South Carolina places

Places to Go in South Carolina

18 towns and places, by region. Pick one on the map, or browse below.

Cities with a guide of their own

These South Carolina cities have their own site in the Dot Life Network, with neighborhoods, restaurants and events.

Charleston

A steeple-rich skyline, cobblestone streets and more than 300 years of history, with beaches close by.

The Upcountry

Blue Ridge foothills, waterfalls and mountain lakes

Clemson

Clemson, home of Clemson University, sits in the Blue Ridge foothills and along Lake Hartwell, with tiger paw designs on its buildings and streets. Tillman Hall's clock tower overlooks Bowman Field. The South Carolina Botanical Garden holds the Bob Campbell Geology Museum and its more than 10,000 specimens.

Greenville

Greenville, long known as the Textile Center of the World, has a 60-foot waterfall at Falls Park in its downtown. The Swamp Rabbit Trail runs through the city, and the Upcountry History Museum tells the region's story.

Pendleton

Pendleton was laid out in 1790, and the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places. More than 50 buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries stand in or just outside town, and four historic homes are open for tours. Restored Timms Mill grinds fresh grits and cornmeal.

Spartanburg

Spartanburg, known as the Hub City of Upstate South Carolina, sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Its downtown is a cultural district designated by the South Carolina Arts Commission, with galleries, studios, music venues and museums. The city also has ties to Revolutionary War battles.

Travelers Rest

Travelers Rest sits in the southern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the Upcountry. The Swamp Rabbit Trail follows the Reedy River and connects it to downtown Greenville. Trailblazer Park hosts many of the town's cultural events, with mountain views.

Walhalla

Walhalla was founded in 1850 by German immigrants, and the state tourism site says its name means The Garden of the Gods. Known as Main Street to the Mountains, its downtown leads to Sumter National Forest and the Chattooga River. The easy Station Cove Falls trail is three-quarters of a mile.

The Midlands

The capital, old forest, horse country and river rapids

Aiken

Aiken is home to many thoroughbred champions, and its Triple Crown of Aiken runs each March. The Aiken Training Track is open to visitors, and the city has one of the nation's largest urban forests. Hopeland Gardens and a downtown arboretum round out a visit.

Camden

Camden, established in 1732, is South Carolina's oldest inland city and was the site of two Revolutionary War battles. Historic Camden is a 106-acre outdoor museum, and the National Steeplechase Museum stands at Springdale Race Course, home of the Carolina Cup. More than 60 buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina's capital, markets itself as Famously Hot. Visitors can raft the rapids of the Saluda River, paddle the city's three rivers and visit Riverbanks Zoo and Garden near downtown. Lake Murray is close by in the same four-county region.

Rock Hill

Rock Hill's hidden gems, according to the state tourism site, include quirky frog displays, a bank vault filled with French pastries and art-inspired alleyways. The Riverwalk Trail follows the Catawba River, and Old Town hosts Food Truck Fridays. The League of American Bicyclists lists it as a Bicycle Friendly community.

The Grand Strand

Over 60 miles of sand, from Little River to Pawleys Island

Georgetown

Georgetown was founded in 1729 and overlooks Winyah Bay, with waterfront parks and a Harborwalk. The Strand Theater dates to 1941, and the annual Wooden Boat Show celebrates the town's 18th-century shipbuilders. The state tourism site recommends adding Hobcaw Barony and the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center to a visit.

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach sits on the Grand Strand, which the state tourism site describes as over 60 miles of sand, sun and the Atlantic Ocean. The same site counts 87 premier golf courses in the area. The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel is a well-known landmark.

North Myrtle Beach

The state tourism site calls North Myrtle Beach the birthplace of the Carolina Shag, and music drifts along Ocean Drive as people dance. Waites Island, an undeveloped barrier island, is a place to paddle pristine marshes. The 162-acre North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex has walking trails and a lake.

Pawleys Island

Pawleys Island, 35 minutes south of Myrtle Beach, is one of the oldest vacation communities in the Southeast, according to the state tourism site. It belongs to the Grand Strand's Hammock Coast. Visitors stay in oceanfront homes and beach cottages, and Huntington Beach State Park runs nature programs nearby.

The Lowcountry

Sea islands, salt marsh and Gullah Geechee culture

Beaufort

Beaufort's downtown is a National Historic Landmark district with more than 50 architecturally significant buildings. The 10-mile Spanish Moss Trail runs through the area, and Hunting Island is close enough for a day trip. The state tourism site also points visitors to a kazoo museum.

Bluffton

Bluffton sits among moss-draped oaks on the May River, just across a bridge from Hilton Head Island. The family-owned Bluffton Oyster Company is one of its most popular historic landmarks. The 5.2-mile New River Trail is part of the East Coast Greenway.

Edisto Island

Edisto Island is a small sea island in the ACE Basin, about 42 miles south of Charleston, reached by the Edisto Island National Scenic Byway. It is mostly undeveloped and has no hotels, so visitors stay in vacation rentals. The 4,600-acre Botany Bay preserve includes almost three miles of undeveloped beachfront.

Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island has 12 miles of sandy shoreline and more than 33 championship golf courses, according to the state tourism site. Visitors can climb Harbour Town Lighthouse for views of the Atlantic Ocean. Gullah-inspired food and museums on Sea Island life are part of the island too.