South Carolina

Lowcountry Region

Charleston Metro Area

Charleston

• Angel Oak Tree – 400+ year-old Southern live oak on Johns Island.
• Waterfront Park – Iconic pineapple fountain, breezy pier, and harbor views.
• Folly Beach – Laid-back beach town with a popular fishing pier.
• Fort Sumter National Monument – Site of the first Civil War shots.
• Magnolia Plantation & Gardens – Historic home with extensive romantic gardens.
• Boone Hall Plantation – One of America’s oldest working plantations.
• Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon – Colonial-era customs house and Revolutionary War prison.
• Nathaniel Russell House – 1808 Federal-style mansion with free-flying spiral staircase.
• Old City Jail – Ghost tours of a haunted former prison.
• Big Red Barn Retreat – Free military wellness services and an iconic red barn.
• Charleston Tea Garden – Only large-scale tea plantation in North America.
• Gibbes Museum of Art – Southern art collection in a beaux arts building.
• Charleston City Market – Historic market lined with artisan vendors.
• South Carolina Aquarium – Marine exhibits, sea turtle hospital, and harbor views.

• Patriots Point Naval Museum – Explore the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier and naval exhibits.
• Washington Light Infantry Monument – Memorial honoring Charleston’s historic militia unit.
• Eco Boat Tour to Morris Island – Wildlife-focused boat trip with dolphin and bird sightings.
• Cathedral of John the Baptist – Majestic Catholic cathedral with French Gothic architecture.
• Rainbow Row – Iconic pastel-colored Georgian homes along East Bay Street.
• The Battery – Waterfront promenade lined with antebellum mansions and cannons.
• Pineapple Fountain & Joe Riley Waterfront Park – Scenic park with Charleston’s famous fountain.
• Tradd Street – One of Charleston’s oldest streets, lined with historic homes.
• Boone Hall Plantation – Working plantation with preserved slave cabins and oak avenue.
• Old Slave Mart Museum – Sobering museum in a former slave auction site.
• St. Michael’s Church – Oldest surviving religious structure in Charleston.
• White Point Garden – Park at the tip of the peninsula with monuments and harbor views.
• Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit – Beloved biscuit shop serving Southern comfort in bite-sized form.
• The Charleston Museum – America’s oldest museum with Lowcountry history and artifacts.
• Nathaniel Russell House – Federal-style mansion with a famous spiral staircase.
• Drayton Hall – Unrestored 18th-century plantation showcasing Palladian architecture.
• Middleton Place – National Historic Landmark with America’s oldest landscaped gardens.

Mount Pleasant

• Shem Creek Park – Boardwalk with marsh views and dolphin sightings.
• Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum – Home of USS Yorktown aircraft carrier.
• Charles Pinckney National Historic Site – Preserved farm of a U.S. Constitution signer.
• Sweetgrass Basket Stands – Gullah culture baskets along Hwy 17.
• Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park – Pier, playground, and river views.

Summerville

• Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site – Ruins of a colonial village and tabby fort.
• Azalea Park – Sculptures, gardens, and nature trails in the heart of town.

Midlands Region

Columbia Metro Area

Columbia

• Congaree National Park – Floodplain forest with boardwalks and kayaking.
• Riverbanks Zoo & Garden – Wildlife park with botanical garden.
• Saluda Shoals Park – Riverfront park with trails, tubing, and splash pads.
• South Carolina State House – Greek Revival capitol building.
• South Carolina State Museum – History, science, art, and planetarium.
• Historic Columbia Foundation Houses – Guided tours of 19th-century mansions.
• Busted Plug Plaza – Giant tilted fire hydrant art installation.
• Tunnelvision Mural – 50-ft trompe-l’œil painting of a tunnel on a parking lot wall.
• World’s Largest Gamecock Statue – At Williams-Brice Stadium.
• EdVenture Children’s Museum – Hands-on exhibits and a giant climbable child.
• Finlay Park – Downtown urban park with waterfall and city skyline views.

Camden

• Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site – Battlefields, exhibits, and guided tours.
• Revolutionary War Field Hospital Site – Now an oddly serene ruin.
• Camden Archives and Museum – Colonial and Civil War-era artifacts.
• Quaker Cemetery – Graves of Civil War generals and early settlers.

Upstate Region

Greenville-Spartanburg Metro Area

Greenville

• Falls Park on the Reedy – Urban park with waterfall and pedestrian bridge.
• Paris Mountain State Park – Lakes, hiking trails, and mountain views.
• Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum – Preserved home of baseball legend.
• Upcountry History Museum – Regional history from colonial times to today.
• Mice on Main – Mini bronze mice hidden along Main Street.
• Liberty Bridge – Curved pedestrian suspension bridge with scenic views.
• Greenville Zoo – Compact city zoo with giraffes, lions, and red pandas.
• The Children’s Museum of the Upstate – STEM and art-focused interactive exhibits.
• Roper Mountain Science Center – Planetarium, observatory, and environmental exhibits.

Spartanburg

• Hatcher Garden – Woodland garden and wildlife sanctuary.
• Walnut Grove Plantation – 18th-century homestead with reenactments.
• Cowpens National Battlefield – Pivotal Revolutionary War site.
• Hub City Railroad Museum – Railfan-friendly site in old train depot.
• Glendale Shoals Preserve – Historic mill ruins with waterfalls and trails.

Anderson Metro Area

Anderson

• Lake Hartwell – Massive lake popular for fishing and boating.
• Anderson County Museum – Local artifacts and rotating exhibits.
• Rocky River Nature Park – Birding and hidden art installations.
• Sadlers Creek State Park – Lakefront camping, hiking, and swimming.

Grand Strand Region

Myrtle Beach Metro Area

Myrtle Beach

• Myrtle Beach Boardwalk – Oceanfront promenade with shops and arcades.
• SkyWheel Myrtle Beach – Giant Ferris wheel with coastal views.
• Broadway at the Beach – Entertainment complex with rides, restaurants, and shops.
• Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach – Walk-through shark tank and touch pools.
• WonderWorks – Upside-down science and entertainment center.
• The Bowery – Historic bar where country band Alabama got its start.
• Gay Dolphin Gift Cove – Massive, quirky souvenir shop with rooftop views.
• Hollywood Wax Museum – Life-size celebrity wax figures.
• Myrtle Beach State Park – Quiet beach, trails, and fishing pier.
• Warbird Park – Military aircraft displayed near former Air Force base.

North Myrtle Beach

• Barefoot Landing – Waterfront shopping and entertainment complex.
• Alligator Adventure – Reptile park with gators, snakes, and exotic animals.

Conway

• Conway Riverwalk – Wooden boardwalk along the Waccamaw River.
• Horry County Museum – Local history in a restored school building.

Pee Dee Region

Florence Metro Area

Florence

• Florence County Museum – Art, local history, and Civil War exhibits.
• Timrod Park – Historic park with trails, amphitheater, and tennis courts.
• Florence Veterans Park – Memorials and sculptures honoring service members.
• War Between the States Museum – Confederate artifacts and memorabilia.
• The Columns Plantation – Greek Revival mansion with seasonal tours.
• Downtown Florence Murals – Colorful public art installations around town.

Darlington

• Darlington Raceway & Stock Car Hall of Fame – Legendary NASCAR track and museum.
• South of Pearl – Restored mansion with eclectic antique displays.
• Joe’s Grill (Race Weekend Tradition) – Local diner with racing memorabilia.

Hartsville

• Kalmia Gardens – Botanical gardens and swamp boardwalk.
• South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics – Features architectural tours and public events.
• Hartsville Museum – Local exhibits in a former post office.

Santee Cooper Country

Lake Marion / Lake Moultrie Area

Santee

• Santee State Park – Cabins on stilts over the lake, fishing and hiking.
• Santee National Wildlife Refuge – Birdwatching, walking trails, and prehistoric mounds.
• Smith’s Super Store – Roadside emporium of oddities, gators, and fireworks.

Eutawville

• Battle of Eutaw Springs Site – Last major engagement of the Revolutionary War in the Carolinas.
• Eutawville Museum – Small museum dedicated to the battle and local history.

Moncks Corner

• Cypress Gardens – Blackwater swamp boat tours, butterfly house, and filming site for The Notebook.
• Old Santee Canal Park – Historic canal site with museum and boardwalk trails.
• Mepkin Abbey – Trappist monastery with peaceful gardens and tours.
• Biggin Church Ruins – Brick ruins of an 18th-century Anglican church.