Table Rock State Park
South Carolina

Have an adventure in the Palmetto State – the chill of winter has faded and the warmth of spring and summer has descended upon South Carolina. Head up-country and check out Fort Mill, which is set just along the South Carolina and North Carolina border, and home to Anne Springs Close Greenway – relax with a calming nature walk, or enjoy a festive picnic. West of Fort Mill are Piedmont and Greenville – two cities in close proximity that feature authentic SC attractions. You can fish the Saluda River, in Piedmont, or explore the South Carolina Confederate Museum in Greenville. You’ve got plenty of choices in South Carolina’s northern region – make this visit memorable.

Centrally located in South Carolina is Columbia – the “Capital of Southern Hospitality,” and home of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. Head to Colonial Life Arena and watch as the Gamecocks basketball, both men’s and women’s, wrap up their seasons and fight for bids into their NCAA tournaments. Baseball fans can also catch a Gamecocks baseball game at Carolina Stadium – watch as they try to slug their way back into the College World Series. For a taste of Columbia, don’t miss a Wine Tasting at Riverbanks Botanical Garden, set for April 27. And you can always enjoy an afternoon at the Columbia Museum of Art – be sure to check out Our Time; Our Place – Photographs of the Black South by Richard Samuel Roberts, set to run through April 29.

Just over an hour to the southeast of Columbia is Santee – a pleasant and quaint lakeside town, home to the South Carolina Wildlife Refuge and easily accessed from I-95. Spring and summer are phenomenal times of the year to visit – don’t miss out on a boat cruise around Lake Marion, or head out in the advantageous weather for a stroll around Santee State Park. Play a round at Lake Marion Golf Course, or, in March, experience the South Carolina Hummingbird Festival, set to the west in Woodford. Continue exploring the area with a visit to the Orangeburg Festival of Roses, set for late April and into early May. Back in Santee, many guests and birders are sure to make plans for the 5th Annual Santee Birding and Nature Festival, scheduled for late April.

In the north of the state, travelers will find Greenville – set just 20 minutes from Piedmont, this charming city has one of the largest populations in South Carolina, and is home to Bob Jones University, and Timmons Park. Spring and summer visitors are in for a treat as the Greenville Drive are all set for another season of minor league baseball. Watch as the Drive, the Boston Redsox single A affiliate, slug their way through the South Atlantic League. Drive games are played at Fluor Field at the West End. For travelers not so enamored with baseball, don’t miss Paris Mountain State Park – take full advantage of the fine weather and plan a tasty picnic, or rousing hike.

Morris Island Lighthouse
South Carolina Coast

The coastal cities and beachfront towns of South Carolina’s coast are a premier destination for spring and summer travelers. It could be the history and charm of Walterboro, to the music and golf in Myrtle Beach, or the thrill of catching a foul ball at a baseball game in Charleston – it’s happening along the coast. In Charleston, before the baseball game, check out Bluegrass on the Waccamaw, a music festial held on the second Saturday in May. Along the way, check out the John Mark Verdier House Museum in Beaufort.

Easily accessed from I-26, and just inland of the Charleston Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean, Charleston is a charming city, and home of the South Carolina Aquarium. Take a relaxing walk around Historic Charleston, or tour Fort Sumter National Monument. In April, plan for an exciting afternoon of Minor League baseball, and watch the Charleston RiverDogs play at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. Scheduled for late April is the 5th Annual Charleston Green Fair – head to John’s Island and partake in live music, locally grown food cooked by some of the area’s top chefs. Be sure to plan for the always tasty Charleston Brewvival. Set for February 25, the Charleston Brewvival is a great way to experience local craft beers, and will be held at the field next to the Coast Brewery.

North along the coast is Myrtle Beach. Set in the center of the Grand Stand, a large stretch of beach, Myrtle Beach is home to Ripley’s Aquarium, and Myrtle Beach State Park. Take full advantage of the spring and summer weather with a round of golf at Arcadian Shores Golf Club, or the Azalea Sands Golf Club. Late February brings Dick’s Last Resort’s Annual Mardi Gras Parade. Scheduled to run from late January into late April, don’t miss the Brookgreen Gardens' “Birds in Art” Exhibition, free with admission into Brookgreen Gardens. February brings with it the Winter Parrot Head Festival at La Belle Amie Vineyard – set for February 28, get ready for plenty of Jimmy Buffett music.

To the west of Myrtle Beach, and set further inland from the coast, Walterboro is found. A fine little city, Walterboro is the seat of Colleton County, and home to the Tuskegee Airman Monument. The chill of winter fades, and the warmth of spring and summer enters – take advantage with a stroll around Colleton State Park. Experience a bit of local history and lore with a visit to the Slave Relic Museum. Continue that thought with a visit to the Colleton County Museum and Old Jail, or the Bedon-Lucas House Museum. Sneak in nine holes before lunch at Dogwood Hills Golf Club, one of the finest executive courses in the area.