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South Carolina Travel Guide

South Carolina, United States — Destinations

Charleston

Charleston

Charleston is one of the loveliest cities in the country, despite having weathered great fires, earthquakes, epidemics, civil war and a devastating hurricane. It is consistently classed among the most elegant and dignified cities nationwide. Situated on the peninsula at the confluence of the Cooper and Ashley Rivers on South Carolina's Atlantic coast, the colonial port of Charleston is the oldest city in the state, filled with brick and cobblestone streets, and a large downtown district boasting thousands of carefully preserved and restored buildings that house old-fashioned inns, antique shops and pubs. The streets are lined with tall, narrow houses festooned with wrought iron balconies and wooden shutters, ornate iron gates enclosing pretty gardens and shaded porches - the timeless features of southern architecture. Many of its double-story houses are authentically furnished museums that once belonged to wealthy colonial merchants, while many are still the beautiful private homes of wealthy residents.

The city started as an important seaport serving the rice and cotton plantations throughout the region, and it was a major slave-trading center with a third of America's slaves being bought and sold at the riverfront market. The Gullah culture of the islands (people of West African ancestry speaking a language based on English with elements from several African dialects) have a tangible presence here, especially at the Old City Market that vibrates with the humming of traditional spirituals, as basket ladies sell their hand-woven grass wares among the local vendors and iron makers, and the distinctive sound of the Gullah dialect fills the air.

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Grand Strand and Myrtle Beach

Grand Strand and Myrtle Beach

The 60 miles (97km) of white sand stretching along South Carolina's coastline, from Little River to Georgetown in the south, is known as The Grand Strand. Peppered with beach resorts and seaside communities, the main hub of activity is centered at Myrtle Beach. However, all along The Grand Strand visitors can enjoy the sea, sun and surf, as well as excellent seafood, shopping malls, amusement parks and numerous family-orientated activities, shipwreck diving, museums, and over 100 championship golf courses.

Myrtle Beach lies at the center of the Grand Strand, a glitzy stretch of uninterrupted commercial development that has transformed the city into a mega entertainment center and family resort. Beach towels and brightly colored beach wear cover the sand in summer and the population swells with vacationers seeking fun and thrills offered by the Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park, with funfairs, waterslides, arcades and shopping. Myrtle Beach State Park offers nature trails, camping, fishing and swimming when the bright lights and non-stop entertainment wear thin.

At the southern end of the Grand Strand lies Georgetown with a pretty historic district and a restored waterfront that buzzes with activity. During colonial times it boasted a rich plantation culture and was the center of America's rice empire.