Never heard of Olanta? Me neither! Before getting the SC Parks Passport, I had never heard of this park or this town. From where we live in Columbia, you get to this park by driving out 378 through Sumter and keep on going. You eventually cross I-95 and eventually arrive at the park.
The park itself is small, and I think it is best appreciated from the air. I’m glad I had done some research before going. Take a look at the image, courtesy of Google Maps:
I’ve learned that SC is home to many geological features called Carolina bays, elliptical impressions in the earth of unknown origin, which are generally filled with wetlands. In the image above, you can see how the one in the bottom left has been filled and is now used for agriculture. The one on the top right belongs to Woods Bay State Park.
Because we went in the winter, the days were short, and we arrived in the late afternoon. Due to the time, a squirming 2.5-year-old, and the desire to not get wet or encounter any hiding reptiles, we only had a short visit.
We walked the boardwalk over the black water, and it was quite eerie. I know that in warmer weather, there must be alligators and snakes everywhere (which I personally would not love to see up close!). As we approached the boardwalk, I did hear what sounded like a gator’s bellowing. I had just learned that gators find burrows near water in cooler weather, so we’re glad we didn’t run across one!
We weren’t able to go in the nature center, but maybe next time. The park site mentions that canoeing in the wetlands is the best way to see the park, so perhaps when the kids are a bit older we might try it out.
After the quick visit, we stopped at the Swan Lake Iris Gardens in Sumter for some Christmas lights. 🙂
Beavers in the Park 