One of the most pristine stretches of Atlantic coastline is 30 miles northeast of Charleston in the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Access is tightly controlled to its 60,000 acres of open water and saltwater marsh and 4,000 acres of high land, but day visitors will find the trip worthwhile. Cape Island on the northeast boundary of the refuge is one of the nation’s largest nesting grounds for sea turtles, and Marsh Island in Bull Bay is a rookery for brown pelicans.

Fishing, birding, and hiking trails are available on Bull Island. Access to the refuge is by boat only. Private boats can be launched at high tide only form Moore’s Landing at refuge headquarters on the Intracoastal Waterway.