Outdoors
Congaree National Park
Hopkins, SC · About 1 hr 5 min
Walk the Boardwalk Loop beneath one of America’s tallest deciduous forests.
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Find your next Carolina escape.
Handpicked places, memorable meals, and unexpected stops—most about two hours or less from Sumter.
✥Most stops are
two hours or less.
two hours or less.
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Showing 60 handpicked places
Hidden Gems
Kalmia Gardens
Hartsville, SC · About 45 min
A quiet botanical preserve with bluff trails descending to Black Creek.
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South Carolina State Museum
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
Four floors of South Carolina history, science, art, and technology.
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EdVenture Children’s Museum
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
Hands-on exhibits, imaginative play, and interactive learning experiences designed especially for curious children.
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South Carolina Military Museum
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
Explore South Carolina’s military heritage through uniforms, weapons, vehicles, and artifacts spanning centuries of service.
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Robert Mills House & Gardens
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
Tour an 1823 National Historic Landmark designed by Robert Mills, surrounded by elegant historic gardens.
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Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Columbia, SC · About 1 hr 5 min
A full-day favorite pairing wildlife habitats with a lush botanical garden.
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Historic Camden
Camden, SC · About 35 min
Explore Revolutionary War history across a preserved outdoor museum campus.
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South Carolina Railroad Museum
Winnsboro, SC · About 1 hr 20 min
Explore historic locomotives and railcars—and check the schedule for a ride on the Rockton, Rion & Western Railroad.
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Cola’s
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
Casual fine dining in a restored RC Cola bottling plant, featuring seafood, steaks, fresh ingredients, and views toward the State House.
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Motor Supply Co. Bistro
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
A changing farm-to-table menu in a landmark Congaree Vista building.
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Blue Marlin
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
Southern Lowcountry favorites with seafood and Cajun-Creole influences, served in Columbia’s historic Vista district.
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Halls Chophouse
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
A refined downtown steakhouse known for prime cuts, classic sides, attentive hospitality, and a carefully selected wine list.
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SakiTumi Grill & Sushi Bar
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
A locally owned Vista favorite serving fresh sushi, flavorful grill plates, shareable tapas, and creative cocktails.
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Di Vino Rosso
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
White-tablecloth dining featuring traditional Northern Italian dishes with local touches, craft cocktails, and curated wines.
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Steel Hands Brewing
Cayce, SC · About 1 hr
A lively destination brewery with hand-forged South Carolina beer, a taproom food menu, outdoor gathering space, and regular events.
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Bourbon
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
An award-winning whiskey bar and Cajun-Creole restaurant near the State House, featuring craft cocktails and one of South Carolina’s largest whiskey selections.
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Zesto of West Columbia
West Columbia, SC · About 1 hr
A West Columbia classic serving fried chicken, burgers, hot dogs, and soft-serve treats beneath its landmark giant ice-cream cone.
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Rush’s
Multiple Midlands locations, SC · About 55 min
A locally rooted favorite for fresh burgers, fried chicken, hot dogs, shakes, and fast family meals, with multiple locations across the Midlands.
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Lizard’s Thicket
Multiple Midlands locations, SC · About 55 min
Southern country cooking for breakfast, lunch, and supper, with multiple locations throughout Columbia and the surrounding Midlands.
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The Beacon Drive-In
Spartanburg, SC · About 2 hr 25 min
A Southern landmark since 1946, famous for its Chili-Cheese A-Plenty, towering onion rings and fries, curb service, and sweet Beacon iced tea.
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The Glass Onion
Charleston, SC · About 1 hr 55 min
A locally focused Savannah Highway favorite serving seasonal Southern comfort food inspired by Alabama, New Orleans, and the Lowcountry.
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Early Bird Diner
Charleston, SC · About 1 hr 55 min
An offbeat Charleston diner known for chicken and waffles, creative breakfast plates, hearty comfort food, and late-day favorites.
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Tattooed Moose
Charleston area, SC · About 2 hr
A laid-back Charleston-area favorite known for Mike’s Famous Duck Club, duck-fat fries, craft beer, live music, and lively events.
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Pawleys Front Porch
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
A colorful Five Points hangout serving award-winning specialty burgers, cold beer, and relaxed porch-side dining.
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Harold’s Restaurant
Gaffney, SC · About 2 hr 35 min
A no-frills Southern diner serving comfort food since 1932, especially famous for its chili burger and classic meat-and-three plates.
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Water’s Edge
Mount Pleasant, SC · About 2 hr 5 min
Waterfront dining and drinks along scenic Shem Creek, with fresh seafood, Lowcountry views, and easy access from historic Charleston.
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Poogan’s Porch
Charleston, SC · About 1 hr 55 min
Southern cuisine and warm hospitality in a restored Victorian home in Charleston’s historic district, with Lowcountry tradition and a few ghostly tales.
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Sea Captain’s House
Myrtle Beach, SC · About 1 hr 45 min
A longtime oceanfront favorite serving seafood and Southern hospitality with panoramic Atlantic views for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
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Villa Romana
Myrtle Beach, SC · About 1 hr 45 min
Authentic Italian dining with traditional and original dishes prepared to order by native Romans, including pasta, veal, chicken, and seafood.
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Bubba’s Fish Camp & Smokehouse
Myrtle Beach, SC · About 1 hr 45 min
A casual coastal stop pairing fried and grilled seafood with in-house smoked barbecue, ribs, burgers, tacos, and local beer.
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George’s Southside Restaurant
Cayce, SC · About 1 hr
A neighborhood favorite for breakfast, Southern comfort food, daily lunch specials, fried chicken, and friendly diner-style service.
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Little Pigs Barbecue
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
A longtime Northeast Columbia favorite serving Carolina barbecue buffet-style, with pulled pork, ribs, brisket, chicken, traditional sides, and several regional sauces.
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Tacos Nayarit
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
A Percival Road favorite serving freshly prepared Mexican fare, including tacos, tortas, gorditas, huaraches, quesadillas, and other regional specialties.
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Village of India
Columbia, SC · About 1 hr
Authentic Indian cooking on Two Notch Road with biryani, tandoori dishes, curries, fresh naan, a Sunday buffet, and plentiful halal and vegetarian choices.
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Arabesque on Devine
Columbia, SC · About 55 min
A Devine Street destination for Lebanese and Mediterranean favorites, including hummus, kabobs, shawarma, falafel, fresh-baked pita, and traditional desserts.
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Henry’s Smokehouse
Greenville, SC · About 2 hr 30 min
Old-fashioned Southern barbecue slow-cooked over hickory, with hand-pulled pork, ribs, chicken, hash, and two Upstate locations in Greenville and Simpsonville.
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The Lazy Goat
Greenville, SC · About 2 hr 30 min
A Mediterranean-themed downtown restaurant overlooking the Reedy River, with a made-from-scratch menu inspired by Spain, Morocco, Italy, France, Greece, Africa, and the Middle East.
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SC BBQ Trail
Statewide, SC · About 1 hr
Build your own barbecue road trip with a searchable map of South Carolina restaurants, sauces, hash, whole-hog cooking, and other regional specialties.
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Brookgreen Gardens
Murrells Inlet, SC · About 1 hr 50 min
Sculpture gardens, Lowcountry history, native animals, and shaded trails.
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Huntington Beach State Park
Murrells Inlet, SC · About 1 hr 52 min
Wide beach, birding wetlands, and the distinctive Atalaya castle.
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Sumter National Forest
Whitmire, SC · About 2 hr
Explore over 370,000 acres with hiking, fishing, paddling, horseback riding, mountain biking, and scenic forest trails.
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Charleston Historic District
Charleston, SC · About 1 hr 55 min
A full day of architecture, waterfront walks, galleries, and Lowcountry food.
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Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
Mount Pleasant, SC · About 2 hr
Tour the USS Yorktown, historic aircraft, and immersive naval exhibits on Charleston Harbor.
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Fort Moultrie
Sullivan’s Island, SC · About 2 hr 5 min
The Fort that kept the British out of Charleston Harbor, and the reason why the palmetto tree is on the SC Flag
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Fort Sumter
Charleston Harbor, SC · About 2 hr
Take the ferry to the harbor fort where the first shots of the Civil War were fired.
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Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens
Mount Pleasant, SC · About 2 hr
Visit the oak-lined grounds for tours exploring Lowcountry agriculture, architecture, Gullah culture, and the site’s complex history.
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Charles Towne Landing
Charleston, SC · About 1 hr 50 min
Walk wooded trails and living-history exhibits at the site of South Carolina’s first permanent European settlement.
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Drayton Hall
Charleston, SC · About 1 hr 50 min
Experience a remarkably preserved 18th-century plantation house and learn the stories of the people connected to the property.
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Carowinds
Charlotte, NC · About 2 hr 5 min
A full-scale amusement and water park with coasters, family rides, shows, and seasonal events.
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Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, SC · About 1 hr 45 min
Build a beach day around the Boardwalk, SkyWheel, family attractions, shopping, and seafood.
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The Big Mo Drive-In
Monetta, SC · About 1 hr 15 min
Catch a double feature under the stars at this classic three-screen drive-in theater, operating seasonally with a full concession stand.
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Reedy River Falls
Greenville, SC · About 2 hr 30 min
A dramatic downtown waterfall framed by gardens, walking paths, and the sweeping Liberty Bridge in Falls Park on the Reedy.
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Wildcat Branch Falls
Cleveland, SC · About 3 hr 5 min
A scenic roadside cascade with an easy lower-falls view and a wooded trail leading toward additional cascades.
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Issaqueena Falls
Walhalla, SC · About 3 hr 15 min
A short forest walk leads to an overlook of this graceful multi-tiered waterfall near historic Stumphouse Tunnel.
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Spoonauger Falls
Mountain Rest, SC · About 3 hr 30 min
Follow a short Chattooga River-area trail to a beautiful stepped cascade flowing over moss-covered rock.
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Reedy Cove Falls
Sunset, SC · About 3 hr 15 min
A rewarding Upstate hike to a broad, sloping waterfall tucked into a quiet mountain cove.
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Chau Ram Falls
Westminster, SC · About 3 hr 10 min
Enjoy an easily reached waterfall, river views, trails, picnic areas, and a suspension bridge inside Chau Ram County Park.
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Yellow Branch Falls
Walhalla, SC · About 3 hr 15 min
A wooded out-and-back hike leads to a wide, tiered waterfall that is especially impressive after steady rainfall.
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Biltmore Estate
Asheville, NC · About 3 hr
3 hours, but worth the extra ride. Tour America’s largest home, its gardens, winery, and Blue Ridge Mountain grounds.
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