If you are planning a vacation to Charleston, South Carolina, Cypress Gardens is worth the stop. There is plenty to keep you busy here. Keep reading for information on what to do at Cypress Gardens, why the venue is so iconic, and for the park’s hours and general admission costs.

Hours

The park is closed on select holidays, but Cypress Gardens is typically open 7 days a week. They are open from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. with the last admission at 4:00 P.M.

Tickets

The entry cost for Cypress Gardens is $10 for adults. There are discounts for people over the age of 65, those who have or currently serve in the military, and for children between the ages of 6 and 17. Children under the age of 5 get in for free.

What to Do at Cypress Gardens

Canoe Ride at Cypress Gardens

The main excursion at Cypress Gardens is the iconic boat tour. There are small wooden canoes that the guests can take out on a 45-minute route. The route takes you between all the beautiful Cypress trees and under two bridges. The boat ride is absolutely beautiful, and it is iconic because this is the same place where the canoeing scene took place in the movie, The Notebook! I recommend doing the self-guided boat tour, but they do offer some guided boat tours as well. When I was on the canoe, it started to rain just like it did during The Notebook, so embrace the weather if it starts raining!

Find other movie scene spots

The Notebook is not the only movie that was filmed at Cypress Gardens. Part of season two of the Outer Banks TV show was filmed here. Also, some of the other movies filmed here include Cold Mountain, The Patriot, and The Yearling to name a few. Check out their website to find the full list.

Visit the swamparium at Cypress Gardens

The swamparium is a fun place to visit for adults and children. This building is an aquarium and a reptile center. You can see fish, crocodiles, giant snakes, and other animals here.

Visit the butterfly house

There is also a butterfly house here where you can enter a little greenhouse where the butterflies fly around. There are also plenty of caterpillars that are patiently waiting to turn into butterflies.

Go hiking

If you enjoy hiking, there are trails that take you around the park as well. You will be sure to get some great photos while walking through the beautiful nature here.

Learn the history of Cypress Gardens

Lastly, near the giftshop, there is a building where you can go to learn about the history of Cypress Gardens. There is a short movie that explains the history of the land and the park. There are also some historic pieces that you can look at in this building.

Conclusion

All in all, Cypress Gardens is worth the visit. The self-guided boat tour was one of my favorite things I did while I was in Charleston. There are plenty of activities to keep adults and children entertained here, and not everybody can say they did the same canoe ride from The Notebook! If you make it here, I hope you enjoy your visit!

Thanks for stopping by! To find my other blog posts, check out the destinations tab on my website. Cheers to getting out in nature and making connections around the world!