Things to Do in South Carolina

This federal fort at Charleston Harbor is now a national park known as “the place the American Civil War began.” On April 12, 1861, tensions were high between the North and the South when Confederate forces fired upon the troops stationed in the fort. Fort Sumter was surrendered only 34 hours later, signaling the start of the war.

Fort Sumter was built following the War of 1812 to fortify and protect the harbor. Construction began in 1829 and continued up to the Battle at Fort Sumter in 1861. Its foundation is a manmade island of 70,000 tons of granite and rock. It is named for American Revolutionary War General Thomas Sumter.

The National Monument includes the original Fort Sumter, the Visitor Education Center on the banks of the Cooper River and Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island. The museum at the education center delves into the history of the fort’s construction and provides in depth information about its role in the Civil War.

This historic museum is known for being one of the best examples of Southern antebellum architecture in Charleston. It was originally built as a private home—owned in 1820 by local merchant John Robinson and later bought in 1858 by Gov. William Aiken, whose family is responsible for the lavish interior decoration. With antique furnishings and original wallpaper, much of the period style remains intact. Many of the family’s objects and fine art, acquired for the home while touring Europe, can still be found in the rooms they were purchased for.

Walk through the grounds’ historic double side porch, stables, a carriage house, a kitchen and slave quarters. You’ll learn about the house staff, which included footmen, cooks, gardeners and seamstresses, as well as life in the pre-Civil War era. Then step inside and view the collection of sculptures, paintings and chandeliers as you tour the home and learn about the history of the home and the family.

At an elevation of nearly 1,000 feet, Greenville sits on the front doorstep of the Appalachian plateau. Within a 45-minute drive from town, visitors can be flying through the trees on a zipline and splashing through Class III rapids, or kayaking to waterfalls that spill directly into nearby Lake Jocassee. The convenient proximity to adventure, however, isn’t Greenville’s only perk; the city itself has recently emerged as a burgeoning Southern hub, where shopping, dining, and local art all thrive in Greenville’s downtown. Take a stroll or ride a bike on the city’s Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 19-mile, multi-use trail that passes the waterfalls of Greenville’s Falls Park and the iconic Liberty suspension bridge. Escape to the hills of Caesars Head State Park for a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and return for an evening of perusing the shops and restaurants of tree-lined Main Street.

For an evocative glimpse into antebellum plantation life in South Carolina, visit the Aiken-Rhett House in Charleston. The only surviving urban plantation, the 1818 townhouse complex has changed little since it was expanded in 1858. The rooms are decorated with the fine art and furnishings purchased by the owners more than 150 years ago.

A tour of the mansion takes you through the home's very own art gallery, dining room and parlors. The carriage house and kitchen at the rear of the mansion were slave quarters, and are amongst the best preserved examples in the region.