Guide to Getting Away from the Sunnyside Traveler

Since the South Carolina State Parks have reopened on May 1, the parks have a limited number of visitors they can have there at one time. So far, each weekend, about 10 or more parks reach their capacity by noon. I've been keeping an eye on the parks to see which ones are the most popular and fill up the fastest. I thought I would share with you some of the fun but lesser known parks. Just be sure to check the state park facebook page to see the latest announcements. First, though, I should tell you the parks that are busiest and have the most restrictions. Edisto Beach State Park is only open to campers and those staying overnight (until May 11). No day visitors. Jones Gap State Park has a lot of restrictions on visitors. On the weekends, you have to purchase a parking pass before arriving. Other popular parks that are filling up on the weekends before noon: Paris Mountain, Caesars Head, Keowee-Toxaway, Table Rock, Kings Mountain, Landsford Canal, and Musgrove Mill. Basicall...

South Carolina State Parks Looking back over this past year and the many different state parks, it’s hard to say which park would be my favorite. There are a total of 47 state parks in South Carolina. The parks are so varied, I thought it would be best to do a list of superlatives instead. First, its probably helpful to talk about the different types of state parks we have. There are the beach parks that have beach access, camping, and they preserve the area as close as they can to its natural state. Then there are the mountain parks, which provide hiking, camping, and access to the mountains of the state. There are also many state parks that seem like their primary purpose is to provide a natural park for residents in the area to hike, camp, picnic, and have access to a lake or other body of water. Many of these parks have gathering spaces for the community to use. Finally, there are parks that preserve some part of the history of South Carolina. Many are plantation homes or sit...

2019 Hiking Week 24 6 months into this South Carolina adventure and still so many places to share with you! We recently visited Aiken State Park and Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site. They are about 30 minutes apart on either side of Aiken. The Aiken Park Office has a nice space to relax. Aiken State Park is about an hour's drive from downtown Columbia. It's a large park with over 1000 acres. Features of the park are fishing ponds, the Edisto River, and a swimming area. There are also campsites and a 3 mile hiking trail. Even though it costs $2.00 per person to enter the park, there have not been a lot of improvements to the facilities. I was interested to see that the park was the second state park built in South Carolina. I can see how this would be a great place for people in the area to retreat to. I am especially interested to return and possibly kayak the Edisto River. You can rent canoes from the park for $20 to do the almost 2 mile river trail. The Edi...