Givhans Ferry State Park (SC29 – Ridgeville)

I love getting surprised by a park.

After driving just a few miles east from Colleton State Park, we ended up at Givhans Ferry (pronounce GIVE-uns), another park along the banks of the Edisto River. The name comes from Phillip Givhan, who operated a ferry here in the late 1700s. It allowed travellers to get between Charleston and Augusta or Savannah. (Thanks to the park’s site for this interesting history!).

You could sit in this rocking chair and imagine the history that took place below you.

The first thing I noticed when we drove up was the park office/visitor center, a lovely building located on a bluff overlooking the river. When I stepped inside it, I knew I was in a special place with some great wooden architecture inside.

What I didn’t realize before getting here was that this was another one of the CCC parks, so this building dated to around 1940. With its wood floors, it looks like it would make a great dance hall! Each end of the building has a loft, perfect for reading or playing games, and downstairs has a fireplace. Outside is a lovely porch overlooking the river. I seriously could have spent a long time here just at the welcome center.

Right next to this building is the spot where people take out/put in their canoes, tubes, or whatever other mode of transportation they’re using while on the river, so it’s all very convenient.

We then set out on the nature trail loop. It went along the river for a bit, then through the woods. The girls have taken to hide and seek when we go hiking, meaning one will run ahead and hide behind a tree, waiting for the others to catch up. I also ended up walking with Sage on my shoulders for a while.

Having recently taken an interest in birding, I found myself using the app Merlin a good bit as we walked, which can ID birds based on a photo, hearing a sound, or by inputting characteristics of a bird you’ve seen. Having learned a little about birds before coming to the park, I was happy to have seen a bird, guessed at its identity, then having Merlin confirm that for me. (It was a male pine warbler, a little yellow/brown bird.)

Back at the car, Sage got to show Miss Stephanie her frog potty (the potty we keep in the car in case she needs to go and we’re not around a potty…except there was a potty nearby, but who could resist a frog potty?). Then, with the afternoon getting late, we headed out to our final stop–Colonial Dorchester.