Shallotte River Swamp Park
Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
Shallotte River Swamp Park is home to the largest and longest zip-line canopy tour on the Eastern Seaboard, not to mention an aerial adventure park and a series of swamp boat eco-tours. General manager George Howard said it is the sheer size of the facility (65 acres) and the variety of activities that make this an excellent destination for groups. “We have a lot of versatility,” he said, “and can tailor experiences to the needs of the group.”
The park’s goal is to combine an adventure experience and the natural habitat, with guides also educating visitors about the unique ecological environment. “Being able to zip line through the swamp and appreciating the habitat is a phenomenal experience,” Howard said.
The zip-line tour features 10 stations and takes roughly two and a half hours to complete. Groups of no more than 10 can be accommodated at any one time. However, larger groups can have an entire day of activities tailored to them, allowing some to zip line while others enjoy a 50-minute swamp boat tour or explore the aerial adventure park. The latter contains 53 challenges that range in difficulty.
www.shallotteriverswamppark.com
Nature Adventures Outfitters
Charleston, South Carolina
A guided hiking tour with Nature Adventures Outfitters combines fresh air, exercise, great scenery and the opportunity to learn about the natural environment. All hikes take place in the Francis Marion National Forest, roughly 45 minutes from Charleston, and are led by qualified naturalists.
Since the hikes all cover flatlands, visitors need only mosquito repellent, comfortable shoes and some enthusiasm. The shorter tours last up to two hours, with each trail approximately 1.5 to 2.5 miles long. Options include the blackwater swamp, complete with alligators, otters and an old plantation; Carolina Bay, home to black bears and an endangered wetlands ecosystem; and a trail around a 4,000-year-old Native American shell ring. Several longer options are also available, each covering approximately five miles and lasting up to four hours. One of these, the Awendaw Passage, is the favorite of Elizabeth Anderegg, the company’s outreach manager.
“This trail exposes the hiker to several environments, from the intercoastal area to a maritime forest to the marshways,” she said. Dolphins and pelicans are just two examples of the wildlife you can usually expect to see along the way.
Groups are welcome on any of the hikes. Because each hike is scheduled to order, reservations are required. Anderegg advised making a reservation as soon as possible to ensure a naturalist is available. In the case of a larger group, an additional guide may be provided. Kayaking and paddleboarding lessons are also available.
Destinations by Outside
Hilton Head, South Carolina
Hilton Head, South Carolina, and the surrounding sandbanks are packed with activity options, and Destinations by Outside is a one-stop shop for just about everything you could want to do while visiting the island. The company offers a wide variety of team-building exercises, historic tours, culinary workshops and more. But its array of water activities is particularly impressive.
Dolphin watching, beachcombing, cruising, kayaking, fishing, waterskiing, tubing — the list is almost endless. The Vanishing Island beachcombing trip combines a dolphin-watching boat ride with a stop at one of the nearby islands or sandbanks, giving visitors the chance to stroll the beach in search of shells, artifacts and even hidden treasure.
The Ultimate Lowcountry Day ensures you are doing only what you want and nothing else. The private tours are crafted to suit you and your group and can combine any number of activities. Kayaking and crabbing? Fishing and a historic tour? No problem.
Lessons are available for stand up paddleboarding, paddleboard yoga, kayak fishing, waterskiing and more. If your group has some experience, instructors can help improve skills.
