Visitor centers can be such a helpful component of travel, especially when the destination is somewhere unfamiliar that you’ve never been before. They often have a wealth of information in pamphlets, brochures, and other materials about the area. For more spontaneous people, this is a fun way for your trip to unfold! We planners probably already have the entire itinerary nailed down. But that itinerary may need to be adjusted when we encounter a visitor center like the one at Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. You’ll see why as we delve into what this coolest visitor center in South Carolina offers.

The Sewee Visitor & Environmental Education Center is sandwiched between the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and the Francis Marion National Forest along Highway 17 North in the small fishing town of Awendaw, which is part of the Charleston metropolitan area.

Awendaw is about 35 miles northeast (along the South Carolina coastline) from Charleston, making it a great place to stop for an adventure while traveling from Charleston to Myrtle Beach or North Carolina or vice versa.

Inside the visitor center, you'll discover a wealth of information about the area. It's a 9,000-square-foot facility with a variety of activities exploring the unique and valuable ecosystems of the forest and refuge.

You'll explore fascinating hands-on interpretive displays and there's a brief film you can watch. Plan for a few hours to be able to take in as much or as little as you'd like.

Take a stroll while at the visitor center along the Nebo Nature Trail, a 1.7-mile loop behind the visitor center and around the Seewee and Nebo ponds brimming with turtles.

You could see other wildlife, too, including alligators and birds. Be prepared with good insect repellent as mosquitoes are bad at times.

It goes without saying, but please always heed the warnings regarding wildlife. Those are for your protection and theirs as well.

Parts of the trail are a boardwalk, while others such as around the ponds may be overgrown at times. The property is jointly operated by the Forest Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The highlight of this experience is the area where you can see the endangered red wolves from a viewing platform adjacent to the trail.

The Red Wolf is listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, except in a portion of northeastern North Carolina where it was reintroduced as a nonessential experimental population at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, the only known wild population of Red Wolves. Less than 20 are known to be in the wild.

With over 40 captive breeding facilities for the Red Wolf nationwide, a vital element of red wolf recovery, there is a captive population of approximately 230 wolves. The Seewee Center serves as one of these important facilities, housing Red Wolves for observation, education, and breeding.

They are fed Thursdays at 3 p.m. and for a little longer period on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. These are the best times to plan your visit as you will also benefit from a presentation by Wolfman Rob, a wolf handler and caretaker you'll enjoy interacting with and learning from as well.

The Center often offers scheduled programs throughout the year, including children's discovery programs on Saturdays, guided nature walks, and special events, such as a Lighthouse Island tour.

Admission to the Center is free, and it's open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as staff are available. It's best to call (843) 928-3368 to confirm that the facility is open prior to your visit; however, the Center grounds are open even when the building is closed. If the Center entrance gate is closed, you can park off of Highway 17 and walk in to access the grounds.

You'll find more information including details on special programming at the Seewee Visitor & Environmental Educational Center page on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website. You may also wish to follow the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge Facebook page for updates.

How cool would it be to see these beautiful creatures and learn more about the effort to save the species? Have you ever visited this place before?

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