Considering its status as just the 40th-largest state geographically, South Carolina presents a wealth of outdoor options for groups to explore. From the captivating coastline to the Piedmont’s rolling dales, planners will find plenty to consider when organizing a fresh-air outing in the Palmetto State.
Following is a regional roundup of can’t-miss options for exploring South Carolina’s great outdoors.
Charleston Area
The epitome of Southern Charm and the state’s second-largest city, Charleston is also home to some top-notch outdoor offerings that provide a flavor of the region’s history as well. At the top of the list is a pair of plantations showcasing architecture and intrigue in addition to outdoorsy allure.
“At Middleton Place, groups can enjoy a leisurely wine or rum stroll through America’s oldest landscape gardens and experience the visual splendor of the property and surrounding natural setting,” says Warren Cobb, director of marketing and public relations for the venue. “A national historic landmark, Middleton Place features a museum telling the story of a prominent South Carolina family who were intricately involved in early American and South Carolina history. There are carriage rides, horseback riding and kayaking for those who enjoy an active meeting.”
Cobb adds that an outstanding on-site restaurant can serve groups in special settings—such as the stable yards or pavilion—and that the Inn at Middleton Place is one of the most unique lodgings around. The inn features 55 rooms and about 3,000 square feet of event space.
Meanwhile, the Charleston Tea Plantation—America’s only tea garden—offers its own unique group experiences.
“Groups love to come out to the tea plantation and see how tea is made,” says Jane Knight, spokeswoman for the venue. “They are able to get up close and personal with the tea plants on the narrated trolley tour around the farm and see tea being processed from tea leaves into finished tea on our informative tea factory tour. And sipping South Carolina-grown tea while relaxing in our front porch rocking chairs is a true Southern experience.”
Also worth exploring are Charleston’s outlying resort islands, which include Kiawah, Seabrook and Isle of Palm. The best beaches can be found on Kiawah, where groups can also rent kayaks and stroll the boardwalk.
Hilton Head
With dozens of championship-level golf courses and never-ending beachfront, Hilton Head Island is an outdoor lover’s dream. And a new addition this past April has made its array of alfresco fun even more appealing.
“Zipline Hilton Head is a fun, environmentally friendly adventure for groups that also allows you to learn more about the Island’s history and wildlife,” says Jack Reed, director of sales for the Hilton Head Island CVB. “The zip line tour is located in Broad Creek Marina, which also offers kayaking, boating and guided tours for those that prefer to keep their feet on the ground.”
As the only zip line around for more than 200 miles, the tour takes just over two hours, flying through and above lush live oaks with vibrant vistas of Broad Creek. ZipLine Hilton Head consists of seven zip lines—plus a dual-cable racing zip line finale—some with heights of up to 75 feet and traversing three suspended skybridges.
Hilton Head also boasts a CSR program that allows groups to give back while exploring the bountiful nature of the island. “The Hilton Head Difference” was created to give organizations an easy way to incorporate corporate social responsibility into their retreats. What makes this program different from many others is that it is completely turn-key and allows attendees to experience hands-on projects such as oyster bed reclamation and beach cleanup projects that are indigenous to the region.
Additional projects with local charities such as the Boys and Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity are also available, and each two-hour, four-hour or full-day project includes transportation, lunch, group t-shirts and a video starring your team.
“Many organizations are extremely enthusiastic about the programs we offer through The Hilton Head Difference,” says the CVB’s Reed. “We have gone a step further than other destinations by creating an experience that combines our beautiful natural surroundings with local initiatives like sea turtle protection, which in turn promotes teamwork and social responsibility.”
Myrtle Beach
“With its 60 miles of uninterrupted coastline, Intracoastal waterway, marshes and varied ecology, the Myrtle Beach area offers a wide variety of outdoor experiences for groups,” says Kimberly Miles, spokesperson for the Myrtle Beach Area CVB. “Two oceanfront state parks offer groups sightseeing opportunities, fishing, biking and history. And Brookgreen Gardens not only is a center for American Sculpture art, but also offers boat and land tours that tell the tales of life on four former rice plantations.”
Miles also recommends that groups relax and enjoy the sunset with a journey along the Intracoastal Waterway with Barefoot River Cruises. Other ocean-going fun in the area includes banana boat thrills, kayaking eco-excursions, parasailing and dolphin-watch jaunts.
Adding to MB’s outdoor appeal is the new Oceanfront Boardwalk, a 1.2-mile stretch of seaside shops, parks, piers and restaurants. For some spectacular views, smaller groups of two to six can ascend about 200 feet high at the neighboring SkyWheel Myrtle Beach, where temperature-controlled, glass-enclosed “sky gondolas” take the Ferris wheel experience to new heights. And at the wheel’s base, groups can “waste away” an evening at Jimmy Buffet’s Landshark Bar and Grill.
For a larger gathering in a snazzy external setting, the Myrtle Beach Convention Center showcases a 30,000-square-foot Events Plaza landscape, popular for receptions, oyster roasts and other outdoor doings. And yet another consideration is the Grande Lawn overlooking the golf course at the Marina Inn at Grand Dunes, with just over 10,000 square feet of flexible space.
Inland South Carolina
Away from the coast, planners will discover an equally rich gamut of outdoor offerings. South Carolina’s compelling capital of Columbia, for instance, located in the heart of the state in the Midlands region, is a charming burgh dubbed the “Capital of Southern Hospitality.”
When it comes to fun under the sun, planners should definitely consider the fabulous flora and fauna of the state’s most popular draw, says Jason Outman, director of sales for Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism, which governs the city’s CVB.
“As South Carolina’s No. 1 attraction, and one of the top 10 zoos nationally, visitors from all areas of the country come to Columbia to visit the zoo,” Outman remarks. “In addition to its rich history, natural habitats and lush surroundings, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden offers convention groups a unique experience not found in most cities. With its ability to accommodate groups of up to 500 people in the Ndoki Lodge, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden provides the Columbia region with a very unique special events facility.”
Outman additionally recommends the Congaree Terrace at the highly acclaimed EdVenture Children’s Museum as a fantastic fair-weather event venue. The spacious plaza serves up 12,000 square feet of space accommodating up to 15,000 guests, and provides exhilarating views of the nearby Congaree River.
Another pleasant possibility in Columbia is the gardens at the historic Seibels House, a verdant oasis of lush lawns, ornate fountains and gorgeous greenery able to host up to 250 guests.
In cozy Clemson in the state’s northwest quadrant, Clemson University showcases the heralded South Carolina Botanical Gardens not far from campus, where groups of 10 to 400 will savor the nearly 300-acre setting. A highly reputed sculpture garden, endless trails and streams, and a 70-acre arboretum are just a sampling of the offerings, and available event venues range from a spacious amphitheater to gardens ringed with cascading waterfalls.
Nearby Greenville presents a pair of particularly promising possibilities, according to Diane Wilson, the city’s information services director. Falls Park on the Reedy and the Liberty Bridge is a combined multiuse setting at the heart of town and features superb event spaces ranging from the Bowater Amphitheater to the Old Mill Garden; and the stylish pedestrian bridge is a memorable spot for a group stroll and is widely considered one of the finest of its kind in the world.
Meanwhile, Fluor Field was modeled after famed Fenway Park—including its own “Green Monster” in right field—and is host to about 70 home games a year for the Red Sox affiliate Greenville Drive. Groups can take in a game from a number of cool settings, including a spacious picnic pavilion and luxury suites, or host a memorable affair on a non-game day, such as sit-down dinner right on the field, with a live band providing tunes behind home plate.
In the state’s Rock Hill/York County realms, a gamut of amazing outdoor offerings is on tap, with more options on the way, according to the Sonja Burris, communications manager for the Rock Hill/York Country CVB. For thrill-seekers, she recommends The Canaan Zipline Canopy Tour, an exhilarating adventure that crosses the beautiful Catawba River six different times. Other outdoor opportunities include Anne Springs Close Greenway, with more than 2,300 acres that include 28-acre Lake Haigler, plus walking and biking trails. Guided nature tours, two swinging suspension bridges, two historic cabins and kayak and canoe rentals can all be found at the greenway.
Yet another promising local pick is Glencairn Garden, an 11-acre oasis bursting with thousands of azaleas. The garden was expanded in 2009 and includes a Veterans Garden, showcase gardens, tiered fountains, ponds, boardwalks, a performance stage and vibrant flower-filled pathways. Peak blooming season is typically during late March to early April, and the Garden was the original inspiration for Rock Hill’s yearly Come-See-Me Festival, held each spring at Glencairn Garden and other area sites.
And down the pipeline comes the Rock Hill Outdoor Center, a dynamic collection of recreation spaces and amenities under construction at the new Riverwalk Community. When completed, these offerings will add about 250 acres of public recreation space to the city of Rock Hill’s current parks inventory.
Finally, in the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills, Spartanburg is practically an outdoor attraction in itself—with its mild climate and easy access to both mountain and sea. Amy Phillps, marketing and communications manager for the CVB, recommends the fresh air fun at Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve.
“Hatcher Garden is a 10-acre garden primarily planted by volunteers, offering a woodland setting with trees, shrubs, flora, waterfalls, creeks, ponds and both paved and natural paths,” Hatcher says. “It would be a very tranquil place for a small group to meet if they were looking to be outdoors.”
Other Spartanburg spots for outdoorsy escapes include Croft State Park and Barnet Park. Croft offers more than 7,000 acres of parkland comprising a large lake, picnic shelters and hiking trails, while Barnet is an intimate urban setting with rentable spaces that include a picnic pavilion and the Zimmerli Amphitheater, with a capacity for 5,000 people.
