Ready to thaw out from a long, cold winter? Take a trip to South Carolina where springtime temps are as warm as our legendary hospitality.
Here are four trip ideas to help you get planning.
4 Trip Ideas for a Spring Vacation in South Carolina
This is the resort that started the environmentally sensitive development of the island, now a model for other green-minded communities. Located on the southern tip of the shoe-shaped barrier island, the renowned family beach resort features an array of recreational amenities, including three championship golf courses, a tennis center, beach club, nature preserve and an extensive network of bike trails that allow visitors to experience the natural beauty of the resort’s Lowcountry landscape, judiciously preserved for more than half a century.
Each April on the week following the Masters, the resort plays host to the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, drawing thousands of golf fans to its famed Harbour Town Golf Links. Even if you don’t come for the PGA TOUR event, you can still enjoy the resort’s picturesque setting with azaleas and dogwoods in bloom. And you can dine at Quarterdeck, a two-story restaurant featuring a rooftop oyster bar that offers fantastic views of the 18th hole, Calibogue Sound and Harbour Town Yacht Basin.
Myrtle Beach
This hot spot for summer fun is just as alluring in the spring when the weather is milder and the crowds are sparse. Enjoy the Grand Strand’s miles of beautiful beaches and myriad attractions, from Ripley’s Aquarium to the SkyWheel. It’s also a great time to dine at popular restaurants like Johnny D’s Waffles & Bakery and Captain Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood Buffet where Alaskan king crab legs are, well, king. And it will be much easier to make reservations at foodie favorites, including SeaBlue Restaurant and Wine Bar, Fire and Smoke and The Parson’s Table.
This time of year, the top entertainment venues are raising the curtain on a new lineup of shows. Legends in Concert will be presenting musical tributes to Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, Jason Aldean, Elvis and Tina Turner. The Carolina Opry will be staging both its namesake show and Time Warp, plus tribute concerts to various classic bands.
Charleston
You’ll be hitting peak season for this historic town, but the rewards will be great, especially if you book your trip during the 17 days of Spoleto Festival USA, internationally recognized as America’s premier performing arts event. The arts extravaganza features renowned artists and emerging performers in opera, theater, dance, and chamber, symphonic, choral and jazz music.
If you visit earlier in the spring, you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to experience the city’s rich history, culture and arts scene and its many beautiful gardens in glorious bloom. Stroll along the famed Battery, take a guided historic walking tour, visit a historic plantation and enjoy cocktails on one of Charleston’s 12 rooftop bars. Whatever you include in your itinerary, you’ll want to spend lots of time outdoors enjoying this beautiful city, named No. 1 city in America by Travel + Leisure magazine readers for nine straight years.
Be sure to plan ahead and make reservations for dinner at some of the acclaimed restaurants that have helped earn Charleston a spot on the U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Foodie Cities in the U.S.
Rock Hill
One of South Carolina’s less-traveled destinations, this Midlands city is fast gaining fans with its array of recreational amenities, a new sports and event center and world-class cycling facilities. But it’s the city’s revitalized downtown that is the big charmer here. The historic city center delights visitors with its enchanting cafes and restaurants, gift shops, boutiques, art galleries and breweries.
Each spring, Rock Hill celebrate its Come-See-Me Festival, a 10-day event showcasing all the city has to offer. This annual salute to spring features more than 80 events and activities, among them a parade, barbecue cook-off, tailgate party, skydiving exhibition, live music, road races, beer-tasting event Hops at the Park and a fireworks extravaganza.
Along with the historic downtown, you’ll also want to visit Riverwalk, a contemporary development on the scenic Catawba River. This burgeoning hub is home to many of the town’s newest recreational amenities, including a 2.25-mile paved recreational trail, velodrome, BMX track, criterium course and kayak launch. Make reservations for lunch or dinner at The Pump House, Riverwalk’s premier fine dining restaurant located on the banks of the Catawba. The restaurant’s extraordinary cuisine is surpassed only by its scenic setting and the stunning sunsets you can enjoy from its third-floor covered balcony and rooftop bar.
