The 17 Best Places To Visit In South Carolina In 2018

It's staggering to realize yet another fantastic year has already gone by. What's even more shocking is admitting to yourself you didn't get to do all the fun stuff you intended to do in the outgoing year. We put together a list of all the exciting places we suggested you visit in 2017 so if you missed any, you can go ahead and add them to your bucket list for 2018. Take a look below at the 17 best places to visit and things to do in the coming year.

1. For all things purple, visit the PURPLEologist!

Step into a purple dreamland where everything in the store is purple. Even the floors in this store are (you guessed it!) purple. If you know someone who loves the color purple, then you're certain to find a perfect gift for them here. Find out more about this purple paradise here.

2. Eat at THIS top SC restaurant choice as selected by Condé Nast Traveler.

It may not look like much from the outside, and in fact you may miss it if you're not looking carefully, but the photo shown above is The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene (locals just call it The Wreck), and it's the only restaurant in South Carolina that made the Condé Nast Traveler "List of 207 Best Restaurants Around The Globe." Find out why you should seek it out and eat there in this article.

3. The Big Grab 85 mile yard sale with bargains galore.

Don't miss this September event that features a whopping 85 miles of nothing but roadside bargains. The biggest yard sale in the Palmetto State lasts two treasured-filled, bargain-hunting glorious days. Find out more here and put this event on your 2018 calendar.

4. A restaurant dedicated to BACON. Oh my.

When a restaurant dares to put 'bacon' in their name then you just know there's something deliciously special waiting inside. This bacon-themed eatery in the Upstate takes the art of bacon and all meats very seriously. Find out why you NEED to eat here in 2018 in this article.

5. Put it on your bucket list to go check out the only tunnel in the state.

To be fair, it's only a partial tunnel because it was never finished. Find out why not and decide for yourself if you should be scared of the ghosts that haunt the dark in this Civil War era attraction here.

6. Visit the most unique chapel in the world.

Fred W. Symmes Chapel in Greenville, an open-air chapel also known as 'Pretty Place,' is a remarkable experience. Discover how this chapel came to be, and see the long range views you'll find when you visit by reading this article.

7. Paddle a short distance out to an underwater ghost town in Lake Marion.

Just a few hundred feet from the shores of Lake Marion rests the remains of an old lumber town known as Ferguson. Years ago the lake level was so low you could walk all the way out there and even walk through the remains. But nowadays the water is too high and exploring this relic means navigating there via boat. Learn more about Ferguson and see some more photos of this fascinating piece of history in this article.

8. Make your summer epic with a visit to this unusual water park.

This may be the most unique and unconventional water park you've ever seen, but it's definitely a blast - even for the whole family. Run, jump, slide and roll your way off this giant floating park in South Carolina. Find out more about it in this feature we published soon after it opened in June 2017.

9. Take a scenic drive on the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway and stop by this roadside attraction.

Nestled along SC-11 and near the foot of our beloved natural attraction known as Table Rock, sits Aunt Sues Country Corner. Get out, stretch your legs and stay while. There are many things to see and do. Find out what they are in this article.

10. Take a hike that leads to some fantastic ruins.

From the ruins of an old mill, to an old fire tower station — and more, these seven trails in SC lead to some extraordinary places. Put them on your bucket list in 2018.

11. Pay a visit to South Carolina's Fountain of Youth.

Many people swear by the healing properties in the waters that flow from the spring and out these modest pipes. Bring your own containers and take all you want. Find out more about this Fountain of Youth hidden in the Palmetto State in this article.

12. Discover some hidden beaches and find a new favorite watering hole.

On this hidden beaches road trip head out to explore some new sandy favorites along the coast. From a lesser known beach along the Grand Strand to a hidden beach along the southern coast, there are plenty of places to get lost for the day.

13. Locate some amazing tree tunnels and then marvel as you pass under.

From tunnels made of live oak trees swimming in Spanish moss swaying overhead as your drive under, to breathtaking tree tunnels on walking paths, the nine tunnels detailed in this article are simply breathtaking and you'll want to find them all!

14. Head to this massive antique mall for a day of treasure hunting.

Hardcore antiquers know the thrill of the hunt is more than a hobby - it's darn near a sport. Put on your best hunting attire and head to this tiny town just off I-26 for a thrilling day of discovery. Find out more in this article.

15. Take a drive down South Carolina's most haunted street - at night.

If you dare! It's a relatively short road to have so many haunted places and ghosts. If you're brave enough head here after dark or at dusk. But if you go instead in the daylight, then you can actually get out and explore the haunted spots. Find out more in this article.

16. Relax and enjoy some quiet time in a salt cave.

Refresh with a massage in a cave lined with Himalayan Salt. Or, sit back in one of the zero-gravity chairs and just breathe. Salt caves are trending in the healing world. Find out where to find one in South Carolina and see more photos in this article.

17. Take the day trip of a lifetime to a deserted beach along the SC coast.

Who knows WHAT you'll discover as you explore a beach you can only get to by way of boat. Take the tour and you'll also pass by a lighthouse so far from land you can only see it by boat. The woman in the TripAdvisor photo above found a whale vertebrae on her excursion. Learn more about the 2018 tour season in in this article.

With so much to see and do in South Carolina hopefully this list helps narrow things down a bit. How many have you already knocked off the bucket list as we head into the new year?

For one more exciting adventure in 2018, take this dreamy train-themed road trip through the Palmetto State.