SOUTH CAROLINA TRAVEL GUIDE
Welcome to the Bigroads ultimate travel guide to South Carolina! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to South Carolina.
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South Carolina is famous for its beaches and the lovely and historic city of Charleston. Some of the finest East Coast beaches can be found in the state, including those on Hilton Head Island. There's also Myrtle Beach, although people do tend to have a love/hate relationship with that area since it can be a little rough around the edges. There's no denying how many tourist attractions the Myrtle Beach area has though. If you leave the coast and head to northwestern South Carolina you can find some great nature parks and green spaces. And then there's Charleston, one of the top dining destinations in the country. The scope of highly-rated restaurants you'll find in Charleston is astounding.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in South Carolina? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in South Carolina, in no particular order:
✮ Enjoy fine dining in Charleston, a famous dining/culinary destination
✮ See waterfalls and some of the best scenic views in the state at Caesar's Head State Park
✮ Visit one of South Carolina's historic forts (e.g. Fort Moultrie or Fort Sumter)
✮ Walk around Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet and see more than 1,000 art sculptures
✮ Paddle your way through Congaree National Park
✮ Visit the gardens and museum at Middleton Place
✮ Go whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River
✮ Relax at one of South Carolina's famous beaches (e.g. Coligny Beach on Hilton Head Island)
✮ Enjoy some seaside amusements and/or some golfing at Myrtle Beach
✮ Stop at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum to explore three decommissioned naval ships
If I could select only one area to visit in South Carolina, I would choose the Charleston and Hilton Head Island area.
Interested in discovering great attractions in other U.S. states? My 10 Great Attractions in Each U.S. State guide covers the best attractions from coast-to-coast. And here is a guide to the best One-Week Vacations in the U.S..
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in South Carolina. I believe each of these attractions should be on your South Carolina bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northwestern South Carolina
(including Greenville)
✮ BMW Zentrum, Spartanburg - the only BMW museum in North America; contains vintage cars, motorcycles, and concept vehicles
✮ Caesars Head State Park, Greenville - features scenic views, hawk-watching, waterfalls (e.g. 420-ft Raven Cliff Falls), and 60 miles of trails
✮ Chattooga Ridge Canopy Tours by Wildwater, Long Creek - an excellent aerial adventure park with 10 ziplines
✮ Dark Corner Distillery, Greenville - enjoy tastings of moonshine, aged whiskey, gin, and more
✮ Devils Fork State Park, Salem - offers great lake swimming, trout fishing, boating, paddling, and waterfalls that are only accessible by boat
✮ Falls Park On The Reedy, Greenville - a beautiful urban park with walking trails in downtown Greenville
✮ Jones Gap State Park, Marietta - offers 60 miles of hiking trails, two waterfalls, and great trout fishing; close to Caesars Head State Park
✮ Jumping Off Rock Overlook, Jocassee Gorges Management Area, Sunset - drive a long dirt road and take a short walk to earn scenic views
✮ Paris Mountain State Park, Greenville - includes 17 miles of hiking/mountain biking trails and four lakes; close to downtown Greenville
✮ Peace Center, Greenville - a top-rated performing arts center that has a concert hall, theater, and amphitheater
✮ Peachoid, Gaffney - a 135-foot tall water tower visible from I-85 that is shaped like a giant peach; one of SC's best roadside attractions
✮ Sumter National Forest-Andrew Pickens Ranger District - a national forest that is known for its many excellent waterfalls
✮ Table Rock State Park, Pickens - features hiking trails, lakes, and the iconic Table Rock landmark (which you can hike to the top of)
✮ Whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River - a popular river for rafting on the South Carolina / Georgia line; rapids on some trips hit class IV
Central South Carolina (including Columbia and Florence)
✮ Congaree National Park, Hopkins - visit the largest old-growth floodplain forest in North America; excellent paddling opportunities
✮ EdVenture Children's Museum / World's Largest Kid, Columbia - the second largest children's museum in the U.S. (1st = in Indianapolis)
✮ Pearl Fryar's Topiary Garden, Bishopville - it only takes a few minutes to walk around this interesting 3-acre topiary garden (shaped plants)
✮ Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia - a medium-sized zoo with more than 2,000 animals; also has a great botanical garden
✮ South Carolina State Museum, Columbia - an excellent state history museum with four floors of exhibits plus a 4D theater and a planetarium
✮ World's Largest Fire Hydrant, Columbia - a nearly 40-foot tall steel fire hydrant; one of South Carolina's best roadside attractions
Northeastern South Carolina (excluding the coastline)
✮ South of the Border, Hamer - one of the largest and most famous roadside attractions in the U.S.; some would say it's the biggest tourist trap in the nation, but I think it's a blast since there's dozens of fun photo opportunities
Northern coast of South Carolina (including Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, and Pawleys Island)
✮ Alligator Adventure, North Myrtle Beach - features live alligator and reptile shows
✮ ATV/ORV-ing in North Myrtle Beach - the ATV/ORV-ing in this area is supposedly excellent
✮ Beaches of Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach - collectively, this area offers 60 miles of beaches
✮ Boat tours from Myrtle Beach - e.g. jet boat tours, fishing charters, pirate cruises, kayaking tours, watersports, surfing, parasailing, etc.
✮ Broadway At The Beach, Myrtle Beach - the most popular shopping & entertainment district in the Myrtle Beach area; more than 100 shops
✮ Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet - one of the very best gardens and outdoor sculpture parks in the U.S.; more than 1,000 sculptures!
✮ Carolina Opry, Myrtle Beach - a highly-rated 2,000-capacity performance arts theater
✮ Cherry Grove Beach, North Myrtle Beach - often wins "best beach in South Carolina" awards; the beach also has a long fishing pier
✮ Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach - an extremely popular seaside amusement park on Ocean Boulevard; 35-plus rides
✮ Golfing in Myrtle Beach - the Myrtle Beach area has one of the highest concentrations of golf courses in the U.S.
✮ Hollywood Wax Museum, Myrtle Beach - arguably the best of the wax museums you'll find across the U.S.; take photos with famous people!
✮ Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet - features 3 miles of unspoiled beach; don't miss Atalaya Castle, a Moorish-style castle
✮ Inlet Point Plantation Stables, North Myrtle Beach - offers horseback riding on a private island beach
✮ Litchfield Beach, Pawleys Island - features a "a long stretch of wide, beautiful sand"; quieter than the busy beaches of Myrtle Beach
✮ Miniature golfing in Myrtle Beach - Myrtle Beach is often described as the "miniature golf capital of the world" (supposedly more than 50!)
✮ Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk, Murrells Inlet - a 0.5-mile long wooden boardwalk along an estuary that is home to many fine restaurants
✮ Myrtle Beach - a small city famous for its beaches, golf courses, water sports, seaside amusements, and dozens of other tourist attractions
✮ Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade, Myrtle Beach - 1.2 mile long beach boardwalk with shops and seaside amusements (e.g. SkyWheel)
✮ Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum, Myrtle Beach - play vintage pinball games
✮ Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, Myrtle Beach - a 187-foot tall, air-conditioned ferris wheel on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade
✮ Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach - features an undeveloped, mile-long beach, plus campsites, cabins, and a fishing pier
✮ Myrtle Waves Water Park, Myrtle Beach - online reviews are a mixed bag, but this is South Carolina's largest water park
✮ Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, Myrtle Beach - a popular pirate-themed dinner show; eat while being entertained!
✮ Ripley's Aquarium, Myrtle Beach - the best aquarium in South Carolina
✮ Savannah's Playground, Myrtle Beach - an excellent free children's playground
✮ T.I.G.E.R.S Preservation Station, Myrtle Beach - offers intimate experiences and photo opportunities with big cats and other animals
✮ Wheels of Yesteryear Vintage Auto Museum, Myrtle Beach - a medium-sized auto museum with many classic cars, including some muscle cars
Charleston (see below for the rest of the southern coast of South Carolina)
✮ Aiken-Rhett House, Charleston - guided tours of a historic home in downtown Charleston
✮ Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, Charleston - supposedly the U.S.'s largest cable-strayed bridge
✮ Battery & White Point Gardens, Charleston - a lovely park along the Atlantic Ocean in the heart of Charleston's Historic District
✮ Boat tours from Charleston - e.g. sea-shelling tours, shark tooth hunting, dolphin cruises, sunset cruises, sightseeing tours, sailing, etc.
✮ Charleston Historic District, Charleston - see many beautiful historic homes, which aren't far from the shopping and dining areas of Charleston
✮ Charleston Waterfront Park, Charleston - a small park with great views of the Charleston harbor
✮ Drayton Hall, Charleston - guided tours of an unfurnished 1700s-era plantation
✮ Guided food tours in Charleston - Charleston is a major culinary destination, and several companies offer guided food tours
✮ Guided walking tours in Charleston - several companies in Charleston offer excellent walking tours of the city
✮ Horse-drawn carriage tours in Charleston - several companies in Charleston offer horse-drawn carriage tours
✮ Joe Riley Waterfront Park, Charleston - a pretty waterfront green space that is famous for its pineapple-shaped water fountain
✮ Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston - visit "one of America's most beautiful cemeteries"
✮ Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston - a historic rice plantation/estate from the 1600s that offers a variety of guided tours
✮ McLeod Plantation Historic Site, Charleston - tour a famous 37-acre slave plantation; has many beautiful old oak trees
✮ Middleton Place, Charleston - arguably the best plantation to tour in the Charleston area
Southern coast of South Carolina (including Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, and Sullivan's Island; see above for Charleston)
✮ Adventure Hilton Head, Hilton Head Island - a fun aerial adventure park with zip-lining canopy tours
✮ Angel Oak Tree, Johns Island - an enormous and very old oak tree; one of the most photographed spots in South Carolina
✮ Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, Mt. Pleasant - tour a plantation, gardens, and brick slave cabins; many beautiful oak trees on site
✮ Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve, Edisto Island - a state preserve with nearly 3 miles of undeveloped shoreline
✮ Center for Birds of Prey, Awendaw - a rehabilitation/medical center with guided tours and flight demonstrations; nearly 50 different species
✮ Charleston Tea Garden, Wadmalaw Island - a large tea garden with many tea bushes, trolley tours and factory tours are offered
✮ Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head Island - includes a museum, a nature preserve with walking trails, and several outdoor art sculptures
✮ Comedy Magic Cabaret, Hilton Head Island - highly-rated comedy and magic shows
✮ Cycling around Hilton Head Island - there are more than 64 miles of pathways and nature trails for walking and cycling on Hilton Head Island
✮ Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort - a highly-rated Disney resort experience
✮ Edisto Beach State Park, Edisto Island - features 1.5 miles of beaches and 4 miles of trails; good sea-shelling and two campgrounds
✮ Folly Beach Public Beach, Folly Beach - a great beach in a "funky, laid-back town"
✮ Fort Moultrie National Monument, Sullivan's Island - tour a Revolutionary-era fort
✮ Fort Sumter National Monument, Sullivan's Island - visit the fort where the first shots of the Civil War were fired
✮ Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort - a charming park next to Beaufort's charming historic downtown district
✮ Hilton Head Island beaches - Hilton Head Island has more than 12 miles of uninterrupted sand beaches; Coligny Beach is the most popular
✮ Hunting Island Lighthouse, Beaufort - one of the most famous lighthouses on the East Coast
✮ Hunting Island State Park, Beaufort - highlights include maritime forests, tidal lagoons, and white-sand beaches
✮ Isle of Palms Beach, Isle of Palms - offers six miles of white, sandy beaches on a barrier island; only 25 minutes from downtown Charleston
✮ Kazoo Factory, Beaufort - museum and factory tours of the famous Kazoo instruments
✮ Old Sheldon Church Ruins, Yemassee - see the historic ruins of a 1700s-era church
✮ Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Mt. Pleasant - tour several historic military boats
✮ Pirates of Hilton Head, Hilton Head - highly-rated pirate-themed boat cruises
✮ Sea Pines Forest Preserve, Hilton Head - features hiking trails that visit a maritime forest and marshland
✮ Sullivan's Island Beach, Sullivan's Island - a nice, lightly-developed beach only 20 minutes from downtown Charleston
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in South Carolina? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
Discover 5-star attractions in neighboring states using these state guides:
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NC
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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These towns and cities in South Carolina are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Beaufort - a small city known for its antebellum mansions, historic district, boutique shops, and many B&Bs
✮ Charleston - a large city known for its exceptional food/dining scene, historic districts, southern charm, and cobblestone streets
✮ Folly Beach - a small town on Folly Island known for beaches, surfing, water sports, fishing, and the Folly Beach Pier
✮ Greenville - a medium-sized city known as the "cultural and entertainment center" for upstate SC; close to many excellent state parks
✮ Edisto Beach - a small town on a barrier island; known for its beaches, boat tours, and plantations; only one hour from Charleston
✮ Hilton Head Island - a small city that is a major beach destination in the Southeast; tons of attractions, water sports, and bicycling paths
✮ Murrells Inlet - a small town with a historic fishing village that is often called the "seafood capital of South Carolina"
✮ Myrtle Beach - a small city famous for its beaches, golf courses, water sports, and many seaside amusements and other tourist attractions
My favorite city in South Carolina is Charleston - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there. You could easily spend a full week or more if you also wanted to take some day trips from Charleston (e.g. Hilton Head Island, Savannah (GA), Beaufort, Kiawah Island, Brookgreen Gardens, etc.)
Read my Favorite Places in the U.S. Guide to find new and interesting towns and cities across the country.
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WHAT IS SOUTH CAROLINA FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that South Carolina is famous or well-known for:
✮ antebellum architecture
✮ bald peanuts (boiled peanuts)
✮ beaches
✮ golf courses / golfing
✮ grits
✮ historic districts
✮ mini-golfing (e.g. in Myrtle Beach)
✮ palmetto trees
✮ peaches
✮ plantations
✮ sweet tea
Visit my What is Each U.S. State Famous For? guide to explore the unique characteristics of other states.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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South Carolina has one national park and several other federally-managed parks and properties, including:
National Parks
✮ Congaree National Park, Hopkins - visit the largest old-growth floodplain forest in North America; excellent paddling opportunities
National Forests
✮ Francis Marion National Forest
✮ Sumter National Forest - includes three districts; the Andrew Pickens Ranger District in northwestern South Carolina has more than a dozen excellent waterfalls
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
✮ Cowpens National Battlefield
✮ Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
✮ Kings Mountain National Military Park
✮ Ninety Six National Historic Site
✮ Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
✮ Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
For more information on South Carolina's national parks, visit the South Carolina page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all of America's national parks, explore my U.S. National Parks Guide.
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STATE PARKS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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South Carolina has more than 40 state parks. Many would agree that these represent South Carolina's finest state parks:
Northwestern South Carolina (including Greenville)
✮ Caesars Head State Park, Greenville - features scenic views, hawk-watching, waterfalls (e.g. 420-ft Raven Cliff Falls), and 60 miles of trails
✮ Devils Fork State Park, Salem - offers great lake swimming, trout fishing, boating, paddling, and waterfalls that are only accessible by boat
✮ Jones Gap State Park, Marietta - offers 60 miles of hiking trails, two waterfalls, and great trout fishing; close to Caesars Head State Park
✮ Paris Mountain State Park, Greenville - includes 17 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails and four lakes; close to downtown Greenville
✮ Table Rock State Park, Pickens - features hiking trails, lakes, and the iconic Table Rock landmark (which you can hike to the top of)
Northern coast of South Carolina (including Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, and Pawleys Island)
✮ Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet - features 3 miles of unspoiled beach; don't miss Atalaya Castle
✮ Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach - offers an undeveloped, mile-long beach, plus campsites, cabins, and a fishing pier
Southern coast of South Carolina (including Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, and Sullivan's Island; see above for Charleston)
✮ Edisto Beach State Park, Edisto Island - features 1.5 miles of beaches and 4 miles of trails; good sea-shelling and two campgrounds
✮ Hunting Island State Park, Beaufort - highlights include maritime forests, tidal lagoons, and white-sand beaches
Find the best state parks across the country using my Top 100 State Parks in the U.S. guide.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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South Carolina has several hundred natural waterfalls, although many of them are considered seasonal. Nearly all of the best waterfalls are centralized in the northwestern corner of the state. Here is a list of many of the finest waterfalls in South Carolina:
Sumter National Forest-Andrew Pickens Ranger District (in northwestern South Carolina)
✮ Big Bend Falls
✮ Blue Hole Falls
✮ Brasstown Falls
✮ Fall Creek Falls
✮ King Creek Falls
✮ Laurel Fork Falls
✮ Licklog Falls
✮ Long Creek Falls
✮ Lower Whitewater Falls
✮ Opossum Creek Falls
✮ Riley Moore Falls
✮ Spoonauger Falls
✮ Yellow Branch Falls
The rest of northwestern South Carolina (including Greenville)
✮ Issaqueena Falls in Walhalla
✮ Rainbow Falls in Jones Gap State Park
✮ Raven Cliff Falls on private land near Caesars Head State Park
✮ Reedy Cove Falls (aka Twin Falls) in Sunset
For a listing of all known waterfalls in South Carolina, visit the World Waterfall Database.
Chase more waterfalls across the country with my Best Waterfalls in the U.S. guide.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in South Carolina:
✮ Edisto Island National Scenic Byway - a 17-mile paved route from McKinley Washington Jr. Bridge to Edisto Beach State Park on NC-174
I haven't driven the 13-mile Falling Waters Scenic Byway yet, but it might be worthy of inclusion above.
The 11-mile Ashley River Road
near Charleston is also worth driving, although it doesn't offer scenic views. Instead, it features many moss-draped live oak trees. The drive out to Hilton Head Island is also pretty.
It's not clear to me whether the Savannah River Scenic Byway is actually scenic or not. It's likely more of a historical/cultural type of experience.
I also don't think the 122-mile Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway is all that scenic either.
Discover great scenic drives across the country with my Best Scenic Drives in the U.S. guide.
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BEST OCEAN BEACHES IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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South Carolina has many excellent Atlantic Ocean beaches, including these favorites:
Northern coast (from Pawleys Island north to the North Carolina border
✮ Huntington Beach State Park beaches
✮ Murrells Inlet beaches, Murrells Inlet
✮ Myrtle Beach beaches
✮ North Myrtle Beach beaches
✮ Pawley's Island beaches
Southern coast (from the Georgia border north to Isle of Palms)
✮ Daufuskie Island beaches - boat/ferry required (and then you'll need to rent a golf cart or bicycle to the beach)
✮ Driftwood Beach
✮ Edisto Beach, Edisto Beach
✮ Folly Beach, Folly Beach
✮ Hilton Head Island beaches - e.g. Burkes Beach, Coligny Beach Park, Driessen Beach Park, Folly Field Beach Park, Islanders Beach Park
✮ Hunting Island State Park Beach
✮ Isle of Palms County Park, Isle of Palms
✮ Kiawah Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island
✮ Sullivan's Island Beach, Sullivan's Island
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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Here is a list of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in South Carolina:
Northwestern South Carolina
✮ Doodle Rail Trail
✮ Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail
Southeastern South Carolina
✮ Spanish Moss Trail
For detailed information on all known rail trails in South Carolina, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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There are a few notable amusement parks in South Carolina:
✮ Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach
✮ Myrtle Waves Water Park, Myrtle Beach
✮ Neptune Island Waterpark, Hartsville
✮ Whirlin' Waters Adventure Waterpark, North Charleston
✮ Wild Water & Wheels, Surfside Beach
Take note that the Myrtle Beach area is often called the "miniature golf capital of the world". There are roughly 50 miniature golf courses located there.
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BEST MUSEUMS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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South Carolina has many great museums. The best museums in South Carolina include:
Northwestern South Carolina (including Greenville)
✮ BMW Zentrum, Spartanburg
Central South Carolina (including Columbia and Florence)
✮ Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia
✮ EdVenture Children's Museum, Columbia
✮ South Carolina Railroad Museum, Winnsboro
✮ South Carolina State Museum, Columbia
Northern coast of South Carolina (including Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, and Pawleys Island)
✮ Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet
✮ Hollywood Wax Museum, Myrtle Beach
✮ Wheels of Yesteryear, Myrtle Beach
Charleston (see below for the rest of the southern coast of South Carolina)
✮ Aiken-Rhett House, Charleston
✮ Charleston Museum, Charleston
✮ Drayton Hall, Charleston
✮ Gibbs Museum of Art, Charleston
✮ H.L. Hunley Submarine, North Charleston
✮ Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston
✮ McLeod Plantation Historic Site, Charleston
✮ Middleton Place, Charleston
✮ Nathaniel Russell House, Charleston
✮ Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, Charleston
✮ Old Slave Mart Museum, Charleston
Southern coast of South Carolina (including Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, and Sullivan's Island; see above for Charleston)
✮ Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, Mt. Pleasant
✮ Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head Island
✮ Fort Moultrie National Monument, Sullivan's Island
✮ Fort Sumter National Monument, Sullivan's Island
✮ Kazoo Factory, Beaufort
✮ Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Mt. Pleasant
✮ Rose Hill Mansion, Bluffton
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BEST DAY HIKES IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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South Carolina has several good hiking trails. Here are some of the best day hikes in South Carolina:
Northwestern South Carolina (including Greenville)
✮ Caesars Head State Park trails (e.g. Raven Cliff Falls, Raven Cliff Falls & Dismal Trail Loop, Caesars Head Overlook, etc.)
✮ Paris Mountain State Park trails
✮ Pinnacle Mountain, Table Rock State Park
✮ Rainbow Falls Trail, Jones Gap State Park
✮ Riley Moore Falls, Sumter National Forest
✮ Spoonauger Falls via the Chattooga River Trail, Ellicott Rock Wilderness
✮ Table Rock Trail, Table Rock State Park
✮ Yellow Branch Falls, Sumter National Forest
Central South Carolina (including Columbia and Florence)
✮ Boardwalk Loop Trail, Congaree National Park
Southern Coastline of South Carolina
✮ Cape Roman National Wildlife Refuge trails (e.g. Bull Island)
The highpoint of South Carolina is Sassafras Mountain (3,554'), located in the northwestern corner of the state. You can drive up to the top, and so no hiking is required.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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South Carolina offers a few great backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking routes/areas in South Carolina include:
✮ Caesars Head State Park trails
✮ Chattooga Trail
✮ Foothills Trail
✮ Jocassee Gorges Management Area trails
✮ Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area (includes Jones Gap State Park and Caesars Head State Park)
✮ Palmetto Trail
✮ Sassafras Mountain
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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South Carolina offers many great outdoor adventures, including:
✮ Backpacking the Chattooga Trail
✮ Backpacking the Foothills Trail
✮ Backpacking the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area
✮ Bouldering at Jocassee Gorges
✮ Bouldering at Rocky Creek
✮ Canoeing/kayaking in Congaree National Park
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Lynches River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Saluda River
✮ Cycling around Hilton Head Island
✮ Cycling the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail
✮ Day hiking Table Rock in Table Rock State Park
✮ Helicopter tours on Hilton Head Island
✮ Kayaking at Murrell's Inlet
✮ Mountain biking the Anne Springs Close Greenway
✮ Mountain biking the Forks Area Trail System (FATS)
✮ Mountain biking in Horry County Bike & Run Park in Myrtle Beach
✮ Mountain biking the Issaqueena Trail System in Clemson Experimental Forest
✮ Mountain biking in Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville
✮ Mountain biking in Poinsett State Park in Wedgefield
✮ Mountain biking in Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park in Walhalla
✮ Parasailing at Hilton Head Island
✮ Parasailing at Myrtle Beach
✮ Rock climbing at Big Rock Mountain
✮ Rock climbing at Table Rock State Park
✮ Skydiving in Chester
✮ Surfing on Folly Beach
✮ Surfing on Myrtle Beach
✮ Tubing the Saluda River
✮ Whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River
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SOUTH CAROLINA TRAVEL TIPS
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in South Carolina:
✮ biscuits
✮ boiled peanuts
✮ collards
✮ fried catfish
✮ frogmore stew
✮ lima beans
✮ low country boil / Frogmore stew
✮ peach cobbler
✮ perlo (sometimes spelled purloo, perlou)
✮ pimento cheese
✮ she-crab soup
✮ shrimp & grits
✮ sweet tea
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in South Carolina (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each U.S. state, explore my Road Trip Food guide.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in South Carolina (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY SOUTH CAROLINA INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about South Carolina:
State Capital:
Columbia
Major Airports:
Charleston International Airport (CHS), Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), and Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
Largest Cities:
Charleston (156,255), Columbia (138,104), North Charleston (118,328), Mount Pleasant (95,393), Rock Hill (76,016), Greenville (73,182)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-20, I-26, I-77, I-85, and I-95
State Highpoint:
Sassafras Mountain (3,554') in northwestern South Carolina. You can drive up to the top (no hiking required).
Professional Sports Teams:
None
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Cowpens, Pumpkin Town, and Sugar Tit
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Angel Oak Tree in Johns Island, South Carolina
Rainbow Row in Charleston, South Carolina
Joe Riley Waterfront Park in Charleston, South Carolina
Pineapple Fountain in Charleston, South Carolina
Falls Park on the Reedy in Greenville, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Old Sheldon Church Ruins in Yemassee, South Carolina
(take note that a fence now surrounds this historic site)
South of the Border off I-95 in Hamer, South Carolina
World's Largest Boiled Peanut in Bluffton, South Carolina
World's Largest Sweet Tea in Summerville, South Carolina
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