From bustling cities, historic landmarks, and cultural museums to backcountry mountains, sprawling beaches, and quaint low-country towns, South Carolina has a spread of sights laid abundantly across its diverse terrain.
Myrtle Beach is one of the top destinations in the United States when it comes to pristine beach locations. Not only are there miles of sandy shores, but there is also plenty of opportunity for shopping, dining, entertainment, and outdoor water parks. Hilton Head Island also offers a beach experience, though more peaceful, away from the crowds attracted to Myrtle Beach.
Charleston remains the historic port city of charm in South Carolina. With cobbled street and restored architecture, a few of its top sights include the historic district, Fort Sumter, the USS Yorktown, and the South Carolina Aquarium.
Huntington Beach State Park with 300 bird species offers a naturalist's paradise along the coastline, while Caesars Head State Park offers another kind of utopia inland with trails, overlooks, and rivers amongst the mountains.
Hilton Head Island is one of the most popular places to visit in South Carolina. This vacation town is just north of Savannah, and has a long and beautiful stretch of beach. Golf, tennis, and watersports are also popular here. Find a great place to stay on Hilton Head for your family vacation with our suggestions.
And then there are South Carolina's beautiful plantations. While the state is home to more than 2,000 historic homes and stunning grounds, some of the best to tour are located in and around the Charleston area.
Activities throughout the state range far and wide from outdoor adventures in the countryside, to exploring historic cities, beach fronting, and hopping museums across the capital. In Columbia, the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens is home to over 2,000 animals, representing more than 350 species. From African lions to Siberian tigers, giraffes, zebras, and grizzly bears, the place is full of unique habitats that cater to each animal. Demonstrations are held daily, the botanical gardens cover a beautiful 70 acres, and there are even zip lines, a rock-climbing wall, carousel, and vertical ropes course for kids to find their inner monkeys.
The South Carolina State Museum in Columbia is probably the best as far as museums go. The four-floor exhibit space features educational hands-on exhibits, a science theatre, a planetarium, and changing exhibits that highlight natural history, science and technology, art, and culture, as they relate to South Carolina. The Dupont Planetarium in Aiken is also a popular educational activity with both programs on astronomy and nature's other wonders.
Swimming, water sports, lounging, and sunbathing are popular activities anywhere along the coast, especially on Myrtle Beach-though Hilton Head Island is a quieter, classier location for the same.
And then there are the mountains. On the western side of the state, there is much opportunity for backpacking, camping, hiking, fishing, and wildlife watching amongst the trails of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are many scenic overlooks and gorgeous views, plus prospects for geocaching, if treasure hunting is your thing.
Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore South Carolina. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Charleston History Tour - Small Groups Only - History & Alleyways for $28 details
- Charleston Walking Tours with Ann for $75 details
- 8pm Holy City Hauntings Tour for $33 details