7 South Carolina Day Trips That Are Even Cooler During The Winter

Garden City Beach was named a top affordable winter hidden gem by TripAdvisor in 2016. We'd recommend a day trip there to check it out for yourself! Play one of two challenging 18-hole mini golf courses winding around streams and waterfalls, over rocks and bridges, and through caves, all while enjoying the beautiful landscaping at Gilligan's Island Funland at 3009 South Highway 17, have a delicious crab melt at The Grilled Cheese & Crab Cake Co., located at 2520 Highway 17 Business, and then go shopping at Tsunami Surf Shop at 2921 Business 17 South. You can also visit the Garden City Beach Pier at the beginning or end of the winter season since it's closed in January and February.

Most people think of Myrtle Beach as a summer destination, but there is plenty to do there during the winter months as well. If you're visiting during a period of milder winter weather so common for the area, take a stroll along the beach to take in the beauty and salty air when it's not crowded and hot! Check out the fairytale-like street at Broadway at the Beach, where there are lots of places to shop, eat, watch shows, and more. There's also a neat secret tunnel in Myrtle Beach that's fun to see. There are some dinner and entertainment options for a fun way to end the day, including the Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show and Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament.

Tour Atalaya Castle, which was the winter retreat home of Archer Huntington and his wife, Anna Hyatt Huntington after she had been diagnosed with tuberculosis. He designed the castle based on Spanish or Moorish architecture coupled with his own imagination, and Anna, an artist and sculptor, designed the beautiful wrought iron grills that serve as hurricane protection on all the windows. It was built from 1931 to 1933 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 to preserve the history of the Huntingtons. It remains a unique and vital piece of South Carolina history. The couple founded the nearby gorgeous Brookgreen Gardens.

North Charleston isn't normally a city on the radar for a day trip, passed over with Charleston being the sought after locale. But you can go ice skating at the Carolina Ice Palace there and dine at two restaurants named among the "Top 100 Places to Eat in 2022," according to Yelp. Lola is located at 4830 O'hear Avenue and serves authentic Louisiana cuisine. Jackrabbit Filly is a new Chinese-American family-style restaurant at 4628 Spruill Avenue. Arrive around lunchtime to enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants, go ice skating, then have dinner at the other!

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, like the beach, is most often thought of during other seasons but its gardens were designed to bloom in every season. It's truly beautiful year-round and a nice winter day trip. There's a petting zoo, a nature boat, and you can eat lunch at the Peacock Cafe and browse the gift shop, too.

South Carolina's capital city is home to The Final Door, one of the top 25 escape rooms in the nation located at 930 Knox Abbott Drive. One of its five high immersion escape room challenges would be a great winter activity, followed by a visit to Shvaas Spa at 1716 Main Street for some pampering, and a unique dining experience in an igloo.