Start planning your ultimate South Carolina adventure with a free copy of the 2025 Vacation Guide. Request your free copy, view the guide online or download a PDF version below.
South Carolina's Santee Cooper Country is a haven for nature lovers, boasting some of the state's most beautiful gardens and green spaces.
In Moncks Corner, Mepkin Abbey offers a serene retreat with its expansive gardens and peaceful atmosphere. Take a guided tour of the Mepkin Abbey Church, a historic Trappist monastery, and then wander the blooms and sculptures in the Nancy Bryan Luce Gardens. Stop by the gift shop for jams, honey and other goods made by monks.
Also in Moncks Corner, the 170-acre Cypress Gardens features picturesque footbridges over a blackwater swamp bedecked in lily pads. (Take a rowboat out on the swamp to relive the romance of The Notebook, which was filmed here.) Inside The Butterfly House, get a peek into the beautiful life cycle of live butterflies.
In Sumter, Swan Lake Iris Gardens is a botanical gem, famous for its collection of more than 120 varieties of irises, plus a rainbow of other flowers and more than 100 species of trees. This is also the country’s only public park that features all eight species of swans. Sight-impaired visitors can enjoy the delightful aromas and sounds on the Sensory Trail.
Edisto Memorial Gardens in Orangeburg captivates visitors with its stunning display of thousands of roses, as well as azaleas and camellias. Enjoy the serenity garden, and walk along the boardwalk to view tupelo-cypress wetlands on the Edisto River.
Featuring a variety of great stories and exciting trip ideas, the 2025 South Carolina Vacation Guide makes planning your next getaway to the Palmetto State easy. Request your free copy or download the guide today.
