Known for its beautiful beaches and world-class golf destinations, South Carolina is also home to an incredible variety of lesser-known outdoor experiences. From the calm and rejuvenating to the active and thrilling, visitors of every age are sure to discover a memorable encounter with the great outdoors this summer.

Lake Murray Country

Lake Murray Country offers numerous outdoor activities on and off the water. At Carter and Holmes Orchid Nursery, one of the largest orchid nurseries in the world, guests can tour 18 greenhouses and wander through 93,000 square feet of tropical beauty. Stroll the grounds of the Lexington County Museum, which features 36 historic structures dating back to the late 1700s, including the oldest known structure in Lexington County. The region is also home to the beautiful Saluda Shoals Park. Take a guided river walk of the 400-acre state park, visit the environmental education center or take advantage of endless trails available for hiking, biking and horseback riding.

For those seeking a waterfront encounter, Dreher Island State Park is a great place to “get away from it all.” A series of three islands just 30 miles from downtown Columbia, the area is considered among the South’s top destinations to fish striped bass and also offers space to picnic, hike or camp. For a uniquely South Carolina experience, visit in July or August to witness thousands of purple martins as they establish a seasonal home on Lake Murray, creating the largest natural roosting sanctuary in North America. Lake Murray itself boasts scenic landscapes and picturesque sunsets year-round, with its 650 miles of shoreline and activities including swimming, sailing lessons and cruises aboard the Southern Patriot, a double-deck mahogany cruise boat.
www.lakemurraycountry.com

Old 96 District

South Carolina’s Old 96 District is home to an impressive six state parks and to some of the state’s best fishing opportunities. Lake Thurmond, one of the South’s largest bodies of water, features 1,200 miles of shoreline and has more than 100 islands. Lake Thurmond is an ideal place to fish white, striped and largemouth bass as well as crappie and bluegill. Each of the region’s parks incorporates outdoor activities including hiking, biking and treasure hunts. Hickory Knob State Resort Park, at the South Carolina-Georgia border, spans more than 1,000 acres and features 75 family campsites, a lodge, cabins and meeting rooms to accommodate every type of visitor.
sctravelold96.com

Historical Charleston

In Charleston, historic plantations offer delightful outdoor experiences any month of the year, with classic Colonial architecture and grand avenues of moss-covered oak trees. Boone Hall Plantation, Drayton Hall, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens and Middleton Place are among the area’s beloved sites, which are home to some of America’s oldest gardens.

Though the Charleston scenery is unique in any season, spring is an ideal time to visit. The Annual Festival of Houses & Gardens affords guests the rare opportunity to tour 150 privately owned homes, each showcasing exquisite antebellum architecture and vibrant blooming gardens. In May, partake in the First Flush FesTEAval, a celebration of the first tea harvest of the year at America’s only tea plantation, the Charleston Tea Plantation on Wadmalaw Island.

The Lowcountry 

The Daufuskie Endangered Places Program, developed and managed by the Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation (PTHP), is South Carolina’s only statewide nonprofit preservation organization. As a result of the program, tourists will soon have the opportunity to enjoy an authentic experience like those of the Gullah people, whose rich heritage lives on in the area. The PTHP will soon begin renovating and leasing these historic properties to serve as one-of-a-kind vacation homes, taking care to preserve their historic integrity.

Thoroughbred Country

Thoroughbred Country offers a number of destinations to witness sprawling greenery, forestry and wildlife. Aiken’s Citywide Arboretum is a trail uniquely located within a 4-mile radius of Aiken’s downtown area. The trail can even be explored through your mobile device, by dialing a tree’s label to hear more about each one. Aiken is also home to Hopelands Gardens, an estate of lush pathways and natural wetlands. A floating boardwalk allows visitors to view plants, trees and a variety of marine life from a unique perspective.
www.visitaikensc.com

Nearby at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary, more than 3,000 acres of forests, lakes and streams make for special wildlife sightings. Silver Bluff is home to 200 species of wildlife, the endangered wood stork among them. The town of Monetta is a great place to spend warm evenings under the stars, with its famed “Big Mo” drive-in theater opening soon for the spring season. www.tbredcountry.org

The Pendleton District

The Pendleton District boasts an idyllic opportunity to appreciate the great outdoors — from South Carolina’s highest point, Sassafrass Mountain. Traverse the Foothills Trail to reach the mountain while covering two state parks and viewing the beautiful Jocassee Gorges. Visitors can round out their visit with a boat tour of Lake Jocassee for spectacular views of waterfalls, wildlife and mountains. Jocassee Lake Tours offers pontoon lake tours, twilight cruises, guided kayaking adventures and more on the 7,500-acre body of water.

The Pendleton District also makes a great destination for equestrian enthusiasts. Marietta’s Eden Farms, a family-run barn in the Blue Ridge Mountains, offers private and group lessons, trail rides, therapeutic riding and more. The Welcome Ranch in Williamston also offers horseback riding and hosts a number of Quarter Horse shows.
www.crownofthecarolinas.org

The Olde English District

Adventure seekers will love a visit to the Olde English District, home to Skydive Carolina. A top static line course, Skydive Carolina offers classroom instruction, single and tandem rides and welcomes first-time and experienced skydivers alike. Those who prefer a more guided flight should visit the Bermuda High Soaring School, one of the largest commercial soaring centers in the country. Rides are available almost every day of the year and are open to beginners and experienced pilots. In the nearby town of Winnsboro, look for Carolina Adventure World, a 2,600-acre recreation park packed with ATV trails, motocross courses, camping areas and newly opened overnight cabins. The park has recently announced future plans for exciting additions including a nature preserve, a youth area complete with go-karts, a natural beaver pond, dining offerings and more.
www.oldeenglishdistrict.com

For a truly close encounter with nature, a visit to York County’s Anne Springs Close Greenway is a must. The Greenway is a protected natural area that includes 2,300 acres of pastoral land, preserved and dedicated on Earth Day in 1995 as a gift to the area from the children of Anne Springs Close and H. William Close. Its celebration of Earth Day continues to be a highlight, with this year’s festivities scheduled for April 26. The Greenway includes a number of facilities suitable for group gatherings, including the popular Dairy Barn, the rustic Field Trial Barn, the Nature Center with on-site wildlife educator and the 28-acre Lake Haigler for kayaking and fishing. Lastly, the Greenway is home to the Nation Ford Trail, known for its use by Native Americans and Revolutionary War soldiers.

South Carolina is just right for vacations, with enticing outdoor experiences in each of its diverse regions, including 187 miles of Atlantic coastline, lake regions and coastal plain in the Midlands and deeply forested Blue Ridge Mountains in the upper west corner. Its moderate year-round temperatures attract millions who enjoy its natural resources and inspiring historical and cultural attractions as well as fine dining, charming small towns and world-renowned golf experiences.