The Mango Vol 1 Issue 6

hiking through a longleaf pine ecosystem looking for red-cockaded woodpeckers. Then there is paddling through an ancient bald cypress swamp, camping in Francis Marion National Forest with experienced guides, and time at Hampton Plantation.

Types of Tours

If boat tours aren’t active enough, one can sign up for kayak, paddleboard or canoe tours (and rent the needed equipment), join a hike, or a combination of several of these activities. If you can think it up, they can develop a plan. As the website says: “It’ll be fun no matter how you get there.” Activities are available at six locations, most within an hour of Charleston. A naturalist accompanies each expedition, eagerly sharing their knowledge of the area. Coastal Expeditions offers equipment rental if you want to explore on your own. In the spring of 2021, I joined Coastal Expeditions on a barrier island trip to see where pelicans nest. On that trip, I met Gayle Bryan, who had recently taken a basin trip on the Edisto River. Recounting that day, she relates: “We paddled right up to a bald eagle! I still get excited thinking about it.” What keeps people coming back? Gayle expressed it best: “The combination of adventure, exercise, learning and experiencing new things is a big win for me. The guides strike a great balance between fun and education. Coastal takes me places that I would never see on my own. That’s what keeps me coming back.” Some of the tours are just too popular to change. Well, except for the times—you know, the tides and all. The Bull Island Ferry runs four or five days a week. Most trips are dock-to-dock, but when the tides are right, they offer a beach drop, which saves you a mile-long walk across the island. Don’t Mess With a Good Thing

approaching storm fronts, along with the 4-times-daily tide change, it all gets overwhelming for a novice. Enter Chris Crolley and the crew at Coastal Expeditions, reminiscent of an old Greyhound bus ad: “Sit back and leave the driving to us.” Currently, Coastal Expeditions runs a tour of the North and South Santee River Delta and surrounding blackwater creeks. This time of year, there will be ospreys, swallow-tailed kites, alligators and dolphins in this unique ecosystem. The boat will dock at Hampton Plantation, a state and national historic landmark, for a guided walk. Hampton was the home of Archibald Rutledge, the first poet laureate of S.C., and Hampton Plantation inspired his works, including Home by the River. Also offered is a 3-day trip through the Santee Delta. The trip provides sunrises on the Santee, touring and learning about blackwater, brackish and saltwater ecosystems, and

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