Vereen Memorial Garden

A Favorite August Escape

By Joan Leotta

August is hot, humid, and beautiful here in Brunswick County. Our broad expanse contains grasses, forests, and water, and a plethora of wonderful birds who live among those landscapes. In August, the crape myrtles and many other flowers fill the air and open space with sweet aromas and eye-catching beauty.

And then of course, there is the ocean. In Brunswick County most people are within an hour of the ocean and many live either in sight of it, or just a few minutes from the relaxing rhythm of its waves and the grandeur of its blue green stopped only by the blue cloud-bearing sky.

What is not so lovely in August, for those of us who live here, is that the strip of sandy beach that we walk and use as a point of departure to swim and sail those waters, is, in August, crowded with vacationers. It lacks parking, and even if we do get there, is often host to multiple tents and beach towels from early dawn until dusk.

A Beach Alternative

There are days when it’s worth it to stake out a spot of our own, but on some days, when we seek the solace of water and wish for less crowded ways to enjoy it, I recommend a spot just a few miles to our south: Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens, in South Carolina just below the state and county line.

It’s not a beach—it’s a place along the Intracoastal Waterway. There is a cemetery (Revolutionary War Era) on the way to the parking area, but mostly it’s a place to enjoy water views, perhaps have a picnic on one of the several tables there, and walk along its handicappedaccessible boardwalk to splendid views of grasses, live oaks, birds, and few other people.

The park is on the Intracoastal Waterway in Little River on 115 acres of forest and marshland. There are three miles of nature trails and boardwalks through botanical gardens and along the waterfront. A small segment of the original Kings Highway, a colonial route between Boston and Charleston, still remains at the front of the property, behind the C.B. Berry Community Center.

Venture to the Parks

Brunswick County itself has many parks, several with water views. On Oak Island there’s a park near the ocean itself, and in Southport one can enjoy the Cape Fear River and look out beyond to the ocean. There are parks where you can set out on the waterway in a kayak, places where you can exercise, or just sit under a tree.

Some are nature parks; others have playing fields and amphitheaters. The best place to find a park near you is to go to the Brunswick County Parks and Recreation website or Facebook page, or give them a call and tell them what you are looking for.

Brunswick Nature Park, 2601 River Road in Winnabow, is one of Brunswick County’s parks to the north. It offers a mix of vegeta on, wildlife, wetlands, and waterways, with a kayak launch site, a picnic pavilion, and miles of hiking and biking trails.

Photo by Joan Leotta

Above: Driving into Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens is a path to a soothing August escape. Right: Trees overlook marshland at Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens.