Here in South Carolina, we really do feel like we have the best of both worlds: mountains and beaches.
Whether you’re taking a dive or climbing up the highest peak, there’s no shortage of beautiful scenery on the horizon. And the locals aren’t the only ones who believe this to be true.
Recently, World Atlas named 2024’s most scenic South Carolina towns, with two Upstate towns gracing the roundup.
Anderson and Travelers Rest were included in no particular order, featuring “walkable shopping and dining options with plenty of charm.”
Here’s what makes these two places so special in terms of scenery and things to do.
Anderson
If you want to experience jaw-dropping sunsets and sunrises over the water, Anderson is the place to be. This is because it is home to Lake Hartwell, one of the largest recreational lakes in the southeast. World Atlas also noted Carolina Wren Park and Sadlers Creek State Park as favorites among hikers and bikers. Locals and tourists can explore the 16-block historic downtown featuring Apple Dumplin’ Mall, The Vine Antiques, McDowell’s Emporium, or Grady’s Great Outdoors. To glimpse the city’s past, go on a walking tour to learn about the Anderson County Courthouse, the P&N Railroad Depot, and the Anderson County Museum.
Travelers Rest
Travelers Rest, nestled within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offers a lot of greenery. The town features majestic mountain views and waterfalls, a walkable downtown, and a paved 22-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail, where bikers and hikers travel from Travelers Rest to Greenville. Golfing is also a pastime that gets a lot of love among locals, with various locations to play the sport, like the Spring Park Gold Range, the Green Valley Country Club, or Paris Mountain Country Club.
World Atlas’ 10 most scenic South Carolina towns of 2024
∎ Litchfield
∎ Georgetown
∎ Travelers Rest
∎ Beaufort
∎ Aiken
∎ Edisto Beach
∎ Anderson
∎ Florence
∎ York
∎ Walhalla
David C. Spaulding of Travelers Rest captured first place in the Landscape category in the South Carolina State Park Service’s “Making Memories” photo contest for his photo of Table Rock Mountain framed by blooming dogwood.
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: These two Upstate towns were named among SC’s top 10 most scenic