For those of us who live in South Florida, fall is a place we visit. South Carolina is just perfect in October; not to cold, not too hot, and given to long stretches of sunlight punctuated with rains that leave everything looking absolutely saturated in color.

We stayed first at Santee State Park where cabins can be had very inexpensively, either on the lake or in the woods around it. This gave us the chance to explore the lowlands, including Charleston (don't miss it!). Then we headed up into the mountains, to the Laurel ... (more)