Things to Do in Summerville

Positioned in the heart of a triangular expanse with Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Columbia at each point, the Andrews Airport serves as the departure site for Skydive Georgetown's freefalling adventures. Experienced skydivers latch themselves and their parachutes to patrons, and, when the soaring aircraft reaches the peak of its trajectory, both plummet into the open atmosphere. Adrenaline junkies hurtle toward the earth at up to 120 miles per hour while staffers commemorate the journey with videos or photos.

To get to Black’s Camp, visitors follow a long, winding country road bordered by towering pines. At the end, this idyllic retreat sprawls out across the shores of the Santee Cooper lakes, surrounded by 170,000 acres of wilderness. Though its location is isolated, the camp furnishes hunters, fishers, and nature aficionados with ample amenities.

Hunting and fishing guides lead expeditions into Francis Marion National Forest and across 200,000 acres of water, and charter captains take leisurely voyages to Charleston Harbor. A waterfront restaurant hosts a seafood buffet on Friday and Saturday nights. At day’s end, guests can retreat to lodging at campsites or the camp’s waterfront cabins and motel to rest up or pen love letters to Mother Nature.

The array of glazes at Starlight Pottery puts a rainbow’s paltry six stripes to shame; 70 different hues await artists within the studio. Conversation drifts beneath full shelves of bisque pottery, centering on the mugs, plates, and figurines available for painting. Paintbrushes hush quietly in freehand curls or stencils on the pottery, and hands working with unformed clay make the gentle slapping sound of two scuba divers fighting. Experts fire creations in a kiln, and parties for adults and children fill the studio with laughter and artistic banter.

The warm summer sun beats down on the shops and restaurants in the island town of Folly Beach, where FB Watersports vessels careen across the waves of the surrounding Atlantic ocean and Folly River. Bottlenose dolphins and turtles inhabit the scenic waters, living harmoniously alongside the center's fleet of kayaks, boards, and jet skis. The staff conducts private lessons in a wide range of watersports throughout the week and also leads tours across the ecologically diverse shores in pursuit of fish, crabs, and the legendary shark who ate the mayor's toupee.

Since its founding by Marion Reid in 1969—and through its adoption by current owners Michelle and David Folden—Stono River Riding Academy has helped riders connect with temperate steeds and with their natural surroundings on 360 acres of trees and pastures. During classes and leisurely rides, trainers lead mounted explorers through the labyrinthine passageways of Johns Island, passing beneath billowing drapes of Spanish moss and escaping the cacophony of urban areas. Stono River’s staff always keeps safety in mind, ensuring that pupils wear proper equipment and familiarize themselves with all the confusing controls on the horses' dashboards.

The 18-hole course at Lady’s Island Country Club meanders through the forested terrain of its namesake isle, presenting a round filled with dense tree lines, contoured greens, and oversized sand traps. Opened in 1970, the Timothy Freeland–designed layout leads golfers over wide fairways lined with stately trees, demanding precise tee shots or enough golf balls to feed a grove of hungry trees. The expansive boundaries create beautifully sculpted fairways cleaved into the natural landscape, creating a track of uniquely designed holes with no two fairways running directly alongside one another.