Things to Do and See
Take a moment to download or request a mailing of the SC visitor's guide here. Check out Summerville's tourism website here and Charleston's here.
Nature & Wildlife
One of the most amazing nature preserves in the country is only 5 minutes down the road. Francis Beidler Forest is home to a spectacular boardwalk through pristine cypress forest. There are 140 species of birds, including the beautiful prothonotary warbler. Also check out Cypress Gardens and Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.
Water-related
The South Carolina Lowcountry is a great place to spend time on or in the water. Kids love the Whirlin' Waters Adventure Waterpark between Summerville and North Charleston. Neighboring Berkeley County has Lakes Marion and Moultrie. Charleston and the nearby coastline has great beaches such as the Isle of Palms, Folly Beach, or Edisto Beach. Edisto Island has Botany Bay Plantation open to the public. There are also a lot of rivers in the area such as the Edisto, Ashley, or Cooper. For access to the Edisto check out Givhans Ferry State Park.
Fun and Educational
Our friends Archie and Diane began Bee City, in Cottageville, SC. It's a great place for kids (the petting zoo) and adults (the gift shop). In Charleston, check out the Aquarium and in Summerville the Flowertown Players.
There are a lot of fun festivals that take place in nearby towns. They include The World Grits Festival, The Flowertown Festival, and the world-famous Spoleto Festival in Charleston.
Historical
Our family is related to those that settled at Colonial Dorchester in the 1690s. There's still a unique tabby-walled fort standing there. Forts Moultrie and Sumter in Charleston are very signifigant in SC history. There are many museums in the area including the Charleston Museum which was founded in 1773. Perhaps the best historical sites in the area are the old plantations. Check out Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, or Drayton Hall.
Sports
There are several local parks and places to play tennis or golf. This site contains some links for local activities. The local baseball team is the Charleston Riverdogs. The Stingrays play hockey at the North Charleston Coliseum. Local colleges to root for include the The Citadel, The College of Charleston, and Charleston Southern University.
Performing Arts
In St. George, the Lourie Theater. In Summerville, the Flowertown Players. In North Charleston, the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. In Charleston, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra or the Dock Street Theater.
As Seen on TV
Because the Lowcountry is both beautiful and historical, it's often seen in movies and tv shows. Here are some of the locations you may have spotted on the screen: Cypress Gardens in The Notebook, Middleton Place in The Patriot, The College of Charleston in Cold Mountain, The Patriot, The Notebook, Dear John, The Colbert Report, and Army Wives among others. The campus at Trident Techinal College was often used in Army Wives, as well, but most of the show was filmed at the Old Navy Base. This list has even more, if you're interested.
Living in the Lowcountry
Shopping
For groceries, we tend to prefer Publix and there are several in the local area. For general shopping try Walmart or Target in downtown Summerville. For clothes try Kohl's, Ross, or Belks in Summerville, Northwoods Mall or Tanger Outlet in North Charleston, or Citadel Mall in West Ashley. For high fashion, head to King Street in Charleston. If you like bargain hunting, try the Goodwill in Sangaree or the Goodwill and Community Thrift Store on Dorchester Rd. For hardware try Ace or Harleyville Builders in Harleyville, Lowe's, Home Depot, or Tractor Supply Company in Summerville. For RV service and parts check Camping World of Charleston on Rivers Avenue.
Car Service
If you need a good mechanic we suggest Larry Hardee's in St. George. For oil changes we've always had good service at the Speedee's in Summerville. You'll find most brand auto dealerships on Rivers Ave in North Charleston or Savannah Highway in West Ashley. More locally, there's Bilton's Ford in Holly Hill and McEleveen's Buick/GMC in Summerville.
Utilities and Services
Our county is Dorchester and our school district is 4. The internet service provider is Home Telecom. The nearest post office is in Dorchester (zip code 29437). The nearest DMV is in St. George, which is the county seat and the location of the county courthouse. The Sheriff's Department is located on 78 outside of Summerville. There are two public libraries in Dorchester County, one in Summerville and one in St. George. The nearest hospitals are Summerville Medical Center and Roper at Berkeley, followed by Trident Medical Center in North Charleston. Other area hospitals include a Trident location in Moncks Corner, the Medical University of South Carolina, Roper St. Francis, and the V.A. in Charleston. If you want to join a gym, we suggest the Summerville YMCA.
News
If you like keeping up on local news we have several options. The most local paper is the Dorchester Eagle Record in St. George, followed by the Summerville Journal-Scene, and the Pulitzer-winning Post and Courier in Charleston. Local news channels include WCBD (NBC), WCIV (ABC), WCSC (CBS), and WTAT (Fox). Our public television is ETV (PBS).
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