18 Top-Rated Attractions & Places to Visit in South Carolina

Whether you are helping the kids build sandcastles on Myrtle Beach, dining on delectable Lowcountry cooking in charming Charleston, or playing a round of golf on a championship course in Hilton Head or Kiawah Island, South Carolina has a bevy of vacation-worthy attractions.

Home to 2,876 miles of tidal coastline, including 34 barrier islands, South Carolina has no shortage of water and beach-focused activities, including some of the best deep-sea fishing you'll find in the South.

Most of South Carolina's beachfront is on its barrier islands, which are connected to the mainland by bridges. One exception is Daufuskie Island, which can only be accessed by boat, and offers a serene getaway from the crowds on Hilton Head.

No first-time visit to South Carolina is complete without seeing Charleston, its mesmerizing port city. The Holy City's history dates back to the 1700s, and while parts of it are dark, there is no denying modern Charleston is a charming destination. It is easy to lose track of time wandering its cobblestone streets past graceful old mansions and experiencing its buzzy food scene.

While most travelers to South Carolina stick to its coastline, head inland for natural beauty, quaint small towns, the state capital of Columbia, or the charming city of Greenville. The northwest portion of the state, known as the Upstate, boasts scores of cascading waterfalls and major lakes with opportunities for boating, fishing, and water skiing.

Whatever your interests, you'll find plenty of things to do in this list of the top tourist attractions and places to visit in South Carolina.

Charleston's Historic District

Immerse yourself in the gracious atmosphere of the antebellum south in Charleston, where more than 1400 historic homes, churches, and other buildings line the streets. A carriage ride will give you an overview and a little history as well, or you can join a walking tour that includes a peek into some of them.

You can also take a guided tour of several historic homes, including the Aiken-Rhett House and the 1808 Nathaniel Russell House. Both hold priceless collections of fine and decorative arts.

Exhibits at the Old Exchange Building and Old Slave Mart Museum reveal more about the city and its long, complicated history. It is also worth paying a visit to the Charleston City Market to watch "basket ladies" weave sweetgrass baskets, a long-cherished tradition here.

• Read More: Top Tourist Attractions & Places to Visit in Charleston, SC

Myrtle Beach

One of the most popular things to do in South Carolina in the summer is to retreat to the miles of pristine sands that line the coast at Myrtle Beach. As appealing as the beaches themselves are the many traditional seaside pleasures to choose from here. The Carolina Opry produces musical shows, and the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel takes visitors on 10-minute rides above the beach and boardwalk.

Broadway at the Beach is the state's largest entertainment and shopping venue, with rides, mini golf, Ripley's Aquarium, movies, specialty shops, dining, and other attractions in a pedestrian-only area around Lake Broadway. Families love the slides, splash rides, and swimming pools at water parks and at major hotels.

Whether you like fishing or not, you'll also want to add Apache Pier to your list of places to visit in Myrtle Beach. Close to 1,200 feet in length, it's the East Coast's longest wooden pier and a popular fishing spot. For those just wanting to walk the entirety, grab a fresh fish sandwich from Croakers and soak in the spectacular views back over Myrtle Beach. Live music is provided every night in summer, and there's a fun arcade for the kids to enjoy.

• Read More: Top Attractions & Places to Visit in Myrtle Beach

Hilton Head Island

While Hilton Head Island doesn't have the glamorous stage shows of the Grand Strand in Myrtle Beach, this low-country beach town offers laid-back relaxation and smaller crowds. You'll find plenty of fun things to do here, including great shopping, restaurants, golf courses, and, of course, the beautiful wide sandy beaches.

One of the best places in South Carolina for bicycling, Hilton Head has miles of flat, well-marked bicycling trails, with great scenery and signage to point out landmarks and interesting facts. At low tide, you can even ride along the beaches, as most bike rental companies now offer bikes with extra wide tires that handle nicely on the firm, packed sand.

In some places, particularly along the shores of the Intracoastal Waterway, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of dolphins playing on the surf not too far from you. Wildlife watchers can also spot rare and common marine and birdlife up close at the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Be sure to also pay a visit to the Sea Pines Resort area on the island's south end. Of particular interest here is Harbour Town, notable for its marina and famous lighthouse. Be sure to pay the modest admission, it's worth it for the superb water views over to Dafuskie Island.

Greenville

Greenville is a highlight of South Carolina and the perfect place if you're looking for a city getaway. This delightful community has a small-town feel but plenty of attractions and things to do to keep you entertained. The tree-lined Main Street downtown has a wonderful atmosphere, with interesting shops and a great selection of restaurants.

A short walk away is the scenic Reedy Falls, one of the key features that makes Greenville such a beautiful city. Stroll the sidewalks on both sides of the river to enjoy outdoor patios and artist studios, and wander down to the base of the falls if you want a close-up look. Walk across the Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy, a curving, 345-foot-long pedestrian-only suspension bridge, for the best views.

One of the main attractions in Greenville is the 28-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail, a multi-use trail that runs along the Reedy River from downtown to Travelers Rest. Some of it runs through the city but the vast majority runs through forest along a former rail bed, meaning it's mostly flat. You can rent a bike or e-bike in downtown Greenville. Along the way, you can stop in at restaurants to enjoy some time on a patio. The Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery is a fun stop if you are going out to Travelers Rest.

Be sure to check Greenville's list of coming events to see what's happening during your visit. Concerts by big-name musicians are frequent, and local festivals are popular during the summer.

Greenville also makes a good base to explore nearby natural areas like Table Rock State Park and Caesars Head State Park. Both of these have hiking trails, great mountain vistas, and impressive waterfalls.

Daufuskie Island

It is worth taking a day trip from Hilton Head to Daufuskie Island. Accessible only by boat and passenger ferry, it looks as if time stopped moving here. To explore the island on your own, rent a golf cart. There are only a few paved roads on the island, but the carts can drive down the tree-canopied dirt roads.

Pay a visit to the Iron Fish Gallery & Studio, which is where acclaimed coastal sculptor Chase Allen displays his creations. The sculptures have become collector's items worldwide and can only be purchased on Daufuskie Island.

There is a 3-mile-long beach that is way less crowded than other area beaches. Even in the middle of the tourist season, you will only find a few hundred people along it (as opposed to thousands in Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head).

Here you will find Tour Daufuskie, which rents kayaks and paddle boards and also runs organized tours on both. Trips either take you into the ocean or down the island's rivers and saltwater creeks. Horseback riding along the beach is a popular activity. The Haig Point Equestrian Center runs excursions.

For more cultural enrichment, pay a visit to the Daufuskie Island Museum, which tells the story of Native American tribes from the region. The Rob Kennedy Historical Trail, with more than 20 landmarks, is also worth a stroll.

Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor

The attack on Fort Sumter, the federal fort guarding Charleston Harbor, by Confederate forces on April 12, 1861, began the American Civil War. The excellent National Park Rangers' interpretations bring those events vividly to life and set the stage for a better understanding of Civil War history.

You can visit the island and the well-preserved ruins of the fort by boat from the Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square, or from Patriots Point. Or you can get good views of the fort from a 90-minute tour on a sightseeing boat that takes you along the Cooper River to Fort Sumter National Monument.

The tour is fully narrated to provide historical background for Charleston's role in the Civil War and other eras of its history. It also gives good views of other forts, the Civil War prison at Pinckney Castle, the USS Yorktown, and the Ravenel Bridge.

Official site: www.nps.gov/fosu/index.htm

Jocassee Gorges and Devils Fork State Park

South Carolina's northwest corner, known as Upstate, sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is filled with outdoor attractions. Here you will find the breathtaking Jocassee Gorges, the region's crown natural jewel. It is a series of steep rock walls that send dozens of mountain rivers down waterfalls into the giant 7,5000 Lake Jocassee in Devils Fork State Park.

Surrounded by pines and lush green hardwood forests, Lake Jocassee is a crystal-clear, deep-water reservoir. You can rent canoes, kayaks, and motorboats from one of many outfitters around the lakeshore. Guided pontoon boat tours are also offered and these stop at many of the waterfalls around the lake. If you are an angler, this lake is famed for its trophy-size fish. You'll find many bass and trout species here.

The Jocassee Gorges have the highest number of waterfalls in the eastern U.S. And with more than 75 inches of precipitation annually, this 50,000-acre wilderness area is also the only temperate rainforest east of the Rocky Mountains.

One of the most impressive waterfalls in this area is Whitewater Falls, on the state line with North Carolina. The falls are the tallest cascades east of the Rocky Mountains and begin their 811-foot drop in North Carolina and land in South Carolina.

USS Yorktown and Patriots Point, Mount Pleasant

At Patriots Point, on the other side of the harbor from Charleston's Historic District, you can tour the historic Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Yorktown. Built in 1943, it was the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the United States Navy, and earned 11 battle stars for service in World War II, later adding five battle stars for service in Vietnam. The USS Yorktown also "starred" in the 1944 documentary film, The Fighting Lady.

More recently, in 1968, the USS Yorktown commanded worldwide attention for recovering the Apollo 8 astronauts. The vessel was retired to Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in 1975, joining submarines and other maritime exhibits that you can tour.

Address: 40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Official site: www.patriotspoint.org

South Carolina Plantation Gardens

Many of the state's 2,000-plus plantations are open to visitors, and those around Charleston are noted especially for their outstanding gardens. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is America's oldest publicly accessed garden, begun in the early 1700s and first opened to visitors in 1870. They are unique as America's last grand Romantic-style garden. Middleton Place sits above America's oldest landscaped gardens; the house is fully furnished in its original style.

Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens in nearby Mt. Pleasant is one of the nation's oldest plantations still operating as a working farm and is best known for its picturesque, three-quarter-mile Avenue of Oaks. You get a rare glimpse of original 18th-century craftsmanship in the ornamental details of the interior of Drayton Hall, which is the oldest unrestored plantation house in America that's open for tours.

Along with showing how the owners and their families lived, these plantations now include exhibits, tours, and programs on the lives of the enslaved people who made the plantation lifestyle possible during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

Guided tours of Middleton Place include discussions not only about the Middleton family but also the enslaved people and freedmen who served them. Active archaeological studies at Drayton Hall continue to recover artifacts that provide insight into these undocumented lives.

Magnolia's Cabin Project preserves former slave dwellings that serve as the focal point for a 45-minute program on African-American history, highlighting not only the lives of enslaved people, but their later role in maintaining and preserving the estate's magnificent gardens. Boone Hall features a live presentation of the unique Gullah culture developed by African slaves, where descendants of the Gullah people tell the history of this culture through storytelling and song.

Congaree National Park, Hopkins

An easy 30-minute drive south of Columbia, Congaree National Park covers more than 26,000 acres and is a popular destination for those who enjoy the great outdoors in South Carolina. Home to the USA's largest concentration of tall bottomland old-growth forest, this incredibly scenic area is also one of the country's prime wilderness areas, with over half the park considered an unspoiled habitat that's home to abundant wildlife.

It's also notable for having been designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Little surprise, then, that the park is home to an abundance of ecologically important flora and fauna. Wildlife spotters can expect to see everything from bobcats to deer, as well as armadillos and plenty of amphibians.

There's plenty of other fun to be had here, too. Outdoor adventures include extensive hiking trails, kayaking, and canoeing, and guided interpretive experiences.

Address: 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, South Carolina

Official site: www.nps.gov/cong/index.htm

Caesars Head State Park & Table Rock State Park

Caesars Head State Park near Cleveland encompasses the heights of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and is filled with photo ops. The most impressive is from The Overlook near the Visitor Center, with its breathtaking view of Table Rock. The elevation here is 3,208 feet. Also at this stop is the Devil's Kitchen, with a short staircase that takes you into a crack in the rock.

Other highlights are the Raven Cliff Falls Trail which takes you to South Carolina's tallest waterfall, and the Jones Gap Trail, leading to a series of swimming holes.

The escarpment attracts hawks on their migratory route to South America, and Caesar's Head Hawk Site is a count site along the Atlantic Flyway. There are also fishing rivers in the park.

If you are coming here from Greenville, about a 50-minute drive from the Visitor Center, you can make a day of it and stop at nearby Table Rock State Park, where you'll find walking trails, waterfalls, and a pleasant beach for swimming in summer. Wildcat Falls is another hotspot in the area. Located on the roadside on Highway 276, you can wade in the shallow water on the sandy bottom at the base of these falls.

Watch Wildlife at Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet

With more than 300 different species of birds found in the park, Huntington Beach is considered the best birding location in South Carolina.

But birds are not the only attraction for tourists who love wildlife. You can usually spot alligators at the park's freshwater lake, and a wide variety of park programming offers chances to observe loggerhead turtles and other endangered species, as well as introduce some of the rare local plants.

Art lovers enjoy the juried Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival held every September in the former winter residence of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. The philanthropist and sculptor are also responsible for the neighboring Brookgreen Gardens.

Address: 16148 Ocean Hwy, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

Official site: www.southcarolinaparks.com/huntingtonbeach/introduction.aspx

South Carolina State Museum, Columbia

The South Carolina State Museum is the state's largest such facility and a Smithsonian Affiliate. This popular attraction features four floors of exhibits covering South Carolina's natural history, art, culture, science, and technology.

Many of the educational exhibits are hands-on, which makes the museum especially engaging for young visitors. The museum also features a 4-D interactive science theater, a planetarium, and an ever-changing roster of special exhibits.

On the first Sunday of every month, admission is $1.

Address: 301 Gervais Street, Columbia, South Carolina

Official site: http://scmuseum.org

Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet

Set on more than 9,000 acres of former rice plantations south of Myrtle Beach, Brookgreen Gardens combines a sculpture garden, the Lowcountry Zoo, and a wildlife preserve featuring multiple ecosystems. The sculpture is displayed throughout an entire series of themed gardens, which include the Kitchen Garden, Palmetto Garden, and a children's garden.

There's also a terrace garden filled with perennials, roses, and flowering shrubs. The Live Oak Allée of 250-year-old trees dates from plantation days in the early 1700s. Throughout the gardens and in three galleries are displayed more than 2,000 works by 430 artists, the country's largest and most comprehensive collection of American figurative sculpture.

The gardens were founded by Archer Huntington and his wife, the noted sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, in 1932 and were the first public sculpture gardens in America.

Each December, they are transformed into a magical world of colored lights during the Night of a Thousand Candles.

Address: 1931 Brookgreen Drive, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

Official site: www.brookgreen.org

Deep Sea Fishing

From April through November, South Carolina is a prime destination for deep sea fishing, when avid anglers take to the water in a quest for sailfish, amberjack, cobia, giant blue marlin, barracuda, and other game species.

Unique to the state's waters are the many artificial reefs, more than 40 of which are located off its 3,000 miles of tidal shoreline. Built from scrap metal, including discarded equipment, barges, concrete bridges, and military vehicles, the underwater structures create a habitat for a variety of marine species.

Three coastal areas are especially prime for fishing. The sea near Myrtle Beach has 18 artificial reefs and eight fishing piers, including Apache Pier, the longest wooden fishing pier on the East Coast.

Charleston is the best departure point for the central coast waters, where 13 artificial reefs furnish habitat for several species, including blue marlin. Convenient departure points for the southern coastal waters are Beaufort and Hilton Head Island.

All these regions have plenty of charter companies and equipment rentals, as well as launch sites for private boats; if you plan to use charter services, be sure to book early, as South Carolina's potential for deep sea fishing adventures is no secret.

Read More: Best Places for Deep Sea Fishing in South Carolina

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia

As if kangaroo and koala joeys weren't enough, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to more than 2,000 other animals, representing more than 350 species. The two-acre African Plains exhibit reproduces an African savanna, where you can see giraffes, ostriches, and zebras along with African lions and baboons in their own separate natural habitats.

The Ndoki Forest area is a sanctuary for gorillas, elephants, and meerkats. Siberian tigers and Komodo dragons, among other species, represent Asia, while North American species include grizzly bears and California sea lions. The zoo includes a botanical garden and ziplines.

Address: 500 Wildlife Pkwy, Columbia, South Carolina

Official site: www.riverbanks.org/

Columbia Museum of Art

Art lovers traveling to South Carolina should be sure to include the Columbia Museum of Art on their travel itinerary. Consisting of over 25 galleries showcasing regional, national, and international artworks, it's a delightful way to spend a few hours.

Highlights include examples from the Baroque and Renaissance periods, along with works by a number of other European Masters. There's also an extensive collection of artworks by American artists, as well as decorative and furniture pieces.

Guided tours are available, as well as a great series of workshops and other programming.

Address: 1515 Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina

Official site: www.columbiamuseum.org

EdVenture, Columbia

This one's strictly for the kids. The EdVenture Children's Museum is a fun, state-of-the-art attraction that places the emphasis entirely on making learning fun. And the fun here is very much hands-on, from the outdoor activities, including a full-scale airplane, to the magical indoor play areas.

Highlights include an area dedicated to pets, a science and invention lab, plenty of Lego blocks to play with, as well as fun exhibits, including a fire engine and grocery store. A café is also located on-site.

Address: 211 Gervais Street, Columbia, South Carolina

Official site: www.edventure.org

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Where to Go in South Carolina: If you're going to be here in summer, spend some time finding the most beautiful beaches in the state, and don't overlook the many things to do in South Carolina's lovely small towns.

Places to Visit near South Carolina: South of Charleston, traveling through the Low Country leads into Georgia, where you will not want to miss romantic Savannah, with its lovely parks and streets of antebellum homes.