South Carolina is a treasure trove of national forests, charming small towns, and stunning beaches. The state is among the top places in the United States to offer sunny beaches where you can soak up the sun as well as friendly small towns to experience the authentic southern vibe. All that natural scenery also makes it easier to pick South Carolina as a vacation spot!
The state has many outstanding locations, truly spectacular, that provide opportunities to capture Insta-worthy photos. From ancient oak trees to plantation homes and long stretches of sand, experience it firsthand with this list of Instagrammable places in South Carolina!
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Instagrammable Places in South Carolina
Brookgreen Gardens
Located south of Myrtle Beach, Brookgreen Gardens is a land stretching over 9,000 acres. It was used for farming and plantation before, but now, it’s a gorgeous location with a zoo, sculpture garden, and wildlife preserve.
The wildlife preserve has many ecosystems, including the Lowcountry zoo. The gardens in this location all serve different purposes. They have a Palmetto Garden, a Kitchen Garden, a Terrace Garden, and a Children’s Garden. All of them are filled with flowering plants and perennials.
The most exciting place for horticulturists, gardeners, and photographers is the collection of trees dating back 250 years. The Live Oak Allée is from the plantation era of the 1700s. The gardens also show over 2,000 pieces of artwork by 430 artists in three galleries and other places within the gardens.
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Caesars Head State Park
Located in Cleveland, South Carolina, Caesars Head State Park is visible from the Blue Ridge Escarpment. The park is a dream location for photographers who want to capture stunning scenic views.
#MondoExplorerTip: You can capture the glory of Table Rock from The Overlook and enjoy the Raven Cliff Falls Trails that lead to the tallest waterfall in South Carolina.
Jones Gap Trail in the park allows access to a range of swimming holes. The park has fishing ponds, rivers, and geocaches that are easy to locate with GPS. Treasure hunters love the latter activity! Due to the location of the park and escarpment, hawks flying to South America are attracted to the area.
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Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
South Carolina is famous for its plantations. There are over 2,000 plantations in the state, with many open for visitors. Magnolia Plantation is among the oldest plantations, publicly accessible to locals and tourists. The plantation was established in the 1700s, but it wasn’t until 1870 that it became accessible to the public.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens are among the most Instagrammable places in South Carolina because they are the last remaining Romantic-style gardens in the US!
The history is not as romantic as the garden. Enslaved people were responsible for preserving the magnificence of Magnolia, and this is documented by Magnolia’s Cabin Project in a 45-minute educational program.
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Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is a safe haven for animals. The place has more than 2,000 animals with 350 varying species. All the animals are classified into different exhibits, and the African Plains alone is a two-acre separate location with African lions, zebras, giraffes, and other natural habitat animals.
More dangerous animals, like the African lions, are separated from the general crowd at the African Plains.
If you want to see the meerkats, elephants, and gorillas living peacefully at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, you should go to the Ndoki Forest area. The place also has an Asian exhibit with Komodo dragons and Siberian tigers, while the North American exhibit is led by California sea lions and grizzly bears.
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Myrtle Beach
When in South Carolina, one must visit Myrtle Beach to complete the SC adventure! The location has a stretch of pristine sands that somehow become more popular during summertime for different activities. The city of Myrtle Beach has many beautiful beaches that you can visit.
Among the most popular attractions is the SkyWheel. You can ride it once for 10 minutes and get a bird’s eye view of the boardwalk and beach. Another attraction worth visiting is Broadway at the Beach. It’s an extensive shopping and entertainment complex in Myrtle Beach.
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Angel Oak Tree
12 miles outside of Charleston is John’s Island, where you can find Angel Oak Forest. It’s a popular tourist attraction because of the Angel Oak Tree. Not only is this place worth visiting as a tourist, but it’s also great to capture Insta-worthy shots.
Angel Oak Tree is among the oldest impressive trees in the United States, so make sure to capture its magnificence while you are in South Carolina. It is almost 400-500 years old with strong roots. The height of the tree is 66.5 feet, and the circumference is 28 feet. The tree has faced many storms with resilience.
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Huntington Beach State Park
Huntington Beach State Park is easily regarded as the best birding location in South Carolina. It’s popular among tourists and photographers, as there are over 300 species of birds to watch.
If you are a wildlife fan and love bird watching, you should visit Huntington Beach State Park and capture as many beautiful shots as possible!
There’s also a freshwater lake in the park where you can see loggerhead turtles and alligators. Other endangered species also live in the park.
Also, Brookgreen Gardens is located right next to Huntington Beach State Park, so you can visit both locations in one day. The park holds a September festival called Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival at Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington’s former winter home.
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Kiawah Island
If you want to see a golfer’s paradise, you must visit Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The place is located just a few miles south of Charleston. Kiawah Island is a beautiful barrier island with five championship golf courses and many sandy beaches.
You don’t have to be a golf fan to visit this location in South Carolina. Kiawah Island welcomes everyone with various activities, including kayaking and stand-up paddle boat tours. There are many viewpoints at this location for perfect pictures, so make sure to find your spot and click away!
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Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island is a low-country beach town with limited tourists and a relaxed atmosphere. Given the popularity of Myrtle Beach, most tourists choose it as their primary vacation spot, and also because of the stage shows.
However, Hilton Head Island is a comparatively quieter region with shopping, dining, and golf course experiences. You can also explore the vast clear waters and sands. The best activity to participate in is cycling.
There are marked trails with miles of flat surfaces to enjoy a ride while looking at the beautiful scenery. If you find yourself on Hilton Head Island when there’s a low tide, make sure to take a boat out to see dolphins in the surf no more than six to eight feet away.
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Summary
Instagrammable places in South Carolina consist of mountains, rivers, forests, lakes, and plantations. Many of these locations are historically significant, but they aren’t outdated spots in the state. All the locations listed here are ready for your camera and beaming smile!
South Carolina is a haven for Instagrammers, travelers, and influencers alike. You can enjoy the sun at the beach, hike in the mountains, or go for a walk in a small town—each experience will make you want to take photographs. Indeed, South Carolina is a lovely place!
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Hi I’m Jay. I grew up in Seattle, Washington and live in Los Angeles, California. I have travelled to 23 countries so far and planning to go explore more countries soon! My Favorite trips so far have been to Israel, Japan, Rome, Iceland and Australia. I started this site to share my love of travel with everyone and build a community of like-minded, free thinking, free exploring people.
