You may have heard some of all of the recent hullaballoo about our beloved South Carolina and how she's becoming quite the popular destination to visit - and a favorite in which to live. There are many, many reasons why the Palmetto State has quietly become so darn lovable and livable. Below are just a few.

1. The scenery here is stunning - the beaches are gorgeous!

2. And the mountains are simply breathtaking!

From the westernmost mountains glazed in a beautiful blue haze to our breathtaking coastline, the Palmetto State is absolutely gorgeous. When you're THIS naturally beautiful it's hard NOT to be popular.

3. The possibilities for outdoor activities are endless.

Year-round, you'll find limitless ways to get out of doors to enjoy nature and rejuvenate. Whether it's catching a sweet salt breeze on the beach on a hot summer day, or hiking to the top of our highest peak in the fall, locals and visitors alike love the versatility afforded in our outdoor activities.

4. This is a fantastic place to take a vacation!

Tourists have been flocking to South Carolina for centuries. It's easy to see why so many people want to spend their hard-earned time off right here in paradise.

5. Our hospitality rocks.

The pineapple is the symbol of hospitality and visitors find plenty of it throughout South Carolina. We make people happy. It's difficult to find a visitor to our state that isn't smiling.

6. Even our largest cities manage to maintain that small town charm.

The three largest cities in South Carolina, Greenville, Columbia and Charleston have all managed to retain their small town qualities — making them all very livable.

7. You won't meet a friendlier bunch of people.

Not anywhere. Aside from our hospitable nature with visitors, we're just naturally kind to one another as well.

8. We have some of the most beautiful cities in the country.

It's easy to see why our beloved cities of Greenville, Charleston, Hilton Head and Beaufort are always making national travel headlines for being so spectacular.

9. South Carolina is romantic.

The awe-inspiring views and special locations to find them throughout the Palmetto State arouse undeniable romantic notions.

10. The food. Oh, the food.

They say food is the way to a man's heart, but actually food is the way to anyone's heart. The culinary genius in South Carolina alone is enough to melt the tastebuds of the entire nation, and our regional cuisine is known world-wide as among the best tastes available to mankind.

11. South Carolina attracts big business.

From BMW to other major manufacturing facilities and a multitude of recent tech companies setting up shop here, the Palmetto State has become a powerhouse of employment opportunities.

12. There's a vibrant arts community.

South Carolina has a community of local and regional artisans that take to the stages and galleries all over the state.

13. South Carolina welcomes everyone home.

Those who live out of state (for now) are always overwhelmingly happy to get back home to the Palmetto State as often as they can. Even those on vacation begin to feel so welcome that they consider South Carolina a second home.

In the scheme of things, we really do live right here in paradise 365 days a year, don't we? What's your favorite thing about South Carolina? We'd love to hear from you in our comments!