No matter where you go in South Carolina, you’re never far from a view worth remembering. It’s one of the few places where mountains, farmland, and beaches all share the same map, connected by small towns, diners, and roadside stands.

Hike the trails at Table Rock State Park when the foothills glow with fall color or ride your bike along the surf on Hilton Head’s wide beaches. Take a flat-bottom boat through the blackwater at Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner, where you might spot an alligator sunning on the bank. Turn history into a round of road trip bingo with more than 2,000 roadside markers that trace key moments from the state’s past. Reward your journey with a stop at 96 Pecan Company in Ninety Six, where shelves are lined with roasted pecans, old-fashioned candies, and gifts that make the detour worth it.

In 100 Things to Do in South Carolina Before You Die, author Amelia Old shares how to see beyond the main roads and into the places that tell its story, with a focus on local favorites and statewide treasures. Pick a page, plan a trip, and start checking off the destinations that make the Palmetto State one of a kind.