South Carolina is a Southern charm-infused orchestra of landscapes that plays to perfection year-round.

Creating this harmony are world-class white sand beaches and mega golf destinations along its Atlantic edge, Blue Ridge mountain vistas inland, large cities that never overwhelm and Lowcountry towns that leave you in the highest of spirits.

South Carolina is primed for a multi-city road trip with several mega interstates and major US roadways zigzagging throughout the state. At a minimum, you’ll want to plan a long weekend or a week in the Palmetto State to truly dabble in its geographic wonders and warm and undeniably twangy natives.

From the 26,000-acre national park to the museum-clad capital, and a coastal gem of a city that will leave any foodie loosening their belt a notch, these are the best places to visit in South Carolina. 

Congaree National Park is the best place for outdoor adventures

Tucked in the middle of South Carolina and approximately 20 miles southeast of Columbia, Congaree National Park is where people come to quietly unwind. This nearly 27,000-acre park is a biodiverse spectacle, with towering hardwoods, stringy Spanish moss, a two-plus mile elevated boardwalk and the calm Congaree and Wateree Rivers comprising its landscape.

Central and staffed, Congaree National Park appeases off-the-grid multi-day campers and those seeking a guided experience. Each Saturday year-round, rangers and local volunteers lead guided tours of some of the park’s most astonishing experiences, including turtles the size of a coffee table, hand-sized spiders and “Champion Trees” that rank among the largest trees on earth.

Myrtle Beach is the place to go for a family day out

As soon as you set foot on Myrtle Beach’s soft sands, you’ll get why it’s considered the vibrant heart of South Carolina’s “Grand Strand” (a 60-mile stretch of beaches along the Atlantic). Within its coastal confines, there’s truly something for every family member, spanning boardwalk strolls (and perhaps a SkyWheel ride?), craft brewery excursions with bocce ball action at Crooked Hammock Brewery and, of course, endless days on the beach.

For a family-friendly outing,