While Congaree National Park is very different from many of the other National Parks I've visited…read morethroughout the United States, rest assured that if it's a National Park, it's getting five stars from me. Having now visited more than 60 designated National Parks, I can confidently say that each one offers something unique - and Congaree remains one of the system's underrated gems. My first visit was a solo trip in September 2021. The entire purpose of that South Carolina adventure was to cross another National Park off my list, so I flew into Charleston and made the drive up to Congaree. Like many National Park enthusiasts, I was thrilled to spot the entrance sign and officially arrive. I spent my first day exploring the visitor center, collecting a park stamp, patch, magnet, and Junior Ranger book before heading out onto the boardwalk trail. Even with some exhibits closed due to COVID-era protocols, the famous Mosquito Meter was alive and well. The 2.4-mile boardwalk offered an excellent introduction to the park's towering trees, floodplain forest, and unique ecosystem. Even in mid-September, the mosquitoes were plentiful - but thankfully they mostly left me alone as long as I kept moving. That evening, I camped in the park and enjoyed a peaceful night of sleep. The following morning, I joined a Forest Wellness program hosted by the National Park Service and Friends of Congaree. For over two hours, we hiked through the forest while participating in creative journaling exercises and mindfulness activities. It was a very memorable ranger led program!!! I returned again in May 2026, this time with two friends. We explored the visitor center, watched the park film, completed our Junior Ranger books (you're never too old), and spent time walking the boardwalk once again. We also paddled nearby Cedar Creek, which provided a completely different perspective on the Congaree ecosystem. Unfortunately, while we had planned to return that evening to see the famous synchronous fireflies, the weather had other ideas. Rain moved in and changed our plans. That's okay, resting in a hotel was good too. Like all of our National Park units, Congaree protects something special. While it may not have the dramatic cliffs of Yosemite or the iconic vistas of the Grand Canyon, it preserves one of the largest intact expanses of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the United States. The massive trees, winding waterways, cypress knees, wildlife, and quiet solitude create an experience unlike any other national park in the system. Sure, this is not a park that requires several days (or even a full day) to explore, but it is worth your time. Whether you're hiking the boardwalk, paddling Cedar Creek, camping, attending a ranger program, or simply marveling at the giant trees, Congaree offers a unique experience. Come with the right expectations, bring your own supplies (services are limited) and take the time to appreciate what this park protects. America's Best Idea isn't always about the grand scenery. Sometimes it's about preserving places that would otherwise be forgotten. Congaree is one of those places and I'm grateful it exists! Plus, Charleston and all of its city glory is nearby and awaits your visit pre- or post-Congaree!

Congaree National Park preserves the largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the…read moresoutheastern United States, which is what makes it a National Park. It is a primeval floodplain ecosystem, which is what makes it so beautiful! There are 11 trails at Congaree National Park, all featuring beautiful scenery and the value within nature. Beware of the mosquitoes! Because of this floodplain (body of water), this is a prime home for mosquitoes. They are known for their "Skeeter Meter," which is helpful in gauging the presence of mosquitoes. If you want to avoid the mosquitos, try to come during the Fall & Winter seasons, or during a drought. This park is 100% dog & RV friendly, and is a great place to take your kids!! Have fun, and take in the scenery!

Now Sumter doesn't have to much going on but if you need a good place to walk, run or play some…read moresports this park is for you! There are a few ponds but no fishing or swimming is allowed. This is a dog friendly park & they have many trash bins with doggie poop bags also. The paths are paved so if you have a little one in a stroller rest assured you can take some walks there. It is very open so you won't have to go thru the woods to much. It is an easy walk as there are no hills. We did not encounter many bugs. They have some benches & a building that looks like you can rent out. Very well kept park.

Wonderful, beautiful, and quiet . Mind you you will hear…read moreartillery You will hear horn going off at different times. Lake is awesome

This review is for the campground and our experience while staying there. We booked our site for…read moreseveral days but then extended, which turned out to be trouble-free. We simply called or stopped by the office. I'm sure it would have been much harder had it been summer but because we were there in April, it worked out wonderfully. Having a larger rig, I tried to do some initial research on sites. There are a few photos on the internet and with the help of Google Earth, I had an idea of the campground layout prior to arrival. We reserved a site as we were guests of our daughter, who was graduating Army Basic Training. We extended our stay as she was going to be staying at Fort Jackson for her AIT and as it worked out, we got to spend some time with her once she arrived at AIT (the following weekend after graduation). As far as the campground, it was wonderful! The staff keeps the trash picked up and the sites clean. The sites have poured concrete pads with modern hook-ups. The roadway around the sites is gravel. We tow a 40' RV and the only issue we had with the road is the gravel in front of our site was washed out due to rain. This made it a bit tough backing into our site. Thankfully, the site across from us was unoccupied so it made it a bit easier to back in. Had we angled in, the ruts would have been a bit of an issue but not impossible. All the hook-ups were great. The site numbers are well marked and were easy to find. Electric was modern and the pedestal was lit for use after dark. The water hookup was at the base of the electric pedestal and the sewer connection was next to that. The site was level and had a nice pad off to the side which contained a coated metal picnic table and grill. To date, it's the nicest site we've stayed in during our years of camping. Depending on your site and the length of your rig, you may want to decide which road to enter and from which direction. The roads in the campground are not one way, so your entry will be determined on the angle of the site in relation to the road. If you have a site across from you, someone could have a vehicle parked near the roadway so there could be some challenges backing into a site if it's directly across from another which is in use. I saw a few folks drive around, formulating a plan prior to occupying their site. We did not use the facilities but did walk around the campground and boat launch area. There are several very nice cabins on the water that can be rented. It appeared as if their decks overlooked the water. All of the RV sites were in great condition. There were a few tent campers in those designated areas. Many folks had pets and the campground was pretty active during nice weather with folks walking their pets and just getting some exercise. Within walking distance are the boat launch area and also the main office and beach area. There is a nice playground for children near the campground. A very family friendly location and again, everything appeared well maintained. There are lots of pine trees that give some shade from the sun but after a long winter, those rays were welcomed. We found our drive time from our campsite to For Jackson Gate 4 (Exit 15), which you use for attending Family Day and Graduation was about a 20-25 minute drive. From our campsite to Gate 2 (Exit 12) was a bit closer and an easy drive for getting onto Fort Jackson otherwise. There is a Gate 5 close to the campground but we did not use that. The hours were limited and being guests, we used Gate 2 and 4 as directed. There are several fuel stations that you pass on the way to the campground. We also used laundry facilities about 15 minutes away from the campground. There is a Food Lion nearby for groceries. We ended up needing some propane and used U-Haul down a few exits from Fort Jackson. The staff were outstanding and made our stay so very enjoyable. The campground is near the training sites so you will hear some automatic gunfire from time to time. Being on the lake, you'll hear a few boats but our experience was, the campground was very quiet and we slept great at night. Thanks to the staff for all your help in getting us a site and allowing us to extend to spend a few more days with our Soldier. Our entire experience was extremely memorable and we are thankful for the opportunity to stay and play. This campground is for military members both current and retired, along with their friends and family. And best of all, you can't beat the price!!!

What a beautiful clean place. We did the 30 min it was our first time and it was plenty. The trail…read morewas relaxing and the horses were very well behaved. I felt safe the whole time.

I discovered this place over 4 years ago. I just love it. Beautiful people, beautiful horses,…read morebeautiful trails. I highly recommend red barn pony park. They even do birthday parties as well. They do beach rides and camping trips for all. They do horse shows as well. Plus, being in a parade was lots of fun as well. There isn't much they don't do. They have all kinds of farm animals, horse's cow's, chickens, cat's and even dog's. They bored horse's as well.

Riley Field is the host of the American Legion State Baseball Tournament. Needless to say I was…read moreimpressed by the field, food,and volunteers that put hundreds of hours to make this a first class event. I love to travel all over the States to see vintage classic stadiums, and I never knew we had this in our own state. I would highly recommend watching a baseball game in this jewel.

It's hard to believe that this used to be home to the Sumter Braves, a minor league feeder team to…read moreAtlanta. Now it's just... well, what you'd expect to find in downtown Sumter. I believe the Legion uses the ball field but aside from that there's a rundown basketball court and what I believe is supposed to be a tennis court -- neither of which appear to have seen any use in several years. In fact, I've never seen this park in use at all. It's a shame, too, because it's got some big open field with plenty of trees to provide shade.

For those driving along I-95, you could stop at a rest stop, or you could take a detour less than…read more10 minutes off the highway in order to arrive at this picturesque Carolinian wetland. A sign helpfully points out what to do if you have a half an hour or a half a day. I was closer to the former, but the boardwalk out into the blackwater swamp yielded some fantastic sights in the time I had. Despite signage, I did not see any alligators, but neither was I mobbed by insects. A few light splashes more suggestive of frogs and the occasional bird in the distance provided most of the soundtrack. It is definitely a vibe you wouldn't get in any other part of the country. And for those that do have more time, the couple I saw dragging kayaks into the water looked ready for an excellent day as well.

We were looking for a spot to stop and have lunch on the way to the shore. This is a super quiet…read morepark, off the beaten path but perfect for a picnic and to walk around! There was a shelter with a grill and several picnic tables, plenty of clean bathrooms and even a little store. There is a small boardwalk after walking down the dirt trail for maybe 5 minutes ? We didn't proceed, too many alligator signs and the water was fairly close to the boardwalk! Overall great spot!

The owners, Tanya and her team, provided an incredibly welcoming experience with true Southern…read morehospitality. After we played all of their rooms, they even went above and beyond by treating us to pizza dinner and a home-cooked meal, which made the visit feel very personal and memorable. All of their escape rooms were solid and entertaining, each offering a unique experience. I highly recommend playing all of their games if you have the chance--it's well worth it.

We have tried 4/5 rooms and they have all been amazing. The staff is super friendly and welcoming!read more

Good course well designed with some easy hole and somewhat challenging holes. Friendly staff and a…read moregreat bang for buck$$$$

This course is a great value. I may be impartial since I work for the military, but the ease of…read moregetting a tee time is a winner for me. Compile that with the best driving range in Sumter, the friendly staff and the (almost ridicuously) low price for a round and/or low membership costs, I give it high overall marks. Non-military affiliated golfers can get a day pass from the gate or do a background check to get a limited access ID if they want to be a member. Additionally, the course is usually in very good shape and it is absolutely gorgeous in the spring. The course is well laid out with a diverse mix of dog-legs, varying lengths, elevation changes, and water hazards. It will give you a good challenge, especially played from the tips (610 yard par 5!). True, the greens aren't lethal fast and the carts don't have GPS in them, but think these are minor things in the grand scheme of golfing. I highly recommend it.