14 Small Town Getaways In South Carolina Perfect For Families
Over 5 million people live in South Carolina. While there are a few counties with over or close to a half-million, the population is quite spread-out. There are 46 counties in South Carolina—the most allowable by state law. The land is that beautiful. People cannot help but stretch-out in it; to find a paradise to call their own. Find a paradise or two from these fourteen small-town getaways, each in a different county of the Union’s prettiest, most family-friendly state.
Aiken, Aiken County
The small town crown jewel of South Carolina's Central Savannah River Area is without a doubt Aiken. Its attributes make it a no-brainer for families. Virginia Park is 46 acres of greenery with an enormous playground in addition to an 18-hole disc golf course, tennis courts, and a scenic network of trails. At 2,100 acres, Hitchcock Woods is one of the largest urban forests in the United States. Its seventy miles of trails are open every day, sunrise to sunset. The DuPont Planetarium at the Aitken campus of the University of South Carolina has a thirty-foot-diameter tilted dome to teach children and parents of their miraculous night sky, away from big city lights.
Travelers Rest, Greenville County
The Blue Ridge Mountains of Appalachia get their characteristic blue haze from the isoprene emitted from its stately trees. These same trees set the stage of Trailblazer Park; a sprawling urban green area enjoyed by the town of Traveler’s Rest in the otherwise heavily populated Greenville County. The Travelers Rest Farmers Market has dozens of vendors from the surrounding area pitching-in fresh produce, still-warm baked treats, and soulful live music. The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a parade of natural discovery. Paris Mountain State Park has paddle boats to rent on restless weekends. The Palmetto Proper Play Café and Giftshop has crafty families getting competitive. Enjoy a family friendly meal at Farmhouse Tacos. After, hire a babysitter and return for their margaritas.
Walhalla, Oconee County
Another Blue Ridge Mountain gem, Walhalla is replete with calm areas soundtracked by waterfalls and painted green with treescape. The Stumphouse Tunnel was practically built by Time itself to be the perfect place for kids (and kid-like adults) to explore. The former railroad tunnel has been on the National Registry of Historic Places for decades and features a nearby mountain bike park. The Museum of the Cherokee of South Carolina has a suggested entrance fee of $3, children twelve and under get in free. The Walhalla Performing Arts Center features year-around programming in a former grade school built in 1903.
Clemson, Pickens/Anderson Counties
The town of Clemson is no stranger to NCAA football fans. Clemson is on the Eastern bank of the sprawling Lake Hartwell that cuts into the landscape. Raising a child in a university town has the effect of always giving them something to aspire to outside of the typical enclosed, grade school social atmosphere. The Central Clemson Recreation Center serves fitness needs for the whole family with a pool, pickleball, and a host of other activities. The Bob Campbell Geology Museum will have the whole family dreaming of rocks. At the end of a long day, sit and watch the ducks at Larry W. Abernathy Waterfront Park.
Georgetown, Georgetown County
Georgetown is snuggled along a series of winding waterways that drain into the Winyah Bay, just East of the town. The area is rife with history: the grid for Georgetown was laid out in 1729. Culturally, Georgetown absorbs vacation vibes from surrounding areas. It is a part of the laid back “hammock-coast” stretch between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. If one is going to live in a getaway area, settling on a spot like Georgetown keeps one away the oft-drunken big-city crowds. There are fewer towns with more opportunities for hands-on learning: the Rice Museum, the South Carolina Maritime Museum, and the Gullah Museum SC are all in Georgetown. The Gullah Museum teaches visitors about the Gullah language and the Geechee history of crop cultivation, arts, crafts, and worship.
Newberry, Newberry County
Newberry in the county of the same name is located in a piedmont region 43 miles northwest of the populous city of Columbia. The Opera House of the town of Newberry has an astounding 130-foot-high clock tower with a weathervane straight out of “Back to the Future.” Newberry is a haven for the aquatic recreationalist with the assets of Lake Greenwood, Lake Murray, the Saluda River, the Enoree (and Tyger) River, and the Parr Shoals Reservoir to shuffle between. Dreher Island State Park and Sumter National Forest are awash in easily navigable trails. Visit the Wells Japanese Garden to reflect after a belly-busting meal at Bill and Fran’s Restaurant. The NFT Museum (of digital art) will inspire artists of all strokes.
Abbeville, Abbeville County
Abbeville residents who love their historic town near the junction of highways 28 and 72, which runs through the town. A whopping 528 buildings make up the Abbeville Historic District. The shop at the Diamond Hill Mine will enliven aspiring geologists of all ages. The enormous and beautiful Abbeville Opera House has year-around programming and an ardent community of volunteers who support it. The Parsons Mountain Recreation Area will fill noses with tree resin scent as calf-muscles burn through steady inclines/declines. A wise choice after indulging at The Rough House hot dog restaurant. The South Carolina staple has been in business for nearly a century. Breezy Quarters fulfills all toiletry needs with natural, dye-free products.
Lake City, Florence County
Lake City was once a booming tobacco industry town. The plant’s fall from grace this past century has afforded the town to redefine itself as a hub of creativity and comradery. Exterior walls feature murals by artists like Herman Keith, Donald Walker, and the team of Jessie Unterhalter & Katey Truhn. There are three spectacular art galleries to choose from on rainy days. Lake City’s Moore Farms maintains over fifteen acres of green space, allowing the town to follow Bee City guidelines to provide a sustainable habitat for pollinators. Olio Studio offers a range of workshops in painting and pottery to fuel the whole family’s creative side.
Camden, Kershaw County
Camden grew on the Eastern bank of the winding Wateree River. The town is as old as it gets—the oldest inland city in South Carolina was founded in 1730. Several old estates have been converted into educational opportunities as well as the odd bed and breakfast. Confront America’s troubled history while building a positive future. Watch the horses trot at the South Carolina Equine Park after filling up with history at the National Steeplechase Museum. Lake Wateree State Park has fantastic camping facilities, a wonderful playground, and the 2.3-mile Desportes Trail which accommodates bicycles.
Walterboro, Colleton County
Get off of the I-95 in Walterboro for an unforgettable family experience. Orientation to Walterboro’s beauty starts in the amphitheatre at the Walterboro Wildlife Center, where the region’s robust biodiversity is examined. The Tuskegee Airmen Monument is in Walterboro. The Colleton Museum site has a wonderful seasonal Farmer’s Market. The perfect weekend is never far away in Walterboro with the Edisto River Treehouses. After some of Chef Guiseppe’s lasagna Bolognese at Carmine's Trattoria, hit the trails at the Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary. The 600-acre sanctuary has a whole mess of cyprus trees, a braided creek swamp teeming with wildlife, and is completely free to enter. It is open every day, sunup to sundown.
Cheraw, Chesterfield County
Cheraw calls itself the “Prettiest Town in Dixie.” Fair enough. Cheraw State Park already earns it that moniker twice over. Lake Juniper is the icing on the cake. American railfans may already know Cheraw as the location of the National Railroad Museum and Hall of Fame. Being the birthplace of Dizzie Gillespie, Cheraw hosts the annual South Carolina Jazz Festival. Discovery Place Kids in nearby Rockingham will keep kids smiling and learning for hours. The Annual Cheraw Lantern Parade is one of the funnest small-town holiday traditions anywhere. The goal is simple: build a cool lantern and parade it. Cheraw knows how to make the dark season bright.
Gaffney, Cherokee County
Gaffney’s great big roadside peach heralds great tastes within. The town that is just South of Lake Welchel welcomes visitors with a restored 1913 ex-post office which now houses art and local artifacts. Gaffney’s “Big E” entertainment center is the sort of place one must drag kids out from: bowling, bumper cars, a sixty-game arcade, a sprawling indoor playland, laser tag, and an impressive mini golf course with animatronics, pyrotechnics, etc. For a quieter playtime, Thompson Park has everything a family needs. Take in a show at the Gaffney Little Theater after a meal at Bronco Mexican Restaurant.
Hartsville, Darlington County
Get lost in the sensory catnip that is Kalmia Gardens’ thirty acres. The town of Hartsville, pressed firmly against Prestwood Lake, appreciates natural beauty in all its forms. The city has been enjoying its status as a National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City since 1986. Neptune Island waterpark is a choice location for a kid’s birthday party. The Hartsville Skating Arena continues to provide a fun outlet, inspiring future South Carolina roller derby stars. Parents can taste something different with Hartsville’s Vintage Craft Beer and Wine Boutique. Pick out a bottle to share after a romantic evening at the Mantissa Hotel’s rooftop bar.
Fort Mill, York County
Moving into a suburb can be like a stepping-stone to a quiet, rural life for those raised in grids of metropolitan concrete. This hop, skip, and jump from Charlotte has a population of working residents who largely disappear during working hours. The Fort Mill History Museum is Wednesdays to Saturdays, ten-to-four. The $17 entry fee for adults is well worth it. For an easy introduction to the town, download the museum’s brochure for a self-guided walking tour. NarroWay Productions may be the only family friendly, non-raunchy dinner theater in existence. Fort Mill is the location of South Carolina’s annual Strawberry Festival, an enormously fun affair.
South Carolina is pretty because people keep it so. Please ensure to leave no trace of visits to state parks and report sightings of invasive species to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Remember that every day is an opportunity to undo the legacy of colonization. Consider donating to the Southern Poverty Law Center and supporting Native American owned businesses. There is a great resource for finding them: the South Carolina Native American Business Directory. It can be found on the South Carolina government website.
