Summersville rests just over 20 miles outside of famous Charleston, featuring South Carolina’s premier outdoor recreational regions and state parks as well as museums, antebellum plantations and gardens. It’ll steal your heart! It’s lively, the people are oh-so sweet, it’s cheap and—best of all—it isn’t completely over-run with tourists.
Four Distinct Seasons
If there is one downside to Summersville, it can certainly be the weather. Summer sees temperatures soaring in the 90s, with frequent rains and high humidity. Daytime temperatures in the winter months are typically in the upper 40s. The best months to visit here are April, October, November—being relatively dry with better weather.
What to See and Do
Pay a visit to the annual Flowertown Festival held in Azalea Park, which features local food vendors, live musical performances, arts and crafts and historical walking tours. You can also view the famous flowers at Azalea Park, where the lush greenery, sparkling ponds and artistic sculptures make it a picturesque place to take family photos any time of year. Get a feel for the area's history or tour historical homes dating back to colonial times with extensive gardens at the Summerville Dorchestor Museum. When your group gets hungry, stop by hotspot, Perfectly Franks (118 North Main St., Summerville). Besides hot dogs topped with unique combos such as peanut butter and bananas or chili and blue cheese, you won't want to miss the fried pork chop sandwich marinated with the town's famous sweet tea.
More Than Sweet Tea and Azaleas
Summerville's reputation as a tourist destination reaches back to the 1700s. Visitors from nearby Charleston would come to seek refuge from mosquitoes and even stronger humidity. Summerville's modern fame as a world-class tourist destination supports a booming retail industry. Should you decide to venture into one of the area's industrial parks during your visit here, you'll find diverse businesses such as bioscience, aerospace and distribution centers.
Getting Around
If you fly into the area, you'll land at the Charleston International Airport where you can rent a car or catch a taxi or shuttle bus. The shuttle bus takes you to the Dorchestor Village Shopping Center Park and Ride. From there, take the Dorchestor Connector Shuttle to get to and around Summerville.
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