South Carolina is a state that many people have heard about; it’s warm and sunny with a friendly and welcoming culture. It’s also a truly excellent place to spend a holiday. Of course, when you’re thinking about visiting a new state, it can be hard to know where to focus your travels. The following will explore eight of the best places to visit when travelling to South Carolina. Special attention will be paid to locals that are ideal for families or groups of varying ages.
Middleton Place
Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark where visitors can see history come to life through reenactments and preserved locations. America has a long and winding history that is unlike any other nation on earth, and this means that its historical sites have a lot to offer visitors. The site focuses on both the Middleton family who owned the location as well as the enslaved Africans and African Americans who lived and worked on the site. American history, including the colonial period, revolution, early republic, and civil war, is visible in this landmark. There’s a lot to learn and a lot to experience as seeing and feeling history changes our understanding of events past.
Kiawah Island
Kiawah Island is an extremely popular place to visit when travelling to South Carolina. This destination makes for an awesome family vacation as it has a little something for everyone. There’s a major golf course that is highly regarded as an excellent golfing location. Couple that with miles of conservation land and stunning beaches, and you’ve got a truly relaxing place to spend a weekend or even a full week. Bike rentals, kayak rentals, and lots of space without crowds make this a lovely location to get away from the chaos of everyday life.
Cherry Grove Beach
Cherry Grove Beach is a popular destination in South Carolina because of the wide variety of activities available. Fishing, golfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and beach activities are present, as well as lots of shopping, golf courses, and restaurants. There is also the famous 1000-foot pier from which large fish, sharks and other sea life can be witnessed. If you want to add an educational element, there’s the Bellamy Museum, a Battle Ship, and Atalaya Castle to visit. You could spend several days here with the family easily and still have things you want to do and see.
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
This 2.5 miles long cable-stayed suspension bridge is well known for its diamond-shaped towers, each of which reach 575 feet into the air. The bridge joins Charleston and Mount Pleasant and makes for some stunning photographs. Like many architectural landmarks, it’s a completely different experience to witness a construction in person than to see a photograph of it. You might also enjoy the charming and picturesque city of Charleston, where there is shopping, food, and all the amenities you could want or need.
Falls Park on the Reedy
Falls Park on the Reedy is gradually becoming one of America’s most famous parks. Located in the small town of Greenville, South Carolina, the destination is perfect for all ages. Greenville has a really artistic and friendly community, and, of course, there are waterfalls to see. Spending time next to rushing water is excellent for your happiness and health and also creates the perfect occasion for some stunning photos. This stop is an absolute must for anyone who loves photography or the arts.
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is a city on the East Coast of the United States within South Carolina. It boasts a beach that reaches on for 60 miles, a subtropical climate, a whopping 86 golf courses, and over 1800 restaurants. There’s a reason Myrtle Beach is one of the most popular destinations in the country: it balances both metropolitan and nature-focused travel and has the best weather imaginable. While you’re soaking up the sun, be sure to take proper precautions to prevent burning, but also be aware that not all sunscreens are ocean safe. Do your research on which products you can wear in the water as ocean damage due to toxic chemicals in sunscreen is a massive problem worldwide right now. It is estimated that 14000 tons of sunscreen with damaging chemicals get washed into the coral reefs (where they cause serious damage to the ecosystem) each year. Everyone needs to be doing what they can to help protect our oceans.
Hunting Island State Park
For those who want to spend a bit of time immersed in nature, Hunting Island State Park is ideal. With cabins and campgrounds galore, this park contains a pier and lighthouse, and many of its features are dog-friendly, making it extremely inclusive for families who don’t want to leave their furry friends at home. Pristine beaches, thousands of acres of maritime forest and marshes, a saltwater lagoon, and an ocean inlet mean that you can experience a wide variety of natural landscapes. The park is particularly known for the Hunting Island Lighthouse, where guests can observe panoramic views from 130 feet in the air. You might also want to know that this is the only lighthouse in the state of South Carolina that is publicly accessible. If you want to visit a lighthouse and walk inside it, this stop is an absolute must.
Brookgreen Gardens
The Brookgreen Gardens are a National Historic Site that contains America’s largest collection of American Figurative Sculpture as well as gorgeous, lush foliage. Depending on when you visit, you might even be able to witness the night of a thousand candles which is exactly what it sounds like and is utterly breathtaking. You might also want to visit around the Christmas holidays to see some of the most stunning Christmas light shows there are.
The above list should give you a good idea of which destinations you want to check out when you’re in South Carolina. It’s a good idea to do a little research before arriving to ensure that you designate an appropriate amount of time to each stop you want to make. In some locations, you can see everything in half a day; others might require a few days to really experience all they have to offer.
