Canoe & Kayak Tours • Bluegrass Concert • SC Sweet Potato Festival • Jeff Gordon Racing School • Pecan Festival • Darlington Raceway

Florence South Carolina

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Things to do in and around Florence County

50,000-6/08

“The Belle of Pee Dee Country”

FLORENCE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 3290 West Radio Drive, Florence, SC 29501 www.florencesccvb.com 800-325-9005 • 843-664-0330 International Festival • Society Hill Catfish Festival • Fall Plant and Flower Show • Greek Festival • Kalmia Gardens • May Fly Air Show

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Days end in Florence

F L O R E N C E We’ve got 102 ideas for you!

Fun, fantasies, festivals, friendships, food!

102 Things to Do

Pick sunflowers for free.

1

Stroll into the past at the Florence Museum of Art, Science and History. 662.3351 www.florenceweb.com

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2

Develop the left side of your brain. Take art classes at the Lynda English Gallery, Hartsville. 673.9144 www.lyndaenglishstudio.net and Black Creek Arts Council, 332.6234 • www.blackcreekarts.org

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3

Take an afternoon drive without using highways 20, 52, 76, or 95. Becoming lost intentionally can lead to great discoveries!

4

Visit the restored train depot in Lake City. 374.8611 • www.lakecitysc.org, and dine in the Railway Restaurant as trains rumble past. 374.8422

5

Take off your shoes and splash with the kids at the water pad in Lynches River County Park. 667.0920 • www.florenceco.org/recreation/lynches.htm

6

Add your family’s history to the ancestors’ wall and view photos of local Civil War soldiers at the War Between the States Museum. 669.1266 • www.florenceweb.com/warmuseum.htm

9

Discover the international flavors in dance, entertainment and food at the Pee Dee International Festival (Oct.). 661.1225 www.fmarion.edu/alumni/international_festival Catch motorcycle drag races at the Darlington Dragway. 383.0008 • www.darlingtondragway.com View the galaxy at the Francis Marion Planetarium on a rainy Sunday afternoon. 661.1381 • www.fmarion.edu

10

Have your fill of souvlaki at the annual Greek Festival (Sept.) 662.5471, and to carry you over ‘til the next year, visit the Town House Restaurant. 669.5083

11

Renew your vows at the Dillon Wedding Chapel. 774.2671 • www.dillonmarriagechapel.com

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Enjoy organic espresso at the Midnight Rooster in Hartsville as you await your free roamer chicken wrap. 857.0640 • www.midnightrooster.com

13

Pick free sunflowers for someone who brightens your life. Highway 52 in Effingham.

All area codes are 843 unless otherwise noted.

102 Things to Do

1-take a glimpse at the Past!

Clear the sky for the May Fly Air Show!

14

Bake a South Carolina Pecan Pie. Ask an older resident for her favorite recipe, bake it up, and share a piece with her.

22

Disappear into the novel you’ve been hoping to read as you relax beside the babbling creek in Timrod Park. 665.3253 • www.cityofflorence.com

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Challenge yourself and your friends at the climbing wall in Ebenezer Park. 667.0920

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Become a member of the Friends of the Florence Stockade, a group dedicated to preserving a heritage site in Florence. [email protected]

Visit the newly-developed Florence Veterans Park near the Civic Center. From there, stretch your legs while following the city’s walking trail system. www.cityofflorence.com

24

Get up close and personal with a giant boll weevil at the South Carolina Cotton Museum in Bishopsville. 803.484.4497 • www.sccotton.org

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Imagine the 400-mile drive on rough roads in the first automobile in SC—the Locomobile Steam Car can be seen at the Hartsville Museum. 383.3005 • www.hartsvillemuseum.org

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Explore the hand hewn log slave cabins on the Francis Marion University campus. Imagine Ms. Catherine sweeping her yard and cooking meals for her family. 661.1311

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Try the grilled scallops salad at Michael’s on the Loop. 669.3771 Skip a few stones in the still water of Lake Paul Wallace in Bennettsville. Delight in the vocal magic of the Masterworks Choir, 676.0930 and the Hartsville Civic Chorale. 332.3622 Wander through three acres of topiary gardens organically maintained at Pearl Fryar’s home in Bishopville. Don’t forget to leave a small donation in the box when departing! www.fryarstopiaries.com Discover the Florence Symphony Orchestra, and even more amazing, the Florence Youth Orchestra. 661.2541 • www.florenceweb.com

21-discover the Florence Youth Orchestra!

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Watch the spectacular flying acts at the May Fly Air Show. 665.0515 • www.mayflyairshow.com

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Pick your own scrumptious peaches at McLeod Farms while you enjoy the peach festival. (July) McBee, 335.8611 • www.macspride.com

102 Things to Do

Feel the excitement at the Darlington Raceway.

29

Choose a youth softball team and cheer them on in the tournaments at Freedom Florence Recreation Complex. 665.3253 www.cityofflorence.com

30

Research the incredible life of Mary McLeod Bethune, and take a group of young girls to her memorial park in Lee County to become inspired. 803.453.5860 • www.ncnwleesc.org

31

Relax in Victor’s and enjoy a fine bottle of wine with your artichoke filet before a performance at the Florence Little Theatre. 662.6311 • www.victorsbistro.com 662.3731 • Florence Little Theatre

32

Grab your cane pole and go fishing in Black Creek! (It runs right through Quinby, north of Florence.)

33

Check out the changing monthly exhibits at the Hartsville Museum. 383.3005 www.hartsvillemuseum.org

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Spy 150 species of birds through your binoculars at Woods Bay State Park (south of Florence near Olanta)—but be careful not to step on an alligator’s nose while yours is pointed toward the treetops! 659.4445 • www.South Carolina Parks.com

102 Things to Do

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Spend Mother’s Day weekend at the Darlington Raceway. Don’t forget to ask Mom to come along. 866.459.RACE • www.darlingtonraceway.com

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Go Antiquing! 1551 Antiques Warehouse Carolina Collectibles C’est Moi Classic Antiques Fairy Tale Antiques Jasmine House Never Too Old Old South Merchandise The Red Brick House S & J Antiques Vintage Vogue William’s Antiques

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Discover the magic of Egyptian Arabian horses at the White Haven Plantation. (10 miles from Bishopville) 803.428.5656 www.whitehavenplantation.com

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292.0508 679.0901 407.7900 662.9626 292.1085 669.7753 679.9966 669.6161 669.4860 319.3530 601.1249 664.8103

Take the kids roller skating for the afternoon. Try The Cage, 665.3253 • www.cityofflorence.com or Skateland, 669.7655 Indulge in Stefano’s cavatelli. 664.9191

31-relax and enjoy fine dining !

Herding sheep at Ovis Hill Farm

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Join in educational fun with your kids! Extract DNA from a strawberry or build a solar-powered car at the new Science South facility adjacent to the Freedom Florence Recreation Complex. 629.4019 • www.sciencesouth.org

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Hop in line with local towns’ Christmas Parades and sing carols at the official Christmas trees.

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Visit the Russell Stover Candy Outlet in Marion and sample some mouth-watering chocolates. Yum! 423.7408 • www.russellstover.com

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Make your way through the crowd at the county fair. Don’t forget to have that Blenheim Gingerale in hand! www.blenheimshrine.com

on the grilled shrimp gyro at Angelo’s 44 Feast Seafood Restaurant. 665.6132

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Ponder over the source of Carolina Bays—meteor showers, ancient aquatic animals, or just strong winds? These elliptical shallow ponds are scattered from New Jersey to Florida, with some at Mars Bluff and Woods Bay State Park.

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Watch border collies at work at Ovis Hill Farm. (west of Florence in Timmonsville) Follow it up by a sheep shearing, wool spinning afternoon. 992.9447 • www.ovishillfarm.com

54-experience Stock Car history!

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Window shop and walk at Magnolia Mall until opening hours, then stop to shop. 669.0725 • www.shopmagnoliamall.com Indulge in baklava at the Sky View Drive-In Restaurant. Often. 669.8051 Search for tree frogs as you name the sixty plant and animal species along the Wallace Woods Nature Trail. 661.1382 • www.fmarion.edu Follow the boardwalk through the tree canopy and experience nature at the LEED certified interpretive center in Lynches River County Park. 667.0920 • www.florenceco.org/recreation/lynches.htm Have fun at an arena football game at the Civic Center. 679.4525 • www.florenceciviccenter.com Place your bet at Kingstree Trials horse races and enjoy a day of family fun. (Nov. in Kingstree) 355.6431 • www.williamsburgsc.com

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Discover the new kart racing track at the Darlington Raceway. 667.8929 www.darlingtonkartway.com

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Take a walk through stock car racing history at the Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum. 395.8499 • www.darlingtonraceway.com.

102 Things to Do

Festivals mean fun in and around Florence.

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Belly up to a real all-you-can-eat southern buffet at the Thunderbird Country Restaurant. Go when you’re hungry! 664.0082

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Try out your new clubs at 36 golf courses in the area.

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Indulge in the local cuisine from Roger’s Bar-B-Q , 667.9291, Schoolhouse Bar-B-Que in Scranton, 389.2020 and Cousin Carroll’s Bar-B-Que in Lake City, 210.3744. Decide for yourself which barbeque tempts your tastebuds the most!

59

Follow the boardwalk through Kalmia Gardens in Hartsville until you find the Segars-McKinnon Heritage Preserve. Look for mountain laurel (kalmia) along the way. 383.8145

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Plan out your yard landscape and find all the shrubs and flowers on your list at the Pee Dee State Farmer’s Market flower shows. 665.5154 www.pdfarmersmarket.com

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Root, root, root for the home team at a RedWolves baseball game. 629.0700 www.florenceredwolves.com

Stop in and say hello to one of Florence’s original potters at the Pee Dee State Farmer’s Market Red Barn. 665.5154 • www.pdfarmersmarket.com

102 Things to Do

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VISIT ALL THE LOCAL FESTIVALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR: • Art’s Alive — Francis Marion University, March • Celebrate Bennettsville — May • Celebrate Main Street — Dillon, May • Coker Farms Fall Festival — Coker Farms, October • Egg Scramble Jamboree — Lamar, March • Fall Frenzy — Lynches River County Park, October • Family Fireworks Festival — Hartsville, July • Foxtrot Festival — Marion, May • Garaba Festival — Florence, October • Gator Festival — Olanta, October • Golden Leaf Festival — Mullins, September • Greek Festival — Florence, September • May Fly Air Show — Florence Airport, May • Pecan Festival — Florence downtown, November • Pee Dee International Festival — Francis Marion University, October • Pig Pickin’ Festival — Kingstree, October • RaceFest — Darlington, May • Renofest Bluegrass Festival — Hartsville, March • SC Barbeque Shag Festival — Hemingway, March • SC Cotton Festival — Bishopville, October • SC Quilt Festival & Show — Bishopville, March • SC Sweet Potato Festival — Darlington, October • SC Tobacco Festival — Lake City, September • Society Hill Catfish Festival — Society Hill, Nov. • Spirit of Florence — Florence, July • Strawberry, Peach & Pumpkin Festivals — McLeod Farms, McBee, May, July & October

59-see Kalmia Gardens in the spring!

Spring plantings begin at the Pee Dee State Farmer’s Market.

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Trace space history at the Dr. Ronald E. McNair (Challenger astronaut) memorial in Lake City. 374.8611

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Have a girls’ night out at Wink, and paint the night away! 662.0822 • www.winkpottery.com

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Tour the Jacob Kelley House Museum in Hartsville where the Yankees camped among the Rebels. 339.9511 • www.darlingtoncounty.org

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Stroll through Florence National Cemetery in search of the grave of Florena Budwin, first American female interred in a national cemetery.

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Dig into Fatz Café’s famous calabash salad! 413.9186 • www.fatzcafe.com

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Watch local performing groups and wander through tents of handcrafted items at Francis Marion University’s Art’s Alive. 661.1225 www.fmarion.edu

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Sign your kids up for cooking classes at the Old Europe Mediterranean Grill. 413.0558 Watch skateboarders at The Cage. 665.3253 • www.cityofflorence.com

71-experience SC Civil War history!

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Step back into the days of the War Between the States with the 23rd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. Reenactment held at the The Columns (March), the area’s only working historic plantation. www.23rdsc.com Check out the local racers at the Florence Motor Speedway. 346.7711• www.florencemotorspeedway.com

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Take pleasure in Redbone Alley’s low country shrimp & grits while enjoying the Charleston café atmosphere and live band. 673.0035 www.redbonealley.com

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Tour the Railroad Museum’s 1917 Vulcan Steam Engine and relive the days of traveling by train. Along the way, stop by the downtown area to see the locomotive murals. 662.3351

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Jump on a horse and follow the seven-mile trail through Lee State Natural Area. 803.428.5307 www.SouthCarolinaParks.com

the influence of cotton throughout the 76 Trace rural south as you wind your way along the

South Carolina Cotton Trail ® beginning in Bishopville. 888.427.8710 • www.sccottontrail.org

102 Things to Do

Jeff Gordon crosses finish line in Avenger 500.

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See if you have what it takes to be a NASCAR driver on the ‘Track too Tough to Tame,” Darlington Raceway. 800.529.BUCK, www.buckbaker.com OR 877.4JEFF24 • www.jeffgordonracingschool.com Become a Master Gardener! 493.0788 www.florencecountymastergardeners.org Delight your ears with traditional folk music at the Southeastern Bluegrass Association’s monthly concert at Lynches River County Park. 669.1988 • www.sebga.org Grab the kids and experience ice skating in the south at the Florence Civic Center. 679.4525 • www.florenceciviccenter.com Rent a canoe or kayak and paddle away the afternoon at Lynches River County Park. 667.0920 • www.florenceco.org/recreation/lynches.htm Trace your ancestral roots with help from the Pee Dee Geneological Society in Marion. 431.5024 www.scgen.org/peedee.htm Haggle with the best at the Florence Flea Market and take home some treasures. 667.9585

102 Things to Do

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Trek into Scape Ore Swamp (near Bishopville) in search of the Lizard Man, last sited in 2005. Remember your camera! Take the kids on a Playground Parade—spend the entire day hitting the playgrounds in every town in the county. Design your own progressive supper. One suggestion: tapas at Victor’s Bistro, ginger salmon at the Starfire Grill, and finish it off with a slice of St. John’s chocolate pecan pie at Percy & Willie’s. Victor’s Bistro, 662.6311 • www.victorsbistro.com Starfire Grill, 661.7827 Percy & Willie’s, 669.1620

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Hug “Sassy” the alpaca and her mini llama friends at Emmett Acres Farm in Bishopville. 803.428.2161 • www.alpacas_4_u.com

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Visit the National Bean Market Museum in Lake City to touch the ancient cypress trees (carbon-dated to 50,000 years ago) unearthed in Johnsonville. 374.1500 www.nationalbeanmarketmuseum.org

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Race your friends around the go-kart track at Mister Mark’s Fun Park. 669.7373 www.mistermarksfunpark.com

87-visit Sassy and her mini llama friends!

Solve the mystery of Pim’s Maze.

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Get lost! Pim’s nine-acre corn maze in Darlington is a great place to do it! (Open early Sept. thru Nov.) 888.277.7815 www.cornfieldmaze.com

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Taste the local jams and produce at Willis Produce and Country Store. 661.7561

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Get ready for some family fun at the Pecan Festival. Don’t miss any of the free kids’ activities!

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Join in the archaeological dig at the Johannes Kolb Excavation Site in Mechanicsville. http://38da75.com/

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Get in the Race! Join in all the 5K runs in the Pee Dee region. Don’t forget the Turkey Trot and the Reindeer Run!

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Wander through the art exhibits at Francis Marion University. 661.1385 • www.fmarion.edu

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Quack back at thousands of mallards ducks at Merchants Mill in Bishopville. 803.428.6479

Enjoy dinner at Café Florentine, 669.9621, before attending a concert at the Florence Civic Center. 679.4525 • www.florenceciviccenter.com

www.fddconline.com/Pecan_Festival_Event_Detail.html

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Taste test all the scrumptious flavored pecans at Young Pecan Plantations. Choose your favorite, and purchase some for the drive home. (I bet they’ll be double-dipped in chocolate!) 662.2452 • www.youngpecanplantations.com Say hello to the Button King while you view his button-covered cars, guitar and casket in Bishopville. 803.428.3841 • www.scbuttonking.com

the Rotary Beauty Trail winding through 100 Follow Cherokee Road, Forest Hills and Edisto Drive. Pick up a map at the Chamber of Commerce, 665.0515, or simply follow the signs.

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On a crystal clear night, go star gazing by canoe with your guide from Betwixt the Rivers (includes dinner with the outing). 423.1919

life, liberty and the pursuit of happi102 Appreciate ness as you visit the new Florence Veterans Park. We hope you’ll enjoy your 102 adventures in and around Florence County! As things can change, contact the individual locations to confirm dates and times before making your plans. All locations mentioned are within the city of Florence unless otherwise noted. A complete visitors guide of the Florence area is available by calling 800.325.9005, 843.664.0330, or at www.florencesccvb.com. Some businesses are mentioned herein, but these are not intended advertisements, merely suggestions of how to make the most of your stay. © 2008 Florence Convention & Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved.

92-indulge your senses at Cafe Florentine!

102 Things to Do

Darlington County Dillon County Florence County

In and Around Florence County

Lee County Marion County Marlboro County Williamsburg County

Lake Paul Wallace

The Columns Plantation

Darlington Raceway

have a Fling for the Fun of it!

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177

Wallace

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15

rth No

McColl

9

Fryar’s Topiary Gardens

Great year ‘round Golf !

Bennettsville

Clio

401

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Blenheim Society Hill South Carolina Quilt Festival

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Dillon

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15

301

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Latta 38

41

301 76

Marion

Florence

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576

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Timmonsville

15 341

76

527 Lynchburg

Lake View 9

Mullins

20

Wisacky

Little Pee Dee State Park

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501

95

Lamar

Manville Woodrow

Lee State Natural Area

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Darlington

52 Bishopville

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Little Rock

401

Hartsville

341

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a lin ro Ca

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15

41

51

95 301

Olanta

Pamplico

Lynches River County Park 52

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Woods Bay State Park

378 Lake City Johnsonville

South Carolina Cotton Museum

Hemingway

52 527

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Kingstree

Greeleyville

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Feeding baby sheep at Ovis Hill Farm

Canoe & Kayak Expeditions

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