South Carolina is a favorite holiday destination, especially among Canadians. The pristine beaches and alluring sea-breeze draw people from all over the country. Huntington Beach State Park offers some of the best bird watching, camping and fishing on the East Coast.
The park is a gift of Anna Hyatt of her estate, Atalaya. The sculptress and philanthropist left the park like Morrish-style winter estate and Brookgreen gardens as a legacy. The park is now 2500 acres, with a three mile long beach, salt marshes, a fresh water lake, and one fo the world's most productive eco-systems. The marsh is registered under the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program to preserve its purity and prevent encroachment.
The park now has an Environmental Education Center that offers a wide variety of programming. The field trips expose visitors to areas of the park for a close up look at the park. One of the popular features is the Costal Exploration program.
A feature exhibit lets visitors get close to endangered plant and animal species including loggerhead turtles. Outside of the environmental center, visitors who keep their eyes open may see alligators, and if they are lucky, they may see a mink.
The park is most famous for its 300 species of birds recorded to have visited. There is a bird checklist for enthusiasts to print and carry with them.
Admission to the park is only $5 per adult, $3 per youth, children under 5 are free. The park opens at 6am and closes at 8pm. The Atalaya Hours are 9-5pm. Pets are allowed. Camping costs $23 with electric & water.
