Hiking is the best way to see everything in Congaree National Park. Even though this park is just 30 minutes from downtown Columbia, South Carolina, it feels rural and isolated. The park protects 27,000 acres of hardwood bottomland forest and all the wildlife that call this area home. What does…
Charleston, South Carolina radiates Southern charm out of every cobblestone street, brightly painted row home, and Spanish moss-covered live oak. Visiting one of the many must-see plantations in Charleston is surely at the top of your list of things to do when you get here. But how do you choose…
Santee State Park is all about Lake Marion and enjoying the lake life! South Carolina’s largest lake is home to some of the state’s biggest fish. Whether you bring your own boat or rent from the on-site concessionaire, get out on the lake and see what you can find! Swimming…
Wondering how to celebrate Presidents' Day? Why not check out a famous presidential home? And no, I don't mean the Executive Mansion, aka the White House, in DC. Discover how the 7 most famous US Presidents lived BEFORE they got the title that would make them famous. Presidents’ Day in…
Explore one of South Carolina’s oceanfront state parks with a visit to Edisto Beach State Park. Spend the day at the beach, hike all the trails, learn the history of the area, and watch the sun set over the marsh! There’s no better way to spend a day in South…
The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC is known primarily for the enormous & beautiful mansion, but the Biltmore Gardens deserve recognition of their own. Frederick Law Olmsted, famed landscape architect of New York’s Central Park, designed the Biltmore gardens and the entire grounds of the Biltmore Estate as well. Olmsted…
The first National Parks Free Entry Day is always MLK Day! What better way to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday in January or Black History Month in February than visiting a key site from the Civil Rights Movement? The National Park Service (NPS) doesn’t just preserve amazing natural…
The United States is huge, but it can still be difficult to avoid other people when planning a vacation. For instance, how do you plan a road trip in the eastern US without running into huge crowds? Go during shoulder season and pick outdoor activities. Try this one-week road trip…
Washington, DC monuments are grand and impressive and should be at the top of your DC must-see list. Washington, DC monuments at night are even more amazing to behold and warrant a second visit! Stunning photo opportunities await! Whether you take a guided tour one evening or create your own…
Just across the river from modern day Charleston, South Carolina, the Charles Town Landing State Historic Site preserves the original European settlement and fort that was founded in 1670, as well as the adjacent Legare Waring House and Gardens. This South Carolina State Park includes archaeological sites of original buildings,…