Though the famous "Southern accent" is definitely in evidence here, if you listen closely, you'll hear all its regional variations, from the deeper drawl of the lowcountry to the more clipped speech of the upstate.

South Carolina, is very hot in the summer, and its nice coastal areas are a big tourist attraction.

The NAACP is currently boycotting the state because of its stance of the Confederate Flag. Liberals battled - and won - to have it taken from the top of the Statehouse dome in Columbia, but were forced to compromise with a monument on the Statehouse grounds that some say is more visible than before. Many white Southerners here don't view the flag as racist. Instead, they see the batteflag as a part of their Southern heritage. It's important to understand that, unlike many other areas of America, wearing a Confederate flag is not considered by many here to be a signal of racism. And in fact, the KKK is more prevalent in other areas of the country, not the South. Though the controversy is far from over - the flag remains a touchy subject, particularly in the capital city - it does show signs of resolving itself.

Climate

South Carolina has a humid subtropical climate, although high elevation areas in the "Upstate" area have less subtropical characteristics than areas on the Atlantic coastline. In the summer, South Carolina is hot and humid with daytime temperatures averaging between 85-90 °F in most of the state. Winter temperatures are much less uniform in South Carolina. Coastal areas of the state have very mild winters with high temperatures approaching an average of 60 °F. Further inland in the higher country, the average January overnight low can be below freezing. While precipitation is abundant the entire year in almost the entire state, near the coast tends to have a slightly wetter summer, while inland March tends to be the wettest month.

Snowfall in South Carolina is not very excessive with coastal areas receiving less than an inch on average. It isn't entirely uncommon for the coast to receive no recordable snowfall in a given year, although it usually receives at least a small dusting of snow annually. The interior receives a little more snow, although nowhere in the state averages more than 6 inches a year.

The state is prone to tropical cyclones and it is a yearly concern during hurricane season which is from June-November, although the peak time of vulnerability for the southeast Atlantic coast is from late August to October when the Cape Verde hurricane season lasts. South Carolina averages around 50 days of thunderstorm activity a year, which is less than some of the states further south and is slightly less vulnerable to tornadoes than the states which border on the Gulf of Mexico. Still, some notable tornadoes have struck South Carolina and the state averages around 14 tornadoes annually.

Attractions

 • Along the Eastern Atlantic Coast of South Carolina are several popular tourist destinations. The most well known area is called The Grand Strand and comprises 60 miles of mostly beachfront property. The Strand runs south from the North and South Carolina border through the towns of Little River, Atlantic Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and Garden City (in Horry County), down Hwy. 17 south through Georgetown County including Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, and Pawleys Island.
 • Visit Myrtle Beach with its world-class golf courses, fantastic shopping including the largest shopping mall in the state and the oldest state park in South Carolina. Myrtle Beach's claim to fame is not only its beaches, but its nickname as "Golf Capital of the World". While there, take a Carolina Safari Jeep Tour or enjoy some thrills at the Pavilion Amusement Park.
 • Little River is known for its beautiful inlet, great for fishing and water sports. Murrells Inlet offers some of the freshest seafood around and you can tour the Brookgreen Gardens where you'll find the work of over 500 sculptures. Pawleys Island offers historic plantation sites as well as great golf.
 • Congaree National Park
 • View a collection of waterfalls, including the highest falls in the eastern U.S. at Blue Ridge Mountains where you can also enjoy whitewater rapids, mountain climbing, hiking and the beauty of the vast scenery.
 • There are over 1300 registered historic sites in the state, including museums on Revolutionary and Civil Wars, a visit to the first African-American college and even tour old South Plantations including the Magnolia Plantation.
 • South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston
 • Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens  in Columbia holds more than 2,000 exotic animals and over 70 acres of natural beauty

Stay Safe

A word of caution, it is illegal in South Carolina to be 'grossly intoxicated' in public. The police can arrest you and charge you with public disorderly conduct if they believe this is the case, and there seems to be no legal definition of grossly intoxicated for a pedestrian. This is a misdemeanor offence, resulting in a court hearing. You can get your charged expunged within the state by entering a Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program. This involves fines, community service, drug tests, attending alcoholic’s anonymous meetings & homework assignments and typically takes about 2 months to complete. However, the PTI program is not recognized by the Federal Government.