South Carolina: Rain and More Rain

Capital: Columbia

Largest City: Charleston

Population: 5.1 million

Admitted: 1788

In August of 2016, I took a solo driving trip to several states I had never visited. On the list was South Carolina. All I did was stay in a hotel for one night.

I wanted to experience more of what South Carolina had to offer, so I returned in April of 2023. It was a very rainy weekend, but I tried to make the most of my visit.

I started my trip at Congaree National Park. Congaree is free to enter which is a definite plus. The park features a boardwalk that crosses through a bottomland hardwood forest. Given the rain, the park had few people around and made for a very quiet trail walk.

The highlight of my visit was an informative sign encouraging us to stop and listen. When I did, I could not hear anything except for nature -- no airplanes flying above, no cars, no people. It is very difficult to find complete silence like that.

A quiet, rainy walk through Congaree National Park

Congaree is also known for a synchronous firefly event, which sounds like an amazing experience. I, unfortunately, was not able to attend. The event requires a lottery and only takes place for a few weeks in May or June.

After leaving Congaree, I continued onto Charleston. I found a free self-guided walking tour online that I followed while exploring the historic French Quarter. I especially enjoyed the colorful houses and cobblestone streets.

At the end of the day, I visited Fort Moultrie. Fort Sumter is the more popular of the two forts located in Charleston, but it would have required a further time commitment. Because of the rain, Fort Moultrie was free! It was a nice visit.

From my 2023 visit, I am glad I got more a view of South Carolina and its history. Despite the rain, I had a nice time.