Explore Urban and Natural Discoveries in South Carolina's Inland Cities

In Columbia, the state's capital and largest city, you will find fantastic culture with museums, art galleries, the 68-hectare Riverbanks Zoo and the historic State House, which houses the South Carolina legislature. Visit the South Carolina State Museum, the largest museum in the southeastern U.S., which is housed in a circa-1894 textile mill. Other great historic sites to visit include the beautiful gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens, the Robert Mills House and Garden (he designed the Washington Monument) and the Woodrow Wilson Family Home.

Naturalists will love Columbia, too. The city is cut by three rivers that invite you to go canoeing and exploring. Or, check out nearby Lake Murray, a haven for all types of aquatic activity, especially boating.

Camden, the oldest inland city in South Carolina, features quaint historic homes and some of the best antique shopping. It is also home to a historic Revolutionary War site and the site of the Civil War Battle of Camden. Along the Palmetto Trail, you can read informational signs on a tour to view this historic battle site. Visit the Kershaw House, originally built in 1777 and reconstructed in 1977. This building and others on the Revolutionary War Site commemorates the moving history of the American nation. In Camden’s historic downtown, visit some of the nice antique shops.

Greenville is a vibrant, charming city in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the larger Appalachian Mountains. The thriving downtown boasts more than 90 restaurants and pubs, many with outdoor dining. The spectacular Falls Park on the Reedy River is one of the most picturesque places you’ll visit and is perfect for a picnic, hike or bike ride.

Start your day in Greenville with a morning walk across the one-of-a-kind Liberty Bridge – stop to soak up the views of beautiful Reedy River and surrounding waterfalls. This location is also the starting point of the 28-kilometer Swamp Rabbit Trail, one of the most beautiful trails of the city’s urban area.

On Greenville’s Main Street, walk to the American Legion War Museum, which has fascinating displays and actual artifacts from the numerous American wars. Two favorite spots for great photo ops are the Poinsett Bridge, the state’s oldest bridge with a distinctive Gothic arch, and Campbell’s Covered Bridge, South Carolina’s last remaining covered bridge painted a signature barn red.

In South Carolina’s so-called Upcountry, the northwestern region of the state, you will find some of the prettiest waterfalls you can imagine. Some are easily reached by the road, whiles others, like Laurel Fork Falls in Devil’s Fork State Park, require a more adventurous spirit. And if water sports are your preference, then you’ll be excited to know that South Carolina has 12 major lakes that offer great water activities such as boating, canoeing, houseboat camping, fishing and water skiing.

No matter what you are looking for in a holiday destination, South Carolina really does have it all. Pack your bags – beautiful South Carolina is waiting for you!