It's tough to find a location that meets all your retirement criteria. The good news is that many South Carolina towns come close to this. And one crucial criterion is hospitality. It's beautiful to live where you feel you belong and are welcomed. You want a place where you find yourself chatting with a random pedestrian along streets lined with moss-draped oaks. A place where you can plan joint outdoor adventures with friends, with whom you share jokes while roasting marshmallows. And the best part is that you have immediate access to a wide range of desirable amenities, including excellent hospitals. Although each South Carolina town may not be as hospitable as the others, we recommend the following as the 9 most hospitable towns in South Carolina.
Fort Mill
Fort Mill is a neat and pleasant town within earshot of a big city, yet laid-back enough to suit the tastes of most retirees. Charlotte, North Carolina, is just over 20 minutes down the road, meaning you can access all sorts of big-city amenities in a jiffy. The South Carolina Strawberry Festival, designed to celebrate the region's strawberry harvest, always creates quite a buzz, especially with all the rides, strawberry-themed eating contests, and live music. Retirees have doorstep access to several golf courses (such as the 77-year-old Fort Mill Golf Club), as well as recreation complexes.
Meanwhile, the Anne Springs Close Greenway is a cherished venue with swinging bridges, such as the historic Steel Creek Swinging Bridge, and over 30 miles of trails. Piedmont Medical Center, just down the road in Rock Hill, accepts Medicare patients. For sporadic fun on the water, the 28-acre Lake Haigler always saves the day.
Aiken
With its leafy neighborhoods where peace always seems to brood, as well as its thriving equestrian culture, you will find Aiken a lively, hospitable place to retire. And Augusta, which offers a bonus socio-cultural scene, is just about 20 miles away. With not less than 10 golf courses, including The Palmetto Golf Course, known for its 18-hole beauty, as well as the historic Aiken Golf Club, located right in the center of town, golf addicts have every reason to be satisfied. Keep in mind that the area around Aiken is renowned for producing thoroughbreds, making horse-related events a fixture of the local cultural landscape.
Speaking of this, the Aiken Polo Club often stages Sunday afternoon polo matches, while the Aiken Steeplechase Association hosts exciting spring and fall events. The popular Aiken Triple Crown, typically three consecutive weekends of thrilling horse racing, features harness racing, steeplechases, and head-to-head match-ups. The Aiken Area Council on Aging offers congregate meals and various other services, while The Smith-Hazel Senior Citizens Club is a seniors' group that provides opportunities to meet new people through engaging group activities. On healthcare access, the 273-bed Aiken Regional Medical Center is in town and is accredited by the Joint Commission.
Gaffney
The self-proclaimed Peach Capital of South Carolina is a hospitable rural beauty known across the state for its delicious peaches. One of the best spots to sink your teeth into a ripe peach is Abbott Farms, a family-owned and operated establishment that has been in business since 1955. The South Carolina Peach Festival, a 48-year-old tradition that celebrates the region’s rich peach-growing heritage, often electrifies the town with an eclectic list of events, including live music, parades, beauty pageants, and the popular Peach Jam Concert. There's Lake Whelchel Trail, which offers scenic views of the water and the woods, and the Cherokee County Museum, which keeps thousands of exhibits on local history. Cherokee Medical Center is a 125-bed, acute care hospital that offers several specialist services, and there's Gaffney Little Theatre, where you can occasionally drag a friend for a live performance.
Bluffton
Bluffton began as a quiet summer escape, and although much has changed, it still retains much of its friendly character and soul. Huge, moss-draped live oaks lend the environment a countryside feel, as does the meandering presence of the bass-filled May River, a picturesque waterway with epic recreational opportunities and stunning views. You will want to check out Sun City Hilton Head, an amenity-rich 55+ community, and explore the many outdoor playgrounds in the area, including The Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve, which is open for hiking, horseback riding, and bird-watching.
Hilton Head Hospital, about eight miles away, accepts Medicare patients. With its mood-lifting shows, May River Theatre has the potential to transform a dull afternoon into an epic one, as does Cinemark Bluffton, which offers reclining seats and a huge selection at the snack bar. Mayfest, also known as the Bluffton Village Festival, features numerous food vendors and artists.
Isle of Palms
The very name of this beachside location connotes a peaceful Neverland where the water is exuberant, the breeze gentle, and the people friendly and down-to-earth. The Capers Island Heritage Preserve, one of the last intact barrier islands that has been relatively untouched by humans, is a pristine space where bald eagles wheel about in the air. Retirees have access to six miles of clean beaches, beautiful homes, and a neat downtown with colourful eateries and palm trees.
People look forward to several events during the year, including a beach run, a sea turtle release (typically at the Isle of Palms County Park), an oyster roast, and Island Gras. The oyster roast is an initiative of the Isle of Palms Exchange Club and features Southern-style chili, hot dogs, and stunning waterfront views. East Cooper Medical Center, down the road in Mt. Pleasant, provides medical care. And don't overlook The Wild Dunes Beach and Racquet Club, which has beautiful golf courses, tennis courts, and swimming pools.
Murrells Inlet
From when it was a pirate's hideout to its current reputation as the Seafood Capital of South Carolina, Murrells Inlet has always attracted vacationers willing to unwind and drift into bliss. As a retirement destination, its desirable qualities include proximity to the world-famous Myrtle Beach (and its oceanfront beaches), as well as its busy social calendar. Speaking of this, the annual Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival brings in more than 100 artists and large crowds for a celebration of food, music, and art. Similarly, the Lip-Rippin' Chilympics Chili Cook-Off is a fun-filled contest with cash prizes, a large crowd of spectators, and plenty of chili.
Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital offers basic medical care, but if you are seeking high-quality specialist services, Conway Medical Center is just 15 miles away. That said, for avid golfers, retiring in Murrells Inlet is like hitting the jackpot, especially with nine local courses and another 90 or so in nearby Myrtle Beach. The TPC Myrtle Beach deserves a mention as the only course on the Grand Strand to be awarded 5 stars by Golf Digest.
Travelers Rest
With its location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and its close proximity to Greenville, Travelers Rest is another hospitable South Carolina jewel offering almost all the comforts and conveniences an empty nester can think of. Spring Park is a clean and highly rated assisted-living facility that offers caregiving with incredible empathy and skill. The Travelers Rest Beer & Cider Festival, known to sell out occasionally, features handpicked breweries curated by craft professionals, a variety of food options, live music, and awe-inspiring views at Trailblazer Park. The park hosts the Travelers Rest Farmer's Market, which is open Saturday mornings from 8:30 to just after noon. It is known for its diverse mix of produce, ready-made dishes, and bakeries, as well as a few craft vendors interspersed throughout.
There are several theatres in Greenville (such as Greenville Theatre), and academic institutions that offer several learning opportunities, including Furman University. The Cliffs Valley Golf Course & Clubhouse, just north of town, features a versatile, well-groomed course with fabulous views. Finally, besides being a great place to chill, the Travelers Rest Library Sargent Branch boasts an impressive selection of books.
Batesburg-Leesville
Batesburg-Leesville is an underrated location, boasting desirable features such as a 40-minute proximity to Columbia and the available recreational opportunities at nearby Lake Murray, an angler's paradise known as the Jewel of South Carolina. More than that, retirees enjoy easy access to the Batesburg Reservoir, which has peaceful fishing and kayaking spots, and the Ponderosa Country Club, situated on more than 210 acres in a rural setting with stunning views. The Batesburg-Leesville Senior Center is a fantastic place for retirees to mingle and have fun.
Meanwhile, the South Carolina Poultry Festival, held annually on the second weekend of May, features music, vendors selling their crafts, and mouthwatering delicacies. With Columbia a short drive away, high-quality healthcare is readily accessible and features reputable names, such as Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital, which recently earned national recognition for excellence in nursing.
So, while Southern Hospitality is a genuine cultural phenomenon and South Carolina is at its heart, some communities have really taken it to the next level. Think of neighbours with the purest of intentions and folks who invite you over for family events. People may not wave at you from across the street, but you can see in their faces that they mean well. The cherry on top is the surrounding amenities, meaning you have all the comforts and conveniences you could ever hope for.
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