Myrtle Beach
One of the most popular vacation destinations in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach attracts groups with its abundance of well-developed attractions, shopping complexes and evening entertainment. If your groups want to find other fun during the day, though, there’s history, wine, beer and distinctive local shopping to be found throughout the Grand Strand area.
Among the most interesting stops is Pawleys Island, where Huntington Beach State Park has more than six miles of flat trails through lush terrain. It also features Atalaya, a fascinating historic site.
“Atalaya is what we refer to as a Moorish castle,” said Sandy Haines, group tour sales manager at the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s where Anna Huntington lived. She is the artist who created the sculptures at Brookgreen Gardens. You can take a tour through the castle. There’s a good bit of history there.”
For a relaxing afternoon break, consider a visit to New South Brewing in Myrtle Beach. Groups get free tours of the microbrewery, where they can learn about beer-making and sample some of the company’s products. In nearby Little River, La Belle Amie Vineyard offers wine tours, as well as the opportunity to try different wines in the tasting room or enjoy a glass in a rocking chair on the porch, with live music in the background.
If the shoppers in your group get tired of the large retail complexes in Myrtle Beach, consider taking them to some more-distinctive stores. Little River Mini Mall has 25,000 square feet of antiques, collectibles, crafts, art, jewelry and furniture offered by dozens of vendors. And Gay Dolphin Gift Cove has been in business since 1946; it offers a variety of quirky beach mementos and other souvenirs.
Columbia
Columbia, in the center of South Carolina, is the state’s capital and has a number of marquee attractions, including the Riverbanks Zoo and the South Carolina Statehouse. But there are also some hidden gems that are well worth a visit.
The South Carolina governor’s mansion sits in the center of downtown but is surrounded by gardens, which give it a peaceful, secluded air. The gardens are open to the public every day, and groups can also schedule tours of the mansion.
Just outside the city, Congaree National Park is one of the least-visited national parks in the country. But this blackwater swamp holds some fascinating sights for intrepid travelers.
“It’s a hidden gem that has record-size trees,” said Jayne Baker, vice president of marketing for the Capital City/Lake Murray County Regional Tourism Board. “It sits on the river, so you can go canoeing there and see the park from a different angle. There’s a new event there in May and June that we’re really encouraging groups to attend. The Firefly Festival features fireflies that come out at dusk, and we’re far enough outside of the city that it attracts a lot of fireflies.”
Epicureans in your group will enjoy sampling the barbecue around Columbia, where the local style is characterized by shredded pork and a yellow, mustard-based sauce. There are plenty of small barbecue joints around town to check out, but perhaps the most unusual is Top of Carolina.
“It’s at the top of a high-rise dormitory in the heart of the University of South Carolina campus,” Baker said. “It slowly rotates, so it’s great for people who would like to view the campus and also enjoy a barbecue lunch.”
The restaurant is open Fridays for lunch and Saturdays for brunch during the school year. Groups should make reservations.
Greenville
In the mountainous territory of northeast South Carolina, Greenville is known for its vibrant downtown scene complete with restaurants, shopping, nightlife and history. But groups that venture beyond the downtown area will find a variety of historic and natural sites to visit.
In the town of Greer, Suber’s Corn Mill was built in 1908 and is one of the oldest surviving gristmills still operating in South Carolina. Visitors can see the millstone, gears and pulleys that operate the mill and watch as corn is ground into cornmeal. There, meal and other products are available for sale on-site.
Six miles outside of downtown Greenville is Lake Conestee Nature Park, which comprises 400 acres along the Reedy River. The hardwood and evergreen forests along the riverbank are inhabited by more than 200 species of birds, as well as deer, raccoons, beavers, foxes and other animals.
Active groups might also enjoy a trip on the Swamp Rabbit Cycling Trail.
“We have a number of affordable ways to rent bikes, so a whole group could go out on a ride together,” said Taryn Scher, spokeswoman for Visit Greenville. “The trail is more than 20 miles long. It goes through the campus of Furman University and out to the city of Travelers Rest, a charming small town that has exploded in popularity thanks to the trail. There’s a brewery, a rum distillery and about 15 to 20 restaurants.”
Meanwhile, back in downtown Greenville, there are more than 70 pieces of public art on display, and visitors can take a self-guided walking tour to see the artwork and learn about the people who created it.
For more information go to www.discoversouthcarolina.com.
