102 Things to Do in Florence

Canoe & Kayak Tours • Bluegrass Concert • SC Sweet Potato Festival • Jeff Gordon Racing School • Pecan Festival • Darlington Raceway
Florence South Carolina
102
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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
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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
7
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
8
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
12
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
15
Challenge yourself and your friends at the
climbing wall in Ebenezer Park. 667.0920
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16
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
25
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
26
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!
27
Watch the spectacular flying acts at the May Fly
Air Show. 665.0515 • www.mayflyairshow.com
28
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
34
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
35
Spend Mother’s Day weekend at the Darlington
Raceway. Don’t forget to ask Mom to come along.
866.459.RACE • www.darlingtonraceway.com
36
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
37
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
40
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
41
Hop in line with local towns’ Christmas Parades
and sing carols at the official Christmas trees.
42
Visit the Russell Stover Candy Outlet in Marion
and sample some mouth-watering chocolates.
Yum! 423.7408 • www.russellstover.com
43
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
45
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.
46
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
54
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.
55
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.
58
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
60
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
61
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
62
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.
63
Trace space history at the Dr. Ronald E. McNair
(Challenger astronaut) memorial in Lake City.
374.8611
64
Have a girls’ night out at Wink, and paint the
night away! 662.0822 • www.winkpottery.com
65
Tour the Jacob Kelley House Museum in
Hartsville where the Yankees camped among the
Rebels. 339.9511 • www.darlingtoncounty.org
66
Stroll through Florence National Cemetery in
search of the grave of Florena Budwin, first
American female interred in a national cemetery.
67
Dig into Fatz Café’s famous calabash salad!
413.9186 • www.fatzcafe.com
68
Watch local performing groups and wander
through tents of handcrafted items at Francis
Marion University’s Art’s Alive. 661.1225
www.fmarion.edu
69
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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
73
Take pleasure in Redbone Alley’s low country
shrimp & grits while enjoying the Charleston café
atmosphere and live band. 673.0035
www.redbonealley.com
74
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
75
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
87
Hug “Sassy” the alpaca and her mini llama
friends at Emmett Acres Farm in Bishopville.
803.428.2161 • www.alpacas_4_u.com
88
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
89
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.
90
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
93
Get ready for some family fun at the Pecan
Festival. Don’t miss any of the free kids’ activities!
94
Join in the archaeological dig at the Johannes
Kolb Excavation Site in Mechanicsville.
http://38da75.com/
95
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!
96
Wander through the art exhibits at Francis
Marion University. 661.1385 • www.fmarion.edu
97
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.
101
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!
1
177
Wallace
38
15
rth
No
McColl
9
Fryar’s Topiary Gardens
Great year ‘round Golf !
Bennettsville
Clio
401
57
Blenheim
Society
Hill
South Carolina Quilt Festival
15
Dillon
52
151
15
301
20
Latta
38
41
301 76
Marion
Florence
76
576
41
Timmonsville
15
341
76
527 Lynchburg
Lake
View 9
Mullins
20
Wisacky
Little
Pee Dee
State
Park
57
501
95
Lamar
Manville
Woodrow
Lee State Natural
Area
95
Darlington
52
Bishopville
9
Little Rock
401
Hartsville
341
38
a
lin
ro
Ca
9
15
41
51
95
301
Olanta
Pamplico
Lynches
River
County
Park 52
41
Woods Bay
State Park
378
Lake City
Johnsonville
South Carolina Cotton Museum
Hemingway
52
527
41
261
Kingstree
Greeleyville
521
Feeding baby sheep at Ovis Hill Farm
Canoe & Kayak Expeditions
41