Summerville, South Carolina

Nestled on a ridge in the woods about 30 miles from the Atlantic and 20 miles outside of Charleston, Summerville started out the late 1700s when wealthy Charleston plantation owners arrived and began building homes to escape the Lowcountry’s summer heat. The imprint of these early residents is still visible today, as many of their elegant homes remain standing in all of their antebellum grandeur. In fact, nearly 700 of Summerville’s structures, including private homes, various retailers and B&Bs, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

An authentic small town hospitality permeates Summerville. Although newcomers, many of them from up north, have spurred growth in what was once just a sleepy stop on the way to Charleston, a country atmosphere and a leisurely pace still dominate local life as local leaders strive to provide a safe, healthy and harmonious place to live and work.

The downtown is small but attractive with shops, seafood eateries, galleries and more. An original corner pharmacy with a working soda fountain and an old fashioned barber shop is a particular highlight.

For many people, the town nickname “Flower Town in the Pines” explains why they love Summerville, as each spring millions of azaleas in public and private gardens explode with color. The annual Flowertown Festival is one of the Southeast’s top attractions.

A farmers’ market happens every Saturday from April to October. The Summerville Orchestra brings music to the community. Flowertown Players is the community theater. There are also historic house tours. Sullivan’s Island and its oceanfront beaches are 30 miles away.