Discover South Carolina

Discover South Carolina: the state's official tourism portal

Discover South Carolina is the official tourism website for South Carolina, operated by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT). The platform serves as a gateway for planning a vacation in the state, with information on destinations, accommodations, food, events and travel resources.

Vacation guide and planning

The site offers a free vacation guide, in its 2026 edition, available to request by mail, view online or download as a PDF. It also publishes additional guides and an inspiration section with trip ideas, stories, highlights, podcasts and videos, including The Palmetto Porch podcast, which in its fifth season is hosted by Devyn Whitmire.

Regions and cities covered

The territorial coverage is organised into three main areas: the Mountains Region (with cities such as Greenville, Spartanburg, Clemson, Anderson, Simpsonville, Gaffney, Seneca, Easley, Travelers Rest, Greer, Mauldin, Walhalla, Salem, Pendleton, Westminster, Landrum, Pickens and Long Creek); the Midlands Region (Columbia, Florence, Rock Hill, Aiken, Sumter, Fort Mill, Santee, Lexington, Greenwood, Cayce, West Columbia, Hartsville, North Augusta, Newberry, Orangeburg, Blythewood, Camden, Abbeville and Dillon); and the Coast Region (Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Hilton Head Island, North Myrtle Beach, North Charleston, Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant, Edisto Island, Kiawah Island, Folly Beach, Surfside Beach, Beaufort, Bluffton, Summerville, Walterboro, Pawleys Island, Seabrook Island, Georgetown and Sullivan's Island).

In addition, specific tourism regions are identified: Lake Hartwell Country, The Upcountry, The Old 96 District, Olde English District, Capital City & Lake Murray Country, Thoroughbred Country, Santee Cooper Country, Pee Dee Country, Lowcountry & Resort Islands, Historic Charleston & Resort Islands and Myrtle Beach & Grand Strand.

What to see and do

The portal groups activities and attractions into categories such as outdoor recreation, nature, beaches, golf, fishing, heritage, Black history, Revolutionary War, shopping, museums and arts, entertainment, state parks, romantic getaways, family vacations, creator alliance, transportation services and welcome centers. The golf offering stands out with more than 350 courses across the state. Specific experiences such as the raptor migration at Caesars Head State Park are also mentioned.

Food & Drink

South Carolina's culinary scene is presented as famous for its quality and originality, from Gullah cuisine to the farm-to-table movement. The site organises content by cities (Greenville, Columbia, Hilton Head, Charleston and Myrtle Beach) and by experiences: chefs, must-eats, family-friendly options, waterfront restaurants, farm-to-table, cocktail hour, barbecue, chef ambassadors and recipes. It includes the South Carolina Chef Ambassadors, with a promotion corresponding to 2026, and recipes such as chef Jordan Heyd's fennel and barley salad.

Accommodation and events

The site lists accommodation options spanning hotels and motels, bed & breakfasts and historic inns, vacation rentals and campgrounds and RV parks. As for events, a statewide calendar is announced with art walks, food festivals, golf tournaments and fireworks, as well as seasonal content such as the fall adventure, with coastal oyster roasts, harvest festivals, scenic mountain drives and fall foliage.

International travel and institutional resources

For international visitors, the portal gathers long-distance travel resources, visa information, regional overviews and tour operator credentials, with references to Germany, France, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, Brazil, Spain and United States. The site also publishes promotional content with musician Darius Rucker, a Charleston native, and a series of recommended experiences in the state.

The responsible entity is the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, headquartered at 1205 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC 29201. The site identifies itself as the official website of the South Carolina Office of Tourism and offers resources for journalists and influencers, media room, industry resources, student resources, Sports Alliance, SCTrails.net, transportation, Lace House and links to SouthCarolinaParks.com with reservations and park store.

Location and contact

1205 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC 29201