Established in 1994, Thomas Creek Brewery in Greenville is the city’s original and the state’s best dog-friendly brewery. Chill inside with your canine or bask in the sun on the patio and sample a selection of snacks and fine beer. Take a tour of the facility with your best friend to learn about the brewing process from experts in the field. During your jaunt, Fido may run into Doppel, the latest in a long line of brewery dogs who keep master brewers company on long days making beer. Take Doppel’s adorable face home with you when you buy a six-pack of White Paws for the road. Put the beer on ice and take a walk around Lake Conestee Nature Preserve together.

Stay next to one of Greenville’s highlights at this Falls Park townhouse.

Furry friends can bury their paws in the sand and hunt for shark teeth at Hunting Island State Park, the most dog-friendly state park in South Carolina. This Lowcountry park is home to abundant wildlife, the historic Hunting Island Lighthouse, and five miles of pristine beach. Leashed pups can explore over 10 miles of trails through marsh and maritime forests, and visit most areas of the beach with the exception of a small, marked section of protected shorebird habitat. Bring lunch along and dine at one of the tables in the park’s expansive picnic area.

Pitch your tent or park your camper just across the dunes at Hunting Island Campground. If you don’t feel like camping, this nearby oceanfront condo on St. Helena Island offers access to a dog-friendly beach.

Step back in time at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, a Charleston estate that survived both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. You and your pup can explore the beautiful grounds and trails together at the state’s most dog-friendly attraction and discover the wetlands, lakes, forests, and marshes. If you have time, head to nearby Drayton Hall, which dates back to 1738 and is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in the U.S. Although dogs are not allowed inside the home, they are welcome to tour the estate’s gardens on two self-guided nature walks.

Just a short walk from the dog-friendly shops and eateries along King Street, you’ll find Charleston’s Wentworth Mansion. You’ll be spoiled during your stay with a complimentary full breakfast each morning, afternoon wine and hors d’oeuvres, and evening turndown service with housemade chocolates. Your pooch won’t feel left out, either. Delicious treats are always available at the front desk.

Just a short drive from downtown Charleston, the Campground at James Island County Park is South Carolina’s most dog-friendly campground. The 643-acre park features several recreational activities for four-legged campers, like miles of paved walking trails, freshwater lakes for fishing, kayak, and stand up paddle board rentals, and best of all, a four-acre dog park with grass, a separate area for small dogs, a dog wash, and a beach for Fido. If he’s up for more fun in the sun, book a boat trip to nearby Morris Island or spend the day at Folly Beach. Pets of any size are permitted at RV and tent sites for no additional fee.

Dog parks with lakes are a hot commodity during the summer months. In addition to having the best campground in the state, James Island County Park includes the best dog park in the state! The park is home to a fenced space with three beaches on the banks of an inviting lake. If Fido prefers to stay dry, he can romp in the 4-acre meadow, then walk the paved pathway that surrounds the lake and watch wet dogs shake water all over their unwitting owners. Afterward, tour the rest of the trails with your leashed pooch.

Crash with your Corgi at this light and airy home within walking distance of James Island County Park and close to the dog-friendly attractions of Charleston.

Yellow Branch Falls Hiking Trail in Walhalla requires visitors to rock hop over gently flowing streams. The payoff is an incredible 50-foot cascading waterfall with a swimming hole where dogs can take a dip. Get your breath back and take a picture of the whole pack on the rocks in front of the majestic falls before heading back on South Carolina’s top trail to hike with your dog. This out-and-back trail is three miles and rated moderately difficult due to a few water crossings along the way.

Relax with your four-legged friend on the screened-in porch of the Lakefront Mountain Rest Cottage. Pups who love to plunge can join you for a dive into Crystal Lake from the private dock.

Book a break with your barker at Barksdale House Inn in Charleston. Every room in this historic inn allows four-legged guests. Take your pick from deluxe rooms with four-poster beds, cozy standard rooms, and premier rooms with hardwood floors. At The Palmetto State’s best pet-friendly B&B, dogs receive a treat at check-in and there’s a grassy relief area outside for late-night potty breaks. When the inn was built in the late 18th century, many people used a horse and carriage to get around. You and Fido can try it out for yourselves on a narrated carriage tour with Palmetto Carriage Works.

Barksdale House Inn permits pets of any size for an additional fee of $20 per pet, per night.

“Pawty” on at the Dog Gone Good Time Festival in Fort Mill, SC. This annual event to benefit the Humane Society of York County delivers games, a scavenger hunt, treats, vendors, music, a parade and more to dogs and dog lovers in the Upper Central region of The Palmetto State. Bring your pooch along to join in the fun at Walter Y. Elisha Park and raise money for a great cause at South Carolina’s can’t miss dog event.

Four-legged guests receive treats at check-in and are free to explore the grassy relief area outside at Wingate by Wyndham Rock Hill.

If our Best of South Carolina preview left your dog drooling for more, we hope you check out our book - Ruff Guide to the United States. Remember to use gift code BEST to get a copy for just $10. Happy Travels!