Welcome to South Carolina

Visitors to South Carolina return again and again, some because they are drawn for a second or third time to the state’s beautiful beaches, vibrant waterways and verdant mountains and others because they have chosen to put down permanent roots in the Palmetto State.

And whether they stay for a day, a week or a lifetime, few are disappointed by what they find in a state known for its beautiful places, smiling faces and historical significance.

While South Carolinians have taken great pains to preserve the relics of their storied past, they also have taken great pride in looking to their bright future. Not far from Charleston Harbor, where the initial shots of the Civil War rang loud and clear in April 1861, the Boeing Corp. is building its newly developed 787 Dreamliner jet in a $750-million production facility in North Charleston.

Boeing is not the only large company that has found a home in the Palmetto State. In the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, BMW is in Spartanburg and Michelin is in Greenville, and a wide assortment of other corporations have determined that South Carolina is the place to be.

In between the Upstate and the Lowcountry, in the geographic center of South Carolina, Columbia, the state capital, offers a revitalized downtown and its own brand of Southern hospitality.

South Carolina has more to offer those who seek refuge from the overcrowded metropolitan areas of the North and Northeast than the thriving cities that straddle Interstate 26. Along the coast, there’s the sun and sand of Hilton Head Island, historic Georgetown, booming Mount Pleasant and its neighbors, Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island, and Myrtle Beach, the entertainment mecca of the Carolina coast.

Moving inland, those who prefer the serenity of small-town living have a seemingly endless menu of choices, from Conway to Moncks Corner to Lake City. And for those who appreciate distinct seasons, the small towns of the Upstate beckon, among them Seneca, Anderson and Fountain Inn.

Everywhere you go in South Carolina, you will find magnificent weather, beautiful scenery and friendly people.

Now you know why the Palmetto State is home to so many of those smiling faces.