13 Things Every True South Carolinian Does At Least Once Before They Die

South Carolina's only regularly tourable lighthouse was visible for 17 miles when it was in use. It's been taken out of service and is now a focal point at Hunting Island State Park. NOTE: Hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc on this state park in October 2016. Park officials expect the lighthouse and surrounding grounds will be inaccessible (and closed) until June 2017. You'll find this state park at 2555 Sea Island Pkwy, St Helena Island, SC 29920. More information

...and then eat it. Coastal shell rings, or "middens" are evidence of just how long folks in this part of the world have been consuming this common delicacy.

South Carolina's only surviving old covered bridge (circa 1909) is closed to vehicular traffic but open to other non-motorized traffic, including your feet. Discover in person why this bridge is so mesmerizing. You'll find it at 171 Campbell Covered Bridge Rd, Landrum, SC 29356.

...just because you forgot to use sunscreen!

It's right here in the Palmetto State connecting Charleston to Mt. Pleasant. Cross it on foot, on a bike, or in your car. You'll find the Ravenel Bridge, sometimes called "the Rav," connecting the two cities via Highway 17. Don't worry about getting lost, you really can't miss it.

South Carolina's #1 outdoor attraction is both a sculpture garden and nature preserve. Beautiful gardens featuring sculptures and fountains adorn this 9100-acre gem located along the coast. You'll find Brookgreen Gardens at 1931 Brookgreen Garden Dr, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576. More information.

The base of the tree we call "Angel Oak" has a circumference measuring at least 28 feet. The longest limb is more than half a football field in length at 187 feet. And the shade from this mammoth tree? The tree produces shade that covers more than 17,000 square feet, according to Wikipedia. You'll find Angel Oak in Angel Oak Park which is open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the park is free. It's located at 3671 Angel Oak Rd, Johns Island, SC 29455.

...even in the Lowcountry and Midlands. You need to have perseverance and patience to check this one off your list. It snows so seldom in parts of the state that you may be waiting years!

The Upstate of South Carolina is a waterfall paradise. There are easily accessible hikes and other waterfalls that are more difficult to get to.

What's a fair share of this Palmetto State snack? Oh, about a gallon - a year!

Drayton Hall, shown here, was built 1738-1742, and promotes itself as the oldest preserved plantation house in the U.S. that's still open for public tours. It survived both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. More information about Drayton Hall can be found here. Or, there are several other plantations in South Carolina you can tour. Find a list of those here.

South Carolina has 46 counties and 47 state parks scattered all over the Palmetto State from the coast all the way to the mountains. The overlook shown here is at Ceasar's Head State Park located at 8155 Geer Hwy, Cleveland, SC 29635. More information about this great state park as well as the other 46 can be found here.