Whether you’re a native South Carolinian or have recently moved to the best state in America, there are a handful of things you should knock out before you knock off. Put these activities and places in the Palmetto State on your bucket list and enjoy crossing them off.
- Suck it up (figuratively and literally) and attend an Oyster Roast.
zmehboob87
John M/Flickr If you’ve never eaten freshly steamed oysters then be forewarned: once you start it’s hard to stop. Oyster roasts are a tradition in South Carolina. So suck it up and attend one…oysters are really tasty!
- Attend a Pig Pickin’ event.
Lara Snydal-Mijatovich/Flicker Yes, that’s a whole pig on the grill in this photo. There’s nothing like (using a pair of tongs) and pickin’ your own bbq pig right off the grill.
- Catch a BIG ONE offshore fishing.
Tom Patros/Flickr
- Make the switch. Drink your tea sweet, not that “other” way.
Godverbs/Flickr If you want to live in South Carolina you’d better learn to drink sweet tea, because a lot of restaurants in the Palmetto State don’t serve iced tea any other way.
- Catch, cook and eat fresh blue crabs.
Tonya Lane Rucker
Gary Llu/Flickr
- Spend a night tent camping in the South Carolina wilderness.
East Coast Travel
Timothy J/Flickr Or, if you’d prefer a more organized campsite with restrooms not far away then enjoy a peaceful night in your tent at one of South Carolina’s great state parks. Most have tent camping sites similar to this one at Devils Fork State Park on Lake Jocassee in the Upstate.
- Take a road trip to Death Valley to root for the #1 college football team in the country.
Sagar Puro/Flickr You’ll have to wait until next season.
- Participate in the Cooper River Bridge Run - You can run or walk.
Chris/Flickr This annual event in Charleston attracts roughly 40,000 participants in the run and walk. The Cooper River Bridge Run and Walk takes place every year on the first Saturday in April.
- Attend Bike Week in Myrtle Beach, even if you don’t own a bike.
Jim Brickett/Flickr
- Eat at Peninsula Grille in Charleston.
Peninsula Grille
Peninsula Grille The food, the wine, the ambiance, the service…WOW. I love, love, love this restaurant.
- Take the ferry out to Fort Sumter in the Charleston Harbor.
Steve Markos/Flickr Stand in the same spot upon which the first shots of the Civil War were fired.
- Slow down and relax a while on Lake Jocassee in the Upstate.
anoldent/Flickr You can easily launch your vessel at the Devils Fork State Park Boat Launch Ramp. Devils Fork State Park - 161 Holcombe Cir, Salem, SC 29676
- Attend the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia.
Nathan Harper Where else are you going to get your beer-battered deep-fried snickers bar?
- Visit the Capitol building in our state’s Capital.
J Stephen Conn/Flickr
- Take a trip to downtown Greenville and visit Falls Park on the Reedy.
David/Flickr
- Tour a decommissioned submarine in Mount Pleasant.
ATOMIC Hot Links/Flickr Step inside the USS Clamagore for a hands-on history lesson at Patriots Point - Home of the USS Yorktown in Mount Pleasant, SC. 40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
- Walk, run or bike the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge connecting Charleston to Mount Pleasant, SC.
John Piercy/Flickr Trip Advisor ranks this activity as #3 on their bucket list of things to do in the Palmetto State. Hint: Technically, if you hit #8 on this list first then you can cross this one off at the same time.
- Visit Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Valerie/Flickr Its central location in Columbia makes Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens a great day trip from any point in the state. 500 Wildlife Pkwy, Columbia, SC 29210
- Attend a Greenville Drive baseball game.
Mike Burton/Flickr Fluor Field is dubbed a mini-Fenway Park. It even has its own “Green Monster” replica, a 30-foot tall wall in left field. 945 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601
- Visit what’s regarded as the largest collection of religious art in the Western Hemisphere.
Bob Jones University M&G Where? Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery in Greenville, SC. at HERITAGE GREEN; Buncombe Street - Greenville, SC 29601 and at BOB JONES UNIVERSITY; 1700 Wade Hampton Blvd. - Greenville, SC 29614
- Tour the Six & Twenty Distillery in Powdersville, SC.
Six & Twenty Distillery
Six & Twenty/Facebook 3109 SC-153, Piedmont, SC 29673
- Treat yourself to a luxury weekend at the Westin Spa and Resort on Hilton Head Island.
Westin Hilton Head Island
It’s very likely you already have a bucket list. Add these Palmetto State activities and places to your list for added fun and fulfillment. Personally, I think you should enjoy the last one as often as you can. Feel free to add to ours, or share your own bucket list in the comments.
zmehboob87
John M/Flickr
If you’ve never eaten freshly steamed oysters then be forewarned: once you start it’s hard to stop. Oyster roasts are a tradition in South Carolina. So suck it up and attend one…oysters are really tasty!
Lara Snydal-Mijatovich/Flicker
Yes, that’s a whole pig on the grill in this photo. There’s nothing like (using a pair of tongs) and pickin’ your own bbq pig right off the grill.
Tom Patros/Flickr
Godverbs/Flickr
If you want to live in South Carolina you’d better learn to drink sweet tea, because a lot of restaurants in the Palmetto State don’t serve iced tea any other way.
Tonya Lane Rucker
Gary Llu/Flickr
East Coast Travel
Timothy J/Flickr
Or, if you’d prefer a more organized campsite with restrooms not far away then enjoy a peaceful night in your tent at one of South Carolina’s great state parks. Most have tent camping sites similar to this one at Devils Fork State Park on Lake Jocassee in the Upstate.
Sagar Puro/Flickr
You’ll have to wait until next season.
Chris/Flickr
This annual event in Charleston attracts roughly 40,000 participants in the run and walk. The Cooper River Bridge Run and Walk takes place every year on the first Saturday in April.
Jim Brickett/Flickr
Peninsula Grille
The food, the wine, the ambiance, the service…WOW. I love, love, love this restaurant.
Steve Markos/Flickr
Stand in the same spot upon which the first shots of the Civil War were fired.
anoldent/Flickr
You can easily launch your vessel at the Devils Fork State Park Boat Launch Ramp. Devils Fork State Park - 161 Holcombe Cir, Salem, SC 29676
Nathan Harper
Where else are you going to get your beer-battered deep-fried snickers bar?
J Stephen Conn/Flickr
David/Flickr
ATOMIC Hot Links/Flickr
Step inside the USS Clamagore for a hands-on history lesson at Patriots Point - Home of the USS Yorktown in Mount Pleasant, SC. 40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
John Piercy/Flickr
Trip Advisor ranks this activity as #3 on their bucket list of things to do in the Palmetto State. Hint: Technically, if you hit #8 on this list first then you can cross this one off at the same time.
Valerie/Flickr
Its central location in Columbia makes Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens a great day trip from any point in the state. 500 Wildlife Pkwy, Columbia, SC 29210
Mike Burton/Flickr
Fluor Field is dubbed a mini-Fenway Park. It even has its own “Green Monster” replica, a 30-foot tall wall in left field. 945 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601
Bob Jones University M&G
Where? Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery in Greenville, SC. at HERITAGE GREEN; Buncombe Street - Greenville, SC 29601 and at BOB JONES UNIVERSITY; 1700 Wade Hampton Blvd. - Greenville, SC 29614
Six & Twenty Distillery
Six & Twenty/Facebook
3109 SC-153, Piedmont, SC 29673
Westin Hilton Head Island
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