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Located in the heart of Charleston’s historic district, this prominent landmark provides a spectacular view of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor, where the Ashley and Cooper rivers empty into the Atlantic Ocean. It was first used as a public garden in 1837. With the outbreak of the Civil War, it became a fortification for the city. Visitors today also find an impressive display of historic mortars and cannons from the Civil War used to shell as well as defend the city. At the corner of Murray and East Bay there is a Confederate monument.
In the early 1720s, the infamous "gentleman" pirate Stede Bonnet was hanged here with about 50 others like him. Townspeople filled the gallows area and jeered as the outlaw was brought to his rightful end. Bonnet was buried in the nearby marsh. His epitaph has been memorialized and stands today in the park.
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 Charleston |
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Established in 1681 by Major John Boone, one of the original settlers of South Carolina. Boone Hall began as a rice plantation and was converted into a prosperous cotton plantation in the 1800s. Thomas A. Stone, Canadian ambassador to the Netherlands, built the present plantation manor house in 1935. Adding to Boone Hall's beauty is its famous avenue of oaks - a three-quarter mile drive lined with massive, Spanish-moss draped live oaks. The first of these oaks was planted in 1743 by Capt. Thomas Boone who is believed to be buried beside the avenue, his grave indicated by an unmarked vault. Bordering the avenue of oaks are nine original slave cabins, which housed the plantation's house servants and skilled craftsmen. This cluster of cabins, known as Slave Street, is one of the few remaining intact in the Southeast and the only brick slave street in the U.S. Boone Hall and its grounds were prominently featured in the TV mini-series "North & South" Civil War epic by John Jakes, and Alex Haley's "Queen," among others.
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Mount Pleasant |
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Set on a 300-acre parcel in the heart of a 9,100-acre preserve along the South Carolina coast, Brookgreen Gardens is a beautiful sculpture garden with a wildlife sanctuary, creek excursions, back road tours and seasonal events. Comprised of four former rice plantations, Brookgreen was the first public sculpture garden built in the U.S. The garden was opened to the public in 1931 by its founders Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Anna Hyatt Huntington's works are featured along with other prominent American sculptors. More than 550 pieces of figurative sculpture are featured in 10 separate garden "rooms," with accent pools and fountains. Seasonal offerings include a spring garden fair, two indoor changing exhibits, evening dining and other programs in the summer. Harvest Home Weekend festival in the fall and Night of a Thousand Candles during the holidays. Visit the E. Craig Wall Jr. Lowcountry Center and take enjoy one of the daily programs, tours and excursions.
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 Murrells Inlet |
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You are invited to tour 18 greenhouses and enjoy 93,000 square feet of tropical beauty. One of the largest orchid nurseries in the world welcomes visitors and provides special, guided tours for groups with advance notice. Purchase a wide variety of orchids and other plants.
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 Newberry |
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Travel back into a quieter simpler time and visit a small town in upstate South Carolina. Tour a small-town merchant’s house museum and stroll through the garden that features unique heritage roses, historic flowers and plants. Absorb the atmosphere of time past in the garden outside the Central History Museum. Walk through the garden with sculptures and benches.
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 Central |
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This 175-acre swamp/garden offers a walk-through Butterfly House with free-flying butterflies, beautiful plants, tropical birds and more. A Freshwater Aquarium features native fish, reptiles and amphibians. An International Reptile Center houses giant exotic constrictors and native venomous snakes. Visitors can spy on endangered crocodilians in the new Crocodile Isle exhibit. Picnic shelters and a gift shop are other amenities at the park. The swamp/garden is easily accessible with 4 1/2 miles of walking paths and the famous bateaus (flat bottom boats). Once part of Dean Hall Plantation, the gardens are especially lovely in spring when the azaleas, dogwoods, wisteria and daffodils are in bloom. The swamp garden was prominently featured in the year 2000 motion picture "The Patriot" starring Mel Gibson.
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 Moncks Corner |
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An accredited museum, Drayton Hall is nationally known for its exceptional guided tour of the authentic plantation house. Built between 1738 and 1742, Drayton Hall is the oldest preserved plantation house in America that is open to the public. Admission includes the guided house tour, self-guided walks of the marsh and river, "A Sacred Place" the African-American cemetery, and "Connections: from Africa to America," which discusses the influences of African-Americans at Drayton Hall from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
A National Trust Historic Site, Drayton Hall has served seven generations of the Drayton family including William Henry Drayton Revolutionary War hero, member of the Continental Congress and chief justice of South Carolina. Although occupied by the British during the Revolutionary War it survived. Drayton Hall is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian Palladian architecture in America. It retains its original interiors and has never been wired for electricity or had plumbing or heating and air installed.
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Charleston |
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A testing ground in the All American Rose Selection process, the gardens glorify the bank of the north fork of the Edisto River with masses of azaleas, wisteria and other Southern favorites. The Horne Wetlands Park in the gardens takes visitors over a 2,700-ft. boardwalk for a close-up look at the plants and wildlife found in the wetlands of this area. The adjacent Arts Center maintains a gallery on its second floor.
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 Orangeburg |
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Falls Park on the Reedy provides an oasis in the heart of downtown Greenville in the historic West End. The park features a one-of-a-kind curved suspension footbridge and scenic overlooks, outdoor amphitheaters, world-class works of public art, nature trails, picnic areas, excavated mill ruins, several distinct garden areas, and of course the beautiful Reedy River with its impressive series of falls. The park has a self-guided walking tour with historic markers.
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 Greenville |
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Three acres of meticulously sculpted plants include graceful arches, spirals, geometrics and fantasies, the work of Mr. Pearl Fryar. The garden has been featured on local and national television shows and in several international publications. Stroll the garden alone or let Mr. Fryar guide you while sharing insights and stories to complement his garden.
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 Bishopville |
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