"Summertime, and the living is easy. Fish are jumping, and the cotton is high."
No wonder George Gershwin penned his famous ode to summer right here on the shores of South Carolina!
Our state offers infinite opportunities in the way of warm-weather fun. In honor of the season,
SCIWAY presents a guide to some of our favorite ways to spend a July afternoon.
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#1) Feast on a Peach!
Summer in South Carolina means peaches. From roadside stands to supermarkets, this delectable fruit graces our shelves and palates from early June straight through September. Did you know that South Carolina actually outranks Georgia – "The Peach State" – in its production of peaches? During a normal year, South Carolina grows 60,000 tons of peaches in 18,000 acres of orchards. 2010 is expected to yield a bumper crop!
So the next time you're hankering for a great-tasting treat, buy local and support our Palmetto State peach farmers. South Carolina is, after all, the "Tastier Peach State."
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#2) Live Large on Local Shrimp!
Many a good meal has been crafted around this humble crustacean. All it needs is corn on the cob, hushpuppies, and a cold beer, and summertime couldn't get any better!
A trawler on the horizon is an iconic and beautiful sight along our coast. It is important that we continue to support our local shrimpers so that this time-honored profession survives. Ocean-caught seafood is healthier and tastier because it's fresh! Please buy local. Remember, "friends don't let friends eat imported shrimp!"
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#3) Hit the Road!
Do you have a week of vacation or even just a weekend? Either way, summer is a great time to hit the road and explore South Carolina. You can take to the highway for a complete change of scenery or meander the backroads close to home.
SCIWAY's SC Road Trip Guide compiles books, articles, maps, and resources to help you plan your road trip. It even has "reader recommendations" for what not to miss in the Lowcountry, Midlands, Pee Dee, and Upstate.
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#4) Catch a Wave!
Most of us hold our breath this time of year, hoping tropical weather stays out to sea. But a select few quietly keep their fingers crossed in hopes that the storms creep close enough to toss up some waves.
Our SC Surfing Guide is full of information for surfers (and potential surfers!) all along our coast. Find out where to get surfing lessons and what the surf forecast is. You can even check out the waves on live webcams! So grab your "stick" – it's hurricane season and surf's up!
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#5) Sit and Sip!
There's quite a bit of debate about the best way to make sweet tea, with most people favoring their mother's method. Despite slight variations, sweet tea is served almost universally in homes and restaurants throughout South Carolina – not just in the summer but year-round. There's a good reason for this – it's just so refreshing!
If you didn't grow up here, we offer this recipe to get you started. To make it really authentic, we suggest you serve it when you invite people over to just sit and talk. Extra points if you sit and talk in rocking chairs on the porch. Ahhhh!
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