Page Ivey - Explorer’s Guide South Carolina

DEDICATION

To Mom and Aunt Betty, who taught me that laughter smooths all traveling wrinkles; and to Jan for showing me that its not where you go that matters, its who you go with.

EXPLORE WITH US!

Welcome to the second edition of Explorers Guide South Carolina , the most comprehensive travel guide covering the state. Weve included attractions, accommodations, restaurants, and shopping on the basis of merit (primarily through the personal knowledge of the author) rather than paid advertising. The following points will help you understand how weve organized the guide.

WHATS WHERE The book starts out with some highlights of the major attractions in the state and some things you should know about the peculiar institution that is South Carolina.

LODGING All selections for accommodations in this guide are based on merit. No businesses were charged for inclusion in this guide. Most places dont accept pets, so I mention it when they do; if they dont take children (many bed & breakfasts), I mention that as well. Many locations along the coast require a minimum stay during summer, and those are noted.

RATES Rate ranges were accurate as of early 2017 and show the cheapest that two people could stay in a particular location and the most expensive rate quoted. Some places offer deals for booking and paying in advance. Rates will vary greatly depending on time of year; those also have been noted. Each section will tell you the prime seasons for that area. For example, summer is high season for the beaches surrounding Charleston, but for the city, spring is the most expensive time.

RESTAURANTS Our distinction between Eating Out and Dining Out is based mainly on price. Typically, if a restaurant has no entre offerings under $15, its in Dining Out . These also tend to be slightly dressier locales, though it is rare that a person is turned away for dress. If its in the Dining Out section and jackets or reservations are required, that is typically noted. To be safe, you can call ahead. Smoking is not allowed in restaurants and bars in South Carolina.

KEY TO SYMBOLS

Pets. The dog-paw symbol appears next to venues that accept pets (usually with prior notice).

Child-friendly. The crayon symbol appears next to lodgings, restaurants, activities, and shops of special interest or appeal to youngsters.

Handicapped access. The wheelchair symbol appears next to lodgings, restaurants, and attractions that are partially or completely handicapped accessible.

Did we miss someplace great? Drop us a line at explorersguidesc@gmail.com, or follow us on Twitter at ExploringSC; were also on Facebook under Explorers Guide: South Carolina. Anything we discover after press time can be found at https://exploring-sc.com.

We would appreciate any comments or corrections. Please write to:

Explorers Guide Editor

The Countryman Press

A division of W. W. Norton & Company

500 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10110

CONTENTS

W hen most people think of South Carolina as a travel destination, they think Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island, or Charleston. To be sure, those are the hot spots in the states $24-billion-a-year tourism industry.

But for those who like to take the long way home rather than setting the GPS for the fastest interstate route, there is much more to South Carolina.

Much of what there is to see and do in the Palmetto State revolves around more than 400 years of history since European settlers arrived at Charles Towne Landing. An independent streak runs through that history, from a 1739 slave rebellion along the Stono River near Charleston to the American Revolution to the Civil War.

Visitors can see battlefields from both the Revolution and Civil War. The scars of that last war are prominently displayed on the state capitol, where cannon fire hit the still-under-construction building in 1865.

The cypress swamps that helped Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, hide as he attacked the British can still be seen along roadways near Charleston.

Of course, South Carolina has miles and miles of sandy beaches from Myrtle Beach to the sea islands off Charleston and Beaufort. Back from the beaches but still along the coast is the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, spotlighting the language and culture of freed slaves in the late 19th century. St. Helena Island was home to one of the first schools dedicated to educating freed slaves and was a stopping point for the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

PAGE IVEY

STATE PARK CABIN AT DEVILS FORK STATE PARK

The Upstate is for nature and art lovers. Some of the most rugged and remote areas of the 425-mile Palmetto Trail wind through Jocassee Gorges in South Carolinas northwest corner. The trail forms a spine for a series of hiking, walking and biking paths that run along many of the states lakes and rivers on its way from the mountains to the sea. The Greenville Museum of Art in the heart of the citys downtown houses more Andrew Wyeth paintings than any other museum in the Southeast. The Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery has an often overlooked collection of religious artwork, including 400 paintings by the Old Masters, Gothic furniture, textiles, and ancient artifacts.

South Carolinas one national park, located on the Congaree Swamp, is a wonderland for canoers. Countless lakes, rivers, and streams make the state a fishing, hunting, and boating paradise.

The state also has produced a number of entertainers, including Hootie and the Blowfish, Dizzy Gillespie, Eartha Kitt, James Brown, and Chubby Checker; their hometowns proclaim them proudly on signs. When entering North Myrtle Beach, for example, the welcome sign tells you that you are entering the hometown of Wheel of Fortune star Vanna White.

As a native of South Carolina, I love sharing tidbits about surprising things people dont know about the state and about little out-of-the-way places with memorable food and characters. Finding such places is, I suspect, why we all love to travel.

AREA CODES 864 in the Upstate, 803 in the Midlands, and 843 along the coast.

AIRPORTS AND AIRLINES Charleston International Airport (843-767-7007; chs-airport.com) offers connections to several major U.S. airports and is served by carriers American (800-433-7300; aa.com), Continental Airlines (800-525-0280; continental.com), Delta Air Lines (800-221-1212; delta.com), United Express (800-241-6522; united.com), US Airways (800-428-4322; usairways.com).

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (803-822-5000 or 888-562-5002; columbiaairport.com) offers connections to several major U.S. airports and is served by carriers American Eagle (800-433-7300; aa.com), Continental Airlines (800-525-0280; continental.com), Delta Air Lines (800-221-1212; delta.com), Northwest Airlines (800-225-2525; nwa.com), United (800-241-6522; united.com).