Location: Santee
Top Things to do in Santee
Top Restaurants in Santee
10 Things to Do in Santee That You Shouldn't Miss
Santee is a town in Orangeburg County along the Santee River Valley in central South Carolina, United States. It has become a resort town of note located centrally north-south along the Atlantic Seaboard of South Carolina. The region has been rural, with a primarily agricultural economy typical of Orangeburg County, but is now known primarily for its several golf courses in proximity to Lake Marion, Santee State Park and other Lake Marion attractions. Interstate 95 connects its attractions easily with tourists traveling by automobile. I-95 crosses a narrow arm of the lake into the town lands, along a causeway. Lake Marion is a man-made hydroelectric reservoir, which at 110,000 acres (450 km2, 173 sq mi) is one of the fifty largest lakes in the country.
Restaurants in Santee
1. Santee National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By vickiauthor - Summerton, South Carolina
Learn about Francis Marion and a famous Civil War battle--all while listening to the birds and enjoying this lovely area. Indian relics, Lake Marion, wildlife exhibits, hiking trails, birdwatching and more are available. My young grandson and I had a picnic, learned a lot and had a wonderful time.
2. Santee State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 198 reviews
Reviewed By Rick K - St. Petersburg Florida
Spent an hour just riding through the park and checking out the facilities. Good representation of the local landscape. Beautiful and serene.Campground located on lake is definitely doable.
3. Fisheagle Nature Adventures
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 51 reviews
Fisheagle Tours offers Wildlife Eco-Tours for all ages. Our 30 passenger boat "The Osprey", goes out for two hour tours into Stump Hole Swamp on Lake Marion. In this beautiful flooded forest you'll discover the interesting history of the area while wildlife abounds. See Osprey, Alligators, Wetland wading birds and waterfowl along the way. This tour is wheelchair accessible with advance notice. We also offer Kayak or Canoe Tours at our Paddle Sante location. These two or three hour tours take you up Poplar creek Wood Duck Trail with a guide where we tell you all about the wildlife here on Lake Marion. We paddle under beautiful Cypress trees, through lily pads and see an array of birds and turtles. If you are more interested in independent travel we do offer Kayak, Canoe, and Stand Up Paddleboard rentals as well as fishing kayaks.We go over the area with you and send you into the lake with a map and all the equipment you need. No matter how you like to travel, Fisheagle has a fun and informative tour for you.
Reviewed By Suzanne H - London, United Kingdom
We took an early morning tour on the day of the eclipse. What an amazing start to a special day! Jimmy and Rick really do love their job and are both very knowledgable. Lake Marion is a magical place but without their expert guidance it would not have been anywhere close to as fascinating as we found it to be. This tour is an absolute must for visitors to the area.
4. Smith's Super Store
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 52 reviews
Reviewed By Travelcrow - Woodstock, Vermont
We have stopped in this store every year and sometimes twice a year since the mid 80s when we started driving to Florida for vacation. They treat us very well on fireworks and their homemade pralines are the very best. We also enjoy their many choice of fudge. Our favorite staff person was Pete who knew the fireworks inside out and made the best recommendations. Pete is now retired, but the new staff work hard to answer all questions.
5. Lake Marion Golf Course
Overall Ratings
4 based on 51 reviews
Located in the heart of Santee lies one of the more rewarding golf experiences in the area. Lake Marion Golf Course opened in 1978, is a perennial favorite with traveling golfers and features fantastic miniverde greens that are in perfect shape all year long. Designed by Eddie Riccoboni, Lake Marion will challenge you with pine tree-lined fairways, bordering lakes and 47 sand bunkers. But don't let these challenges fool you. Lake Marion is an extrememly fair test of golf and is sure to please players of all abilities. Lighted Driving Range Available. Fairways: 419 Bermuda; Greens: Miniverde Bermuda; Par: 72. The Lake Marion Golf Villas are the area's premium on-course accommodations and are available for your next golf vacation stay. Opened in the spring of 2006, these luxurious Golf Villas are located along the fairways of Lake Marion Golf Course and within walking distance of the new lighted driving range. For practically the same price as the area's hotels, you and your golfing friends can stay in these deluxe accommodations. Each Golf Villa features two bedrooms with four full beds, two bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, three televisions with cable TV, washer and dryer, outdoor patio and grilling station. The Hospitality Clubhouse is also available, providing gathering spaces for groups of 16-48. Features include a kitchen area, flat screen TV and an expansive event scoreboard in each room.
Reviewed By Kyle L
My golf crew came to Santee for a weekend golf weekend. The Lake Marion Golf Course was a very enjoyable course to play. Very beautiful and well maintained greens. Fairways are wide but challenging. The employees were all so very helpful and nice. All carts have GPS which was a nice feature. Loved playing this course and look forward to playing it again soon
6. Santee Welcome Center
Overall Ratings
5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By Terrie J - Charleston, South Carolina
This is a fun little stop along I-95. The people working inside are very friendly and really want to give you information for your trip. There is a snack area outside and restrooms behind the welcome center. There is a picnic area behind it in a very pretty grassy area. There are numerous brochures and discount coupons for attractions all over the state. This is a perfect area to take a break from driving along I-95.
7. Santee National Golf Club
Overall Ratings
4 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By jerry t - Venice, Florida
My wife and I played Santee National as part of a golf package offered by Clark's Inn in Santee. The course is fair and fun to play. The fairways and greens (Bermuda) were in great shape. As part of the package, the cost was only $59 for green fees and cart for both of us. You can't beat that!
8. Santee Cooper Country Club
Overall Ratings
4 based on 21 reviews
The sister course to Lake Marion Golf Course, Santee Cooper Country Club opened in 1967 and offers perhaps the most scenic round of golf in the area. Set amid majestic pines and native foliage, this well-conditioned George Cobb layout will test every shot in your bag with its series of beautiful dogleg holes, strategic bunkering and challenging par 3's. You are certain to enjoy the magnificently designed risk-reward par 5's and the course's elevation changes. Santee Cooper Country Club offers the best closing hole in Santee with a panoramic view of Lake Marion's sparkling waters. Fairways: 419 Bermuda; Greens: Miniverde Bermuda; Par: 72. The Lake Marion Golf Villas are the area's premium on-course accommodations and are available for your next golf vacation stay. Opened in the spring of 2006, these luxurious Golf Villas are located along the fairways of Lake Marion Golf Course and within walking distance of the new lighted driving range. For practically the same price as the area's hotels, you and your golfing friends can stay in these deluxe accommodations. Each Golf Villa features two bedrooms with four full beds, two bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, three televisions with cable TV, washer and dryer, outdoor patio and grilling station. The Hospitality Clubhouse is also available, providing gathering spaces for groups of 16-48. Features include a kitchen area, flat screen TV and an expansive event scoreboard in each room.
Reviewed By jerrylefevre49 - Bristol, Connecticut
Played here for the first time and was really surprised with this course. Great condition with very well maintained greens and bunkers. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Played 27 holes and wished we had time to play the back nine a second time. We will play her multiple times on our next trip.
9. Santee Cajun Guide Service
Overall Ratings
5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Doc_Brower - Lubbock, Texas
Many years ago my Boy’s and I took a weekend trip to Santee in January. While the weather was beautiful, the fish just weren’t biting near shore fishing from the docks. We literally got lucky and happened upon Captain Boudreaux coming in from a day on the lake and booked a charter for the next day. That was one of the most memorable vacations I’ve ever experienced, as Boudreaux and his crew patiently taught my son’s how to set a hook and reel them in. They probably lost more fish that day than they caught, but my youngest’s first catch was a 34 pound Blue Catfish. Talk about a heck of a first fish. The next year he managed to top that with a 42 lb 4 oz. Monster Flathead, which won him a free trip back the next year. Boudreaux’s wife, Mouse, might even be the better fisherman of the two. If you’re lucky they’ll both be on the boat. Speaking of their equipment, they aren’t Jon Boats, but tricked out good sized pontoons having a bathroom and when the weather is cold an enclosed cab with a heater. Luxuries my Wife greatly appreciates. They provide the rods, reels and the bait. All you need is your fishing license, lunch and a cooler of drinks. Don’t forget to bring an extra ice chest to take your catch home in. An additional service they provide at no additional charge is cleaning the fish .... they even have ice to pack the fillets. Even tho the Boy’s are now in college, they’re always willing to make the trip with me for another adventure with Santee Cajun Guides, “Where you can always catch a Cat with a Mouse!”
10. Gabi's Attic Consignments & Antiques.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Terrie J - Charleston, South Carolina
This store has various sections with all sorts of stuff. Some are antiques and some fall under the junk category. Different sellers have areas where they put out merchandise. The prices are good on some things and higher on others. There is furniture, glassware, and jewelry. It is a good place to look around and you might find just what you're looking for here.
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