All the United States South Carolina

The Atlas Obscura Guide To South Carolina

104 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in South Carolina

Updated May 12, 2025

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Beaufort
  2. Bishopville
  3. Charleston
  4. Columbia
  5. Conway
  6. Fort Mill
  7. Hilton Head Island
  8. Lancaster
  9. Murrells Inlet
  10. Myrtle Beach
  11. North Charleston
  12. Pawleys Island
  13. Rock Hill
  14. St. Helena Island
  15. Sullivan's Island
  16. Walhalla

Unusual Attractions in South Carolina

See All 104 Things To Do in South Carolina

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in South Carolina

See all 8 Places to Eat in South Carolina
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

6 Hallowed Grounds in South Carolina

South Carolina is known for its picturesque coastal cities and Southern charm. Given its firm placement in the Bible Belt, the Palmetto State is home to many churches—but it also holds fascinating ruins of houses of worship, wondrous works of art inspired by African traditions, and historic holy grounds hiding in plain sight.

View Itinerary

Explore South Carolina

103
Architecture 10
History & Culture 10
History 10
Museums 10
Ruins 8
Art 8
Slavery 8
Animals 7

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Recent South Carolina Activity

Stories About South Carolina

The area around the park’s Boardwalk Loop Trail is filled with cypress trees and, occasionally, floodwater.

How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park

After 60 years of exploring the gulleys and guts of the South Carolina swamp, John Cely drew the landscape he knew by heart.
by Ashley Stimpson

Meet Myrtle Beach's Mini-Golf Master

Once a year, Mini-Golf’s finest gather under Hawaiian Rumble’s rumbling volcano to strut their stuff at the Mini-Golf Masters tournament in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Sponsored by Visit Myrtle Beach

Podcast: Gullah Museum

A small museum tells the stories of the Gullah Geechee people and how they've shaped America.
by The Podcast Team
Written by Elizabeth Z Pardue, Photos by Michele Zapf

This Tiny Island Was Settled Thousands of Years Ago. It Hasn’t Really Changed.

Home to 4,600-acres of natural wonderland, mysterious ancient artifacts, and Gullah Geechee history.
Sponsored by Discover South Carolina

Podcast: Oyotunji African Village

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
Purple straw turns golden as it matures.

The Return of Purple Straw, an Iconic Southern Wheat

It has a whole team of champions working on its comeback.
by Rachel Kester

Podcast: The Gray Man

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange stories.
by The Podcast Team
The Laurens Run, named for the path the revolutionary colonel took to his death, will be part of the Liberty Trail network.

The Death Site of John Laurens, Friend to Alexander Hamilton, Was a Mystery—Until Now

The 18th-century soldier, statesman, and abolitionist was also a character in the hit musical 'Hamilton.'
by Isaac Schultz

Lists Featuring South Carolina

Original letter of Abraham, the son of Maimonides found in the Cairo genizah.
A sculpture of the Tower of Babel, by Alan Baughman, from the Introductory Room of the Museum of the Alphabet
Boontling word of the week in the tap room of the Anderson Valley Brewing Company.

A Linguistics Lover's Tour of the World

12 places to marvel at the history of human language.

12

Including The Cairo Genizah , The Museum of the Alphabet , and Boontling Language of Boonville

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