and animals being fed around 7. The park opens at 6 so we went in early to enjoy seeing all the great enclosures that have been built for each specific animal to enjoy. We were told that Earth Works works together with the preserve to build their beautiful water features. Also, our good friend Mike Frailey has worked diligently to build many of the platforms and habitats in their enclosures. Every animal there has been rescued for many different reasons and cannot live in the wild. The park is clean and well designed so you can see each magnificent animal. They are also open from 1 - 3 on weekdays to visit. The admission to the park goes to the care and food for the animals. It is a very fun and rewarding way to spend a Friday or Saturday evening. Please go, enjoy and help these animals at the same time. The park is very easy to find which is near the Jacksonville Airport area.

A must-do if you are in Jacksonville, especially if you’re an animal lover. We went to the night feeding and had a wonderful time. The staff is so kind, knowledgeable, and loved answering questions. The enclosures are spacious and clean, with good enrichment for the animals. They have so many cats (along with a few other animals) and they all look very healthy and happy. Spider-Man (pictured) was our favorite, he has so much personality. It’s clear how well those animals are cared for and how passionate the staff is about what they do. I will absolutely be going back.

Did the evening feeding and highly recommend! Got to see the cats when they were active, the crew was very informative and willing to answer our questions.

I recently visited Daytona Beach with high expectations, but unfortunately, the experience was quite underwhelming and did not live up to the hype. As a destination known for its vibrant beach culture and attractions, I was expecting a lively and enjoyable atmosphere, but several factors left me disappointed. The beach itself was not as pristine as I had hoped. The sand was deserted , which was very disappointing. Additionally, the beach seemed less clean than anticipated, with litter in some areas, which was disheartening. I was expecting a lively and energetic atmosphere, but instead found the area to be somewhat lackluster. Many of the shops and attractions felt dated, and there was a noticeable lack of vibrancy in the downtown area. It seemed as though the town had seen better days and was in need of revitalization. My visit to Daytona Beach was not what I had anticipated, and I left feeling disappointed. The beach and town did not meet my expectations, and the overall experience was underwhelming. While I understand that some people may enjoy the area for its historical significance and annual events, it did not resonate with me as a destination I would be eager to return to.

Parking fees are steep. You can drive on this beach. Lots of people.

I love the warm orange color of the sand here. It’s ’s such a unique sight! One of the coolest things about Daytona Beach is that you can actually drive and park right on the beach if you have four-wheel drive. The fee is around $30–33, but if you have a disabled parking pass, it’s free. Otherwise, there’s street or lot parking nearby. Bathrooms are available, though they could use a bit more frequent cleaning. You can rent chairs and umbrellas, which is great if you want to relax without lugging your own gear. There’s also a food truck/ice cream vendor right on the beach if you don’t bring snacks. The best part for me? The waves, they’re absolutely perfect for relaxing, playing, or just watching roll in. Daytona Beach truly earns its title as “The World’s Most Famous Beach”!

Most definitely doesn’t live up to the hype. To me, it seemed very underwhelming. I guess if you were here to see the races it would be more impressive maybe? I don’t know, I just don’t get it.

Just got back from Daytona Beach, Florida, and I gotta say, it was a total blast, bro! The "World's Most Famous Beach" title is legit, the energy is high, and the vibes are exactly what a Chad from Charlie's Angels needs. The main attraction is definitely that wide stretch of hard-packed sand and the warm Atlantic waves. We're talking golden sand, perfect for soaking up the sun and making some epic memories. It's clean, easy to access, and the beach patrol keeps an eye on things, so you feel safe while you're catching those rays. The fact that you can drive right onto the beach is a game-changer – super convenient and a unique experience you won't forget. The views of the sunrise and sunset over the water are absolutely magical, no joke. When I wasn't feeling the laid-back beach life, I hit up the action. The Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier offer classic fun, with shops, arcades, and plenty of places to grab some food. The food at Joe's Crab Shack was a whole experience in itself, with a "Shark Attack" drink that was a total show. Daytona has a unique mix of vibrant and laid-back, family-friendly yet exciting, making it the perfect spot for anyone looking for a sweet getaway. Highly recommend this slice of paradise to anyone who wants to have a blast! I'll be back, no question.

Been coming here for 40 plus yrs. Still amazed at the size of this beach. It's never crowded, anytime of the day. It's a gradual walk into the water, no drop off. Perfect for kids. Lots of places to stay and eat. The pier is so much fun on a Saturday night. You can't beat this place!

Daytona beach really surprised me! I loooved getting to spend time in the water and just relaxing. Very chill and family vibes. The sand is white and the water is clear enough for me. I would definitely go again and visit!

Very nice place to visit and experience the great Gypsy Gold Horses. They have 2 tours. The short one is good with little kids and it’s about an hour long. If you are really interested in knowing the history then other longer tour is good which last around 2.5 hours. The location is beautiful and staff is super friendly. They will feel you like you are home. Do visit if you are near Ocala.

Spending some time in Ocala all the way from Australia. This tour was such a fun morning, my husband and enjoyed it so so much! I could listen to Dennis’ stories forever ! The history behind it all is sooo very intriguing, you can truly tell Dennis is a very wonderful man that has such passion for what he does. I would recommend this to all! Bring along some carrots and apples and the horses will love ya! The donkeys and birds are an added bonus as well. Again, love your work yall, keep it up ❤️

We really enjoyed the history that started the Gypsy Vanner's journey to the US. Eileen shared her love of these majestic horses during the tour. Don't miss the opportunity to visit the farm. It was a pleasure to meet the owners and see their beautiful farm.

The two hour history and farm tour was a highlight of my trip in this area. The beauty of the Gypsy Vanners is magnificent! The owner’s passion for his horses, their cultural history and helping others is so genuine. I loved meeting the special donkeys he has as well. It was a unique and heartwarming experience.

Gypsy Gold is a treasure. Dennis is so passionate about his life's work. The places he has been and his travels were amazing to hear. I truly hinged on his every word. I hope this treasure of a place continues forever. It is his labor of loved and should be honored. He is a tue visionary. His sister inlaw gave us a tour and she is just as passionate about these magnificent horses. I can't wait to visit again.

Karen and Shannon took great care of us on our tour today. We had VIP tickets that included meeting a Clydesdale foal. Our tour included all kinds of great information about what the Cobbs do with their horses, how they breed the horses, how they pick individuals for jobs, and how they spearheaded competitions for their horses in Florida. The horses we met were sweet and curious. It was a treat to meet your gentle giants and learn about the job that these amazing horses do. Thank you for sharing your horses with us!

We had a great time learning all about the horse breed and the people who own the farm. The horses were beautiful. I also enjoyed the other great animals ( mules, donkeys, macaws). I would recommend this to anyone that loves horses.

Do you enjoy spending a sweltering hot Sunday morning trudging up hundreds of stairs and hauling your sweaty body to the top and around the edge of a railing hundreds of feet in the air in order to take in the oxygen your lungs burn for, the breeze your dripping face yearns for, and the views that make every single step worth it? Well, this is it! This is your place! We met an employee named Todd who truly went the extra mile to make our trip memorable. He was personable and knowledgeable, both making him a valuable asset to the destination. When we completed our journey to the top and around the museum(s), we were gifted a certificate boasting our accomplishment. A sweet touch that will serve as a reminder of the time we climbed the tallest lighthouse in Florida and the 2nd tallest in the US!

Absolutely loved it here!! The ladies working were absolutely wonderful and helpful!! Got a little lighthouse and a cute bag!! We went and saw all the buildings, even climbed the lighthouse! It was beautiful. Very well taken care of. The gentlemen at the other building; the hotel. He was very kind and helpful as well! We didn't have to wait for a group to tour or anything too. Just get your tickets/wrist band and head on in!

Free parking just steps away from the gift shop where you can purchase your tickets. Admission to the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is $6.95 for adults (age 12+), $1.95 for children (ages 3-11), and free for infants (ages 0-2). Note: It was one of the hottest/most humid days of the summer so drink up before you get there and dress appropriately. Went right to the beach after to cool off ;) but it is a lovely way to start your day. Our docent took us to the lighthouse, allowed us to climb the 209+ stairs (she didn’t go with us and I don’t blame her), beautiful breeze and a wonderful view.Take the time to take a few videos and photos. However, Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum offers much more than a climb—it’s a blend of coastal drama, architectural history, and educational exhibits. Whether climbing to the top for sweeping views or exploring the restored Fresnel lens displays, visitors consistently find it worth the visit, whether or not they’re lighthouse buffs. Friendly staff, well-kept facilities, and budget‑friendly pricing all add to the appeal. What a lovely part of Saturday. Thank you

Worth the Climb! Climbing to the top of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse was tough but so rewarding. The views of the ocean and waterways stretching out forever were breathtaking, and the breeze at the top felt incredible. Inside, the museum’s old lighthouse lenses were fascinating, and the Pacetti Hotel Museum gave us a glimpse of the area’s history. It’s a great mix of adventure and learning, and my teens loved it too.

Great value interesting historical attraction. Super friendly and informative staff. Free parking and fantastic views from the top.

This is a real gem! Beautifully restored and maintained museum with a working lighthouse. Very informative and interesting. The view is worth the climb!

Very informative, well worth the price of admission. Rewards of the climb to the top is awesome (203 somewhat steep steps).

Stetson Mansion is a tastefully restored 1886 home once occupied by the Stetson family. Several different families have lived in the home and one still does. We actually saw some of their living quarters while on our tour of three floors, and the school house. Photos are only allowed outside and in the school house to protect the family's privacy. The home still has original wood floors, woodwork, staircase, and leaded glass windows, as well as some lighting and cedar siding. The original electric was worked on by Thomas Edison who also gifted the family lighting fixtures still in use. The home sits on over 2 of the original 300 acres.

Our Glass Guild toured the Stetson Mansion on a Saturday morning and we all felt it was “off the charts “ enjoyable, educational and enchanting! Kayla, the owner greeted us warmly and pleasantly checked in our 18 members. Then Alix, our energetic tour guide took group photos for us in front of the mansion before starting our enlightening tour of the 3 story 1886 Mansion. Alix was fascinating, weaving storytelling about the famous Hat maker, John Stetson and his family, and his connections to Thomas Edison, who personally wired this home for him. Alix was extremely knowledgeable about the architectural details of the woodwork, from the gleaming parquet flooring with unique patterns to intricate crown molding and staircases. We were impressed with all the leaded glass windows throughout each room! She kept us spellbound with the knowledge of this home and all the connections to Deland… We as a group highly recommend this historic tour!! Don’t miss it.

1st time ever to attend their Christmas celebration decorations which were magnificent. So much detail, so much dedication and love in the creation and so very interesting..looking forward to attending a historical tour they will host in Feb

Alix was an incredible tour guide! John B. Stetson built this beautiful mansion in DeLand Florida as his winter getaway away. We enjoyed the home decorated for Christmas and it was stunning!

We enjoyed the Christmas decor tour at the Stetson Mansion in DeLand, Florida today. Alix was a great tour guide and while the holiday decor is indeed something to see, the real star of the show is the house itself. It’s incredibly well preserved and absolutely breathtaking. We’re hoping to return for the historical tour (sans holiday sparkle) sometime next year.

I, my wife and another couple took the Christmas tour of the Stetson Mansion yesterday. We were all extremely impressed with the detail and thought that went into the beautiful decorations with each room having a different theme. Alexi, our guide, was just great! She blended a small amount of the history of the mansion with her description of the decorations. I'm a woodworker by hobby. I was so impressed with the woodworking everywhere I looked, in the floor, in the doorways and even in the support beams overhead. I would love to see the infrastructure of the home that is still rock solid after 139 years. There were no "creeks" in the floor as you walked through! I may go back and take the history tour after all of the decorations are put away.

OMG! I have no idea this treasure was near me. It's an architectural masterpiece inside and out. I couldn't close my mouth. I went and it was Christmas decorated, and it was a dream every detail, every decoration was so beautifully placed. Definitely going back in a few months to see and have the full tour. Our tour lady was so inform and funny. The only thing wish they had like a small coffe and some snack or even a light lunch. That would round up the whole experience. Thanks for preserving this beautiful house and share it with us.🙌🙏❤️

Great place for live music 🎶, plenty of different and unique shops around. Very, very clean, well taken care of, no trash sitting on th ground, which is a huge plus. They have a bar with DECENT pricing, I couldn't believe it when I asked how much a Jack and Coke was (6 single, 11 double). Being that it is in the world famous villages, it is a very friendly community with everyone on their golf carts, waving to everyone because everyone knows everyone and if they don't know you then they want to get to know you, so you better be a friendly person haha. My girlfriend performs out here with bands she plays in so there is always a good turn out. The pictures don't do much justice due to it raining but I will update the review, add pictures and some videos.

This place is absolutely amazing! Lots of music, food, drinks! Entertainment every night on the town square 5pm-9pm. A must see and do! Golf carts welcome! They have other locations as well, such as Brownwood, Lake Sumter landing, and Village of Fenney.

What an enjoyable evening! This was our first time there. People were friendly, the food at Amerikano's was delicious. And let's not forget the ice cream at Kikwins. We walked around with our German Shepherds, sat and listened to the Rundown band. Awesome! We will keep an eye out where they play after we move down to the Village.

I know Lake Sumter is the more popular choice, and I DO love it there, but a smaller, more intimate experience is sometimes just what I'm looking for! Recognizing people you've tapped with in the past is nice. The restaurants that are still there are excellent, and I'm looking forward to the renovations being done and a slew of new restaurants and bars coming in!

Absolutely wonderful spot to walk around and enjoy what the area has to offer. When I visited, they were getting ready to celebrate St Patrick's day. It was so much fun. They had beautiful antique cars on display, and they were getting ready for a parade. Absolutely gorgeous. I will definitely be back to explore some more of this area.

There is considerable construction going on right now which will affect the parking for carts and cars. Lots going on here..great place to hang out ..security present which I like but didn't need..shops are abundant and great restaurants also from sit down to take out to coffee and ice cream! Mens and women’s bathrooms are available a short walk down the street. Cash, credit and debit accepted at mostly all the shops. Beautiful surroundings. Great entertainment every night.

Very clean. Music was fabulous. Bartenders were very nice and efficient!

Absolutely beautiful! The park is clean, well-maintained, and has a great playground and campsite. They have rentals for inner tubes, kayaks, and snorkeling gear, with a few food and beverage kiosks. The homestead was also interesting and a cool bit of history! Quick disclaimer though - the water is quite chilly!

Very unique experience! We spontaneously decided to drive up here during our stay in Orlando. We enjoyed the boardwalk, got to see manatees and even one gator when we took the 1h boat tour. Our guide Lee was very funny and we learned a bunch about the area and St Johns River. Restrooms were clean and well maintained.

Blue Spring State Park is beautiful! The spring runs into the St. John's River and pushes out 100 million gallons of water a day. The boardwalk is wide and elevated with several lookouts that provide expansive views of the spring and aquatic life. If you love observing manatees, this is the place for you. On the day that I visited manatees were all over the place, even at my feet. Hundreds of fish were visible. The park is a great place for canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba, and camping. I am going back to stay in one of the cabins. The park is also a great place if you enjoy primative camping but there is a bath house, water spigot, and fire pit. My advice? GO!!!

Great state park with lots of wildlife and things to explore and do. On my visit we saw 3 manatee there hard to spot in the river that is black but you can see the movement of the leafs on top of the water getting eaten. Look for there mouths mainly sticking up since hard to spot there entire body in dark water. If you go to the clear water definitely easy to spot but can be limited in numbers due to people swimming. We did see 1 in clear water and 2 on the boat tour.

Excellent park, well maintained walk up and down the inlet for about 1/2 mile each way. Saw a mother and child manitee from a distance, hard to see in dark areas of the water. Best to kayak 🛶 or snorkel to get a close up view.

Blue Springs is a gorgeous state park with lots of Manatees in the winter months. The water is always around 72 degrees Fahrenheit so it’s great for swimming before November 15th. At that date they no longer allow swimming or tubing. There are many wild birds and fish as well. It only cost $6 to get in.

This is a beautiful spring with clear water, lot's of fish and an occasional manatee sighting or two. They're beautiful creatures and very curious. You're not aloud to touch them, but this manatee didn't get the memo. Lol! What an awesome experience and video I was able to capture.

Kyle was an awesome guide and told us all sorts of gator facts! The office staff was also knowledgeable and showed us their resident gator, Lucas. Plenty of photo opportunities with the gator. Very well put together tour and efficient use of time. The airboat was not as loud as I thought which was great. Entire property and facility was very clean and well played out. Very fun and hope to visit again sometime. Highly recommended 🐊

Capt. Randy was great and we learned a lot from him. We loved our time on the airboat and loved seeing the mama alligators and their babies in their natural habitats. It was neat seeing the springs bubbling up and to see an alligator den and learn what they do with their pray. 😳 We LOVED holding the Alligator at the end! it will be our family's Christnas picture this year! Tha k you! We will be bringing our grandsons for sure next trip to Florida.

This was the best thing we did on our vacation to Florida!! Todd was our tour guide and was very knowledgeable and patient with our kids asking so many questions. I got an amazing video of one of the momma gators on tour jumping out of the water to eat a fish and I’m so excited about it! The entire staff team was just amazing. After our pictures with the gator we even got to see where Luke (the gator we took pics with) stayed along with three other gators. I highly recommend you will not be disappointed!

BEST AIRBOAT RIDE IN FLORIDA!!! This was AMAZING!! We drove 1000 miles and this was the FIRST THING WE DID. They recommend purchasing your tickets beforehand but had no issue accommodating us walking in. I have wanted to do this for a LONG time and it was BETTER than expected! The boat is comfortable and roomy. The Captain was very knowledgeable. He shut the boat down when we saw wildlife and explained what it was and anything interesting he knew. We saw 5 large gators and dozens of babies, king fishers, huge turtles, snakes, and several other small birds. We saw 2 gator nests with mama's protecting them. The springs fed lake is a perfect mix of reedy marsh, EPIC spanish moss covered trees and open water. This will be a lasting memory for my family.

It was a really fun time but what was really Beautiful was the view while they took us all the way into the swamps. We see actually alligators, birds and turtles. We held an alligator too. Must come here and drive PAST ALL THE OTHER SPOTS. This place rocks. Oh pack a lunch abs chill out in the barn with pool tables and games.

Wet cool they let you hold an alligator! The swamp boat tour takes about an hour with a half hour set aside before to hold the alligator and take pictures! Captain Randy was a great guide!

This was the best airboat ride we’ve done out of the three we’ve taken in Florida over the past few years. Captain Kyle truly loves and respects the local wildlife, and you can feel it. He attracts the animals with care, explains many interesting facts, and keeps everything fun and engaging. The place itself is incredible, and after the airboat ride you can spend some time playing the outdoor games available there. The experience of holding the alligator was also a lot of fun! A 100% recommended spot.

We stayed here while in Tavares area for a Labor Day weekend with all our naughty friends. Our lake view room was large! Could have used full length mirror in the room. Pool was great. Rooftop bar was awesome. 10% off coffees and other places as they own some of the shops and restaurants at the bottom of their other two buildings. Great price. They are in the process of making some upgrades, so it’ll get even better. We’ll stay there again!

The location and view were great, beautiful pool and lots of restaurants to choose from! They quickly addressed an issue with loud neighbors, much appreciated . I can’t speak for all the rooms, but we were in building 2 and our room smelled musty, was in dire need of updating, and wasn’t the cleanest I’ve ever stayed in. No cleaning service unless you asked the day before you wanted it. Very cheap little soaps and hair products, no coffee maker or phone. Elevator looked as though it hadn’t been cleaned in a month. Not really worth the price

So I recently stayed at this hotel for my wedding weekend this week. I booked the block more than a year in advance with notice that they would be done renovating by the Summer. My disappointment to hear all of our guests that stayed at this hotel had various complaints about the conditions of the room (mold, sealed holes in the wall, smell from the AC), We even had 2 family members request their money back to stay at another hotel because of the accommodations. I booked the 2bd suite which was 1,100 dollars for 3 nights and was disappointed that within an hour of arrival, I had to call the front desk to have them change a curtain that had a blood stain on it and to clean the balcony that was unkept and killed 3 spiders on the door to access it. To be charged this amount of money for a semi renovated room, I could have stayed in a Airbnb for a week. Now another thing that threw me off was the way I was treated initially when I contacted the hotel about early check in. I called because my bachelorette party was that day and asked if I can come an hour early because I was busy for my wedding to be told I had to pay 30 dollars to check in early. Now that’s fine, but to find out my friends who checked in the day before in the morning were not charged this same fee made me upset because it needs to be even across the board and we were the ones that brought those guests to the hotel. Regardless, when I went down about the things that needed to be changed in the room, I was met with some annoyance and told to make a list since I was leaving. Besides this, the area was beautiful and convenient. I have photos of the sheets in one of the rooms were there were holes and I didn’t know until we saw it, it also had dried blood. I would think they would check the rooms to make sure it was ready to go. I would not recommend anyone book blocks for a wedding as their hotel is not ready to handle this, and the price was not worth it in the end. For reference it was myself and at least 6 other rooms in different buildings that had issues. I also would have appreciated transparency that the hotel was still not done with renovations. Thank you.

Great place to stay for the evening!! My boyfriend and I came into town for the first time and we picked The Citrus for their rooftop bar and other amenities surrounding the hotel complex. Our room was in building 3 and we were pleased with how clean it was and how well our AC unit worked. They did not disappoint there, but the rather disappointing part was our experience on the rooftop. If you want to pay cash, better make sure they don’t run your card and pocket your money. We understand it’s mandatory to have a card on file for an open tab to secure payment, but my boyfriend told the bartender he would pay the bill with cash. The bartender wouldn’t take any cash at the time he asked for the card, so we thought we were good to go. Before we leave, our bartender asked another coworker to close us out. They ran the card on file AFTER my boyfriend paid for the bill in cash. It’s been a week and still no update.

LOUD LOUD LOUD. Don't stay here unless you're bar hopping and don't plan on sleeping. So disappointed. Was looking for a nice boutique experience and a full night's rest for months. Turns out, I would've gotten better sleep staying home with my 8 month old. Also, room smelled like cigarettes, floor was sticky and dirty, and the lake view is of a busy parking lot with the lake in the distance :(

Parking is survival of the fittest. They give you a parking permit that is useless and it’s just good luck Literally said good luck….The best part was you get a metal cut key for your door Which is a little dated. But nothing compares to booking your room in advance and then giving your room to somebody else and you getting a key to go into the room that somebody is already occupied with all their stuff out. That is the citrus on the lake. They had no solution and just made me sit there - also didn’t believe me when I told them the room was occupied. I had to get a hotel an hour away.

What a great find. Nice hotel with a beautiful view of the lake and awesome nightlife in a walkable area if you stay in the hotel. 7 minutes from downtown Mount Dora.. perfect for a little weekend getaway at a Great price! Large roomy room with a balcony that was perfectly perfect for the sunset. This will be our go to when visiting Mount Dora from now on.