FLORENCE AREA ATTRACTIONS:

The seventh largest city in South Carolina, Florence is a historic, southern belle of a city with an interesting selection of attractions:

  • Golf: A variety of 30 courses in the area for challenging play on exceptional greens.
  • Darlington Raceway and Stock Car Museum: NASCAR’s original super speedway hosting several national races. An adjacent Museum houses a large collection of stock cars, including those driven to victory by Richard Petty, Bill Elliott, and others.
  • Woods Bay State Park: This Carolina Bay park offers a variety of natural habitats for many species of wildlife.
  • Florence Motor Speedway: Over 200 laps of exciting stock car racing in six classes, from street stocks to NASCAR-type late models.
  • War Between the States Museum: Showcasing local life in the area during the 1860s, including artifacts from various battles and camp sites.
  • Young Pecan Plantations: Pecan trees, fresh shelled pecans, candies, jams and more available for purchase and shipping is available.
  • Florence Railroad Museum: Florence began as a major railroad junction in the mid 1800s and served as a major rail station during the Civil War.
  • Pee Dee State Farmer’s Market: Offering fresh local fruits, produce, plants, and southern hospitality.
  • Florence National Cemetery: National cemetery established in 1865 as a burial site for Union soldiers while held in the Confederate stockade at Florence.
  • Lynches River County Park: This park includes fishing, canoeing/kayaking, nature trails, camping, and cabins.

NEARBY DESTINATIONS:

1. Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand (approximately 67 miles from Florence)

The hub of the Grand Strand is Myrtle Beach featuring 60 miles of white sand beaches for swimming, surfing, parasailing, boating, kayaking, windsurfing, deep sea and inshore fishing, and cruises. Myrtle Beach is celebrated as “Seaside Golf Capitol of the World” with over 100 area courses. This popular vacation destination also includes 200 tennis courts, outlet malls, specialty shops, live musical theatre, nightclubs and family attractions.

Other destinations along the Grand Strand include Pawley’s Island, one of the oldest beach resorts known for the original Pawley’s Island Hammock. Murrells Inlet is a historic fishing village boasting the title “seafood capitol of South Carolina”. Litchfield Beach is a quaint community beloved for its miles of wide sandy beaches, world-class golf courses, village-style shops, and fine dining. Garden City Beach has access to both the ocean and the inlet so it is great for fishing, crabbing, and water sports.

2. Historic Charleston and Resort Beaches (approximately 134 miles from Florence)

Charleston is a romantic Old South city with irresistible charm and beauty, steeped in history. The city boasts beautiful architecture with preserved pre-Revolutionary buildings, late-18th century structures and hundreds of others built before the 1840s. For fifteen consecutive years, Charleston has been recognized as one of the Top 10 American Travel Destinations.

Idyllic beach resorts at nearby Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, and Wild Dunes offer miles of unspoiled beaches and marshlands, posh accommodations, outstanding recreation facilities and fine dining.

3. Lowcountry and Resort Islands (approximately 151 to 178 miles from Florence)

The South Carolina Lowcountry is hauntingly beautiful with salt marshes, wetlands, white sand beaches, moss-bearded palms, maritime forests, and colorful wildlife. Hilton Head Island is the largest sea island between New Jersey and Florida and covers 42 square miles of broad beaches, nine marinas, and over two dozen championship golf courses. Various resorts offer a wide variety of accommodations including houses, inns, and oceanfront hotels. Endisto Island is among the older historic settlements in South Carolina that was inhabited by Native Americans at least 4,000 years ago. This relaxed island features great restaurants, numerous rental cottages, and plantations open to the public. Fripp Island, east of Beaufort, is an ancient Native American hunting ground. The resort offers controlled access to the island, three and one-half miles of beach, as well as golf courses and tennis courts.