8 Best Things To Do In Cheraw, South Carolina

things to do in cheraw south carolina
Melanie
Melanie 
Published
| 3 min read

Cheraw has been dubbed as the “Prettiest Town in Dixie,” and with good reason. Its various architectural and historical wonders and natural attractions only add to its small town charm. The town got its name from the Cheraw, a Native American tribe that once lived in the area, along with the Pee Dee tribe. Here are the best thing to do in Cheraw, SC!

1. Cheraw cell phone tour

All you need is a smartphone to start exploring Cheraw's historic buildings
Source: Pixabay

It might seem anachronistic to document the town’s history via a modern-day innovation such as a cell phone, but that is what Cheraw actually came up with. It allows guests and even the town’s own residents to explore the nooks and crannies of Cheraw to discover its history and secrets of Cheraw. You don’t need to have the latest handset to avail of this. All you need to do is to have a smartphone, which you can use to dial +1 843 865 3002 to get started.

The beginning point is on the Town Green. From there, the self-guided tour will bring you to 25 spots across the town. You can walk to all the sites, although those who have difficulty walking for long periods at a time may need to drive to reach the more distant areas.

Cheraw cell phone tour

Address: The tour starts at the Town Green at 321 Market Street, Cheraw, South Carolina

Contact: +1 843 865 3002

Website: Cheraw Cell Phone Tour

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2. Learn more about Cheraw’s past at the Lyceum Museum

The Lyceum Museum is open today until 4:00 PM. A visit is a great way to learn about Cheraw's fascinating past. The museum is located on Market Street, next to the Cheraw Town Hall.

Posted by Cheraw South Carolina on Wednesday, 3 September 2014

The museum building is an attraction in itself. Built in the 1820s, the structure was constructed originally to serve as a chancery court. Since then, it has served various functions, from being a meeting room to a library to a telegraph office to being the quartermasters’ headquarters for both the Confederate and Union armies during the Civil War. Today, the building houses artifacts that narrate without words the history of Cheraw, including Native American artifacts and relics from the Civil War.

Lyceum Museum

Address: 200 Market Street, Cheraw, South Carolina

Price: Admission is free

Opening Hours: Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment. The museum is closed during major holidays. The museum’s keys can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce.

Duration: around 3 hours required

Access: The Lyceum Museum is located at the Town Green

Contact: +1 843 537 8425

Website: Lyceum Museum

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3. Go horseback riding at the H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area

The SPRING FLING ENDURANCE RIDE is at H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial & Recreation Area TODAY through Sunday, April 13. HCB is located at 279 Sporting Dog Trail. For details, call 843.378.1555.

Posted by Cheraw South Carolina on Thursday, 10 April 2014

Fans of the great outdoors will love H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area, which offers a wide variety of activities to visitors. At the forefront are equestrian activities, which stands to reason considering the popularity of horseback riding in Cheraw. There are stables, corrals, kennels, and arenas within the park grounds. Other activities that can be done within the park are camping, trekking, and picnicking. It also has a waterfowl pond, where guests can feed ducks.

H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area

Address: 279 Sporting Dog TRL, Cheraw, South Carolina

Price: Admission is free

Opening Hours: The park is open 24 hours daily, except during Christmas, where it’s closed

Contact: +1 843 378 1555

Website: H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area

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4. Go bird watching at the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

Pinus palustris Carolina Sandhills NWR
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user U.S. Fish and Wil... used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

The Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the government through the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It is dedicated to preserving the Carolina Sandhills, which features a unique longleaf pine and wiregrass ecosystem. The area is the home of a variety of birds, including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Aside from bird and wildlife watching, visitors can go picnicking, trekking, and biking here. Hunting and fishing are allowed during certain times of the year. However, permits need to be secured, even during hunting season.

Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

Address: 23734 U.S. Highway 1, McBee, South Carolina

Opening Hours: One hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset

Access: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge is approximately 39 kilometers (24 miles) away from Cheraw

Website: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

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5. Learn more about African American history at the Southern African American Heritage Center

Posted by Southern African American Heritage Center on Wednesday, 16 March 2016

The Southern African American Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving the culture of African Americans, particularly those residing in Chesterfield County. Some of the artifacts date back to the 1800s. The center also offers heritage walking tours in Cheraw to educate visitors on historic African American landmarks within the town.

Southern African American Heritage Center

Address: 125 Kershaw St, 29520 Cheraw, South Carolina

Price: 7 USD for adults; 5 USD for children and teens

Opening Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 to 4 p.m. or by appointment. The heritage center is closed on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter, July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day

Contact: +1 843 921 9989

Website: Southern African American Heritage Center

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6. Enjoy the outdoors at the Cheraw State Park

The final round of the 2016 Cheraw Fall Challenge is today at Moree's Cheraw CC and Cheraw State Park.

Posted by South Carolina Junior Golf Association on Sunday, 6 November 2016

Developed in the 1930s, Cheraw is the oldest park in South Carolina. With its 3,000 hectares (7,361 acres), which includes an 18-hole championship golf course, it is also one of the largest. Those who want to spend several days rest and relaxing in the park can do so by lodging in one of the cabins or setting up a tent at the campgrounds.

Cheraw State Park

Address: 100 State Park Road, 29520 Cheraw, SC

Access: Take I-96 North to Exit 169 near Darlington for 52 North. Follow the road to Cheraw State Park.

Contact: +1 843 537 9656

Website: Cheraw State Park

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7. Go boating on Lake Juniper

The Daily Shot! This shot of boaters on a lake at twilight was submitted in the "Outdoor Recreation" category of the...

Posted by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources on Wednesday, 27 July 2016

If you’re looking for tranquility, boating across Lake Juniper might help you attain peace of mind. The jump-off point is Cheraw State Park, where you can rent a boat to use for the day, which you can spend exploring the two and a half mile lake. Aside from boating, visitors can also go fishing here, although a permit will need to be acquired for this.

Lake Juniper

Address: US Highway 52, Cheraw South Carolina

Access: Take I-96 North to Exit 169 near Darlington for 52 North. Follow the road to Cheraw State Park.

Contact: +1 843 537 9656

Website: Lake Juniper

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8. Pay tribute to Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie Statue, Cheraw, South Carolina, home town.

Posted by Malcolm MacDonald on Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Jazz artist Dizzy Gillespie is arguably the most famous resident of Cheraw. As such, it comes as no surprise that he has been immortalized via a bronze statue, where he is captured playing a bent horn, can be found at the Town Green.

Dizzy Gillespie Statue

Address: Town Green, 321 Market Street, Cheraw, South Carolina

Contact: +1 888 537 0014

Website: Dizzy Gillespie Statue

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Charming Cheraw!

Cheraw is all about nature and history. Even as you fill your lungs with fresh air from one of the parks in town, fill your mind with knowledge about its past and its culture.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Melanie is a freelance travel writer. She considers freelancing for Trip 101 to be a combination of two of the things she loves: writing and traveling. She has gone sightseeing with family,...Read more

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