Fun things to do in South Carolina

Murrell is a family name and I spent some time here researching. I wanted to find if there was any connection to my family.

Murrell's Inlet, just a short drive from Myrtle Beach, is considered the pleasure and charter boat headquarters for the Grand Strand. Murrell's Inlet is the Seafood Restaurant Capital, and is the origin of many tales of ghosts and pirates.

The name Murrell comes from a Captian who, it is reported, dumped his valuable cargo into the ocean, to allow room for the passengers of a near by sinking ship, thereby saving hundreds of lives. What a good thing to do. I do hope we are actually related, I never found out for sure.

However, if you are not motivated to research your family tree, this is a wonderful place for the Eco-Tourist to visit. The residents of this village are quite interested and active with many ways of perserving their marsh and water ways. As they say, "Preserving and protecting it is this community's top goal."

Photo by Ernest Ferguson

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"Carlopolis", or Charles Towne, is one among the oldest cities in the USA as it was founded in AD 1670. It lies in a splendid location for defensive purposes and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie did their part to cover the access from the ocean,
Fort Sumter occupies a small island in the middle of the inlet with ferry services to it. This fort is protected under the National Parks system as well as Fort Moultrie built along the coast of Sullivans Island. It played its main role at the time of the American Civil War and it grew in time until WWII. It was then abandoned as submarine and other warfare technology went beyond its defensive capabilities. A visit reveals the changes through the years and the latest command quarters used during WWII. Nice views over the bay with groups of dolphins frequently seen.

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Right in the heart of town, the Historical City Market is an indoor-type street market where clothing, food, local crafts and other special or unusual items can be found in addition to regular merchandise. Open daily, year-round.
I visited it in November and finding imported Italian Panettone - the typical Italian Christmas cake - for sale was a nice surprise.

http://thecharlestoncitymarket.com
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We spent an entire day walking around historic Charleston. There are so many things to see and do. I'm sure we could have easily spent several days there. Be sure you check out the pineapple fountain, Rainbow Row and the harbor.

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I wasn't really sure what to expect when visiting Congaree National Park. It's close to Columbia but it seems like you are in the middle of nowhere when you get there. The area around Congaree Park is predominantly farmland and that's probably why it's a national park. Congaree is an old-growth floodplain forest. The largest remaining on this continent. The Congaree River periodically floods the entire area and turns it into a swamp. When you walk through the Congaree it's completely different from the land around the park that you passed to get to it. Large Cypress and Loblolly pine cover the area and provided the timber industry a good revenue stream prior to it becoming a protected area.

The park is outstanding with a 2.5 mile elevated boardwalk that provides a nice easy walk through the park that starts and ends at the visitor center. From the boardwalk there are several other trails that will let you visit other areas of the park. Finally, canoeing trips are available as well along the 50 mile Congaree River Blue Trail. Wildlife is abundant in the park and the scenery is beautiful!

An exciting and unique way to spend a day and a half canoeing along the Edisto River. The hosts drop you 15 or so miles up river and with your choice of an individual kayak or tandem canoe you row approximately halfway to your fully furnished treehouse (complete with grill, mini-stove and essential cooking utensils). Subsequently, breakfast for the next morning will be awaiting as the hosts drop it off on your trek.

A romantic or family getaway.

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Although the neighboring state of Georgia is known as "The Peach State", South Carolina, only half the size of Georgia, grows more peaches. And the small town of Johnston, SC, lays claim to being the Peach Capital of the World.

Johnston is a small town in Edgefield County, which lies on the Savannah River and shares a border with Georgia. There's not a great deal for a tourist to do in Johnston, but it is still well worth exploring if you find yourself in the area. The old Cotton Exchange downtown has been converted into the Peach Exchange and now houses the town's modern public library. Victorian style houses line picturesque shaded streets. There are also historical markers in and around the downtown area that tell the history of this community that began as a highway crossing and railroad stop after the Civil War.

The best time to visit Johnston, as I did once, is during the town's annual Peach Blossom Festival, held every year on the first Saturday in April. There you will find food, crafts, music and much more. Early April is when Johnston is the prettiest, with not only peach blossoms, but also azaleas, dogwood, and other flowers are at their best then.

Come back to Johnston in mid-summer and bite down on a fresh tree-ripened peach that has been warmed by the hot South Carolina sun. That's got to be one of earth's most delightful taste treats. Bland grocery store peaches, picked green and trucked in from California, aren't even in the same category.

This forest is located in Dorchester County. There is a boardwalk that walks through part of Four Holes Swamp, and also a gift shop and museum. The forest has the largest remaining stand of bald cypress and tupelo gum trees in the world. This is a very educational and interesting trip, and you get a wonderful view of the SC swampland.

336 Sanctuary Road, Harleyville, South Carolina