Is there any place in the world that is quite so quirky and kooky as South Carolina while at the same time so warm and welcoming to tourists? No, there isn't. And this makes South Carolina the perfect place to take a road trip.
Don't believe us? Take a little drive with our Quintessential SC Road Trip Guide and report back to us.
South of the Border
Chances are you'll know about South of the Border in Dillon well before you arrive, if you've been traveling on Interstate 95 where the roadside attraction's billboards have been encouraging you to pull over for miles. Founded in 1949, South of the Border was originally a beer stand just south of the border of three dry North Carolina counties. Now, it's an all-out extravaganza, with not just a hotel, restaurant and shopping, but the Reptile Lagoon, Sombrero Tower and the Pedroland amusement park, too.
UFO Welcome Center in Bowman is just what the name implies: a roadside rest stop for aliens. No aliens have yet made use of the UFO Welcome Center, but luckily, humans are welcome, too. It's a little rickety and run down, that's true. But Jody Pendarvis, who built and runs the UFO Welcome Center, is as charming and hospitable as they come. To all species, earthly and otherwise.
The Gay Dolphin
You're not the only person to chuckle at the name. The Gay Dolphin Gift Cove of Myrtle Beach proudly proclaims that they have been listed as having one of the most photographed signs in America. But please, don't just stop with a selfie of the signage. You must go into the Gay Dolphin to experience it. Inside, you'll find 7 (yes-seven!) stories of trinkets, treasures, baubles and beach supplies, stacked from floor to ceiling along zigzagging and meandering aisles. There is no rhyme or reason, and it's basically impossible not to get lost. But whatever you do, however lost you may get, make sure you find the Elvis section, where you can buy the life-size Elvis statue to remember you time lost in the Gay Dolphin. Or at least a selfie with him.
There really is enough quirky fun in just Myrtle Beach alone to fill a weekend. Check out more adventures here:
The 4 Kookiest Things in Myrtle Beach
Serpentarium
This is a place that has to be seen to be believed, tucked away on a sleepy road overgrown with live oaks and Spanish moss. Did you know that some snakes can climb trees and like to hang out in the branches? As in, literally hanging and dangling from the branches? Well, seeing is believing and after a visit to the Edisto Serpentarium, you will be a believer. It's staffed by scientists and keepers who truly love snakes and the other reptiles who call the place home, and who are truly delighted to have you visit.
Peachoid
Made (in)famous in the TV show "House of Cards," Gaffney's Peachoid is real. Yes, there is a water tower that is painted to look like a peach, but some people think that in the right light and at the right angle looks like... other than a peach. Built in 1981 and now a beloved local landmark towering over I-85, the Peachoid celebrates the area's peach orchards. And nothing else.
