One Of South Carolina's Most Romantic Escapes Is A Charleston Garden With Miles Of Lush Walking Trails

Close your eyes and picture the most romantic fairytale setting — one that you would see in a storybook. If you pictured an enchanting garden with vibrant pink azaleas, wooded bridges over glass-like lakes, and birdsongs drifting through moss-draped oaks, you've just pictured Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. An hour's drive north of Charleston, South Carolina, you'll find the majestic 17th-century historical estate that has lived through the Civil War and has since transformed a rather controversial property into a lively, whimsical garden for people to enjoy. The plantation offers guided educational tours, including access to the historic house and restored slave cabins, where visitors can understand the estate's complex and painful history.

Voted one of the 10 "Best Things To Do In Charleston, SC" by U.S. News and World Report, Magnolia Plantation draws visitors in, not only for the story it tells, but also for its natural beauty and unique walking trails. From swamps to manicured flower beds and unique wildlife, you can walk or bike a six-mile route surrounded by lush greenery. Magnolia is not just a place of beauty, but one of learning, remembrance, and resilience.

Just like Florida's oldest tourist attraction, the Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, Magnolia Plantation has a long historical background. However, while places like the Sunken Gardens are rooted in botanical curiosity and early tourism, Magnolia's history is entwined with the legacy of the Deep South, a region shaped by war, slavery, and the painful complexities of America's past.

The Drayton family acquired the mansion in the 1600s, and by the end of the Civil War, they had grown their plantation to nearly 1,700 acres. Today, visitors can step inside the house and explore the legacy of the Draytons. Guided tours offer a closer look at the family's role in shaping the plantation, from its agricultural success to its deep ties to slavery. The experience is what visitors call informative and sobering, as it sheds light on the lives of the enslaved individuals who built and sustained the estate across generations.

Then, you can visit four restored slave cabins, which offer a powerful glimpse into the lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked on the plantation during the Civil War era. While Magnolia Plantation was undeniably part of a painful and oppressive history, the estate now chooses to confront that legacy directly, honoring those forced to labor in the rice fields, the house, and the gardens.

While Magnolia Plantation doesn't shy away from its complex history, its breathtaking gardens remain one of the estate's most captivating attractions. The carefully curated landscaping and miles of nature trails not only offer countless photo-worthy moments, but also provide a full day of discovery for visitors. With nearly 7,500 reviews on TripAdvisor and a 4-star rating, guests rave about the vibrant flora in bloom and the abundance of wildlife, such as alligators, herons, and turtles. 

The strikingly colored bridges look as if they belong in one of America's finest Japanese gardens — not in Japan, but rather in Portland, Oregon. The red bridge, as shown above, pops against the blanket of greenery surrounding it, creating a serene, almost cinematic moment along the trails. It's the perfect place for couples to capture a memory together and soak in the wonder that surrounds them. For those in search of a place where love, history, and nature all meet, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens truly is one of South Carolina's most romantic escapes. If this piques your interest into checking out more beautiful gardens, look to the best Redditor-approved botanical gardens across America.