The Charleston City Market is where to go to find one-of-a-kind souvenirs and is a mainstay on most agendas of what to do in Charleston. This bustling indoor market offers a wide selection of exciting products to look at, including crafts, jewelry, apparel, treats, and artwork, to name a few. The well-known "basket ladies," who create one of the country's oldest and most exquisite handicrafts of African heritage, are one of the pleasures of visiting this market. For centuries, these women have been making sweetgrass baskets. The craft has been passed down through the generations and has its roots in West Africa.

Take your time exploring the numerous shops selling anything from sterling silver jewelry and artwork to home decor and accessories as you start your journey in front of the Greek Revival-style Market Hall. Additionally, there are a number of outdoor sheds and a night market that hosts over 100 local artisans who sell their handcrafted goods. Are you hungry? The Charleston City Market is home to some top restaurants, including Callie's Hot Little Biscuits, which attempts to preserve the Southern biscuit tradition. Hank's Seafood Restaurant, one of the leading seafood establishments in the city, also serves up delicious Lowcountry dishes.

Address: 188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
Phone: +1 843-937-0920
Google Rating: 4.5/5.0
Website: https://www.thecharlestoncitymarket.com/

Fort Sumter National Monument is an important aspect of American history since it is where the first shot of the Civil War was fired in 1861. Take a ferry to this old fort on a little island to see where it all began. Take one of the tour boats run by concessions that leave from Charleston's Patriots Point or Liberty Square. As an added bonus for visiting this destination, the ferry trip is leisurely and provides views of Battery Park, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, and Fort Moultrie. Dolphins may even be seen splashing in the water!

When you get there, take your time exploring the many Civil War-era guns that are still housed in the stone tunnels. An immersive historical experience is provided by knowledgeable National Park Rangers as they relate intriguing tales of some of the heroes who participated in the first fight of the Civil War. Visit the on-site museum to learn more about the historical location and to view interpretative and visual exhibits that provide more information about the fort's part in the Civil War. Additionally, there is a gift shop with unusual keepsakes for history lovers.

Address: South Carolina 29412, United States
Phone: +1 843-883-3123
Google Rating: 4.7/5.0
Website: https://fortsumtertours.com/

This is one of the Best Things To Do In South Carolina. One of the finest specimens of Palladian architecture in the United States is Drayton Hall, a plantation from the eighteenth century. For more than 250 years, Drayton Hall has served as a testimony to life in the American South. Given that it is one of the best and most comprehensive depictions of Southern colonial life currently available to the general public, the property has an essential instructional duty. It is also a functioning archaeological site with a substantial museum collection of rare artifacts from the 18th and 19th centuries.

By learning about, investigating, protecting, and interpreting the history, context, and culture of Drayton Hall, the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust promotes a broader knowledge of colonial America and the development of life in the South. The beautifully restored 1738 mansion is even open for guided visits. The Revolutionary War, African American history, and decorative arts are among the tour's highlights.

Address: 3380 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414, United States
Phone: +1 843-769-2600
Google Rating: 4.5/5.0
Website: https://www.draytonhall.org/

Take a day trip to Folly Beach when you're ready for a break from exploring Charleston's historic sites. This lovely beach, which is only 12 miles from Charleston's city center, has a long expanse of sand that faces the Atlantic. It's a terrific place to relax and soak up the Southern sun, and adventure-seeking tourists may go surfing, kayaking, or paddleboarding. Another well-liked pastime is fishing from the pier! There are a variety of seaside taverns and unpretentious eateries lining the shore if you're hungry or thirsty.

You can ride about on a fat wheel bike that you can hire. You can enter Folly Beach County Park by going to the beach's western end. Enjoy the breathtaking vistas of Kiawah Island across the Stono Inlet while taking a leisurely stroll down the beach. Be sure to sample some of the area's well-known regional delicacies, such as the fried shrimp platters at The Crab Shack and the flounder po'boys at LoLo's. Bowens Island is a family-run restaurant that has been around since 1946 and offers some of the greatest seafood platters in the area.

Address: 1100 W Ashley Ave, Folly Beach, SC 29439, United States

Phone: +1 843-762-9960

Google Rating: 4.7/5.0

Website: https://visitfolly.com/

One of the most family-friendly vacation spots in the US is Myrtle Beach. From all over the world, sun-seekers come here to enjoy the 60 miles of breathtaking coastline. The Grand Strand, popularly known as the Myrtle Beach region, is a fantastic location for kite flying, shell hunting, and swimming in the glistening Atlantic Ocean. It can be seen as one of the Best Things To Do In South Carolina.

Most of the area's major hotels, eateries, and gift stores are located along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, which is the area's top attraction. A number of stages are set up along the lovely promenade for events like concerts and festivals, and some of the best places for families to visit, including Ripley's Aquarium, are nearby. Children will enjoy riding the renowned SkyWheel, which soars 200 feet in the air, while anyone with a sweet taste will enjoy visiting the I Love Sugar shop. Visit Gay Dolphin to peruse the biggest souvenir store in Myrtle Beach if you're seeking a one-of-a-kind keepsake.

Beachgoers seeking excitement can raise the excitement level of their trip by participating in one of the well-liked water sports offered. You can attempt surfing, parasailing, jet-skiing, windsurfing, and other water sports at this beach, while many beach bums prefer to relax and enjoy the sunshine while reading a good book.

Address: Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States
Phone: N/A
Google Rating: 4.5/5.0
Website: https://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/

WonderWorks is an indoor amusement park with a science theme that blends learning and fun in South Carolina. With more than 100 interactive exhibits, visitors of all ages can find something interesting and challenging. In the Hurricane Shack, experience the force of 84 mph hurricane-force winds. In the Bubble Lab, create enormous, life-size bubbles. Experience zero gravity in our astronaut training gyro and get the NASA treatment. Lay on the life-defying Bed of Nails and nail it. On the indoor Glow-In-The-Dark Ropes Course, you can overcome your fear of heights.

WonderWorks is open every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 8 p.m. on Sundays. Only on Fridays (from 4 to 9 p.m.), Saturdays and Sundays is Soar + Explore open (from noon to 9 p.m.). Anyone aged 13 to 59 must pay $29.99 to enter the indoor attractions, while those aged 5 to 12 and those 60 and over must pay $23.99. There are also combo tickets that cover both regular admission and exclusive activities like the ropes course. There is free parking at Broadway at the Beach.

Address: 1313 Celebrity Cir, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, United States

Phone: +1 843-626-9962

Google Rating: 4.4/5.0

Website: https://www.wonderworksonline.com/myrtle-beach/

Greenville, which is located in the lovely Upstate of South Carolina, has a nice downtown area, top-notch restaurants, and nature parks. Outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, and cuisine enthusiasts all adore this undiscovered gem. Additionally, the majority of its top attractions are close to one another on foot. Some of the city's finest attractions, including the family-friendly Children's Museum of the Upstate, can be found at Heritage Green. View the master paintings at Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery or browse a lovely collection of contemporary art and watercolors at the Greenville County Museum of Art.

More than 100 stores and boutiques may be found in Downtown Greenville, which boasts walking, tree-lined streets if you're looking to buy souvenirs. Mast General Store offers everything from vintage candies and trinkets to outdoor equipment, while O.P. Taylor's Toy Store offers a wide selection of entertaining toys for children. Falls Park on the Reedy is a well-liked outdoor recreation area with walking paths, picnic spots, and lovely gardens right in the middle of the city. Get on two wheels and ride the 20-mile Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail if you enjoy cycling.

Address: S Main St, Greenville, SC 29605, United States
Phone: +1 864-271-5333
Google Rating: 4.8/5.0
Website: https://www.greenvillesc.gov/424/Explore-Downtown

At the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Table Rock State Park is most known for its 3,100-foot granite dome bearing the same name. This mountain getaway features nature paths, a kids' playground, and lakes for fishing, swimming, and canoeing, so you'll find stunning scenery and chances for family-friendly outdoor activities.

Table Rock and Pinnacle Mountain may be seen in the distance from the hiking paths in this lovely park. The family-friendly Lakeside Trail is 1.9 miles long and passes a swimming beach. Carrick Creek Trail is 2 miles long and reaches a maximum elevation of 1,520 feet. It also has an observation deck with views of a waterfall. Before beginning the challenging Table Rock Trail, which ascends 2,000 feet to the summit of the towering dome, you'll need a substantial meal. This calf-burning track is worthwhile since it rewards hikers with breathtaking views from its upper granite outcrops. Another choice for serious hikers is the 4.2-mile one-way Pinnacle Mountain Trail, which offers vistas of Mill Creek Falls. Follow the inclining Bald Knob outcrop's steep ascent for breathtaking mountain views and a distant perspective of Greenville.

Address: 158 E Ellison Ln, Pickens, SC 29671, United States

Phone: +1 864-878-9813

Google Rating: 4.8/5.0

Website: https://southcarolinaparks.com/table-rock

Add the perennial favorite Caesars Head State Park to your South Carolina bucket list for picture-perfect natural scenery. Its protrusion on the magnificent Blue Ridge Escarpment, which affords breathtaking year-round views that reach into North Carolina and Georgia, gave the park its name. Utilize the four-mile roundtrip Raven Cliff Falls Trail to venture outside and explore. This well-known climb takes you to a beautiful overlook from which you can take in the 420-foot Raven Cliff Falls as it cascades into the valley below. There is a 6.6-mile round-trip hike that crosses a suspension bridge above the falls if you're feeling particularly daring.

Plan your visit to coincide with the annual Hawk Watch program, which is held every fall if you enjoy watching animals. The timing of this program allows you to observe hundreds of raptors, including hawks, falcons, and eagles, as they soar and migrate from the perch at 3,208 feet in the air. The Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area is created when Caesars Head State Park and Jones Gap State Park are connected. This 13,000-acre forest is a well-liked location for camping and hiking. This park is located along the Middle Saluda River, which is home to some of South Carolina's top trout fishing.

Address: 8155 Geer Hwy, Cleveland, SC 29635, United States
Phone: +1 864-836-6115
Google Rating: 4.8/5.0
Website: https://southcarolinaparks.com/caesars-head

Even though the Carowinds amusement park is officially located in North Carolina, a portion of it is really in Fort Mill, South Carolina. All ages enjoy the well-liked family-friendly attraction, which features everything from top-notch roller coasters and live performances to a 12-acre kids' zone. There are 14 terrifying roller coasters available for thrill-seekers to choose from, with Fury 325 being one of the most well-known. It is the tallest and fastest Giga coaster in the world with a height of 325 feet and a top speed of 95 mph.

The kid-friendly rides in the Camp Snoopy section will be a hit with your young passengers. They can play in the interactive climbing area, experience a vintage teacup attraction, and soar 20 feet in the air on the Kite Eating Tree. Live performances in the park are sure to delight children of all ages. Beat the heat at the on-site Carolina Harbor if you're in South Carolina during the summer. This exciting water park, which is free to enter, offers two acres of kid-friendly space as well as wave pools and tall water slides.

Address: 300 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273, United States

Phone: +1 704-588-2600

Google Rating: 4.5/5.0

Website: https://www.carowinds.com/

The 170-acre Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia is one of the greatest family-friendly things to do in South Carolina and is home to more than 2,000 species. Families can engage in interactive hands-on activities like feeding giraffes, interacting with marsupials, and petting farmyard animals in addition to the beautiful botanical garden. Discover the numerous zoo areas, such as the Grizzly Ridge where you may see bears, the 20,000-square-foot Aquarium Reptile Complex, and the two-acre African savanna. After that, greet your Australian cuddly friends in the Koala Knockabout area and take in the vibrant birds in the walk-through lorikeet aviary.

A pleasure for families who enjoy the outdoors is the Botanical Garden. The area's Asian Garden, Old Rose Garden, and Walled Garden each span 70 acres and include a variety of seasonal displays. Children will adore the three-acre children's garden called Waterfall Junction, which features a dinosaur dig, a massive treehouse, and a splash pad. Try the ziplining trips at Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens if you have a craving for speed. You'll have the chance to fly 1,000 feet over the beautiful Saluda River, zip through the treetops, and scale cargo nets.

Address: 500 Wildlife Pkwy, Columbia, SC 29210, United States
Phone: +1 803-779-8717
Google Rating: 4.7/5.0
Website: https://www.riverbanks.org/

A must-do activity in South Carolina for nature lovers is taking an outdoor adventure in Congaree National Park. It's not only the largest national park in the country with pristine bottomland forest, but it's also a fantastic place to go hiking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and camping. There are many different hiking trails, from the short Boardwalk Trail that leads into a hardwood forest to the seven-mile Oakridge Trail that skirts a faint ridge. The River Trail is a good place to hike if you want to see the Congaree River, while birdwatchers prefer the Kingsnake Trail.

Canoeing or kayaking the Congaree River's waters is another way to explore it. The 15-mile course passes by some of the park's most picturesque locations and passes close to some of the tallest trees in North America. River otters, deer, turtles, and wading birds should all be seen. Observing the synchronous fireflies at Congaree National Park is one of the best parts of going there. Every year, between the middle of May and the middle of June, you can see this breathtaking occurrence. The fact that this only happens in a select few locations in the Western Hemisphere is so unique!

Address: 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061, United States

Phone: +1 803-776-4396

Google Rating: 4.7/5.0

Website: https://www.nationalparks.org/explore/parks/congaree-national-park