Other Destinations and Attractions in South Carolina

Archer Huntington and his wife, sculptress Anna Hyatt Huntington, bought this beachfront area in 1930 and made it their winter home. Huntington Beach State Park is open to the public with a freshwater lagoon, nature trail, and beach for ocean swimming.

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.

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 Bob Campbell Geology Museum in Clemson contains minerals, fossils and gemstones from around the world. It also features American Indian artifacts.

Jon Calhoun owned the Fort Hill property in Clemson when he was vice president to John Quincy Adams. His son-in-law, Thomas G Clemson founded the university that occupies the former plantation. The home has many original belongings from the Calhoun and Clemson families.

The Robert Muldrow Cooper Library at Clemson University features two rooms dedicated to James F Byrne and Edgar A Brown. Exhibits are located on the main floor and feature papers, furniture, and other memorabilia about these 20th century statesmen.

The Rudolph E Lee Gallery at Clemson University features works by leading architects, artists, craftsmen, and students.

The South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University includes an arboretum, gristmill, greenhouse, teahouse, and the Pioneer Complex on its 295 acres. The garden has one of the largest shrub collections in the eastern United States. It features trails for hiking, jogging and bird watching.

The Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University was established in 1981 and conducts research and service in public policy areas. The life and career of James Strom Thurmond is documented through papers and memorabilia.

Clemson University was established in 1889 as a scientific college. It is located on the former plantation of John C. Calhoun, a U.S. vice president, senator and secretary of state.

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 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 Historical Center of York County is housed in the McCelvey Center, an historic former school building. It contains county records and features extensive collections of documents and photographs related to county history. Information dates back to the 18th and 19th century.

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 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.

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

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 Andrew Jackson State Park is 360-acres and was created as a memorial to the seventh President of the United States. An onsite museum displays historic tools, textiles and household furnishings typical of the Jacksonian era.

The park also contains a sculpture of Jackson by Anna Hyatt Huntington and a replica of an 18th century one-room schoolhouse.

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.

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.

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 Berkeley Museum in Moncks Corner traces the history of the area back 12,000 years to Indian residents of the Ice Age. The museum tells the story of the CSS David a semi-submersible torpedo boat used during the Civil War.

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.

Archer Huntington, the son of the transportation magnate Collis P. Huntington, and wife Anna Hyatt Huntington, the sculptress, built Atalaya Castle during 1931-1933. Atalaya is a Spanish term for watchtower. The southern wing of the house contained Archer's study, which opened onto a small enclosed courtyard where Mrs. Huntington worked on her sculptures.

North Myrtle Beach is a popular vacation spot for tourists who prefer a quieter scene. Boating, golf, swimming, and fishing are all available in the area.

The Alabama Theatre at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach features a Las Vegas style revue called "One" with singing, dancing and comedy.

Alligator Adventure is a reptile park located on 20 acres of wetland habitat. More than 700 reptiles are featured including alligators, crocodiles, exotic snakes, lizards and Komodo dragons.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

EnergyQuest in York features hands-on activities about electricity, energy and nuclear power.