We had to go! Coastal Expeditions Charters first public tours of St Phillip’s Island began last week and we had to go. After all it’s not that often that you can get away to Ted Turner’s private island for a few hours! There’s a certain mystique about a private island and now that St. Phillips is a part of the South Carolina State Parks System it’s an enjoyable field trip. Accessible only by boat, St. Phillips Island is a 4,680-acre barrier island between Hilton Head Island and Edisto Beach at the mouth of Port Royal Sound. Now the island is managed by the Hunting Island State Park team and tours are available through Coastal Expeditions Charters.
Captains Henry and Will of Coastal Expeditions did an awesome job ferrying us to St Phillips Island and back!
There are wagons that shuttle from the Hunting Island State Park Wildlife Center to the Russ Point Boat Ramp and once on the island another wagon to shuttle to the far end of St Phillips Island. There is beach access and a number of hiking trails that spur off of the main road. We enjoyed the Beach Trail and the area leading to the vacation house and definitely plan to return to hike the maritime forest and marsh trails. Interesting foliage and distinct ecosystems on the island includes Saw Palmettos, Magnolia Trees, Live Oaks and Pines.
Low Tide at St Phillips Island
Ted Turner’s family modest vacation home on St Phillip’s Island
Hunting Island Boardwalk just after sunrise
Port Royal Shrimping Boats at dock
Black Crowned Night Heron at the Cypress Swamp in Port Royal
It was great to escape for a brief field trip and we have some good photographs to work on. This is one of our favorite Low Country areas! We hope to develop new triptychs of the Boardwalk at Hunting Island, Tomotley Plantation and the Shrimp Boats at dock. We also may re-release a triptych of the tidal pool at Hunting Island because it is not an accessible location after the North Beach re-nourishment project. Hopefully, we will have these prints on satin fabric ready for Art Shows in September! Our next planned show is Flowertown in Summerville, SC scheduled for Aug 31 - Sept 2.