#sumter-sc

#sumter-sc

Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room has been around for decades, serving delicious Southern food. The all-you-can-eat spread included about 30 different dishes, with dessert options like banana pudding and peach cobbler.

Taking in a show at Brunswick's Historic Ritz Theatre is like stepping into living history. Now a vibrant performance space managed by Golden Isles Arts & Humanities, the Ritz brings the community together with live performances, film, art, and culture in the heart of Historic Downtown Brunswick.

Charleston is known for having something in bloom year-round and for highly variable weather in late winter, but the wisteria really marks the start of our true spring. You'll start seeing and smelling these purple blossoms mid-to-late March, and, generally, the last week of March is the peak.

They began organizing themselves and eventually created the first self-governed, autonomous city for freed people. It was called Mitchelville, named for the Union army Maj Gen Ormsby Mitchel, who led what would become known as the Port Royal Experiment, a model for how the country might transition away from slavery that served as a precursor to the Reconstruction period.

South Carolina has all sorts of appeal for retirees. For starters, you have the incredible weather. The Palmetto State experiences relatively mild temperatures year-round-rarely will it snow in the Lowcountry-and its summers are famously warm. The subtropical feel allows for plenty of golf, walks on the beach, fishing, gardening, boating, and hiking, all of which are hobbies beloved by many retirees.

Though these hearts of palm are not actually cabbage, the classic Southern dish got its quirky name both for the palm trees' location in the Florida swamps and for the fact that they're also often colloquially referred to as "cabbage palms." Most modern variations of the recipe also include chopped green cabbage. Made with thick bacon, smoked sausage, and the "holy trinity" of peppers, onions, and celery, this stewed cabbage can be side dish or a well-rounded meal in itself.

The infamous Sea Islands of America cluster along the Atlantic coastline from Georgia through South Carolina, each cradling a history and culture unique to itself. From cultural distinctions to Gullah food traditions, storytelling folk art, and sweetgrass basket weavers, these barrier islands couldn't be more distinctly defined. But they do have one enduring commonality: A wealth of seafood that defines the way locals and visitors eat.

The American Civil War (1861-1865) was the pivotal event in United States history and the largest armed conflict in the Western world following the end of the Napoleonic Wars (1815) and prior to the beginning of the First World War (1914). The central cause of the war was the institution of slavery, which had increasingly caused conflict between Southern states, which relied heavily on slave labor for their agrarian economy, and Northern states, which were heavily industrialized and had far less need for slaves.

While often grouped together in a region known as the Lowcountry, South Carolina's coastal towns and cities each have their own unique blend of history, culture, and reasons to visit. Charleston's beaches and ever-growing restaurant scene are particularly noteworthy. Beaufort's architecture is fascinating, and Edisto Island is unrivaled in its peaceful nature and dedication to preserving its history. If you keep driving further south, you'll come across Bluffton, another waterfront destination to add to your must-visit list.

I've lived just outside Greenville, South Carolina, for the past 11 years and can't imagine calling anywhere else home. Named one of "The South's Best Cities in 2025" by Southern Living and one of "Readers' 15 Favorite Cities in the US of 2025" by Travel + Leisure, it's easy to see why the city has seemingly exploded in popularity. Here are six of my favorite things to do in and around Greenville.