That doubt shouldn’t stop you from packing up your Toyota and hitting the road, though. If you need ideas, check out our list of the Lowcountry’s best offerings in three distinct locations.
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
You can tour the U.S.S. Laffey, otherwise known as “The Ship That Would Not Die,” at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant.
They say not to judge a book by its cover, but not this time. Mount Pleasant really is pleasant.
Perched on one of the many mini-peninsulas that make up South Carolina’s ocean-facing edge, Mount Pleasant is a coastal town dotted with antique houses and moss-dripping trees. It’s packed full of attractions, but here’s some of the best:
Mount Pleasant Farmers Market
One of the greatest things about traveling that you get to support local economies – and the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market is one of the best places to do that.
The farmers market is held every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Coleman Boulevard. Dozens of local farmers pitch up tents to sell crops and food while live local bands play in the background. During the summer, you can even pick up delicious peaches, peppers and blueberries. Locals have kept up this market for 40 years, so you’re participating in a local tradition.
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
It’s pretty much impossible to visit the Lowcountry without learning some history. But with Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, you learn on boats instead of dry land.
The centerpiece of the museum is the U.S.S. Yorktown CV-10, an aircraft carrier that was there during Pearl Harbor and served in World War II. Inside the ship, visitors learn about major wars and what it was like to serve on the boat, complete with rehabilitated warplanes, historical artifacts and interactive exhibits. You can also board the U.S.S. Laffey, which served during D-Day, and the U.S.S. Clamagore Submarine.
Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park
Grassy marshes, palm trees and coastal waters are what await you at Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park – and there are over 900 acres of it for you to explore. A 50-foot observation tower provides a sweeping view of the landscape, and kayak and pedal-boat rentals get you right in the water. The park has plenty of open spaces for your pets or kids and plenty of nature walks for the whole family, too.
If you want to get hands-on, you can fish and crab on docks and then cook your catches on nearby grills with picnic tables. Open meadows provide space for you to throw a frisbee to your dog or play volleyball with friends and family. Palmetto Islands County Park is what you make it, and it’s easy to make it great with all the amenities available.
Beaufort, South Carolina
At the Penn Center, you can tour 19 buildings that were a part of or related to one of the first schools for formerly enslaved people after the Civil War.
Founded in 1711, Beaufort boasts over 500 years of history. Tucked away in corners are little bookshops, mom-and-pop shrimp shops and dozens of historical landmarks – but among those, here are some of our favorites:
The Penn Center
As a deeply historic southern area, Beaufort hosts plenty of Civil War-era sites and buildings. The Penn Center is one of them.
First founded in 1862, the Penn Center was the first school in the South for formerly enslaved people. Over 10,000 descendants of West and Central Africans, known now as the Gullah Geechee people, were taught reading, writing, arithmetic and more. Later in the 1960s, the Penn Center was the only place in South Carolina where interracial civil rights groups could safely avoid mandated segregation. You can tour the site’s 19 buildings to learn about the school’s history and Gullah Geechee culture in a series of exhibits and the occasional live performance.
Movie site tours
Beaufort may be old, but it’s centered in modern history, too – especially on the big screen.
The town was the filming site of more than 18 different movies spanning from the late ‘70s to the early 2000s. Movie buffs can visit Tidaholm Mansion, the Antebellum home in The Great Santini and The Big Chill, or the great oak where young Jenny and Forrest spent time together in Forrest Gump. Beaufort Tours LLC offers both a walking and golf cart tour that takes you to the former sets – and you get to learn about local history on the way, too.
Kazoobie Kazoo Factory
The last thing you’d expect to be in Beaufort is one of the world’s largest collections of kazoos, but that doesn’t stop it from being there anyway.
Family-run since 1999, the Kazoobie Kazoo Factory is a fan-favorite for kids. Its museum shows an array of antique kazoos, and you get to see how the in-house factory produces the kazoos. As the last plastic kazoo factory in the United States, the factory makes over 5,000 a day and ships them out worldwide. Kids can even make their own kazoos in 14 different colors, complete with the Kazoobie custom-made resonator. Just make sure they don’t play them in the car.
Savannah, Georgia
The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist still holds Mass every day of the week.
Not all of the Lowcountry is in the Carolinas. Some of it extends into the corners of Georgia, too – like Savannah. We saved one of the best for last on the list, because Savannah is full of iconic locations like these three:
Forsyth Park
If the Savannah Historic District is the definition of Southern charm, then Forsyth Park is its heart.
A 30-acre stretch decorated with mossy trees, Forsyth Park has long been known for its beauty. It’s also known for the Forsyth Park Fountain, which is 163 years old and the beautiful site of many proposals. The park has two playgrounds, paved walking paths, beautiful azaleas, and a farmer’s market every Saturday. It’s also just steps away from several quaint coffee shops and restaurants.
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
You don’t have to be religious to enjoy the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. All you need is an appreciation of architecture.
Built from 1873 to 1876, this cathedral is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Georgia. Visitors can tour the inside of the church, which is gold-gilded and hand-painted in stunning colors. Large arched ceilings show off murals and stained-glass art, and the outside of the building is just as Gothic with its sharp angles and two spires. As of last year, the cathedral is now one of just 18 in the world named a Minor Basilica by Pope Francis.
Historic River Street
Like most places in the Lowcountry, Savannah is right by the water on its iconic River Street. Watch enormous barges push through the water and magnificent sunsets as you visit all the street has to offer.
River Street is packed with things to do, like visit the outdoor shopping center called River Street Market Place. Local vendors sell handmade art, jewelry and food. Another popular spot is the Savannah Candy Kitchen, which makes and sells traditional Southern candy like saltwater taffy or pecan pralines. You can even take a tour on the river itself through Savannah Riverboat Cruises.
The Lowcountry meets our high expectations
As a gathering place of culture, architecture and fantastic food, the Lowcountry truly is one of the most beautiful places in the Southeast. Don’t miss out on its incredible sights, and don’t forget that your Toyota is there for you when you have the time to go and explore!