(upbeat music) ♪ >> Are we best friends?

♪ >> Whoaa!

(water splashing) ♪ (rifle firing) >> Ohh!

(laughs) ♪ Hey there, I'm Devyn Whitmire.

In this episode of Go For It , we'll take a trip around South Carolina and discover the natural beauty of this place we call home.

The diverse ecosystems of the state, lend to natural marvels from the mountains of the Upstate, all the way to the Lowcountry with everything in between.

♪ Every region in South Carolina is special, but there's one location in the state that is particularly preserved in a setting that perfectly represents the laid back vibe of Southern living.

Let's check out Daufuskie Island.

(gentle music) Y'all, I am so excited today.

For starters, we are spending the day on Daufuskie Island, a small barrier island just outside of Hilton Head, and secondly, I get to explore said island on horseback.

You know, a lot of people say that on Daufuskie time stands still, and that's because the people here work to preserve the rich heritage of the island, and one of the ways that they do that is accessibility, so the only way you can get there is by boat.

So, let's go for it!

♪ Y'all, we just ferried over, and we are at the Haig Point Equestrian Center.

This is Rachel.

Rachel, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do here on Daufuskie?

Rachel>> Yes, so I run the Equestrian Center here at Haig Point and our Daufuskie Trail Rides program.

So, I've lived on Daufuskie for 12 years with my husband.

Devyn>> Oh, you're a resident!

Wow, lucky you!

Rachel>> I'm a resident.

Yes, it's a beautiful place.

Devyn>> This place, just being here from the ferry ride over is pretty special.

What would you say makes it unique to South Carolina, and what can people experience on Daufuskie?

Rachel>> So Daufuskie, from our experience is probably one of the most unique places on the southeast coast.

We do travel a lot, and this place is like no other.

Because there's no bridge, you're going to experience a lifestyle and even a day where you're not going to have the commercialization or some of the development that you would expect in the Lowcountry like Hilton Head and Bluffton.

So, Daufuskie's kind of like stepping back in time, so not only is it naturally beautiful, it's also got the old dirt roads.

People usually get around by golf carts, and so that's unique.

There's some neat art galleries as well as the historic trails to see.

So there's just a lot of things that are a little off the beaten path.

We call it like a really unique place.

Devyn>> Awesome!

So you have brought up horses a couple of times.

Is that something that I might be able to experience today?

>> Absolutely!

So horses are a big part of not only Daufuskie Island history, but a big part of our program here.

So, we have 16 trail horses which anyone can come and take a ride on, and so we're going to get to take you out on our ocean front ride which is alongside the beach because we protect the loggerhead nesting season by not riding on the beach during the summer and then back on the beach in the fall.

So yes, we can certainly go do that.

Devyn>> Awesome!

Well, let's go for it!

♪ Are we best friends?

Did we just become best friends?

(laughs) ♪ For a place so small and wonderfully untouched by the modern world, there's a lot to do here on Daufuskie.

It's kind of magic from the natural beauty to it's stories and unexpected adventures.

I'm so glad that I got to discover it today.

I will definitely be back.

And... if my adventures today inspire you to try something new, well, just go for it!

♪ One of the best ways of experiencing the great outdoors is by visiting some of the fantastic parks across the state.

South Carolinians have a total of 47 state parks to choose from.

With more than a million visitors each year, our next stop is South Carolina's most popular state park.

Let's check out what makes Hunting Island State Park such a gem.

♪ Five miles of pristine South Carolina beaches, thousands of acres of marsh and maritime forests, a saltwater lagoon and an ocean inlet.

Any ideas where I am today?

I'll bet a state park didn't come to mind.

Hunting Island State Park is in Beaufort, South Carolina and it is easily one of South Carolina's most popular.

And with these views it's easy to see why.

And speaking of views you might recognize Hunting Island from some of your favorite movies and TV shows like Forrest Gump and most recently Netflix's Outer Banks .

But, besides it's beauty, Hunting Island offers so many activities and opportunities for adventure.

Are y'all ready to go explore?

Let's go for it!

♪ This is Megan Maule.

She is the Interpretive Park Ranger here at Hunting Island State Park and, I mean, what a beautiful office you have.

I mean, my goodness!

So I know that you're here at Hunting Island but can you tell us a little bit about South Carolina State Parks as a whole?

>> Sure, we have 47 state parks.

They range from the mountains to the Midlands to the coast where you guys are today, obviously.

You're on the beautiful coast of South Carolina and you're looking at about 3,000 acres of salt marsh behind you.

Down here you can go crabbing, you can go fishing, you can go kayaking.

Devyn>> So you mentioned crabbing.

>> I did.

Devyn>> Do you think that's something that we can try today?

Megan>> Absolutely!

Devyn>> Let's go for it!

♪ Megan>> The idea is to set it on the bottom, and as you can see the crabs are able to come in there and eat whatever you have.

Today it is chicken necks.

Devyn>> Mmm, delicious!

Megan>> Delicious, yes.

So why do you think we'd want to tie it in instead of just leave it?

Devyn>> I guess so that they would have to stay.

They can't take it and get out.

Megan>> Correct, so the blue crabs, they are scavengers so the stinkier the bait, actually the better because they like stinky stuff.

So if you can stand it you can leave these chicken necks out in the sun and let 'em get really ripe and they will love it.

Alright, so you have your chicken necks tied in.

>> Okay.

Megan>> You want to make sure that you have a weight on there which I've already done for you.

But you want to make sure that this is on the bottom and that it stays like that.

If you have it up like this the crab won't be able to get in there.

Devyn>> Okay, so we're just gonna hike it over the side?

Megan>> Yep, you're gonna... Devyn>> Any particular spot?

Megan>> So as you can see over here you can, this area is pretty free from oysters so you can just toss it over.

(laughs) ♪ Devyn>> Ooooh, oh, they're big!

Megan>> Yep.

>> Hey!

(laughs) ♪ Y'all, right behind me is the Hunting Island lighthouse.

It is one of the only publicly accessible lighthouses in the state and I have never climbed it before, so let's go for it!

♪ I feel so tiny.

♪ Y'all, take a look around.

How blessed are we in South Carolina that this is a state park that you can come and visit, and it's not the only one.

We have state parks across every region of our state that offer all kinds of activities and opportunity for fun, so whether you are a mountain hiking person, or island time is more your speed, there's a park for you, and who knows, you might be inspired to visit them all and then you can become an ultimate outsider.

No matter what kind of adventure you're interested in, ♪just go for it!

♪ With over 90,000 acres of protected lands, there is certainly something new to discover at South Carolina state parks.

From the Lowcountry, let's take a ride across the state to visit Oconee Station State Historic Site, where visitors can hike to one of the most serene wonders year round.

♪ [rushing water] Whether it's the relaxing sounds or the gorgeous views or just simply being near a natural wonder, there's something about waterfalls that people just gravitate towards.

Today I'm taking a hike to Station Cove Falls for the first time to see if that pull is true for me too.

So let's go for it!

♪ Y'all, this is David with the South Carolina State Park system at Oconee Station State Historic Site.

So we are going to hike to a waterfall today, right?

So what kind of waterfalls can people find in South Carolina?

How many would you say that there are here?

David>> On public lands there are about 100 to 150 waterfalls that people can go see.

Devyn>> So on our hike today, what can we expect?

Is it the hike that just any old person can do, any, anybody like me - not really an experienced hiker?

David>> Yeah, absolutely.

It's an easy hike.

The inclines are very gradual and it's actually one of the best kind of waterfall hikes in the area because it's a very easy hike with a big reward.

Devyn>> Awesome, so what kind of things can people experience here at Oconee Station or Oconee State Park besides just hiking to a waterfall?

David>> Well, Oconee Station has two historic buildings across the street here, and they were built at the end of the 18th century, and we do tours on Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm to 5pm.

Admission is free so you can come and enjoy those with our interpreter Scott Alexander, and really fun good information.

Devyn>> Awesome, and so what would you say is the reason that people should come and experience the outdoors and South Carolina state parks?

David>> Well, I mean, exercise, fresh air, all those things are good, but, you know, the state has a lot to offer.

We have the mountains all the way to the coastline, so at state parks you can experience a lot of things in South Carolina and one of the best things is our programs, and events, and just the people that you find in state parks.

>> Awesome, well, thank you so much for helping us out today.

I'm so excited.

Are you ready to go?

David>> Yeah, absolutely!

Let's go!

Devyn>> Let's go for it!

♪ [rushing water] ...like to feel the water on your face.

I didn't expect that either.

He said it was nature's shower, which is great because I didn't take one this morning, so... (laughing) [rushing water] Y'all, being outside today and just out in nature was so refreshing and just made me feel so great, especially my waterfall shower that I got to have.

I totally understand all of the waterfall hype.

So take it for me as a self proclaimed indoorsy person, there is no better place to experience the outdoors than South Carolina State Parks.

So just go for it!

State parks are the perfect place to capture the natural beauty of the Palmetto State, whether that's through recreation or all the cultural offerings at the parks.

now that we've learned a bit about state parks in the state, it's time to visit a national park.

We decided to take in Congaree National Park from a different perspective: on the water.

Let's check it out.

♪ Y'all, today we're in one of the coolest places in the entire state of South Carolina: Congaree National Park.

There is so much that's special about Congaree.

Not only is it South Carolina's only national park, but it is also home to the largest concentration of champion trees in North America.

The trees here are some of the largest of their species, some even reaching the heights of a seventeen story building, which is pretty big, and I've never been here before, so I'm super pumped to get to explore today.

Let's go for it!

♪ This is Jon Manchester.

He is a ranger here at Congaree National Park and is going to be helping us out today.

Jon, can you tell me what is so unique about Congaree National Park and why would people want to experience it in South Carolina?

>> Well, not only is it the last remaining really large intact section of old growth bottomland hardwood, something you really don't find anywhere else anymore, but it's also a wilderness area twenty five minutes outside the city of Columbia and two hours away from Greenville, Spartanburg and Charleston, and you really don't find areas as remote seeming as this without actually having to drive two hours away from a major city.

>> Yeah, you definitely feel like you're in another world, for sure.

I've heard that one of the coolest ways to experience Congaree is actually on the water, is that right?

Jon>> That is true, yeah.

You get to actually get back into places that you don't really get to see on our foot trails so you can really experience true wilderness if you're out on the water in a kayak or canoe.

Devyn>> Awesome!

So do you think we could get out and paddle for a little bit?

Jon>> I think that should be something we can do today.

Devyn>> Awesome!

Let's go for it!

♪ [Hoot Hoot Hoot] Jon>> Those are barred owls.

Umm, they do make some funky sounds sometimes.

Devyn>> Yeah, they sound like monkeys.

[cicadas singing] You hear the cicadas?

>> The cicadas can be deafening sometimes here in the summer, but it's one of those iconic summer sounds.

Devyn>> Yeah.

This is literally the most outdoorsy I have ever been in my life.

And once get out here it's a little easier.

Devyn>> I'm a little close to you.

Jon>> Oh, you're fine, you're fine.

People ask about, you know, alligators and snakes.

Most of our snakes are non-venomous and they don't want to hurt anybody, and even the venomous snakes, they're not going to really be a danger to us unless we're messing with them.

Alligators, we are in their range, but we don't typically see many here in Congaree.

♪ That's a spider!

Woooo!

That's a really big spider.

We do have some spiders in here too.

This is the season for our golden silk orb weavers.

They're very large spiders but they're gentle ladies.

♪ I mean, this is kind of wild.

Woah!!

[water splashing and bubbling] Jon>> So Devyn, in my seven years I've been here, you are the first person to go in the water.

Well folks, I fell in.

My ranger said that is the first time in seven years that anybody has fallen in, so I've taken that title.

It will go down in infamy.

And you know, if you ask my friends, my family, anybody who knows me, they would say Devyn is not an outdoorsy person, and yet today I had a lot of fun.

Congaree is seriously spectacular, it's so peaceful, so even if you are an indoorsy person and maybe wouldn't consider this type of experience as a vacation, I would absolutely encourage you to go for it.

No regrets.

Maybe don't fall out of the boat, but give it a shot, it's absolutely worth it.

♪ Seven years, the first person... (laughs) Jon>> My first one, you broke the record today.

Devyn>> The first one to fall out, and it's me.

Even if that trip didn't go as planned, I wouldn't take back the experience of taking in the natural beauty of Congaree National Park.

If you'd like to check out more Go For It visit SouthCarolinaETV.org.

You can read more about my adventures at DiscoverSouthCarolina.com And if you're thinking of taking in some of South Carolina's natural beauty well just go for it!

♪ (upbeat music) ♪ One of the most popular places for people to go here at the Table Rock is to reach the summit, and that's always a goal for people to get out and say they've been up to the top, you know, Table Rock Mountain has a granite top so you got views all throughout Pickens and Greenville County that you can kind of get a great overview of the surrounding area, and it's just the place that people enjoy to say that they've summited, that they've gone and done it, and then brag to their family and friends and say "Hey, this is something that I did," and challenges them to do the same thing.

The dam here at Pinnacle Lake here at Table Rock is a special place.

It was built by the CCC in the in the 1930's.

That's the Civilian Conservation Corps.

It's unique: they used materials, stone, that was sourced locally, throughout the area, and it was built in a way to blend into the scenery here.

In the '30s, the CCC built places to blend into the environment, to enhance the park, not detract from it.

I think, you know, part of that construction was they termed the phrase "parkitecture" because the architecture was something that was built into the park.

It was supposed to enhance it.

This is, I think, one of the best examples that we have here at the park is the game's lodge where it was built as a meeting place for people to come and enjoy, and we host the music on the mountain.

One of the things I like to tell people is that, you know, Table Rock is a great place for you to make connections: make connections to nature, make connections to the people that you love and have an experience with them that you can take away from this.