Camping
For some people, camping means pulling a fully loaded RV into site complete with hookups and wifi. Others prefer to pitch a tent on the shore of a quiet lakeside. Columbia offers both kinds of camping, and everything in between. Jonathan Manchester, a ranger at Congaree National Park, loves the secret campsites. “When the river is low, a sandbar will appear,” he says. “It’s a beautiful place to camp that’s really unique.” Chances are you’ll have it to yourself, too, since reaching the tiny oasis requires a five-mile hike into the park’s backcountry. There are also two close-in campgrounds; the Bluff sites surround a fire ring that is the only place in the park where an open fire is permitted.
For a similar experience, without all the work, reserve a spot at Sesquicentennial State Park, which provides campsites for tents and RVs; campers can keep cool at the adjacent splash pad. The park is pet-friendly and offer hiking, paddling, boating and fishing.
