11 Offbeat South Carolina Towns To Visit In 2025

The southern state of South Carolina, between North Carolina and Georgia, and along the rugged coast of the Atlantic Ocean, has a plethora of awesome cities like Charleston and Greenville. Yet, this magnificent state also possesses some of the most offbeat small towns as well. From the town of Beaufort and the Kazoobie Kazoo Museum to the town of Yemassee and the Old Sheldon Church ruins, South Carolina, also known as the Palmetto State, is home to some towns with bizarre attractions, both natural and man-made. Here are eleven of the most offbeat towns in South Carolina worth visiting in 2025.

Beaufort

The painting of porch ceilings, “haight-blue,” is one of the more offbeat attributes of Beaufort, the second-oldest city in South Carolina. These porch ceilings can be found throughout historic Beaufort and other places within the Lowcountry. Influenced by a tradition from Africa during the 1800s, this odd color is said to ward off witches and wraiths.

Another bizarre attraction of Beaufort, the Kazoobie Kazoo Museum, dedicates its attention to the kazoo, which barely gets credit for being a musical instrument. Also known as the “Down-South Submarine,” the kazoo is enshrined in this awesome museum with hundreds of different kazoo-related items. It includes a factory tour where you can see the creation of the kazoo from scratch. Afterward, grab a bite at the Outback Steakhouse for a delicious end to the day.

Travelers Rest

A short drive from Poinsett Bridge, one of the oldest surviving bridges in the state, the town of Travelers Rest is well-known to those who love history; that is a little offbeat. The stone bridge in question, built in 1820, is considered to be haunted by several sources. Strange screams, possibly from a slave hanged from the apex of the bridge, are said to be heard even today.

The Spring Park Inn is another odd attraction in Travelers Rest. Beginning as a residence in 1820, this house evolved into an inn in 1852 and is now working toward becoming a museum for the Travelers Rest Historical Society. Travelers Rest is also the home of the Sunken Manor, a haunted house based on the history of the Herrington family and their disappearance.

Little River

Situated along the coast, just north of Myrtle Beach, the picturesque town of Little River is home to some weird attractions, including the Parson’s Table. This fine-dining steak & seafood restaurant, located in downtown Little River, serves up delicious American cuisine and is situated inside the Little River Methodist Church, which was first built in 1885.

Another weird attribute of downtown Little River is the Brentwood Bistro, which is said to be haunted. Strange phenomena have been reported by guests, visitors, and staff alike, including orb sightings and unexplained shadows. Along with the haunting of Brentwood Bistro, Little River is home to the Vereen Memorial Gardens, which has some of the most awesome boardwalks and pathways.

Walterboro

Seventy miles north of Savannah, Georgia, the town of Walterboro is perhaps best known for its historic water tower. Built around 1915, this 133-foot-high water tower holds 100,000 gallons of water. It also contains three jail cells. These “jail cells” were first used as a county jail and then utilized as lodging for stranded transients who had no money.

Some other great offbeat attributes: the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial and Colleton County Museum both call Walterboro home. The memorial was once the training ground for the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, as well as the site of a POW camp and base hospital. Meanwhile, the museum displays a plethora of historic exhibits, including some rare artifacts from the American Civil and Revolutionary Wars.

Gaffney

The town of Gaffney, located close to the southern border of North Carolina, is home to another interesting water tower. The Gaffney Water Tower, also known as the “Peachoid” is one of the most unique landmarks in the region. This water tower is 135 feet tall, holds a million gallons of water, and is styled like a peach. Built in 1981 and decorated with a leaf measured at sixty feet long, this attraction is to commemorate that Gaffney is the “Peach Capital of South Carolina.”

Gaffney is also within a short drive of Cowpens National Battlefield, a major battlefield during the American Revolutionary War, and Cherokee County Museum, which features several exhibits honoring the military, Native Americans, and the history of the Railroad.

Georgetown

Home of Hobcaw Barony and the South Carolina Maritime Museum, the picturesque town of Georgetown has several attractions that make it an offbeat town to visit in 2025. Hobcaw Barony, 16,000 acres of land with a discovery center, displays exhibits from Native American heritage to slavery within Friendfield Village. In contrast, the South Carolina Maritime Museum displays objects like the Fresnel lens from the old North Island lighthouse.

Another great yet offbeat attraction of Georgetown is the architecture, including several historic buildings like the Hopsewee Plantation, the Kaminski House, and the Rice Museum. These pieces of architecture provide a sense of how the production of rice supplied a strong economy for the town and the surrounding area.

Sunset

The tiny town of Sunset may best be known through Keowee-Toxaway State Park, as well as the abundance of magnificent waterfalls in the surrounding area. Two of the best, Virginia Hawkins Falls and Laurel Fork Falls, both located within an hour's drive of town, are well worth the visit, especially if you like strolling along scenic hiking trails.

Another great yet offbeat asset close to the town of Sunset is the peak of Sassafras Mountain. At over 3,500 feet above sea level, it is considered to be the highest point in South Carolina and quite breathtaking. For those who wish to climb even higher, there is an observation tower that will allow you to see three different states at once.

Lancaster

The quaint town of Lancaster has a plethora of natural attractions that encourage visitors to return over and over. Yet, this town of around nine thousand residents is home to several offbeat attractions as well. Springs Park, a very popular amusement park which opened in 1925 and closed quite unexpectedly in the summer of 1989, can still be found along the banks of the Catawba River, awaiting another chance at popularity, perhaps.

Another landmark is Andrew Jackson State Park, named after the seventh president of the United States, and full of opportunities like hiking, boating, camping, and even touring the park’s museum. This small town is also known for the Lancaster County Jail. Though it seems normal, this jail was actually built in 1823 by American-born architect Robert Mills.

St. George

Roughly 30 miles from both Lake Marion and the Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site, the small town of St. George might be easy to miss—but it shouldn't be. Known as the “Grits Capital of the World,” St. George embraces its culinary fame with the annual World Grits Festival, where visitors can join quirky contests like rolling in a pool of grits.

Aside from festival fun, history buffs will enjoy a visit to the Koger-Carroll House—also called the Old Carroll Place—one of the oldest plantation homes in Dorchester County. Antique lovers can browse George’s Station Antiques, a shop renowned for its eclectic collection of vintage treasures. With less than 2,000 residents, St. George may be small, but its character and charm make it one of South Carolina’s most delightfully unexpected stops.

Cayce

Situated in the center of the state, the picturesque town of Cayce may best be known for being the home of Guignard Brick Works. This establishment was first founded in 1801 and is one of the oldest brickworks in the United States. Even before it became a brickworks, this site was the location of the Still Hopes Plantation, which was owned by James Guignard’s father, John Gabriel Guignard.

Another awesome yet offbeat attraction of Cayce, the Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve, between the town and the Congaree River, has many great attributes, including over 600 acres of wilderness. Within this escape from city living, one can see deer, bobcats, and wild hogs, as well as possibly find unique arrowheads from Native Americans from over 10,000 years ago.

Yemassee

Located about an hour north of Hilton Head Island, the small town of Yemassee offers a surprising number of fascinating and offbeat attractions. Among its most notable sites is Auldbrass Plantation, an architectural gem designed by Frank Lloyd Wright around 1940. History lovers will also appreciate the Frampton Plantation House, originally built in the 1700s, burned during the Civil War in 1865, and rebuilt just a few years later in 1868.

Another offbeat attraction prevalent in the picturesque town of Yemassee, the Old Sheldon Church ruins draws people to this town of approximately a thousand permanent residents every year. The Old Sheldon Church ruins, once called Prince William’s Church, was built in the 1750s, burned in 1779, was rebuilt in 1826, and burned again in 1865 by General Sherman.

Final Thoughts

While the entire Palmetto State has several phenomenal towns scattered across its approximately twenty million acres of land, the eleven small towns listed above provide a quaint sense of bizarre attraction to those who stop and visit and those who live there year-round. From Little River, located on the Atlantic Ocean, and the Parson’s Table to Walterboro and the Walterboro Water Tower, these eleven offbeat towns in South Carolina make it well worth the time it takes to visit.