Posted in South Carolina
January 13, 2020
12 Unforgettable South Carolina Day Trips, One For Each Month Of The Year
With so many places to enjoy and things to do in South Carolina, the year ahead is poised to be the best ever. If you’re like us, then you appreciate a little planning in advance when it comes to day trip excursions. So we’ve put together of month-by-month list of day trips to some of our favorite places in the Palmetto State. With a short, 3.5-hour ride from one border to another, anyone should be able to pull these off in single day with an early start and some planning ahead.
Pick an unseasonably warm weekend and make the journey over to South Carolina's most visited state park. Even on the busiest day in the summer, the beach here never feels crowded. Maybe that's because it's more than four miles long. Hunting Island is located a mere 17 miles east of Beaufort and is well worth the journey from even the farthest corner of the state. Learn more in this previous article.
Travel under the deep blue sea on a 340-foot glide path and come within inches of sharks swimming over and all around. Winter is the perfect season for natives to enjoy all the aquarium has to offer — without being elbow-to-elbow during the busy season in Myrtle Beach. Find out more in this previous article.
Go tell it on a mountain from the summit of Table Rock. Slow and steady is the name of the game on this more than three-mile trail. Find a warm day and get an early start so you'll have plenty of time to have a seat and admire your kingdom after you reach the top. Learn more about the trail from this previous article.
Journey by ferry over to the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge to take a tour that includes viewing two historic lighthouses. The light built in 1827 is the oldest remaining lighthouse of its kind in America. Learn more, including the four 2020 tour dates, from this previous article.
Pack a cooler and pop over to the oldest remaining covered bridge in South Carolina. This 10-acre park is maintained by Greenville County Parks and is a wonderful place for a springtime picnic. Learn all about it in this previous article.
Whether you arrive in time to watch the sun rise or visit at any point during the day, a trip to Pretty Place (a.k.a. Fred W. Symmes Chapel) in Cleveland is sure to be an uplifting and treasured experience. Learn more about it in this previous article.
Travel through one of the most beautiful tree tunnels in the state en route to the Botany Bay Heritage Preserve. Walk among the historic buildings in the preserve and then find the half-mile trail that leads to the most remote beach in the state — and a beautiful boneyard of trees in the sand. Bring plenty of water for this July adventure, but the occasional ocean breeze should help with the heat. Learn more about Botany Bay and its driftwood beach from this previous article.
Cool off in the cool waters of the most pristine, crystal clear lake in the state. If shooting for an extended stay, find a cozy airbnb rental, or reserve a cabin or campsite at Devil's Fork State Park. Day use at the park is permitted, but limited. You'll need to arrive very early in the morning to assure you get in, but rising early for this day trip is something you'll absolutely be glad you did. Learn more in this previous article.
Board the underrated and little-known water taxi in Charleston to embark on the most affordable mode of transportation to explore the harbor as well as some significant attractions in both Charleston and Mt. Pleasant. Hop aboard this vessel and ride all day for one price. It's the most affordable harbor cruise in the market. Learn more from this previous article.
Discover a bit of history hiding in plain view at the site of a former textile mill town. The preserve includes some astounding ruins, a newly restored pedestrian bridge the workers once traveled upon to get to the mill, and a lovely park that includes a waterfall. Learn all about it from this previous article.
Chase waterfalls AND the splendors of autumn in this park that features the best urban waterfall in the entire southeast. After, pop a few hundred feet up the street to explore Greenville's busy Main. Learn more from this previous article.
Craft a Christmas day trip that includes a drive through this residential Christmas lights display near Inman. The family has been putting out lights since 1960 and each year the displays get better and better. The best time for taking photos without a special lens, though, is just before sunset... leaving plenty of time for you to get back home and snuggled into your own warm bed. Learn more about the Christmas House in this previous article.
It’s going to be a busy – and fun – year. How many of these do you see your family embarking upon in the coming months? What other day trips are on your bucket list for the year? We’d love to know your answers to both questions, so join the discussion below.
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