Photos (from top) South Carolina State House, Columbia; Skywheel, Myrtle Beach 1 StArT Sights to see: The South Carolina State House rises in all its blue granite glory. Take a free tour to see its unique architectural features, including the grand dome, Corinthian columns and six bronze stars that mark where General Sherman’s cannonballs hit. GREENVILLE Rucker recommends beginning at the top, and that means Greenville. "It’s got that small town thing that brings out the goodness in people," says Rucker. Things to do: Explore eclectic Five Points, the city’s first village neighborhood and Rucker’s college stomping grounds. See the Hootie & the Blowfish Monument on the corner of Harden Street and Santee Avenue, a small stretch of which was renamed “Hootie Boulevard.” Sights to see: Downtown’s Falls Park on the Reedy distinguishes this burgeoning city as one of the most scenic in South Carolina with its serene waterfalls. Things to do: Just 6 miles from downtown, Paris 1 Mountain State Park offers easy access to hiking, biking, 2 3 Where to eat: Housed in a former RC Cola bottling plant, Cola’s defines the concept of casual fine dining with a menu brimming with fresh seafood, cool salads, and juicy burgers slathered in pimento cheese—Columbia’s signature dish. 3 fishing, swimming and paddling on the 8-acre Lake Placid. LIStEn UP Want to learn what makes South Carolina so special? Here’s a hint: It’s not only the places, it’s also the people who call South Carolina home. Listen along to Discover South Carolina’s Devyn Whitmire as she travels through the state interviewing locals who share their unique perspective on places to visit, foods to try and insider travel tips on the Palmetto Porch Podcast. SCPalmettoPorch.com 5 Where to eat: Get a real taste 4 of Greenville when you dine at one of its many farm-to-table restaurants. Standouts include Fork & Plough, Oak Hill Café & Farm and Carolina Bauernhaus. 2 152 MILeS GRAND STRAND This iconic stretch of coastline is home to the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters charity golf tournament and the Carolina Country Music Fest, which Rucker has headlined. "The main reason we have our golf tournament there is because there’s something to do for everybody. It’s all right there in Myrtle Beach." 103 MILeS COLUMBIA An alumnus of the University of South Carolina, Rucker thinks of Columbia as his second home. "I lived in Columbia for a long time. I go back all the time for the games, and I go back for the people." 8
South Carolina Vacation Guide SC 2023: Page 8
