Visit South Carolina

Visit South Carolina
Name	Visit South Carolina
Caption	Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter
Established	20th century
Location	Columbia, South Carolina
Website	Visit South Carolina (official)

Visit South Carolina is a promotional and informational initiative focused on attracting visitors to South Carolina. It highlights destinations from Hilton Head Island to the Blue Ridge Mountains, coordinates with state agencies like the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism and partners such as Discover South Carolina and regional CVBs like Charleston Area CVB and Greenville Convention & Visitors Bureau. The program connects travelers with landmarks including Fort Sumter, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, South Carolina, Congaree National Park, and events such as the Spoleto Festival USA and the Myrtle Beach International Airport-linked itineraries.

Overview

Visit South Carolina promotes destinations across Beaufort, South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, Greenville, South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Florence, South Carolina, while collaborating with attractions like Brookgreen Gardens, Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, and Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. It markets seasons for festivals including Boo! at the Beach and Piccolo Spoleto, public sites such as Hampton Plantation State Historic Site and Drayton Hall, and heritage trails like the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor and the Lowcountry & Resort Islands. Partners include transportation hubs Charleston International Airport, Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport, and seaport ports like Port of Charleston.

Geography and Climate

South Carolina spans physiographic provinces from the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the Pee Dee River basin to the Piedmont and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The coastlines feature barrier islands including Kiawah Island, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, and Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort County, South Carolina. Inland areas encompass river systems such as the Congaree River, Savannah River, and Edisto River, as well as protected lands like Sumter National Forest and Paris Mountain State Park. The climate ranges from humid subtropical conditions shaping seasons at Columbia, South Carolina and Myrtle Beach, to cooler mountain microclimates around Caesars Head State Park and Table Rock State Park.

Major Cities and Regions

Key urban centers promoted include Charleston, South Carolina with its historic district and Charleston County, Columbia, South Carolina as the state capital and site of University of South Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina noted for downtown revitalization and the Falls Park on the Reedy. Coastal resort corridors feature Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand, Hilton Head Island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, and the Sea Islands archipelago including St. Helena Island and Daufuskie Island. The Upstate includes Spartanburg, South Carolina, Anderson, South Carolina, and Oconee County, South Carolina, while the Midlands covers Lexington County, South Carolina and Richland County, South Carolina.

Attractions and Activities

Visitors are directed to heritage sites like Fort Sumter National Monument, Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, Charleston Museum, and plantation museums such as Middleton Place and Boone Hall Plantation. Outdoor offerings include hiking at Table Rock State Park, paddling on the Edisto River, birding at Hunting Island State Park, fishing along the Intracoastal Waterway, and golfing courses at Sea Pines Resort and Palmetto Dunes. Cultural venues promoted include Dock Street Theatre, North Charleston Coliseum, Peace Center (Greenville, South Carolina), and festivals such as Spoleto Festival USA, Carolina Cup, Myrtle Beach Bike Week, and Euphoria (Charleston food and wine festival). Family attractions include South Carolina Aquarium, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, Broadway at the Beach, and EdVenture Children's Museum.

Culture and Cuisine

The program emphasizes Lowcountry traditions from the Gullah and Gullah Geechee communities, shrimping and rice cultivation histories tied to Charleston Harbor and Port Royal Sound. Regional dishes spotlighted include shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, Lowcountry boil, and barbecue styles found in venues such as Rodney Scott's BBQ and establishments in West Columbia, South Carolina and Greenville County, South Carolina. Culinary events promoted include Charleston Food + Wine Festival, Euphoria, and farm-to-table initiatives with partners like Clemson Extension and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). Music and arts offerings feature Lowcountry Lowline-adjacent performances, galleries in North Charleston, and traditions celebrated at Kingstree Arts Festival and university arts centers like University of South Carolina School of Music and Furman University.

Travel and Transportation

Visit South Carolina coordinates information on air travel via Charleston International Airport, Myrtle Beach International Airport, Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport, and smaller fields like Hilton Head Airport (HHH). Ground access includes interstate routes Interstate 26, Interstate 20, Interstate 95, and Interstate 85, rail options with Amtrak service at stations in Charleston, Myrtle Beach (via nearby stations), and Columbia, and ferry services to islands using operators serving St. Helena Island and Daufuskie Island. The program liaises with agencies such as the South Carolina Department of Transportation and regional transit authorities like Lowcountry Regional Transit Authority.

Economy and Tourism Industry

Tourism promotion links to economic drivers including hospitality networks like Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, and independent inns in Charleston Historic District; cruise operations at Port of Charleston; and conventions at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and Greenville Convention Center. The industry intersects with agricultural producers supplying farm-to-table restaurants, fisheries serving Charleston and Hilton Head markets, and cultural institutions such as Historic Charleston Foundation and South Carolina State Museum. Marketing campaigns coordinate with organizations like South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, regional CVBs including Visit Myrtle Beach and VisitGreenvilleSC, and trade partners such as U.S. Travel Association and National Trust for Historic Preservation to measure visitor spending, seasonal occupancy, and employment in hospitality sectors across counties including Charleston County, South Carolina, Horry County, South Carolina, Beaufort County, South Carolina, and Greenville County, South Carolina.

Category:Tourism in South Carolina