Free things to do in South Carolina

You don’t need to dole out much cash to experience the best of South Carolina. There are so many possibilities, from hanging out on a golden beach (or three) to uncovering Gullah heritage to helping rescue baby oysters. 

You could also explore the nation’s only large-scale tea plantation, gaze at record-breaking trees or check out the latest BMW model. Whatever your interest, there are plenty of fun things to see and do for free in South Carolina.

Here are some of the best.

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1. Soak in the rays at Folly Beach

Folly Beach is a quirky beach town near Charleston bustling with surfers, students and beach bums. Six miles of shoreline include the Washout – a surf break beloved by surfers – and, at the far west end, a scenic county park with a tranquil swimming beach and a pelican rookery. 

But perhaps the coolest thing about Folly is that you can enjoy both sunrises and sunsets over the water, thanks to its perch between the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Folly River on the other. A 1045ft pier extends far out into the Atlantic, where anglers try their luck in the water below. 

Of course, with 187 miles of shoreline (and 2876 miles of tidal coastline), South Carolina has plenty of other beaches, including bustling Myrtle Beach at the state’s northern end, with 60 miles of breezy coastline; Surfside Beach, offering easy accessibility for the physically impaired; Daufuskie Island’s secluded Bloody Point Beach, a snippet of sand full of natural beauty and heavenly solitude; and so many more. 

2. Celebrate Gullah-Geechee heritage on the Sea Islands

For hundreds of years, the Gullah people – descendants of enslaved people who worked on southern rice plantations – have lived on South Carolina’s Sea Islands (Georgia’s, too). They’ve preserved their West African legacy through fishing and farming traditions, food (rice is a staple), music and spirituality. 

Residents live in small fishing and farming villages and speak a creole language similar to Sierra Leone Krio. While some sights open to the public require an admission fee, there are ways to experience the Gullah culture for free. 

The small Gullah Museum in Georgetown shares the history through exhibits and crafts. The Penn Center on St Helena Island preserves…