Nestled in the Santee River Valley, Santee is a small resort town in South Carolina’s Orangeburg County. It’s famed for its world-class golf courses and picturesque parks surrounded by rolling agricultural fields. Santee overlooks Lake Marion, a 450-square-kilometre hydroelectric reservoir that is sometimes referred to as “South Carolina’s inland sea”.
Things to do in Santee
If you’re visiting in the summer months, head to the Santee Recreation and Water Park, which is home to a large swimming pool designed for all ages. You can whizz down the waterslide, spray your family and friends with the water cannons or simply laze around on one of the sun loungers.
A short drive west of the town centre is the Santee National Golf Club, which centres around a challenging 18-hole golf course framed by rolling hills. It has been designed with four sparkling lakes and is particularly famed for its 17th hole, which has been nicknamed “Amen Corner” due to the church that overlooks the green. On the other side of Santee is the Lake Marion Golf Course, which has been attracting players since 1978.
Sprawling north of the town is Santee State Park, a protected green space overlooking the shores of Lake Marion. It’s a popular destination for boating, kayaking and fishing, with record-breaking largemouth bass caught here. You can stretch your legs on the short Limestone Nature Trail and the Oak Pinolly Nature Trail or explore along the 10-kilometre-long cycling trail.
Getting around Santee
Santee is around an hour’s drive from Columbia and Columbia Metropolitan Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Charleston International Airport is also an hour away. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Santee and exploring the surrounding area.