5 Places to Visit in South Carolina

South Carolina has a lot to offer from the Upstate to the Lowcountry to the great beaches. The summer months are a bit humid but overall it has some of the best weather: not too hot and not too cold, it’s a happy medium. I have traveled over a lot of the state and below is five of the most popular places to visit:

This post may contain affiliate links. Ssouthernlifestyle may receive a commission from the links that you click on at no additional charge for you. Thank you for supporting ssouthernlifestyle!

1. Greenville – Almost every state has a Greenville but I don’t know if they all have as much to offer as South Carolina’s. Downtown is always hosting different events throughout the year along with the great food, shopping and nightlife that is year round. Greenville also has the Liberty Bridge, Greenville Zoo, American Legion War Museum, Paris Mountain State Park, Fluor Field, Art Crossing, South Carolina Children’s Theatre, Falls Park on the Reedy, GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail, Greenville County Museum of Art, Roper Mountain Science Center and The Children’s Museum of the Upstate. Of course there are several other parks and museums to check out but there is too many to list.
2. Charleston – I have been to at least one other state with a Charleston but nothing beats the southern charm of Charleston, SC. Full of history Charleston is 2nd to none. The famous King Street offers fine dining, shopping and nightlife but it’s best to get your walking shoes on because this street stays crowded. There is so much to visit like Fort Sumter National Monument, Riley Waterfront Park, Old City Jail, Old Slave Market Museum, S.C. Aquarium, Pineapple Fountain, Morris Island Lighthouse and Magnolia Plantation. There is also various beautiful churches, historical homes and gardens available for the public to visit. From walking or carriage ride tours of the historical district to ghost tours there is always something to see and do.
3. Myrtle Beach – One of the most popular beaches to visit in South Carolina, it has become a huge tourist attraction. I started visiting Myrtle Beach as a child and over the years I have been able to see how it has changed and grown. Of course it offers plenty of shopping, local eating places (but don’t drink the sweet tea because it has a salt water taste) and nightlife but there is a lot of other attractions beyond the beach that people love to visit too. You can start with a walk down the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, Broadway at the Beach, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, Ripley’s Aquarium, The Carolina Opry, S.C. Civil War Museum, Myrtle Beach State Park, Ripley’s other attractions, Alabama Theater, Waccatee Zoological Farm and Alligator Adventure. There are all types of other activities like miniature golf, golf courses, shows like Medieval Times, water sports, go carts and helicopter tours. I always love visiting Myrtle Beach.
4. Hilton Head – Great for the family and more relaxation try Hilton Head Island. While at the beach try out the watersports, dolphin cruises and pirate ship adventures. Check out Vanishing Island, Harbor Town Lighthouse, Jarvis Creek Park, Newhall Audubon Nature Preserve, The Liberty Oak in Harbor Town, The Jazz Corner, Costal Discovery Museum and the Arts Center of Costal Carolina while visiting. There is several golf courses, miniature golf, dining and shopping to boot!
5.  Beaufort – Home to the Marine Corp Base at Parris Island, Beaufort is a beautiful place to visit. There is festivals throughout the year to celebrate food, water and heritage. Walking tours or carriage tours of the historical district showcase the historical landmarks of the city. Golf, fishing, boat tours, watersports, dining, shopping and beaches is always a treat while you are there. The National Cemetery, Fort Fremont, Spanish Moss Trail, Hunting Island Lighthouse, Hwy. 21 Drive-In Theatre, Parris Island Museum, Woods Memorial Bridge, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and the Tabby Wall are great attractions to visit while you are there.

Other cities that I would like to give a worthy mention of are: Columbia – The State Capital, Clemson – Home to the Clemson Tigers, Pickens – Table Rock State Park and Greer – Home to the only BMW manufacturing facility in the US.