All Other Destinations and Attractions in South Carolina

Hilton Head Island, off the Atlantic coast in the extreme southeast of the state, is now linked with the mainland by a four-lane highway. It is internationally renowned as a fashionable holiday resort, with clean and well-kept beaches, marvelous golf courses and a wide range of other leisure facilities. The sporting highlights of the season are the golf tournament and the ladies' tennis tournament, both of which attract international stars.

The Kings Mountain National Military Park is a memorial to the victory of the Patriots over the Loyalists in the battle of Kings Mountain which was fought on October 7th, 1780. The United State Monument, Centennial Monument, and other memorial markers are found throughout the park.

Walhalla (pop. 3,800) is located in the northwestern area of South Carolina. It was named for the garden of the gods in Norse mythology, Valhalla, and settled in the mid-1800s.

Sumter (pop. 40,000) was founded in 1785. The town was named for Revolutionary War hero Gen. Thomas Sumter. It developed a reputation as a cultural center as refined citizens from surrounding plantations settled in Sumter.

Pendleton (pop. 3000) was named for Judge Henry Pendleton, whose men were among the first Revolutionary militia in the South. Pendleton became popular with wealthy families who built large plantations as their summer retreats.

Orangeburg (pop. 13,000) was named for William, the Prince of Orange, son-in-law of King George, II, of England. The area was first settled in 1704 by an Indian trader, George Sterling. The site was attractive to Swiss, German and Dutch immigrants because of the fertile soil and the abundance of wildlife.

Near the little town of Ninety Six on the Piedmont Plateau the first battle of the Revolutionary Wars in the southern United States was fought in 1775, and, six years later, a British fort was besieged for 28 days. A trail 1 mi. long through the forests takes visitors round the scene of the fighting.In the far north-west of the state is a lovely stretch of country in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The beauty of this relatively unknown part of South Carolina can be enjoyed on a drive on the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (SC 11).

Hartsville (pop. 7,500) got its name from Captain Thomas E. Hart. In 1894, Major Coker formed the high school that became Coker College. Major Coker also established a number of companies that helped establish the town.

Greenwood (pop. 22,000) was named for a local plantation owner. The town benefited from early growth due to cotton growing and textile manufacturing. Every June Greenwood hosts the South Carolina "Festival of Flowers".

Greenville (pop. 56,000) is the third largest city in South Carolina. It became a summer resort in the early 19th century for Low Country planters who wanted to escape the coastal heat and malaria. During the Civil War, Greenville was a hospital center for Confederate soldiers. Today Greenville has over 60 city parks.

Florence (pop. 30,000) began as a railroad town in 1853. During the Civil War the town was an important shipping center for the Confederacy and a starting point for troops.

Cheraw (pop. 5,500) is located in northeastern South Carolina at the head of the Pee Dee River. It was settled in 1750 and officially named in 1820 after a local American Indian tribe. Cheraw was an important trade center.

Camden (pop. 6,700) is one of the oldest inland towns in South Carolina. The first settlement arrived in 1751. More than a dozen battles during the Revolutionary War were fought within a 30mi/48km radius of Camden.

Bluffton has been established for over 200 years and bills itself as the "last true coastal village of the South". A delightful summer resort town and an eclectic place to live year round, Bluffton has many shops, restaurants, and galleries. Bluffton is located near the more famous Hilton Head development and is halfway between Savannah and Beaufort. Views out over the May River can be found from downtown as the town is situated on a high bluff. Activities abound for visitors. Outings to the nearby marshes are popular as are trips to the local farmer's market which takes place every Thursday.

Something of the spirit of the neat little 18th c. plantation town still manifests itself in Beaufort (founded 1710), south-east of Charleston; especially on the waterfront, in some old villas - many of which now offer bed and breakfast - and in Beaufort Museum.

Aiken (pop. 25,000) grew to popularity during the 1890's as a health resort due to the Best Friend steam passenger train. By the turn of the 20th century, it was one of the foremost polo centers. A campus of the University of South Carolina is located in the town.

Conway (pop. 12,000) is one of the oldest towns in South Carolina. It was established in 1734 and originally named Kingston. The name was changed to Conwayborough, in honor of General Robert Conway, after the Revolutionary War. The town was a busy port on the Waccamaw River with oak trees that still stand and are protected.

The Walnut Grove Plantation is located south of Spartanburg. It was granted to Charles Moore in 1763 by King George III. The site contains the original two-story, clapboard-over-log home on its original site as well as other period structures including the wheat house, smoke house, well house with dry cellar for cool food storage, blacksmith's forge, and barn.Antique furnishings and accessories portray living conditions in Spartanburg County prior to 1805.

Historic Brattonsville is located east of McConnells. The restored structures include Homestead House, built between 1823 and 1826, furnished to appear as it would in the second quarter of the 19th century and Colonel Bratton House, built about 1775, is interpreted as the tavern that the Brattons operated out of the house in the 1780s and 1790s.

The Pickens County Museum is housed in a turn-of-the-century Gothic style red brick building that resembles a castle. The building has been restored, and originally served as the local jail - it was expanded with a 10,000 sq foot addition.The exhibits highlight information, artifacts and antiquities as well as a native plant garden, Hagood Mill historic site, and traveling exhibits.

Clemson (pop. 12,000) was originally named Calhoun in 1892 but renamed in the 1940s. The town is the home of Clemson University, which opened in 1893 as the military-style Clemson Agricultural College. Clemson University is ranked as the best large public university in South Carolina.

The Cowpens National Battlefield commemorates the Battle of Cowpens. The Patriots outwitted the British in this battle when Daniel Morgan led his army of Continentals, militia and cavalry to a victory over Banastre Tarleton's force of British regulars.

The NMPA Stock Car Hall of Fame and Joe Weatherly Museum in Darlington, on the grounds of the Darlington Speedway, has a collection of older stock cars, trophies, racing engines and outrageous illegal racing parts removed from cars before actual racing events.

The Congaree Swamp National Monument contains some of the tallest trees in the eastern United States and the largest intact tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest. The park features the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, a boardwalk loop trail and more than 25 miles of hiking trails.

The Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge is located north of McBee and features 45,348 acres of forests, streams, ponds and open fields filled with over 200 species of wildlife. The refuge offers hiking trails, observation towers and fishing opportunities.

Legend has it that the town of Murrells Inlet (pop. 5,500) was named for Capt Murrell who was a pirate who used the inlet for a base as he pillaged the Atlantic coast. Fleets of deep-sea fishing boats anchor here and journey to the Gulf Stream for oysters, crabs, clams and shrimp. It is now a popular tourist spot.

Old Santee Canal Park was constructed between the Santee and Cooper rivers in 1800. Within 50 years the railroad had replaced the waterway for shipping. Most of the route is now covered by Lake Moultrie. The park is located 30 minutes north of Charleston.

The Museum of York County in Rock Hill features a planetarium, a collection of mounted animals from Africa, art galleries and a nature trail. The art of Vernon Grant who created the "Snap! Crackle! Pop" characters for Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal, is displayed.

The Spartanburg County Regional Museum of History was established in 1961 and features exhibits including the Pardo Stone, quilts, Camp Wadsworth, the Revolutionary War, Camp Croft, dolls, Civil War, textile mills and other topics related to Spartanburg County history.

The culture and history of the Sea Islands' African-American population is featured in the York W Bailey Museum. Dr. York W. Bailey was born on St Helena Island in 1881 on the Cedar Grove Plantation. The museum features exhibits of Sea Island and African American history and culture.

Rose Hill in Union is the former home of South Carolina's "Secession Governor" William H Gist. The 19th century Federal-style house has been restored and contains furnishings once owned by the Gist family. The grounds have a hardwood grove, rose gardens, and original plantation buildings.

Abbeville (pop. 6,000) is located in northwestern South Carolina. It was the birthplace and deathbed of Confederacy. Home to the 1908 Abbeville Opera House, the restored theatre is still in use today.

The South Carolina Cotton Museum in Bishopville shows the history of cotton production in the South through exhibits that include scales, cotton bales, photographs and a crop-duster.

The Cayce Historical Museum tells the history of the first European settlement of South Carolina in the 1700s. Exhibits feature Colonial trade, agricultural development and transportation from the 18th century to the present.

The Dillon County Museum is located in the restored office of the late Dr. Henry Edwards. Constructed in 1915, the Museum offers a turn of the century glimpse of life in Dillon County.

The Hollywild Animal Park in Inman is home to a collection of rare and exotic animals. Many of the animals have been featured in commercials and Hollywood movie productions.

Lancaster (pop. 8,000) was settled in the early 1800s and became the center of trade for surrounding villages. The city's growth is attributed to a series of canals that made the waterway more navigable.

The Lexington County Museum recreates life in Lexington County at the turn of the 18th century. Middle class farmers in the colonial period are represented as well as many items people used in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Brookgreen Gardens in Pawleys Island is the country's first sculpture garden with more than 500 works of American figurative sculpture on display. The gardens are located in the heart of a 9,100-acre preserve. It is a National Historic Landmark.

Art and history are featured in the Calhoun County Museum and Cultural Center in St Matthews. The museum contains costumes, period furniture, Indian exhibits, an art gallery and archives.

The Kiawah Island Golf Resort has golf, tennis, beaches, kayaking, cycling, birding, and oceanfront views.

The Parris Island Museum features the history of recruit training, 20th Century Marine Corps history and the history of Parris Island.

The World of Energy in Seneca is an energy-education center that offers an audio-visual tour with animated displays, computer games, and a short nature trail.

Oyotunji African Village is the oldest, authentic Yoruba, African village in North America.

The Fairfield County Museum is located in an 1830 Federal townhouse in Winnsboro. The museum features artifacts and exhibits of local history.

The town of York (pop. 7,000) was originally known as Fergus's Crossroads. The town features more than 180 landmarks and structures in the historic district.