10 Best Hidden Gems in South Carolina

The biodiverse Congaree Swamp National Monument is a 26,000-acre expanse of old-growth forest that’s home to coyotes, armadillos, bobcats, and alligators. With one of the biggest concentrations of champion trees in the world (including loblolly pines and cherrybark oaks), this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is an outdoor lover’s paradise.

A day out in the swamp offers plenty of features such as hiking trails and elevated boardwalks, canoeing adventures along Cedar Creek, and the chance to sleep under the stars in the park’s primitive camping grounds. For a truly spectacular wildlife encounter, pay a visit between mid-May and mid-June when the synchronized flashing of Congaree’s fireflies lights up the darkness.

The largest children’s museum in the American South, EdVenture is a not-for-profit educational institution featuring over 300 curious exhibits. Located in the city of Columbia, this wonderland of fun offers plenty of attractions including Eddie: a 40-foot child replica (approximately the length of a humpback whale).

With 92,000 square feet of gallery space and plenty of hands-on activities, EdVenture will keep your kids occupied for hours. Prepare food in the Cooking Lab, discover aeronautics at the FLIGHT exhibit, or climb giant Eddie’s vertebrae to learn more about his brain, tummy, and heart.

Situated in South Carolina’s bucolic Lowcountry, the Edisto River has made a name for itself as one of the longest free-flowing blackwater rivers in the United States. One can easily spend a day tubing down this body of water in a giant rubber ring while taking in the natural surroundings along the way.

The Edisto meanders along a beautiful bottomland forest resplendent with bald cypress, sassafras, and flowering tupelo, as well as a myriad of fauna like eagles, deer, and loggerhead turtles. Stop at little sandy beaches to soak up the sun before returning to your tour group’s riverfront outpost.

A half-hour drive from the historic city of Charleston, Folly Beach is a glorious stretch of powder-soft sand on South Carolina’s Folly Island. A haven for surfers, sunbathers, and those who love to fish, this scenic stretch makes for a great day out (or a longer weekend getaway).

Take to the sea in a kayak, browse the gift shop on the 1000-foot pier, or ride the waves at The Washout – Folly’s most coveted surfing hotspot. Afterwards, watch the sun set on the water from a chic beachfront eatery like Rita’s Seaside Grille or the critically-acclaimed Crab Shack.

South Carolina is rife with all things spooky – and we’re not just talking about the Spanish moss. Established in 1696 and abandoned after the Revolutionary War, Dorchester makes the list as one of the state’s most haunted towns.

Situated on the Ashley River in a 325-acre park, Dorchester will delight history buffs and paranormal enthusiasts alike with its 18th century graves, gothic ruins (including the beguiling St George Bell Tower), and remnants of an old fort. If you’re lucky, you’ll find archaeologists unearthing parts of this antiquated settlement when you take to the grounds on a self-guided tour.

Widely considered one of the best kept secrets in South Carolina, Botany Bay’s Boneyard is an ethereal driftwood beach that’s peppered with the skeletons of sun-bleached trees. This Edisto Island haunt offers an otherworldly experience with its vast unspoiled stretch of surreal wood-strewn sand.

Don’t be fooled. While there is another more famous “Boneyard Beach” on nearby Bull Island, this lesser-known version at Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve is an absolute must-see. Keep your eyes peeled for loggerhead sea turtles, painted buntings, and Bleak Hall Plantation’s array of outbuildings.

One of South Carolina’s most curious finds is the quirky and colorful Button Museum. Situated in a large hangar, this one-of-a-kind place was the brainchild of an idiosyncratic local named Dalton Stevens who wore button-covered suits and played a button encrusted guitar.

Here, visitors can marvel at a wealth of button-covered objects including denim clothing, caskets, cars, and even a vintage hearse. In his heyday, Dalton Stevens made it onto Letterman and the Tonight Show to talk about his passion and was featured on the television news channel CNN.

Boasting 500 miles of picturesque forest, The Palmetto Trail is a nature preserve that’s beloved by hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. Spanning the Oconee County mountains to Charleston County’s Intracoastal Waterway, visitors are treated to magnificent vistas, bodies of water, and an abundance of native wildlife.

With easy, moderate, and challenging levels of difficulty, anyone can enjoy hikes in this outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Picnic by waterfalls, explore the swamps on the wooden boardwalks, or go in search of wildflowers.

GMHH is a pioneering South Carolina museum that celebrates and restores Hilton Head’s African American Gullah culture. This not-for-profit is a charismatic assemblage of history, customs, and old-time traditions, from rich folkloric tales to moving spiritual music.

With its display of fascinating artifacts and year-round lectures, The Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island is set in a historic and restored cabin that dates back to the 1930s. Visiting is by appointment only so make sure you get in touch with the venue direct via their official website contact form.

Devoted to America’s most quirky musical instrument, the Kazoo Museum in Beaufort, South Carolina is a fun-filled outing for the whole family. Here, you’ll discover the history of the Kazoo and view collections of memorabilia, before seeing how they’re made on a guided factory tour.

With one of the largest kazoo collections in the world, you’ll be able to scope out all the styles and colors before watching a real-life kazoo demonstration. Afterwards, shop at the gift store before hitting the road to stop at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream or the Longhorn Steakhouse.