What's there to do and/or see in or near South Carolina?

[warpus]

One of my sisters is currently living in a small town just outside of Greenville, South Carolina. I have promised her that I will visit and we have agreed that this is going down on the May 17th weekend of this year.

The thing is that she is kind of busy and so is her husband, and they will not really be able to entertain me much during most weekdays. But why fly in for the weekend only? That's boring. I might as well see if it would make sense to fly into a nearby town, do some exploring, maybe take a bus or a train somewhere else, do some things, then meet up with my sister. Or meet up with her first, and then go explore.. or whatever.

Either way I know nothing about the area. Atlanta is close, but is there anything of note to see or do there? There's Myrtle Beach and Savannah, that's where my parents went when they visited my sister. Those are pretty much the only places on my radar and I don't really know anything about them either.

I have considered flying into Florida first, because I've always wanted to go to Florida. but then I realized how far that is.

So is there anything in the area that might be worthy of my attention? I'm into parks, beaches, museums, music festivals, unique culinary opportunities, jazz festivals, sites of historical significance, natural wonders, classy burlesque shows, rollercoasters, comedy shows, live jazz, unique skyscrapers, architecture, sporting events, castles, food festivals.. to name a few! I'm also definitely interested in things I have never seen before, like.. well.. who knows what the hell is in South Carolina, right? I don't know what's there, and there's many Americans on here, so I figured somebody could help me out and point me at some sights and/or activities And if there's a festival a week away from the 17th or something and it's amazing, I would consider extending my trip to accommodate it. I am pretty flexible.

I don't know how far I'm willing to travel, I don't want to stray too far from the general area, but that doesn't really tell you anything so assume.. oh I dunno, 300 miles? I guess Jacksonville, Florida is actually 400 miles away via road, so it might be an option. Who knows.

I also will not be driving so I will have to rely on buses, trains, and airplanes to get around. That doesn't really affect any suggestions, but if you know of any cool or useful ways to get around or whatever, that'd be very helpful information too. My sister has a car, but I don't want her to take me too far - if I can get to Greenville, she will pick me up there, that's as much driving as I want her to do. I realize that this limits me in many ways, but at the moment it is unavoidable. I have had a successful 2 week long backpacking trip through the U.S. before that relied on flights, train rides, and bus rides, but that was in California.. I have no idea how accommodating the public transit, train infrastructure, etc. options are in this part of the U.S., but I'm willing to take on (almost) anything.

Thanks for all of your suggestions in advance! And if I have not been clear about something let me know.

List of suggestions:

- Charleston - rich history, well-preserved architecture, distinguished restaurants, friendly inhabitants - 213 miles
- Fort Sumter, near Charleston - American civil war started here - 213 miles
- Washington - 500 miles
- Myrtle Beach - 250 miles
- North Myrtle Beach - more secluded - 260 miles
- Table Rock State Park - hiking trails - longest one 4.1 miles - 28 miles
- Linville Gorge - hike down into - 97 miles
- Peachoid - Giant peach - 47 miles
- Atlanta - Aquarium, museums, stone mountain park, six flags, odd stripclubs - 146 miles

Other things to do:

- Eat BBQ! Maybe at a place in the middle of nowhere.
- Seafood in Calabash - close to Myrtle beach (but not walking distance)

 

[Phrossack]

You can see where the War of Southern Aggression began.

 

[Cutlass]

Washington is not an unreasonable distance from there. You could see museums.

 

[Birdjaguar]

The ocean at North Myrtle Beach. Stretches of it there are nicely empty and often deserted.

 

[warpus]

You can see where the War of Southern Aggression began.

I had to look that up but that's exactly the sort of thing I mean, thanks! A thing I would have never considered otherwise.

Washington is not an unreasonable distance from there. You could see museums.

Hmmm, I've been there only once.. on a family vacation back when I was 13. So I basically didn't see anything. I think it's a bit too far though, unless there's some sort of a train line running south with other interesting stops along the way that would warrant me being so far north from Greenville or something.

I have started a list of suggestions in the OP. I'm including the distance that google maps tells me is to Greenville, just to help me sort through things later.

I'm also trying to use American units in this thread, like for example miles. I'm doing that on purpose so that when I'm there it's easier to get around with signs and stuff. If I have to continually convert things between miles and km and back to miles, then that is just going to be annoying. I might as well convert my brain to use the systems that the locals use so that it's easier for me to get around.

 

[timtofly]

Table Rock State Park has hiking trails. It is probably the closest park to Greenville, but there are other places throughout the Smokey Mountain range nearby.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Table rock is pretty awesome for hiking (for the east coast). If you can, hike down into Linville gorge.

 

[Birdjaguar]

N Myrtle Beach is 220 miles (straight line) from Greenville.

 

[timtofly]

Table rock is pretty awesome for hiking (for the east coast). If you can, hike down into Linville gorge.

My leg muscles and enjoyment of nature were formed hiking there, as a toddler, and then later in grade school going about a dozen times. Funny thing, had a dream about hiking there, just a few days ago.

 

[warpus]

The ocean at North Myrtle Beach. Stretches of it there are nicely empty and often deserted.

I just looked it up, that's about 15 miles north of Myrtle Beach itself.. So is Myrtle Beach the busy & packed party part of the beach? That's what the pictures I am seeing in google image search seem to indicate.

I wouldn't mind spending time on the beach, we just had snowfall here and the temperature was actually low enough for the snow to build up a bit and stay for over 36 hours. I'm going to start looking into renting some sort of a beach house anywhere on or between Myrtle beach and North Myrtle Beach. Is there a South Myrtle Beach? Or other beaches I should be considering?

The way I see it the only good part about going to the packed part of the beach (Myrtle beach?) are the beach babes. Other than that I just want to lie around, read some books, drink some beer, take some naps, go for a swim, and lie in the sun, with as little people around me as possible. So North Myrtle beach sounds like more what I'm looking for, but the beach babes raise a compelling point. That is my initial assessment of the situation anyway.

Is a beach house a thing I should be looking for? Or is there different local vocabulary that I should be aware of when looking to rent something on or close to the beach for a couple days? I guess I can look for cottages too.. would a campsite be too minimalist?

 

[Formaldehyde]

I lived in Greenville for over 4 years and know the area quite well. But given that you claim to not read my posts, I guess I'd just be wasting my time detailing what you might do.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I just looked it up, that's about 15 miles north of Myrtle Beach itself.. So is Myrtle Beach the busy & packed party part of the beach? That's what the pictures I am seeing in google image search seem to indicate.

I wouldn't mind spending time on the beach, we just had snowfall here and the temperature was actually low enough for the snow to build up a bit and stay for over 36 hours. I'm going to start looking into renting some sort of a beach house anywhere on or between Myrtle beach and North Myrtle Beach. Is there a South Myrtle Beach? Or other beaches I should be considering?

The way I see it the only good part about going to the packed part of the beach (Myrtle beach?) are the beach babes. Other than that I just want to lie around, read some books, drink some beer, take some naps, go for a swim, and lie in the sun, with as little people around me as possible. So North Myrtle beach sounds like more what I'm looking for, but the beach babes raise a compelling point. That is my initial assessment of the situation anyway.

Is a beach house a thing I should be looking for? Or is there different local vocabulary that I should be aware of when looking to rent something on or close to the beach for a couple days? I guess I can look for cottages too.. would a campsite be too minimalist?

It is all pretty built out, but north of Myrtle Beach proper is a less so. North Myrtle, Ocean Drive, or Cherry Grove are the small towns that line up to the north before you hit North Carolina. In mid May you are still before the summer season and the "beach babes" may not be around until the weekends. The drive from North Myrtle into MB is short. I like NMB because there are stretches of undeveloped land on the ocean (visible with Google earth I'm sure).

You will more likely find "party City" in MB unless it graduation weekend for UNC, Duke, NCSU, etc.

 

[Core Imposter]

https://www.google.com/search?q=baptist+church+in+greenville+sc

 

[warpus]

Table Rock State Park has hiking trails. It is probably the closest park to Greenville, but there are other places throughout the Smokey Mountain range nearby.

That's really close! Seems perfect for a day trip to take with my sister and her husband maybe. Do you know of any good lookout points or trails in those Smokey mountains you speak of?

N Myrtle Beach is 220 miles (straight line) from Greenville.

Sorry but I must stick to the system I've started with for consistency's sake

I lived in Greenville for over 4 years and know the area quite well. But given that you claim to not read my posts, I guess I'd just be wasting my time detailing what you might do.

What are you talking about, I thought we were like bros! Dude..

I didn't think that was anything personal, I'm all business warpus over here My apologies on a personal level if you feel I've offended you by saying negative things about you without you present. I didn't think it was so bad because I'd figure you'd read it eventually and snicker.

But anyway, I hear there isn't much to do in Greenville anyway.

It appears as though I have visitors downstairs.. I will be back tomorrow to update the index, but maybe not until after 5pm. Thanks again for everyone's suggestions, they have been exactly what I'm looking for so far.

 

[downtown]

I think Charleston is a pretty city, that has both a lot of history and some great dining options, and that's about 200 miles away.

There is a train that can get you from Greenville to DC, but I believe it will take about 11 hours. You're probably better off flying, or renting a car and making the drive. If for some reason you do, PM me, and we'll get a beer or something if you want. DC is really cool, though I think you can find enough to do locally.

 

[warpus]

I think Charleston is a pretty city, that has both a lot of history and some great dining options, and that's about 200 miles away.

There is a train that can get you from Greenville to DC, but I believe it will take about 11 hours. You're probably better off flying, or renting a car and making the drive. If for some reason you do, PM me, and we'll get a beer or something if you want. DC is really cool, though I think you can find enough to do locally.

Charleston looks promising yeah. If I happen to end up there, any restaurants or eateries you'd recommend?

Beer sounds good, next time I'm in the city for whatever reason I will have to take you up on that! I am thinking that I'm probably going to end up on a beach somewhere closer to Greenville though, but I do want to see Washington DC properly one day so who knows.

Seems like if I could fly into Charleston, I could explore the city, eat some good food, then take a bus to Myrtle beach and/or myrtle beach north for a couple days, that that might be a good trip. Then I can somehow get back to Greenville and on one day go on a hike in table rock state park with my sister. Sounds like a promising potential itinerary, but I'm going to have to start looking into transportation. I will definitely not be driving.

 

[warpus]

DAMN I can fly into Myrtle beach from Detroit for $71 Canadian after taxes. Detroit's 2-3 hours from here, depending on border shenanigans. I can get right to the terminal for $70 via shuttle bus, so that essentially means I can be in Myrtle beach for $140 and very little hassle. Then after lounging around on beaches there I could take a bus to Charleston and then bus it to Greenville and have my sister pick me up at the bus stop. Then we do the hike in Table rock state park and whatever else, and I fly home from Atlanta or wherever.

This seems like a very plausible itinerary. I guess i should start looking up hotels, guest hoses, etc. in Myrtye beach and Charleston next. If other options come up later that's fine, this is just plan 1. It's looking pretty good though, I think.

 

[IAM]

If you are in South Carolina I would do South Carolina stuff unless this is your only chance to see Washington. Charleston and Myrtle Beach are good choices. I would also see the Citadel http://www.citadel.edu/root/ in Charleston.

 

[warpus]

The Citadel is a military college from what I can see. I've never been to one I guess. You think it's worth it just walking around the campus or are there other things to see there too?

How easy do y'all think it'd be to find a place to stay in or near myrtle beach if I fly in there? North myrtle beach looks good, but it's about 15 miles away from where the party's at... so it could be expensive to get there via taxi or whatever, right? Is it worth it getting a place to stay at for a couple days near the beach somewhere in the area and just chill? Seems like it would be, but I know nothing about the beach or what to expect. Not too manypeople at this time of year, right? Or does it get packed anyway?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

North Carolina