South Carolina is a sunny paradise. Sights of South Carolina - what to see. Complete guide to iconic places Recreation and entertainment

Smiling faces and beautiful places are not only the motto of one of the warmest states in America, but also the everyday reality of South Carolina, which lies on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, washed by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Luxurious colonial architecture and kilometer-long beaches are what greet millions of tourists arriving in the state from different parts of the world. The state's coastline is almost entirely suitable for swimming and beaches, and the longest line of beaches stretches for almost 100 kilometers.

Luxurious colonial architecture and kilometers of beaches are what greet millions of tourists arriving in South Carolina from different parts of the world.

It almost never snows in South Carolina. The minimum temperature in the winter months rarely drops below two degrees, and precipitation almost always falls in the form of hail.

The state capital is Columbia.

The largest cities are Charleston, Rock Hill, Spartanburg.

How to get there

You can get to South Carolina through transit airports of the largest cities on the Atlantic coast of the United States - New York, Atlanta, Charlotte and Philadelphia. Planes regularly fly to the state capital, Columbia, from Detroit, Dallas and Houston. The region is also home to the famous Silver Star train from New York to Miami. There are direct flights from Russia to both cities, so you can try this route too. During the journey, the train passes through Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and Savannah. The trip promises to be exciting.

Search for flights to Washington DC (closest airport to South Carolina)

Congaree National Park

Anyone who arrives in Colombia has the opportunity to visit one of the few areas of relict forest on the East Coast of the United States. The park is located thirty kilometers from the city, and you can get there by car within an hour. The terrain in Congaree is marshy, so wooden platforms are laid throughout the park, connected into a simple system for ease of movement. There are many rivers throughout the entire area of the relict forest, so tourists can rent a boat, kayak or Indian canoe. Camping is also allowed here, but be careful: in addition to bears, lynxes, coyotes and snakes, Congaree is full of alligators, which can be quite dangerous.

Charleston

If you want to see a piece of the America that existed here before the period of total industrialization, then you should definitely visit Charleston. The city became the first English settlement in this area, which is reflected in its architectural appearance. In the historical part of the city, many buildings from the colonial era have been preserved, and several estates of former planters have been turned into museums. By the way, the oldest museum in the United States operates in Charleston.

It’s best to start exploring the ancient town at the Visitor Reception and Transportation Center, where you can leave your car and get free maps with tourist routes. You should definitely visit the “French Quarter” of the city, where today the vast majority of galleries are located. The French have not lived here for a long time, but this area of Charleston is considered to be the oldest European settlement, even though the city was founded by the British.

Charleston is home to one of the longest tension bridges in the world, spanning 471 meters. The Charleston Bridge connects the city with the oceanfront suburbs.

Charleston has one of the most amazing war memorial museums in the world, the central exhibit of which is the aircraft carrier Yorktown, which took part in the Vietnam conflict. It’s hard to believe, but tourists have access to absolutely all compartments of the huge colossus! On the deck of the ship there are aircraft carrier-based aircraft. Even though the offensive weapons on fighter jets and helicopters are demilitarized, this does not affect the grandeur of such a project.

The runway of the aircraft carrier Yorktown currently hosts 25 carrier-based fighters, including the legendary Phantom and Tomcat.

Charleston

Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand

The Grand Strand is a coastal strip with excellent beaches, most of which is in the state of South Carolina. More than 14 million people visit these beaches every year, largely thanks to the well-established entertainment industry. Myrtle Beach is home to several large family parks, as well as dozens of themed entertainment centers.

Myrtle Beach has more than forty golf courses, and thanks to its ideal climate and quality courses, the city attracts a very civilized crowd.

Popular hotels in South Carolina

Colombia

The capital of the state of South Carolina is a fairly large city (131.5 thousand inhabitants), which holds a considerable share of American history.

The first shootout took place in Colombia, practically marking the beginning of the civil war. The sites of the tragic events were Forts Sumter and Johnson, on whose territory museums operate.

Like every American city, Colombia has the “best institution” in the country, which is the luxurious Riverbanks Zoo, where animals live almost in natural conditions.

At Riverbanks, zoologists conducted research trying to record the voices of giraffes, until then considered mute. It was here, along with the Asheboro Zoological Garden, that scientists were able to prove that giraffes are capable of quite complex verbal communication.

Colombia even has its own castle, which was built on the lands of Huntington Beach Park, where one of the largest botanical collections on the continent is collected.

One of the sunniest states in America South Carolina located in the southwestern part of the country on the Atlantic Ocean. This state is included in the list of the most visited places in the USA. The main advantage of South Carolina is its endless beaches and many attractions that annually attract thousands of tourists from all over the world.

Almost the entire coastline of the state is one large beach area with the purest sand and crystal clear water, divided into separate beaches. The most famous places here are the coasts of the Grand Strand and Myrtle Beach. In addition to gorgeous beaches, these resort areas can offer their visitors many entertainment centers, several cozy parks for family recreation and golf courses.

Fans of excursion holidays should definitely visit Charleston, one of the oldest cities in America. This city can safely be called the center of US colonial architecture. You can start your acquaintance with the city from the French Quarter - the oldest part of the city. Here you will have the opportunity to visit several art galleries, the Huguenot Church and the Church of St. Philips.
An equally interesting place to visit is Fort Sumter, the symbol of the city. This fort has important historical significance, as this is where the Civil War began. Now there are practically only ruins left on the site of the fort, but throughout its territory there are signs describing what was here and when.

Particular attention in Charleston is worth paying to the famous Arthur Ravenel Bridge. It was built in 2005 and today is the longest suspension bridge in all of America, with a length of 471 m. This bridge serves not only as a local landmark. The route of the annual USA Track & Field runs through it as well.

There will be something to see in South Carolina for lovers of natural attractions. The most visited place here is Congaree National Park, located in the state capital - the city of Columbia. Most of the park is occupied by relict forests, between which several rivers flow. If you wish, you can rent a boat or kayak and go on a boat trip around the park. Congaree has a very diverse fauna. Here you can see coyotes, bears, alligators and bobcats in person.
In addition to the National Park, South Carolina's capital city is also worth visiting the Asheboro Zoological Gardens, Riverbanks Zoo, Huntington Beach Castle and the Fort Johnson Museum.

South Carolina is a state located in the southeastern part of the United States. The capital is the city of Colombia. Largest cities: Greenville, Charleston, Spartaburg. The population is 4,723,723 (2012). Area 82,931 km². To the north is the border with the state of North Carolina, to the south - with Georgia. In the east there is access to the Atlantic Ocean. In 1788 it became the 8th US state.

State attractions

Here stands the Russell mansion, interesting for its unusual staircase without supports, which connects the three floors of the building. The building is made in neoclassical style. Charleston has preserved colonial-era buildings, as well as the oldest museum in the United States. You can look at the long tension bridge, the length of which is 471 meters. There is also a war memorial museum here, where the central exhibit, the aircraft carrier Yorktown, is fully accessible. The Grand Strand is famous for its beaches, family-friendly parks, many high-quality golf courses and many entertainment venues. In Colombia, you can visit the luxurious Riverbanks Zoo, where animals are kept in the most natural conditions. The local castle, built on the land of Huntington Beach Park, houses the largest botanical collection on the continent.

Geography and climate

The territory of the state of South Carolina is divided into 5 physiographic provinces, which are located parallel to the Atlantic coastline. In the southeast is the Atlantic Lowland. From north to south, the coastline is divided into 3 regions: the Santee River Delta, the Sea Islands and the Grand Strand. In the central part is the Piedmont plateau. In the northeastern region lies the Blue Ridge Mountains, the highest point being Mount Sassafars (1080 meters). The northwestern part is occupied by forests. There are several large lakes here: Marion, Moultrie, Strom Thurmond, Hartwell. The climate is subtropical. The average summer temperature is 19-23°C, winter -2°C. Precipitation usually falls in the form of hail. The average annual precipitation is 1000-1200 mm. Hurricanes and tornadoes occur quite often (about 14 cases per year).

Economy

South Carolina's economy is based on tourism and service industries. The most developed industries are textiles, clothing, wood processing, and chemical production. They mine gold. There are several military bases located throughout the state. There is a large nuclear weapons complex in Aiken. In addition, several automobile companies, a plant producing turbines, a large paper mill, and an aircraft parts plant are located here. In the field of agriculture, they grow tobacco, cotton, soybeans, wheat, tomatoes, peanuts, and pecans. The state ranks 2nd in peache production. Poultry and cattle breeding are developed. Fishing is developed, mainly shrimp and crabs are caught.

Population and religion

Racial composition of the state: 66.2% - White, 27.9% - African American, 1.3% - Asian, 0.4% - American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% - Native Hawaiian and other Islanders, 1 .7% are representatives of two or more races. Ethnicity: About 5.1% of South Carolina's population is of Spanish or Latino descent. The following national groups can also be distinguished: African Americans - 28%, Americans - 13.9%, British - 8.4%, Germans - 8.4%, Irish - 7.9%. By religious faith, 93% of residents are Christians, less than 1% are Jews and 6% are atheists. Among Christians, 84% of residents identify themselves as Protestants and 7% as Catholics. Protestants are divided into Baptists - 45%, Methodists - 15% and Presbyterians - 5%.

Did you know...

In the state, only private clubs can sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays.
Tattoos are prohibited here.

To the east lies the Atlantic coast, washed by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

The southeastern territory of the state is occupied by the Atlantic Lowland, in the northeast the Blue Ridge Appalachians stretch in a long ridge, the northwestern territory of the state is covered with dense impenetrable forests, and the central part is occupied by the huge Piedmont Plateau.

Many rivers flow through the state's lands. Among them are the Sea Islands, Grand Strand and Santee. And in the northwest there are several wonderful lakes - Moultrie, Hartwell, Marion and Strom Thurmond.

The climate in most of the territory is subtropical. Summers are quite hot, there is little precipitation, winters are mild and warm.

Today, South Carolina is a major tourist region in the United States. Every year thousands of tourists come here to soak up the magnificent beaches and admire the luxurious colonial architecture of these places.

State history

Several thousand years ago, the state's lands were inhabited by the Yamasee, Congaree and Kusabo Indians.

In the 16th century, the first European explorers appeared here - the Spaniards and the British. South Carolina, along with North Carolina, became part of the British colony.

In the 17th century, the British king Charles II gave this territory to three English lords. They owned these lands for almost fifty years.

In 1729, South Carolina declared its independence from North Carolina and became an independent British colony. Its lands at this time were inhabited by the Scots, English and Irish. Small farms began to appear on the territory of the colony. Agriculture and trade were widely developed. At this time, plantation slavery actively flourished here.

In 1776, South Carolina was named the eighth American state.

And in 1860, she decided to start fighting for her independence from the United States. Southerners fought fiercely to abolish slavery. This led to the start of the Civil War.

State attractions

One of the most striking attractions in South Carolina is Congaree State Park, located in the vicinity of Columbia. The park territory is occupied by a huge swampy plain covered with dense relict forests. And several small rivers flow through its territory. Tourists have the opportunity to go fishing, arrange a cozy campsite, or take a boat, canoe or kayak trip.

History buffs simply need to visit Charleston. This is a large ancient city, in which the spirit of the colonial era still hovers.

The city has preserved a huge number of unique buildings. Among them are several plantation estates and ancient buildings.

Another city attraction is the long Charleston Bridge, which connects the city with the nearest surrounding suburbs.

The Military Museum of Charleston deserves great attention. Its decoration is the huge aircraft carrier Yorktown, which became famous during the Vietnam War. Tourists have the opportunity to walk along the deck of this legendary ship and appreciate its merits.

When you come to South Carolina, you can't miss Columbia. There is a huge number of historical, cultural and entertainment sites located here.

Children will have incredible fun visiting Riverbanks Zoo. The living conditions of animals on its territory are as close to natural as possible.

Huntington Beach Park's historic castle is a magnificent sight. This majestic Gothic building amazes with its elegant architecture. There are numerous greenhouses and flower beds throughout the park.

The next stop on your South Carolina tour could be the Button Museum. Within its walls are unique collections of various buttons. The decoration of the museum is the legendary Chevrolet, covered with 150 thousand buttons.

Recreation and entertainment

South Carolina is a wonderful place for a beach vacation. There are a large number of large and small beaches here.

The beaches of Beachwalker, nestled on Kiawah Island, are very popular among tourists.

Here you can soak up the warm golden sand, try surfing or scuba diving, enjoy a game of golf or tennis, take a bike ride through the picturesque city surroundings or have an outdoor picnic.

No less attractive are the beaches of the Grand Strand with its modern developed industry. Tourists enjoy numerous golf courses, excellent tennis courts and incredibly beautiful family parks.

The best place for surfing is Folly Beach.

The small resort town of Myrtle Beach is perfect for a family vacation. In addition to excellent beaches, there are several wonderful water parks and zoos on its territory. Throughout the city there are numerous restaurants, snack bars, pastry shops and cafes, as well as cozy hotels and luxury hotels.

South Carolina has several very unusual laws:

Before practicing fortune telling, fortune tellers must acquire a special license.
On Sundays, all discos in South Carolina are closed.
You can't work on Sundays
You cannot draw tattoos on your body.

Charleston South Carolina is a city that is a keeper of history, an open-air museum, here every street and house is imbued with many years of history, unique architecture that gives Charleston special shades of charm and a bit of European character.

Charleston South Carolina

The city is located on the Atlantic coast in South Carolina between the Cooper and Ashley rivers. All Americans should visit this city to study the history of the country first-hand, so to speak.

Story

The city was founded by English colonists in 1670, and named after King Charles II - Charles Towne, later renamed Charleston, which grew from a colonial port into a wealthy city by the mid-eighteenth century. In the mid-nineteenth century, Charleston's economy flourished due to its busy seaport as well as numerous rice, cotton, and coffee plantations.

In April 1861, Fort Sumter near Charleston was fired upon by soldiers, signaling the start of the bloodiest Civil War in history. Charleston was very slow to recover from the destruction of the war, but it became one of the city's main goals due to the huge list of historically significant buildings, so Charleston was forced to restore damaged buildings instead of replacing them.

After the war, the city became less and less dependent on the agricultural industry, and gradually rebuilt its economy towards trade and industry. During the first decades of the 1900s, Charleston's industrial and port activities boomed, and later tourism, a naval base, and the medical industry became the main sources of capital. Today, approximately 4,510,000 people visit Charleston annually.

Walk through the historical center or cart tour.

Tour Downtown Charleston by Wagon

Every square meter of Charleston is literally imbued with history? so would I recommend taking a tour? if this is var first visit. After all, you will agree that it is more interesting with a guide. He will show you the most interesting places in the center of Charleston and tell you many educational stories. There are both walking and horseback tours. Should you choose? which one is closer to your liking. The cart tour lasts about 40 minutes and costs $22 (be sure to ask for a coupon at the hotel where you are staying and they will give you a $2 discount). As a last resort, go to Wikipedia and print out about the city, it will be more interesting to walk along the ancient streets.

Ghost Tour.

Yes, yes, he is the ghost tour. The fact is that Charleston turns into a ghost town at night. Many residents often encounter unexplained phenomena and often see the silhouettes of ghosts. In one of the hotels there is room 203, where the ghost of a girl lives. Believe it or not, this room is booked six months in advance. And the story here is this: The wife of one plantation owner fell in love with the seas and they secretly met at the hotel, in room 203. One day, when a sailor arrived from another business trip, the girl saw him in the arms of another and could not control her feelings and threw herself out of the window of that very room 203. Her ghost still haunts this hotel. Many guests of room 203 noticed that someone was rummaging through their personal belongings, especially women’s belongings. One woman who stayed in that famous room over Christmas couldn't find her underwear and went down to the reception to complain that someone had stolen her things. Imagine the surprise of the hotel workers and the guest herself that her bra was hanging on Rozhdestvenskaya Street in the hotel lobby! Whether you believe all this or not is up to you! The so-called Gost tours take place every evening and begin at 10 pm near the central Charleston market. It all depends on the guide you get and what stories he tells you. We were given special ghost detectors, some even signaled about ghosts.

Plantations.

There are several plantations in Charleston:

Magnolia Plantation & Its Gardens(Magnolia plantation and its gardens).

Open 365 days a year from 8am to 5:30pm, please check opening hours if visiting between November and February. This is a 17th century plantation that was purchased by Sambea Drayton in 1676. Here are the old gardens of America (c.1680), which bloom all year round, a house built before the revolution, a biblical garden, slave cabins, as well as magnificent nature. Cost $15, house tours, boat tour available at additional cost. Official website: http://www.magnoliaplantation.com/

Boone Hall Plantation(Boone Hall Plantation).

Belongs to the “You must visit here” category. Boone Hall reflects the history of the southern United States over the past 300 years and is a working plantation on which a large number of vegetables and fruits are grown. Here is one of the longest oak alleys in the world, magnificent flower gardens, an old mansion, as well as a hut where slaves lived.

Wonderful oak alley:

During the tourist season, there are live performances and bus tours of the plantation.

Boone Hall Plantation Performance:

Cost $20. The plantation is closed in winter. Official website: http://www.boonehallplantation.com/

Middleton Place(Middleton).

All the charm of America's old gardens is on display here, along with the house museum's collection. Daily activities focus on 18th and 19th century agriculture, gardening, and African-American history. The plantation is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Closed during the winter season from January 21 to February 12. Cost $28. Official website: https://www.middletonplace.org/

Drayton Hall(Drayton Hall).

The oldest unrestored manor house in America, still open to the public. The visit includes a tour of the house, an African-American cemetery, nature walks, and a gift shop. Cost $20. Official website: http://www.draytonhall.org/

Charleston Tea Plantation

Visit the Tea Plantation for fun and broadening your horizons at the same time. Here you will see how the second most popular drink in the world is grown and produced! Breathtaking views of tea plantations as well as tasting of various tea varieties. Official website: http://www.charlestonteaplantation.com/

Firefly Distillery(Firefly Distillery).

South Carolina's first and largest distillery. The famous sweet tea vodka “Firefly” is produced here. Open for visits and tastings Tue.-Sat. 11am to 5pm, closed in January. Official website: http://fireflyvodka.com

Church Charleston South Carolina

Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist) is the main church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. The first cathedral, built of brownstone in 1854, was named after St John and St Finbar, but was destroyed by a great fire in December 1861. After reconstruction, the church was renamed the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and built on the foundation of the previous cathedral. The building seats 720 people and is known for its grandiose hand-painted stained glass windows and its neo-Gothic architecture.

Streets of Charleston

Old City Market (City Market, or Central Market) is a historic market complex in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in the 1790s, the market stretches along four city blocks from Meeting Street to East Bay Street. Throughout the 19th century, the market provided a convenient place for farmers and plantation owners to sell beef and farm products, and also acted as a meeting and socializing place for local residents. Today, the city market sells souvenirs and other items, ranging from jewelry to wicker baskets.

Pedicabs Charleston

South Carolina Aquarium(South Carolina Aquarium) is located in Charleston, South Carolina, opened on May 19, 2000 in the historic part of Charleston Harbor. The aquarium is home to more than ten thousand plants and animals, including North American river otters, sea turtles, alligators, blue herons, hawks, owls, green moray eels, king crabs, starfish, pythons and sharks. The largest exhibit in the aquarium is the Great Ocean Wall, which stretches from the first to the third floor of the aquarium, and contains 1,460,000 liters of water, home to more than three hundred fish. Official website: http://www.scaquarium.org

Live music on the streets of Charleston

Charleston Street Choir

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. BridgeThe Cooper Bridge is a cable-stayed (suspension) bridge over the Cooper River in South Carolina, connecting downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant. The eight-lane bridge opened in 2005 and replaced two aging cantilever truss bridges. The bridge has a main span of 471 m, and is the third longest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

Fort Sumter (Fort Sumter) a sea fort located in Charleston South Carolina. The fort is a famous site in Civil War history, where the first shots were fired on April 12, 1861. In 1966, the fort was included in the US National Register of Historic Places.

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