The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in South Carolina, United States

February 14, 2022 Tonie Szymanski

South Carolina has some great beaches along its eastern coast. Among the most notable of these is Myrtle Beach, the hub of the grand strand and the largest resort on the east coast of South Carolina. This silky stretch of white sand is great for water-sports such as sailing and surfing. South Carolina is also regarded as one of the top golfing destinations in America. South Carolina has some notable historic towns which are worth visiting such as Charleston.
Restaurants in South Carolina

1. Brookgreen Gardens

1931 Brookgreen Dr U.S. Hwy 17, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576-5072 +1 843-235-6000 [email protected] http://www.brookgreen.org
Excellent
85%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 3,890 reviews

Brookgreen Gardens

This National Historic Site contains the country's largest and most extensive sculpture collection of American Figurative Sculpture, much of it places in beautiful gardens. Also a site for Lowcountry History and our Lowcountry Zoo, featuring animals native to our area.

Reviewed By 93Trombo - North Carolina, United States

The largest sculpture garden in the world - 350 acres!!! Gorgeous gardens, impeccable landscapes, a wide variety of sculpture in varying places (indoors and out). If you visit Myrtle Beach, this garden is an incredible surprise and well worth visiting for a few hours. They also have a small zoo, an explorer bus ride and also a pontoon ride thru the canals of the old rice plantations.

2. Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

40 Patriots Point Rd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464-4377 +1 843-884-2727 [email protected] http://www.patriotspoint.org
Excellent
78%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 4,458 reviews

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

The history of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum began in June 1975 when the legendary aircraft carrier USS Yorktown entered Charleston Harbor. A few months later, the USS Yorktown was dedicated as the first ship of the Naval & Maritime Museum on the 200th birthday of the United States Navy. Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum was officially opened to the public on January 3, 1976. Today the museum consists of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) with 29 aircraft on display from WWII to the present; the USS Laffey (DD-724), a Sumner-class destroyer; and the USS Clamagore (SS-343), a GUPPY III submarine. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is headquartered here and their official Medal of Honor Museum is onboard the USS Yorktown. There is also a Cold War Sub Memorial and Vietnam Support Base Camp on the surrounding grounds.

Reviewed By ThomasM272 - Fort Collins, United States

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum Mount Pleasant, SC. THANK YOU VETERANS OF ALL SERVICES You must see Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum when visiting Charleston, SC. The initial size of the U.S.S Yorktown is overwhelming, then being on the flight deck OMG the beauty of the various models of planes, the harbor, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. bridge and Fort Sumter in the distance is awesome. Below deck you get to see the various support locations, plus the mechanical equipment needed to make this ship function. Please make sure you don’t forget to visit the Vietnam Army Museum.

3. Falls Park on the Reedy

601 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601-2504 +1 864-467-4350 https://www.greenvillesc.gov/167/Falls-Park
Excellent
87%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
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Terrible
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 4,276 reviews

Falls Park on the Reedy

Reviewed By Polly313 - Amelia Island, United States

Long weekend in Greenville... Fantastic Small City with lots to offer...! Falls Park is an amazing place... lots of views, walking trails, place to enjoy food or drink... Pet-friendly Place...!!! Loved visiting... do not miss this wonderful Historic City...!

4. Hilton Head Island Bike Trails

1 Chamber of Commerce Dr, Hilton Head, SC 29928-3573 +1 800-523-3373 http://www.hiltonheadisland.org/biking/biking-on-hilton-head-island/
Excellent
87%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
2%
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5.0 based on 3,141 reviews

Hilton Head Island Bike Trails

Reviewed By JoniSBrown - Charlotte, United States

My favorite thing to do in Sea Pines, where is do vacation rentals, is to ride bikes, walk or run the trail system. They are well maintained, well marked and long enough to satisfy any level of exercise ability. A great way to spend time with friends and family.

5. Nathaniel Russell House

51 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-2536 +1 843-724-8481 [email protected] http://www.historiccharleston.org/Russell.aspx
Excellent
58%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,952 reviews

Nathaniel Russell House

A National Historic Landmark, the Nathaniel Russell House Museum was completed in 1808 by merchant Nathaniel Russell. The home’s graceful, free-flying, three-story staircase is an architectural marvel and the elegant interiors with elaborate plasterwork, geometrically shaped rooms, formal gardens and collection of 18th-century decorative and fine art speak to the wealth of Charleston’s elite in the early days of the American Republic. Restored to its original splendor using forensic analysis and cutting-edge conservation technology by our curatorial staff, we ensure the highest standards of old-world expertise to replicate the finishes, fixtures and textiles appropriate for this 200-year old townhouse. The 18 enslaved Africans that lived on and maintained this property are an integral part of its history. Archaeological artifacts, educational panels and ongoing restoration of the enslaved quarters are vital to learning more about the enslaved and telling their important stories.

Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States

Nathaniel Russell, a wealthy shipping merchant, built this magnificent three-story, Federal-style, 9,600-square-foot rectangular townhouse in 1808. Today, it is recognized as one of America's most important Neoclassical houses. It was designated a National Landmark in 1960 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Located at 51 Meeting Street in Charleston, South Carolina, the prestigious house was built to display Russell's prominence as one of the wealthiest citizens of the community. Constructed of Carolina gray brick, the three-bay entrance front emphasizes height rather than width with the main living areas on the second and third levels. The first-story entrance front is dominated by the residence's grand entrance door. The house features three main rooms per floor, each of different geometric designs: a front rectangular room, a center oval room and a square room in the rear. The most important architectural feature of the house is the elliptical spiral staircase, which ascends three floors and is showcased by a golden walled stair hall. The second floor oval drawing room is the most highly decorated room in the house and is where the women of the house retired to after dinner. Papered in apricot, it features elaborate plaster moldings covered with 24-karat gold leaf. The Adamesque ornamentation of the fireplaces' mantles and cornices are among the most detailed in the city. Though most of the art and furniture displayed in the house are not original to the Nathaniel Russell House, they are of the correct period when the Russell family inhabited the house and many are of Charleston origin. The house and grounds are separated from the street by a brick and wrought iron fence with the entrance gate flanked by tall brick columns. To the south of the house is the garden that was originally laid out in a geometric arrangement with patterned beds of flowers, ornamental shrubs and large orange and grapefruit trees. Today, a formal English garden can be found with gravel paths, boxwood hedges and plants favored in the 19th century. In the rear of the house is the two-story slave quarters that housed many of the 18 slaves that lived and worked at the Nathaniel Russell House.

6. Fort Sumter National Monument

Charleston, SC 29482-9748 +1 843-883-3123 http://www.nps.gov/fosu/index.htm
Excellent
57%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 5,603 reviews

Fort Sumter National Monument

Learn all about this storied spot of the first clash between the Union and Confederate armies in the Civil War, in which the Union forces finally surrendered after a 34-hour bombardment by the Rebels.

Reviewed By lrb06901

Knowledgeable NP rangers at the visitor center, lovely boat ride and memorable flag raising ceremony in the morning for those that helped AND watched to raise our flag.

7. Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden

500 Wildlife Pkwy, Columbia, SC 29210-8014 +1 803-779-8717 http://www.riverbanks.org/
Excellent
71%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,895 reviews

Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to nearly 2,000 animals that represent more than 350 species from around the world. A visit to the Zoo will play host to an array of wild adventures from a diving expedition on a Pacific coral reef to a safari through the plains of Africa to an interactive Outback encounter with a flock of sociable lorikeets. The Botanical Garden boasts 70-acres of unparalleled beauty and is considered one of the America's best public gardens. Dramatic and themed gardens showcase more than 4,300 species of native and exotic plants, providing a living classroom for gardeners and non-gardeners alike. The Garden also is the gateway to natural river views and spectacular valley overlooks. In addition, guests can view structural remains dating back to the early 1800s with South Carolina's textile industry and the Civil War.

Reviewed By lordv187

My Fiancee and I visited this Zoo because she has never been to one. She was incredibly impressed with how well the animals were taken care of, the cleanliness, and the helpful staff. Prices were decent for a Zoo...$40 for us both and that included the Botanical Garden. They offer a military discount and student discount for $17.95 Kids price is $16.95 and under 2 is free. Now if you're from Europe it's not your usual Zoo with more open enclosures for the animals but it still offers plenty. The have a Sea Lion show which is free!, Giraffe feeding $3, and farm animals which you can feed...the food is in candy dispensers. Highly recommend if you're looking for an event for your kids.

8. Joe Riley Waterfront Park

Concord Street, Charleston, SC 29401-2129 +1 843-724-7327 http://www.charlestonparksconservancy.org/park-detail/1Qmz18RhAc0mcIikyaAQgm/riley-waterfront-park
Excellent
66%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 5,516 reviews

Joe Riley Waterfront Park

Bright green public space overlooking the coast: great for picnics and lounging.

Reviewed By Global_Coug - Houston, United States

Charleston is quite a charming city. The older part of town towards the battery is sort of like the best of Philadelphia's Independence neighborhood and the French Quarter in New Orleans, except clean and safe. This is a great place to walk and see beautiful antebellum houses as well as Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter.

9. Hunting Island State Park

1775 Sea Island Pkwy St. Helena, Beaufort, SC 29920-4808 +1 843-838-2011 [email protected] http://southcarolinaparks.com/hunting-island
Excellent
75%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,268 reviews

Hunting Island State Park

Park that is a large secluded barrier island with a historic 1859 lighthouse as its centerpiece.

Reviewed By EvanGuthrie - Charleston, United States

Hunting Island State Park is a well managed and maintained state park that has much to offer including a great beach, a historic lighthouse, add on tours, and maritime forrest trails that are really cool. It is well worth the visit here as you can experience the nature and beauty of the coast that is well preserved and an unique experience.

10. Coastal Discovery Museum

70 Honey Horn Drive North End, Hilton Head, SC 29926 +1 843-689-6767 [email protected] http://www.coastaldiscovery.org/
Excellent
64%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,143 reviews

Coastal Discovery Museum

If the beach gets boring, families head to this interactive museum to learn about the history and wildlife of sea islands.

Reviewed By EllenJ503 - Hilton Head, United States

When we were tourists, we never visited Honey Horn. We missed a lot. Now it is a must see place to visit and to take guests. There are nature tours, history tours, crabbing pots, lectures. displays, and a camellia garden to die for. Also public art, marsh tacky horses, and a lab in which young people can learn about the wildlife, fauna, and all that makes the lowcountry special. Although there is a charge for the tours, entrance to the site itself is free and self guided pamphlets are available. On some days, you can see skilled Gullah weavers at work.

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