Visit The Friendliest Town In South Carolina The Next Time You Need A Pick-Me-Up
By Carolyn Harmon|Published April 15, 2022
×
Carolyn Harmon
Author
Under Brown Mountain Lights the Beast of Blandenboro wanders this magical land where lighthouses shine on kingdoms only accessible by ferries. A Lost Colony of legends and pirates revealed in historical sites and majestic mountains with views that make us weep. The home of handmade sculptures and scrumptious cuisine. North Carolina leaves this long-time writer and artist breathless with endless surprises, including the unlikely warmth a winter walk on the beach can bring.
The town of Summerville’s motto is “The Flower Town in the Pines.” For fans of flowers and delightful places to admire them, this is the town for you. But when considering its history, it will warm your heart to know that like the flowers, the friendliest people can come from despair and destruction. Among other hurdles, and while recuperating from the War Between the States, the 1886 earthquake brought great damage, followed by a downtown fire destroying most of the buildings around the town square. Then the International Congress of Physicians in Paris, France brought a silver lining, believing in the healing qualities of the pine trees’ scent. The Congress declared Summerville one of the two best locations in the world for the treatment and recovery of lung disorders.
Visitors will discover more history at the Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site.
The park’s 325 acres feature the St. George’s Bell Tower, log shipping wharves, burial sites, cemeteries, an oyster-shell tabby fort, and ongoing archaeological digs.
Take in the flowers at Azalea Park & Sculpture Garden.
Ladies of the Civic League took 80 years to purchase the property for their Flowertown Garden Club, as it is known today. After donating it to the city, Mayor Grange Simons Cuthbert (1932-1947), thought azelaes might bring people to Summerville and increase tourism. And one local nurseryman, George Segelken, donated 33,000 azaleas, planting most of them himself.
Advertisement
During peak season, which is late March to mid-May, and then repeat bloom for several months from midsummer through fall, flowers give a vibrant showcase of pink, purple, red, and white.
Among these blooms is The Pride of Summerville, a salmon-colored flower. The park is open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., every day.
Advertisement
To add even more beauty to Summerville, you will notice the elegant collection of outside art along the way. Sculpture in the South has installed more than 25 bronze sculptures, each with an inspirational story.
For more outside fun, the Herbert H. Jessen Public Boat Landing and Rotary Centennial Park offers benches, fishing, a kayak launch, picnic tables, a walking trail, and a boardwalk area overlooking the Ashley River.
And can you believe the Town of Summerville set the Guiness World Record for the World's Largest Sweet Tea, measuring 2,524 gallons, on June 10, 2016, on National Iced Tea Day?
It usually takes place near the end of November, with music and a visit from Santa Claus.
As one can see, the friendliest town of Summerville has so much to offer. And just like in the old days, the trees are still there offering their beauty and shade. Take a trip down South and enjoy the experience — you’ll be glad you did.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
