Tourism and Vernacular Regions

Tourism is mportant to the economy of South Carolina. Promotion of the tourism regions helps draw visitors to South Carolina, making them aware of the interesting opportunities available here. For more about the tourism regions, ETV Shorts spotlights unique places to visit in each region.

Vernacular regions are based on the tendency of people to refer to a place not only by its formal name, but also by some informal geographic terms.

Capital City & Lake Murray Country | A Natural State

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Grades: 6 7 8

This area is made up of the counties of Saluda, Newberry, Richland and Lexington. Visit historical southern homes, state museums, and Riverbanks Zoo. Lake Murray is a haven for all types of water...

Historic Charleston | A Natural State

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Historic Charleston is comprised of Charleston and Dorchester counties. Historic Charleston has 73 pre-Revolutionary buildings - 136 from the late 18th century and more than 600 others built prior to...

Low Country & Resort Area | A Natural State

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The Lowcountry Region is comprised of Hampton, Jasper, Beaufort and Colleton counties. As expected, due to its coastal location, fishing, sailing, hunting, bird watching, paddling, surfing...

Myrtle Beach & The Grand Strand | A Natural State

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand stretches over 60 miles along the Atlantic Coast, and is comprised of Georgetown and Horry counties. In addition to swimming, sunning, boating, shelling and golfing...

Old 96 District | A Natural State

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Grades: 6 7 8

The Old 96 District is comprised of Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens and McCormick counties. Ninety Six was the site of the first Southern land battle of the Revolutionary War. The Burt-Stark...

Olde English District | A Natural State

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Grades: 6 7 8

The Olde English District is comprised of the seven counties of Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Union and York. This county was named for the English settlement that was founded...

Pee Dee Country | A Natural State

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Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The Pee Dee area was originally home to the Pee Dee Indians. Due to the abundant wildlife, this area is very popular with hunters and fishermen. The Great Pee Dee is just one of the rivers that...

Santee Cooper Country | A Natural State

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Grades: 6 7 8

Santee Cooper Country is made up of the five counties of Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg and Sumter. Visit lakes and rivers, museums, parks, flower gardens, plantation homes, nature trails...

The Upcountry | A Natural State

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Grades: 6 7 8

South Carolina's Upcountry is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and includes the following counties: Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg. There are...

Thoroughbred Country | A Natural State

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Grades: 6 7 8

Thoroughbred Country includes Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg and Barnwell counties in Western South Carolina. Equestrian activities are very popular here.