Life in the Lowcountry of South Carolina

There's probably some things you already know about the lowcountry: that it's hot, that we have sweetgrass baskets, or maybe even that we were the first to employ a combat submarine, called the HL Hunley, in 1864. On this page you'll find some more details about our corner of the world.

First, there's a section on vacationing in the area. Second, there's a section on living here with information on stores and other things you might want to know. If, at any point, there is anything we can tell you about the area, we'd be glad to help. Drop by, call, or email.

Some basic tips: If you plan to spend a lot of time outside, take bug spray and sunscreen. Especially in July and August! If you are planning on spending some time in the woods in the Lowcountry, don't be surprised to see beautiful sights like whitetail deer or rare songbirds, but also don't be surprised to run into a snake. Here's a good website for recognizing which ones to worry about: Snake Safety in GA and SC. Now on to the fun stuff!

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. 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 most interesting 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 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, the most convenient store is Food Lion at 2915 W 5th N St, in the Jedburg area. But there are plenty of options to choose from in the Summerville area and a couple in St. George as well. 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 local Goodwills or the Community Thrift Stores. For hardware try Ace or Harleyville Builders in Harleyville and Lowe's, Home Depot, or Tractor Supply Company in Summerville. For RV service and parts there is Blue Compass RV in Ladson and Camping World in North Charleston.

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 Highway 78 outside of Summerville. The nearest public libraries are in Summerville and in St. George. The nearest hospital is Summerville Medical Center, but there are number of other hospitals and urgent care centers in the tri-county area, including the Trident and Roper St. Francis systems. The nearest research hospital is MUSC in Charleston and there is a V.A. hospital in Charleston as well. 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).