Planning Your Time

The Midlands and the Upstate have a good mix of larger cities and small towns. Columbia and Greenville are destinations on their own, with plenty of sights, stores, and high-end restaurants. The surrounding towns offer great day trips and shopping excursions, especially if you're looking to go antiquing. In Aiken you can spend the day with horses at events like Sunday polo matches and the Triple Crown each spring.

Miles of forested land and winding rivers offer plenty of reasons to stay outdoors. With your options covering everything from hiking and mountain biking to motorcycle paths and bridle trails, it's easy to find an excuse to head into the woods. The Palmetto Trail stretches across the entire state and can be walked in segments. The South Carolina National Heritage Corridor allows visitors to take a driving tour of some of South Carolina's major historic sites from the foothills of the Smokies to the coast of Charleston. The Ninety Six National Historic Site offers a mile-long loop through the woods, past Revolutionary War battlegrounds.