Get on a Bus Rental in South Carolina and Uncover the State’s Many Surprises

Get on a Ferris wheel that gives you an unbridled view of the sea, or how about having a grand time on the go-karts. Get on thrilling rides or play arcade games. Whatever you want to experience, there is an amusement park in South Carolina that you can go to.

Some of the best include:

• Carowinds has close to 400 acres of space and includes the 20-acre Boomerang Bay water park. Carowinds has more than five dozen rides, more than one dozen roller coasters, and two water rides.
• Family Kingdom is located on Myrtle Beach and combines both a water park and an amusement park. There are rides for all ages such as the Swamp Fox classic wooden coaster, which has been a constant feature for the past four decades, as well as the Slingshot Drop Zone, bumper cars, go-karts, and a Ferris wheel.
• Frankie's Fun Park of Greenville where you will find lots of activities. You can get on a go-kart, play mini golf, or enjoy a round or two of laser tag. You also have bumper boats, video arcades, and batting cages, as well as a Rookie Track and a Fun House for the younger kids. You simply must try the Drop Zone if you want a heart stopping experience.
• MagiQuest takes role-playing games to the next level. Players use an infrared wand to interact with various objects in the game. They would have to find these objects and cast them so that they could use that object in their game play. MagiQuest opened in Myrtle Beach in 2005.
• Myrtle Beach SkyWheel is a Ferris wheel that stands 187 feet tall and is the second tallest one in North America.
• Ripley's Believe It Or Not Odditorium exhibits odd and bizarre items. In South Carolina, the building that houses it looks like it has been devastated by a hurricane.
• South of the Border has a small amusement park, gas stations, restaurants, a motel, and shops. The amusement park here is called Pedroland Park and it features kiddie rides such as the SRV Reality Ride, Mini-Himalaya, a carousel, Ferris wheel, antique cars, bumper cars, train, Red Baron airplanes and Quadzilla, among others. It also features two miniature golf courses and a video game arcade.

Casinos. The state has two casinos, the Southern Elegance Casino Cruise and the SunCruz Casino, which gives you close to 700 gaming and slot machines and close to three dozen table games.

Home to more than a dozen art museums, South Carolina has a wealth of notable museums that you can go to. Check out the Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery, which is known for its collection of European art, Holy Land antiquities, and Russian icons. Columbia Museum of Art has fine art and decorative art coming from Europe and across different parts of the country.

The Museum & Gallery at Heritage Green often exhibits Old Master paintings, while the Greenville County Museum of Art features American art. Two other art museums you can go to are Gibbes Museum of Art and the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art.

Apart from these museums, you also have a wide variety of galleries in different cities in the state, including the Beaufort Art Association Gallery, the Charles Street Gallery, I. Pinckney Simons Gallery, The Ann Long fine Art Gallery, Charleston Renaissance Gallery, Ella Richardson Fine Art Gallery, John Carroll Doyle Art Gallery, and Mary Martin, A Gallery of Fine Art. All of these galleries are in Beaufort and Charleston.

In Columbia, you have the City Art Gallery, HOFP Gallery, and One Eared Cow Glass. Meanwhile, Greenville has the Michael McDunn Studio Gallery and Hilton Head Island has the Arts Center, Art League of Hilton Head, and Morris & Whiteside Galleries.

Then you have the South Carolina State Museum, which is also in Columbia is the biggest museum in the area. The museum has exhibits that is focused on the state's lifestyle and history, and combines four different disciplines: science and technology, art, natural history and cultural history.

Other must visit galleries in other cities include:

• Creative Hand Artisan Center in Lyman
• Island Art Gallery in Pawleys Island
• Palmetto Fine Arts in Chaplin
• Rutledge Street Gallery in Camden
• The Artist's Coop in Laurens
• Utonga Gallery and The Treasure Nest Art Gallery in Mt. Pleasant
• Wells Gallery in Kiawah Island

Performance arts. Koger Center for the Arts accommodates more than 2,200 people and is home to the South Carolina Philharmonic. It is also the venue for several events ranging from the South Carolina Science Fair to state bodybuilding championships. Meanwhile, the Abbeville Opera House and Municipal Office Building seats more than 200 people near the stage and close to 100 in the balcony.

The College of Charleston's Sottile Theater has 800 seats and is a premiere venue for acting companies in the state. Meanwhile, the Greenwood Community Theatre was renovated in 2007 and now hosts several musicals, drama, children's theater and theater productions. It also holds workshops and summer camps.

Then you have the Peace Center, an arts center that features the Peace Concert Hall that seats 2100 people and the Dorothy Hipps Gunter Theater that accommodates 400 people and the Stage of Peace Center amphitheater. The center holds more than 300 events every year, giving you a mixed offering of classical music, concerts and Broadway shows. It is home to the International Ballet, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, South Carolina Children's Theater, and Carolina Ballet Theater.

Another notable venue you can go to is Centre Stage, which seats 285 people. The group has up to eight main stage productions every year as well as nightlife and entertainment shows. And Myrtle Beach's Alabama Theatre was opened in the 1990s and continues to produce family-oriented shows and country music concerts.

The New Brookland Tavern is one of the oldest music venues in the Columbia metro area. Charleston's Music farm also features live acts and several of the best local musicians.

The Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach seats 2,200 people and has several shows a year.

Festivals and annual events. The Hilton Head International Piano Competition is held every March and is considered one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the country. Young artists and audiences from all around the world come to watch the competition. Then you have the Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee, which is an award-winning event that features performers and entertainers from all around the region, as well as exhibits of crafts and artworks created by artists all around the country. The American Bus Association has named this festival as one of the top 100 events, as well as the best Festival in the state for two years.

Artisphere is held every May in Greenville. It has been named as one of the fine art festivals in the United States by the Art Fair Sourcebook. The festival regularly features at least ten dozen of the most talented artists in the country, working in a variety of media. It also feature the Kidsphere for the kids, a silent art auction, an artist demo event, wine tastings, and four stages for musical entertainment, opera shows, folk music and ballet.

Gullah Festival in Beaufort is a multi-awarded festival that has been attracting at least 70,000 people over the years. It celebrates the history, heritage and culture of the Gullah people and presents several events featuring African dance, music, drumming and storytelling.

Freedom Weekend Aloft is a hot air balloon festival in Simpsonville, while Spoleto USA in Charleston pays tribute to both performance and visual arts ranging from ballet, opera, dance, and choral music, among others.

Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival in Mt. Pleasant pays tribute to Sweetgrass basket making, and usually presents praise and gospel music, along with Gullah Geechee heritage and culture. The South Carolina State Fair happens every October in Columbia. The fair is one of the top 50 fairs in the country and has been happening for close to 150 years. It exhibits baked goods, flowers, needlework, canned goods, fine art, quilting, agriculture and livestock, among others. It runs for 12 days and features entertainment acts, comedy skits, dance performance and others.

The Fall for Greenville festival is a food festival that regularly draws at least 150,000 people from all across the state and the rest of the region. It brings together more than 40 restaurants, which delights you with their best food and craft beers.

The Chitlin Strut in Salley draws more than 30,000 attendees who partake in chitterlings, or pig intestines that are fried to perfection. It also features food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, a beauty pageant and carnival rides, among others.

Other noteworthy festivals in the state include:

• Beaufort Water Festival
• Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival
• Dickens Christmas Show and Festivals
• Greek Festival in Columbia
• South Carolina Festival of Flowers

One of the advantages that being near the ocean can give you is that you have a wealth of seafood places that you can go to. Not only are you treated to the most delicious seafood dishes you can find, but you can be sure that ingredients are fresh. Some of South Carolina's best seafood restaurants include:

• Bluffton Family Seafood House serves the freshest fish and oysters in the state. Order their steamed oysters that come in buckets or get their fried shrimps.
• Bowens Island Restaurant is a James Beard Foundation America's Classic Award winner. The restaurant has been open for more than six decades and serves the best fried oysters and pit roasts.
• Lee's Inlet Kitchen in Murrells Inlet has fresh grilled fish, oysters, shrimps and crabs. Order their she-crab soup and you will not regret it.
• Sea Shack at Hilton Head Island, where you can get grilled, blackened and fried seafood. Be sure to get there early as the line tends to become long even before they open. Order the daily specials and get the best and freshest fish of the day. Check out their Shack Attack, which is good for those with hearty appetites.
• Seewee Restaurant in Awendaw has stone crab claws, okra soup, butter beans, and fresh fish on the menu.
• T.W. Graham & Co. in McClellanville serves the best shrimps in the area, which you could enjoy with fried green tomatoes and homemade pie.
• The Crab Shack on Folly Beach serves delicious crab soup, steamed shrimp, crab legs, corn on the cob and oysters.
• The Original Mr. Fish Restaurant and Seafood Market on Myrtle Beach can satisfy even the most hardcore and distinguishing seafood lovers. Art lovers would also love the decor, which they could enjoy while savoring their sushi, seafood rolls and pizzas. Order their fish tacos!
• The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene on Mount Pleasant where you could find combo platters of fresh seafood.
• Whaley's on Edisto Island is unique in that it is located inside a former gas station. But residents and tourists would be wowed by their mahi-mahi bites, mussels, Firefly Flounder and beer.

Can't get enough of seafood? Then checkout the varied seafood festivals that happen all around the state all year round:

• Awendaw Blue Crab Festival
• Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival and Lowcountry Oyster Festival both in Mount Pleasant
• Blue Crab Festival, Shrimp and Jazz Festival, and Little River Shrimpfest in Little River
• Hilton Head Island Oyster Festival
• Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival
• Lowcountry Shrimp Festival in McClellanville
• May River Shrimp Festival in Bluffton
• Oysters by the Bay, Beaufort Shrimp Festival and A Taste of Beaufort in Beaufort
• Save the Light Oyster Roast and Oyster Roast at Dill Sanctuary both in Charleston
• Shuckin' on the Strand Oyster Roast in Murrells Inlet
• Soft Shell Crab Festival in Port Royal
• Yemassee Shrimp Festival in Yemassee
• Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival

Aside from seafood, South Carolina also offers some of the best barbecues in the area. Check out Scott's Bar-B-Que in Hemingway or Sweatman's Bar-B-Que in Holly Hill for the best examples of barbecued meats in the state.

Other great barbecue places include Hite's Barbecue in Batesburg-Leesville, Smokin's Stokes in Greenville, BBQ Barn in North Augusta, Brown Derby Bar-B-Q, Cannon's BBQ, Fatback's BBQ & Grill, Lone Star Barbecue & Mercantile, McCabe's Bar-B-Q in Manning, Shuler's Bar-B-Q, and Roger's Bar-B-Que & Seafood Restaurant in Florence.

Of course, South Carolina also has a lot of outstanding places where you could get a variety of flavors in a plate. There's the Halls Chophouse, a steakhouse that can rival those in New York City. The Zero Cafe + Bar in Charleston brings together delicious food, outstanding service and great atmosphere. Other Charleston favorites are Charleston Grill and Circa 1886.

If you are in Myrtle Beach, you can check out the fondue at the Melting Pot. Or order the juiciest and yummiest steaks at New York Prime Steakhouse. There is also SeaBlue Restaurant and Wine Bar nearby.

Sumter has Hamptons, which gives you a great dining experience, while Solstice Kitchen where they serve the best contemporary American food. Then you can go to Stella's Southern Bistro in Simpsonville.

Shopping. Antique lovers would love Pendleton, a small town where you can score great vintage finds. Check out the square here, which is bounded by East Queen St., Mechanic St., Main St., and Exchange St., for some of the best shops that you would find. There is also the Colonial Square Antique Mall here. You could also go to Colonial Avenue of oaks.

If you are looking for souvenirs or gifts that would remind you of the state, check out the Croakies at the South Carolina Shop, or the back-to-back gear that celebrates the college sports games here. Or you might want to buy sugar cookies at he the Cotton Mill Exchange shop located in the State Museum.

Aside from these, each city has their own Main Streets and shopping districts that you would love.

And of course, there are always the malls. South Carolina has:

• Anderson Mall has close to 60 shops and restaurants and is anchored by Belk, Dillard's, JCPenney, and Sears.
• Citadel Mall is one of the biggest malls in South Carolina with more than 1.1 million sq. ft. of space that features at least 100 shops and restaurants. The mall is anchored by Target, Belk, Dillard's, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Sears.
• Columbia Place is another large mall that has close to 1.1 million sq. ft. of space and features more than 100 tenants, including Burlington, Sears and Macy's.
• Haywood Mall is the biggest mall in South Carolina with 1.3 million sq. ft. of space and has five anchor tenants.
• Inlet Square Mall, which has 425,000 sq. ft. of space that has 30 tenants and anchored by Belk, JCPenney, Stein Mart, Books-A-Million and Frank Theatres.
• Mount Pleasant Towne Centre gives you an upscale shopping experience with at least five dozen nationally known retailers and local brands.
• Myrtle Beach Mall, has at least 80 retailers and restaurants in its 523,414 sq. ft. of space. It is anchored by Bass Pro Shops, Belk East, Belk North, Carmike Theatre, and JCPenney.
• Northwoods Mall has around 130 stores in its 833,833 sq. ft. of space. It is anchored by Belk, Books-A-Million, Dillard's, JCPenney and Sears.
• Prince of Orange Mall has around 334,000 sq. ft. of space and is anchored by Belk and JCPenney.
• Richland Mall occupies close to 714,000 sq. ft. of space and is anchored by Belk and Barnes & Noble.
• Rock Hill Galleria has more than five dozen stores in its 692,000 sq. ft. of space. It is anchored by four anchor tenants.
• Sumter Mall has 43 acres of space and features Belk, JCPenney, Roses and a host of other stores.
• The Magnolia Mall opened in 1979 and has six anchor tenants in its 613,000 sq. ft. of space, including Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Old Navy.
• The Market Common Myrtle Beach has four dozen restaurants and shops, including Pottery Barn, Piggly Wiggly, Barnes & Noble, White House Black Market, and Williams-Sonoma.
• The Village at Sandhill is a lifestyle center near Columbia. It has 300 acres of space and is anchored by Academy Sports and Outdoors, Homegoods, Super Bi-Lo, hhgregg, JCPenney, The Home Depot, Belk, Rooms To Go, Regal's Sandhillls Cinema 16, Old Navy, and T.J. Maxx.
• Westgate Mall has close to a million sq. ft. of space and features 110 stores.

The Palmetto State is indebted to Scottish merchants for bringing golf into the area during the 1780s, giving rise to the South Carolina Golf Club.

But today, Charleston is the place to be for avid golfers who want to play at courses designed by the best and most notable golf course architects. In Charleston, you can find Yeamans Hall, which was designed by Seth Rayor. Aiken has Palmetto golf club, which is among the oldest courses in the country. Other notable golf courses in the state are:

• Briar's Creek Golf Club
• Chechessee Creek Club
• Colleton River Plantation Club
• Country Club of Charleston
• Dunes Golf and Beach Club
• Greenville County Club
• Harbour Town Golf Links
• Kiawah Island Golf Resort
• Long Cove Golf Club
• May River Golf Club
• Musgrove Mill Golf Club
• Old Tabby Links
• Palmetto Golf Club
• Sage Valley Golf Club
• Secession Golf Club

Sports venues. South Carolina loves its college sports. And there are several baseball venues in the state.

You have the American Legion Field in Florence, which used to be the home of the Florence Red Wolves before they moved to the Sparrow Stadium at the Francis Marion University. Then you have the Buccaneer Ballpark, the home of the the Charleston Southern Buccaneers baseball team, and the Capital City Stadium, which was the former home of the Capital City Bombers.

The Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park is home to South Carolina Upstate Spartans baseball and has a capacity to accommodate 500 people. Meanwhile, College Park accommodates 4,000 people. The Doug Kingsmore Stadium is home to the Clemson Tigers, and the Fluor Field at the West End is home to Greenville Drive and is where some games of the Southern Conference Baseball Tournament are held.

Then you have Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park seating 6,000 spectators and home of the Charleston Riverdogs and the baseball team of the Citadel Bulldogs. While the Furman University Paladins baseball teams play at the Latham Baseball Stadium, and the Presbyterian Blue Hose baseball team play at the Presbyterian Baseball Complex.

Riley Park in in Sumter is where the summer games of the American Legion Baseball are played, and is home of the American Legion P-15's. The Roberto Hernandez Stadium is a popular venue for minor league games and is home to the baseball teams of the e University of South Carolina Aiken Pacers.

Further, there is the Russell C. King Field, which is the home of the Wofford Terriers baseball team and can accommodate 2,500 people.

TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark is where the Myrtle Beach Pelicans play their games, and Winthrop Ballpark is host to the baseball team of the Winthrop Eagles.

Other baseball venues in the state include:

• Anderson Memorial Stadium
• Carolina Stadium
• Charles Watson Stadium
• CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriot's Point
• Duncan Park
• Greenville Municipal Stadium

If you love basketball, then you have the following choices: Benjamin Johnson Arena, Carolina Coliseum, Colonial Life Arena, CSU Field House, Florence Civic Center, HTC Center, Kimbel Arena, Littlejohn Coliseum, McAlister Field House, North Charleston Coliseum, SHM Memorial Center, and TD Arena.

For American football games, check out the Paladin Stadium, which accommodates 16,000 people and is the home of the Furman Paladins football squad. The Johnson Hagood Stadium hosts the Citadel Bulldogs, while the Charlie W. Johnson Stadium is home to the Benedict College sports teams. Further, you have the Williams-Brice Stadium, which is among the biggest college football stadium in the NCAA and accommodates more than 80,000 people. The stadium is home to the South Carolina Gamecocks. Other football venues here include Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium, the Memorial Stadium in Clemson, and Sirrine Stadium.

Soccer fans can troop to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville for Greenville Road Warriors games.

Meanwhile you can get some high octane action at the Darlington Raceway, Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Midway Dragway, and the Myrtle Beach Speedway.

Then soccer fans could go to the Alumni Stadium to catch games involving the athletics teams of Bob Jones University, or the Blackbaud Stadium, the home of Charleston Battery. Furman University has the Eugene E. Stone III Stadium, home of the university's soccer teams, while the University of South Carolina as a soccer stadium with the same name and is currently the home of the university's soccer team as well as the Palmetto FC Bantams.

Other soccer fields you can go to include the Eagle Field, Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, Riggs Field, and Setzler Field.

Other notable sports venues in South Carolina include:

• Bailey Memorial Stadium
• Brooks Stadium
• Civic Center of Anderson
• Family Circle Tennis Center
• Fike Recreation Center
• G. B. Hodge Center
• Gibbs Stadium
• Giordana Velodrome
• Greenwood Civic Center
• HRC Arena
• Myrtle Beach Convention Center
• New Bridge Polo and Country Club
• Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
• Templeton Physical Education Center
• Winthrop Coliseum
• Younts Stadium

One of the best things that history buffs can do in South Carolina is to go on a plantation tour. There are historic plantations here that are part of the state's list of historic sites, such as the Redclife Plantation in Aiken, the Hampton Plantation, the old Town Plantation, and the Snee Farm in Charleston, and the Rose Hill Plantation in Union. There are also other plantations in different cities here.

Apart from the plantations, there are also various historic sites in different cities in the state. If you want to see more in less time, you can check out the 182 sites in Charleston County that are listed on the National Register of Historic places. Richland County has close to 160 sites, while Greenville County has 75 sites. Other counties with the most number of historic places are Beaufort, Spartanburg, Lexington, York, Darlington, and Fairfield.

South Carolina has 43 state parks to choose from, giving you the chance to get up close to lovely sceneries ranging from rolling hills, white sand beaches to awesome mountains!

Check out the Huntington Beach State Park, which spans 2,500 acres and gives you a chance to experience the state's natural coast. Get to know the coastal landscape, sandy beach and saltwater marsh, maritime forest and freshwater lagoon at this award-winning park. This is also a great place for bird watching as there have been close to 400 species of birds that has been observed here. There is also a campground, observation decks and boardwalks inside the park. Further, you could find the Atalaya here, a historic structure where Anna Hyatt Huntington once lived during the winter months.

Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area is a world class wilderness area that encompasses 10,000 acres of land that is anchored by Caesars Head State Park and Jones Gap State Park. The state park gives you some of the best views here, as well as the most challenging backpacking trails.

Further, you have Devils Fork State Park where you can get on the Oconee Bell Trail and see the amazing oconee Bell flower as it blooms in early spring. Or you can swim at Lake Jocassee that is fed by the plunging waters of Laurel Fork Falls. You can also check out the views of Whitewater Falls or go on the Bear Cove Trail. ​Devils Fork State Park has four different boat ramps, campsites and villas.

​Dreher Island State Park has cabins and in-water refueling facilities.

There are state parks here that allow you to stay close to the water. Check out the campsites and boat ramps in Baker Creek State Park, or the ones at ​Calhoun Falls State Park.

Calhoun Falls State Park gives you the chance to have a picnic at the shores of Lake Russell, or have a tennis or basketball game. You can also swim here after admiring the picturesque views. Further, there are fishing spots here where you can finally get your big catch.

Other parks with boat ramps, campsites and other forms of accommodations are Hamilton Branch State Park, ​​Hickory Knob State Resort Park, ​​Lake Greenwood State Park, ​​Lake Hartwell State Park, ​​Lake Wateree State Park, and ​​Sadlers Creek State Park.

Other state parks here include:

• Andrew Jackson State Park
• Hampton Plantation State Park
• Hunting Island State Park
• Landsford Canal State Park
• Little Pee Dee State Park
• Lynches River State Park
• N R Goodale State Park
• Old Santee Canal State Park
• Park Rose Hill State Park
• Table Rock State Park

On top of these state parks, you also have a handful of state forests you can go to, such as the Ernest Rand Memorial State Forest, Harrison State Forest, Manchester State Forest, Poinsett State Forest, Sand Hills State Forest, and Sandhills State Forest.

Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach is located within the Broadway at the Beach and covers 85,000 sq. ft. of space. Some of the exhibits and areas here include the Rio Amazon, Dangerous Reef, Living Gallery, Friendship Flats, and Rainbow Rock, among others. Meanwhile the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston is home to at least 10,000 animals and plants occupying 93,000 sq. ft. of space. It has the Great Ocean Tank Exhibit, which has 385,000 gallons of water and hold around 700 animals. They also have a Touch Tank and a sea turtle rescue program. The aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Aside from these aquaria, you also have the zoos here. The foremost one is the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, which covers 170 acres of space and is home to more than 2,000 animals. Major exhibits in the Riverbanks Zoo includes the African Plains, the Ndoki Forest, the Riverbanks Farm, and the Aquarium Reptile Complex. It also features a botanical garden that spans 70 acres of land sand is home to at least 4,200 plants species.

Other zoos in the state include:

• Brookgreen Gardens is primarily a sculpture garden with a wildlife preserve that occupies 9,100 acres of space.
• Greenville Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and welcomes around 270,000 visitors every year. It has 14 acres of space and has several animals such as African lions, Masai giraffes, red pandas, and orangutans, among others.
• HollyWild Animal Park has 100 acres of space that is home to at least 500 animals. The zoo also has an outback safari where you can see animals that roam the area freely.
• Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is a historic house museum that also features gardens, and a nature center and zoo. The zoo here features domesticated animals that are usually found in plantations in the area, as well as exotic birds.
• The Charles Towne Landing features a natural habitat zoo, and has birds and mammals that are native to the area.

If you want to learn more about the Gullah or Geechee people, go to Beaufort. The town has several sites and activities that relate to the Gullah culture, including the yearly Gullah Festival. Then you can also head out to Charleston City Hall, where you could find historical exhibits and archeological finds.

Then you have the history museums here. The Antiquers Haven Museum and Shop has several period pieces from the 1690s to the 1890s, including fine china, toys, clothing, automobiles, and guns. Or you can check out the Civil war memorabilia at the Confederate Museum in Charleston. Meanwhile, the Lake Greenwood State Recreation Area has the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum.

Then you can tour the Old Exchange Building for some costumed tours of the historical building and the dungeon it has. Lastly, check out the War Between the States Museum and the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum for more history.

There are also several museums that are devoted to local history, including several county museums in Aiken, Anderson, Barnwell, Chester, Chesterfield, Dillon, Fairfield, Georgetown, Marion, Marlboro, Saluda, Union and Western York counties, as well as other local history museums such as Camden Archives & Museum, Cowpens Depot Museum, Freshwater Coast Discovery Center, Hampton Museum and Visitors' Center, Lando Manetta Mills History Center, Lowcountry Visitor's Center and Museum, National Bean Market Museum, Pauline Pratt Webel Museum, Rivers, Rails and Crossroads Regional Discovery Center, Spartanburg Regional History Museum, Summerville-Dorchester Museum, Williamsburgh Historical Museum, and York W. Bailey Museum.

The state also features a variety of historic houses that you could visit. Charleston has the Heyward-Washington House, Joseph Manigault House, and Old Slave Mart, while the Historic Columbia Foundation operates the Hampton-Preston House and Robert Mills House. Other historic houses you should not miss:

• Browntown Museum
• Burt-Stark Mansion
• Fort Hill
• Hagood-Mauldin House/Irma Morris Museum of Fine Arts
• James W. Dillon House Museum
• Kaminski House Museum
• Kilgore-Lewis House
• Oconee Station State Historic Site
• Seay House
• White Home