12 Magnificent Hidden Gems To Discover In South Carolina This Year
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AnneMarie
Author
Did you know trying new things and taking on challenges makes you stronger and happier? That’s what they say! In order to help you out with this, we’ve got some hidden gems in South Carolina for you to check out throughout this coming year – in fact, we’ve picked out one for each month.
January - Landrum, SC
Landrum, SC 29356, USA
Landrum is a city in the Spartanburg County upstate area of South Carolina that's really quite a charming hidden gem small town full of hidden gems to explore.
Stay at this cute and cozy Airbnb cabin if you want to make it an overnight adventure. There's a decent chance you could see snow this time of year in this part of the state, so plan accordingly! Check out the listing for this charming cabin on Airbnb.
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This old Esso gas station is a retro replica roadside attraction located near the North Carolina border on Highway 176. It has a traditional 1930s Wayne gravity-powered gasoline pump and a kerosene barrel. An outhouse behind the building completes the recreation.
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Southside Smokehouse & Grille, 726 S Howard Ave, Landrum, SC 29356, USA
Stop by Southside Smokehouse and Grill at 726 South Howard Avenue to warm up with some Spiked Mexican Hot Chocolate!
February - Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site, Greenwood
Benjamin Mays Historic Site, 229 N Hospital St, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
For Black History Month, check out this Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site, which was established in 2011 to honor and display the extraordinary life of Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays. Dr. Mays rose from impoverished beginnings to become one of the greatest international leaders of his generation. He served as President of Morehead College and was instrumental in putting the early admissions program into place that enabled Martin Luther King to begin college as a 15 year old.
March - The Coffee Shelf, Chapin
The Coffee Shelf, 130 Amicks Ferry Rd A-2, Chapin, SC 29036, USA
The Coffee Shelf, 130 Amicks Ferry Rd A-2, Chapin, SC 29036, USA
This hidden gem is for our coffee and book lovers. The Coffee Shelf has a menu with drinks inspired by book characters, and you just might discover a new favorite book for sale.
April - Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, Spartanburg
Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, 832 John B White Sr Blvd, Spartanburg, SC 29306, USA
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A 10-acre space of 9 different unique gardens, this special place was created by Josephine and Harold Hatcher beginning in 1969. They transformed the abandoned cotton field that was their backyard into a breathtaking natural sanctuary that we get to enjoy today. What a beautiful legacy! You can visit Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve at any time of year, but April is an especially beautiful month to take a stroll there.
May - Vanishing Island™, Hilton Head Island
Sand Bar, South Carolina 29915, USA
Hilton Head Island, SC, USA
Located off the southern tip of Hilton Head Island and along the coast of nearby Daufuskie Island lies Vanishing Island™, a sandbar which can only be visited at low tide in the Calibogue Sound. It is not recommended to attempt to navigate these shallow waters in a rental boat or without extensive local knowledge. Outside Hilton Head offers a Beachcombing Cruise where you can watch for Dolphins, collect seashells on Vanishing Island™, and observe wildlife.
June - Lynches River County Park, Coward
Lynches River County Park, 5094 County Park Rd, Coward, SC 29530, USA
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Located on Lynches River in the Pee Dee region of the state, this 676-acre park features a river swamp with towering cypress trees, as well as sand hills, and offers a wide variety of vegetation. Popular activities at the park include canoeing, camping, nature trails, Splash Pad fun, picnicking, geocaching, and a visit to the Environmental Discovery Center. There's also an archery range, and cabins are available in addition to campsites if you'd like to stay overnight. Lynches River County Park is a wonderful summertime destination.
July - Rob Kennedy Trail, Daufuskie Island
Daufuskie Island, SC 29915, USA
The Rob Kennedy Trail on Daufuskie Island includes 20 historical sites. The two pictured here are the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church No. 2 building, which became the Billie Burn Museum after it was bought in 2001 by Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation and restored, and the Frances Jones Home. Frances Jones was the beloved teacher of the African-American children on the island from 1930 to 1969. She taught as many as 96 children in morning and afternoon sessions. A childhood accident left her lame, but this did not deter her from softball games with her students.
August - Pine Ridge Campground, Roebuck
Pine Ridge Campground, 199 Pineridge Campground Rd, Roebuck, SC 29376, USA
Veteran-owned, Pine Ridge Campground offers a variety of sites, including full hookup sites with both 30 and 50 amp service, rustic cabins with electricity, and park models. Open year-round, it can accommodate daily, weekly, or monthly guests. An array of amenities on site include WiFi, laundry facilities, propane, a one-acre catch and release fishing pond, and a pool.
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September - Boyscout Island
Lake Moultrie, South Carolina, USA
Boyscout Island is a remote, uninhabited island accessible via Lake Moultrie. It's a locals' secret, difficult to access even by boat due to the stump fields and shallows that must be navigated. Lake Moultrie Kayak Rentals and Tours offers The Gilligan Tour, where guests are taken to the island by a guide and left to their own devices to explore and kayak back on their own.
October - Pinnacle Mountain Falls, Pickens
Pinnacle Mountain Falls, Table Rock Mountain Trail, Pickens, SC 29671, USA
Hike the 2.7-mile out-and-back Pinnacle Mountain Falls trail near Pickens. It's considered a moderately challenging route and takes an average of an hour and a half to complete. It's steeper once you get closer to the waterfall. Be prepared for climbing over some boulders. It's also less maintained closer to the falls, so watch your footing carefully as fallen leaves and nuts can make for easy slips. A 17-year-old cyclist fell approximately 15 to 20 feet at Pinnacle Mountain in April of 2022, so take your time and exercise caution!
November - Glamping at Oaks and Orchards Organic Wellness Farm, Tillman
Cotton Hill Road, Cotton Hill Rd, South Carolina, USA
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Oaks and Orchards Wellness Farm, 135 Cotton Hill Rd, Tillman, SC 29943, USA
Go glamping and experience life on a farm that grows "superfoods" sustainably! Enjoy a cup of coffee in the greenhouse after a good night's sleep. Oaks and Orchards Organic Wellness Farm also offers wellness retreats.
December - Wheels of Yesteryear, Myrtle Beach
Wheels of Yesteryear, 413 Hospitality Ln, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579, USA
The first annual Wheels of Yesteryear Winterfest was held in 2022, so December is a great time to visit this hidden gem attraction. Meet Santa, bounce in a race car bounce house, eat delicious cookies, and do holiday crafts while you're there. You may even have an opportunity to sit in some of the gorgeous vintage vehicles on display at this unique museum! Wheels of Yesteryear is one of those Myrtle Beach hidden gems not everyone knows about that's nevertheless totally worth visiting, especially for automobile enthusiasts.
These South Carolina hidden gems will keep you busy all year long! No matter the season, there’s so much to do and see across the beautiful Palmetto State.
Ready to try some more of the best hidden gems in South Carolina? Have you been to the treehouse restaurant in South Carolina that’s like a fairytale? There’s another hidden gem for ya!
Do you have any favorite hidden gem spots in South Carolina that aren’t on this list? Feel free to reach out to us and tell us all about them!
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More to Explore
Hidden Gems In South Carolina
What are some charming small towns you can visit in South Carolina?
Some charming small towns you can visit in South Carolina include:
- Westminster, located in the northwestern area of South Carolina. It has a strong railroad history and is home to a historic bed and breakfast that’s also a popular wedding venue.
- Bluffton, “in the heart of the lowcountry”, a beautiful town rich with both historic architecture and a thriving arts scene.
- Seneca, called the “mini-metropolis” of upstate South Carolina, with a historic downtown full of boutiques and restaurants.
- Ridgeway, one of the smallest towns in the state with a population in the 200s. It is home to the curiosity that is the World’s Smallest Police Station.
- Yemasse, in the lowcountry region of South Carolina. There’s lots to do in the town of Yemasse, but the Old Sheldon Church Ruins in Yemasse are a major draw. These ruins of a church first built in the 1700s, then rebuilt in the 1800s, are truly beautiful, surrounded by towering oak trees and a popular site for photographers to visit.
What are some lesser known hidden gems in South Carolina?
Some lesser known hidden gems in South Carolina that you can visit are:
- Campbell’s Covered Bridge, located in Landrum. This is the only remaining covered bridge in the state, and was built in the early 1900s.
- The Penn Center, on St. Helena Island. This was once one of the first schools in the country for freed slaves. Today it serves as an important site for historical collections, tours, educational programs and more, preserving African American history in the area.
- Pointsett Bridge in Travelers Rest is South Carolina’s oldest intact bridge, built of stone.
- Edisto Island Serpentarium, which features an indoor solarium with snakes that come from all over the world. Outdoors, you will find habitats with alligators, turtles, and other reptiles.
- Atalaya Castle, a hidden gem in Myrtle Beach
What is South Carolina most known for?
South Carolina is most known for its beautiful white sand beaches (especially Myrtle Beach), golf courses, historic districts, and warmer temperatures as compared to other states.