7 Most Breathtaking Towns In South Carolina
South Carolina, making up the Atlantic Seaboard’s Carolinas region together with North Carolina, spans three principal geographic regions from east to west: the pretty Atlantic Coastal Plains, the undulant Piedmont, and the sublime Blue Ridge Mountains. While the Palmetto State is known worldwide for its most frequented destinations, like Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Greenville, and the capital city, Columbia, its breathtaking towns really steal the show. With unspoiled wilderness, vibrant central business districts, and classic Southern hospitality, these South Carolina towns deserve a spot on your exploration checklist.
McClellanville
A halcyon fishing town in the northeastern part of rustic Charleston County, McClellanville is located about an hour from Downtown Charleston and just over an hour from Myrtle Beach. Positioned precisely on the Atlantic coast and surrounded by the Francis Marion National Forest, the inhabitants of this South Carolina town have customarily banked on the vast ocean and coastal marshes for sustenance by fishing, oystering, and shrimping.
While exploring the town, take note of the amazing works of community artists at the McClellanville Arts Council/Pickney Street Gallery, learn about the native history of the Village of McClellanville and St. James Santee Parish from the exhibits at the Village Museum, often lauded as one of the state’s excellent small-town museums, and savor the fresh, fried, and grilled seafood at T.W. Graham & Company Seafood Restaurant.
Georgetown
The government seat of eastern South Carolina’s Georgetown County, Georgetown, sits in the Lowcountry region, near where the Sampit, Waccamaw, Black, and Great Pee Dee rivers empty into the Winyah Bay. As the state’s third-oldest town and the second-largest seaport, this picturesque seaside town’s historic district features several well-preserved National Register-listed properties, flaunting a mix of colonial and antebellum architectural styles.
Retro aficionados can go for a guided tour of the Kaminski House Museum and discover more about the town’s intriguing past through the presentations, beautiful antiques, exclusive gifts, and educational programs. Housed in the Old Market Building in the Front Street Business District is the Rice Museum, where an assortment of artifacts, dioramas, maps, and paintings recounts the history of rice farming in Georgetown. Besides providing an opportunity to peruse multiple small businesses and take in the panoramic views of the Georgetown Harbor, The Harborwalk draws a crowd every year in October during the Annual Georgetown Wooden Boat Show on Front Street.
Travelers Rest
Greenville County’s northernmost community, Travelers Rest, is located at the southern base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Upcountry region of the state, nearly 20 miles south of the border with North Carolina. Previously a refuge for the fatigued wanderers who made their way to the cool mountainous region escaping the summer heat, Travelers Rest is a comforting retreat for weary travelers, culinary connoisseurs, and adrenaline junkies alike.
Main Street’s White Rabbit Fine Arts Gallery is a great spot for hand-crafted gifts and treasures, and charming farm-to-table eateries like Topsoil Restaurant, offer a taste of some of the freshest flavors of the region. You can pack a picnic and spend the day swimming and hiking at 1,540-acre Paris Mountain State Park, and behold unspoiled landscapes while cycling along the 28-mile multi-use Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Hartsville
Hartsville sits along Prestwood Lake in the northeastern portion of the state, and was named after Captain Thomas E. Hart, who owned much of the town's land in the early 19th century. Despite its size, Hartsville has a significant number of landmarks listed on the National Register for Historic Places, such as J. B. Gilbert House, the Tudor Revival-style residence of John Barton Gilbert, a prominent local businessman and manufacturer.
Enjoy a soothing meander through 38 acres of lush foliage and a lovely boardwalk at Kalmia Gardens on the Coker University campus, the focal point of the garden being the Thomas E. Hart House, home of the town’s founder. Dig in to classic Americana at Ruth's Drive In or settle down for a pint and a pizza at Wild Heart Brewing Company.
Beaufort
On Port Royal Island, in the heart of the Sea Islands, Beaufort is the second-oldest city in the state. Dubbed the ‘Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands,’ it is distinguished for its natural beauty, thriving culture, rich antebellum history, and waterfront eateries, like Plums Restaurant, specializing in traditional southern dishes and Lowcountry cuisine.
Walk down the tree-lined streets of the Beaufort Historic District, paying attention to some of the oldest buildings, like the Rhett House Inn in the district’s The Point/Old Point neighborhood. Furthermore, explore Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, a praised community space overlooking the bay and surrounded by restuarants, galleries, bars, and boutiques. It is also where Beaufort's many festivals are held, including the annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival, Water Festival, and A Taste of Beaufort: Music, Arts & Seafood Festival.
York
York is located in the northern part of the state, just west of Rock Hill and only 27 miles southwest of North Carolina’s most populous city, Charlotte. Placed betwixt two Revolutionary War battle sites, Downtown York stretches over 340 acres and is home to one of the state’s largest historic districts comprising more than 180 buildings and landmarks, including the York County Courthouse, designed by William Augustus Edwards.
While in town, be sure to check out the many local boutiques downtown, like The Blush Blossom, as well as eateries like Hoof & Barrel or Towne Tavern York, where you can gorge on prize-winning chicken wing flavors, sizzlin’ fajitas, entrée salads, and beer-battered fish ‘n chips.
Clemson
Part of the Palmetto State’s Upstate region, Clemson is a quaint college town extending across Pickens and Anderson Counties, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and right on Lake Hartwell. Aside from being widely recognized for the aesthetic Clemson University campus, the town’s must-visit sites of interest include the 295-acre South Carolina Botanical Garden, highlighting woodlands, streams, trial gardens, nature trails, and the Bob Campbell Geology Museum with over 10,000 rocks, fossils, and mineral exhibits.
The Brooks Center for the Performing Arts is a popular cultural hub where top-notch theatre, dance, and musical performances are hosted in the auditorium, and the 18-hole championship John E. Walker Sr. Golf Course is one of South Carolina’s most notable courses, welcoming players of all ages and abilities to play a round and enjoy the clubhouse and amenities. If you're more of a spectator than a player, catch a Clemson Tigers football game at Memorial Stadium, also known as Death Valley.
From the Lowcountry coastal town of Beaufort to the Upstate mountain hamlet of Travelers Rest, there are dozens of gorgeous towns in South Carolina just waiting to be discovered. Indeed, these less-explored destinations boast beautiful natural sceneries, charm and charisma, fascinating points of interest, assorted recreational opportunities, and seasonal festivities, promising every visitor to the Palmetto State a warm southern welcome and memories to last a lifetime.
