Stay South Carolina Rentals, Vacation Rentals in South Carolina

South Carolina is a South Atlantic state bordered by North Carolina to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and Georgia to the south and west. The abbreviation for South Carolina is SC. The state's landscape includes lowlands, sand hills, and mountains. Palmetto trees line South Carolina's coast. The eastern part of the state is known as the Low Country and the western region is called the Up Country. South Carolina was named after King Charles I and King Charles II of England. The name "Carolina" comes from the Latin word "Carolinus," meaning "of Charles." During colonial times, the state was part of a bigger area called Carolina. The site of the first permanent European settlement in the area was at Charles Town in 1670. Charles Town was renamed Charleston in 1783. South Carolina was the site of many battles during the American Revolution and the Civil War. The state probably got its nickname, the "Palmetto State," during the Revolutionary War. Colonists at Fort Moultrie, a small fort built from the wood of palmetto trees, defeated a British fleet near Charleston in 1776. The British fleet was trying to capture Charleston Harbor. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. The first battle of the Civil War was fought at Fort Sumter.

Built in 1818 and expanded and remodeled by Gov. William Aiken Jr., this palatial residence showcases city life in antebellum Charleston. Aiken and his wife traveled to Europe and bought magnificent crystal and bronze chandeliers, classical sculptures and paintings to furnish the house. Many of these objects still remain. The intact work yard is one of the nation's most complete and compelling examples of African-American urban life. Original outbuildings include the kitchens, slave quarters, stables, privies and garden follies. The Lancaster County museum tells the story of Jackson's boyhood experiences during the Revolutionary War and highlights life in the South Carolina backcountry, from Jackson's birth in 1767 until he left South Carolina in 1784. Located in Rock Hill, the center offers exhibits, videos and guided tours about the Catawba Indian Nation. A craft store, which features the distinctive Catawba pottery and nature trail also are open. From discovering fossils at the Fossil Hunt to sailing the high seas on the U.S.S. Kids Afloat, all of the exhibits at this Myrtle Beach museum are designed with one thing in mind—fun.

South Carolina has a humid, subtropical climate. Average temperatures range from 20°C on the coast to 14°C in the northwest, with colder temperatures in the mountains. Summers are hot: in the central part of the state, temperatures often exceed 32°C, with a record of 44°C set at Camden on 28 June 1954. In the northwest, temperatures of 0°C or less occur from 50 to 70 days a year; the record low for the state is –29°C, set at Caesars Head Mountain on 18 January 1977. The daily mean temperature at Columbia is 7°C in January and 27°C in July. Rainfall is ample throughout the state, averaging 48.3 inches annually at Columbia (1971–2000) and ranging from 38 inches in the central region to 52 inches in the upper piedmont. Snow and sleet (averaging 2 in/5 cm a year at Columbia) occur about three times annually, but more frequently and heavily in the mountains.

Myrtle Beach: The major hub for the surrounding beach towns and barrier islands stretching from Little River to Georgetown in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach is a resort city in Horry County.

Charleston: Sometimes referred to as the “best-mannered” city in the United States, and long heralded as one of the absolute penultimate cities to describe Southern in every sense of the word.

Columbia: Columbia is the state capital and largest city of South Carolina. As of 2010, the census for the population of the city proper is 129,272. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County.

Hilton Head Island: Hilton Head Island is the second largest island on the east coast. The island is divided into privately gated plantations with homes, condos, etc.) Some have hotels.

North Myrtle Beach: Destination…North Myrtle Beach, SC North Myrtle Beach’s stunning natural beauty is the Carolinas coast at its best. You couldn’t pick a better place to vacation.

Florence: Florence is located in northeastern South Carolina, also known as the Pee Dee area. It is 70 miles west of Myrtle Beach. It is the county seat of Florence County.

Murrells Inlet: Murrells Inlet is a small town south of Myrtle Beach in Georgetown County. Part of the Low Country in South Carolina, Murrells Inlet is an historic fishing village.

South Carolina was the leading state of the Old South. Before the Civil War, it was primarily an agricultural state with vast slave plantations. In fact, some of the state still looks like the Old South. See buildings that were built before the Civil War in Beaufort and Charleston. Visit Cypress Gardens or Middletown Place Gardens and see why South Carolina is known for its beautiful gardens. There are still large plantations in parts of the state. South Carolina's tobacco crop is one of the largest in the country. Tourism is South Carolina's second most important industry. Two-thirds of tourists visit the state's coast. Resorts that are popular among tourists include Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Hilton Head. Buy fresh fruits at the State Farmers Market in Columbia, South Carolina's largest city and capital.

Major Highways: Major interstate highways passing through include: I-20 which runs from Florence in the east through Columbia to the southwestern border near Aiken; I-26 which runs from Charleston in the southeast through Columbia to Spartanburg and the northern border in Spartanburg County; I-77 which runs from York County in the north to Columbia; I-85 which runs from Cherokee County in the north through Spartanburg and Greenville to the southwestern border in Oconee County; I-385 which runs from Greenville and intersects with I-26 near Clinton; and I-95 which runs from the northeastern border in Dillon County to Florence and on to the southern border in Jasper County.

Rail: Amtrak operates four passenger routes in South Carolina: the Crescent, the Palmetto, the Silver Meteor, and the Silver Star. The Crescent route serves the Upstate cities, the Silver Star serves the Midlands cities, and the Palmetto and Silver Meteor routes serve the Low country cities.

Freight: South Carolina is served by many freight carriers, with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway being the most common.

Major and Regional Airports: There are seven significant airports in South Carolina, all of which act as regional airport hubs. The busiest by passenger volume is Charleston International Airport. Just across the border in North Carolina is Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, the 30th busiest airport in the world, in terms of passengers.