Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy in Kings Mountain, SC

The countdown’s on–T-minus way-too-few days until the baby makes its highly anticipated arrival. And let’s be honest, things are probably getting a bit hectic. (Set up the nursery and picked out a good crib? Have you figured out how to strap in the car seat yet?)

What you need is a parent-to-be time-out. A babymoon is a great opportunity to take some time for yourself and get mentally (and emotionally) prepared for the big event.

The five destinations below offer relaxing experiences perfect for any couple, along with a little something extra on the wellness front for mom-to-be. And with the right travel credit card, like Southwest Rapid Rewards^™ Credit Cards from Chase, you can earn rewards on everyday purchases to use towards your travel plans. Read on to find out more.

Hawaii

In Hawaii, you’re on island time–a laid-back, go-with-the-flow state that demands you loosen the vise-like grip on your schedule and just be. After months spent focusing on managing the details of what’s to come, it’s exactly what the doctor ordered.

That might mean losing yourself in the untamed beauty of Waimea Canyon’s vistas with your companion. Known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, you can drive the entire route and make stops along the way to take in the lush drop-offs and snag a few photos.

Or maybe it’s deeply immersing yourself in the island culture with an exploration of some of the local eats (try the loco moco and shaved ice), watching traditional hulas at a luau, or taking a cultural walking tour with the Hawaii Heritage Center.

Perhaps, island time means doing absolutely nothing on a sugary sand beach with turquoise waves making thunderous contact with the shore. Makalawena Beach on the Kona Coast and the beaches at Hanalei Bay are just as magnificently breathtaking as they are restorative.

Phoenix, Arizona

While summer might not be the best bet for a Sonoran escape (temps can soar above 100 degrees–not exactly the most comfortable weather when you’re expecting), the rest of the year offers picture-perfect conditions for visiting some of Phoenix’s infamous trails and scenic vistas.

During the day, pack a generously filled water bottle and head to Papago Park, home to several low-elevation trails (like the Hole-In-The-Rock trail), the Desert Botanical Garden, and the Phoenix Zoo. Or head to South Mountain Park/Preserve just south of downtown—its 16,000 acres span a trio of mountain ranges (Ma Ha Tauk, Gila, and Guadalupe) with various levels of walking opportunities. On Sundays, the area is closed to vehicle traffic so you can explore at your own pace.

After a day scoping the sights, head to one of Phoenix’s famed day spas and indulge in a refreshing body treatment using desert botanicals. At the Mediterranean-influenced Alvadora Spa, you’ll find an orange blossom body buff and prenatal massages, while the Tierra Luna Spa at the Arizona Biltmore Resort offers rose quartz facials and desert salt body scrubs with sage.

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston’s old-world charm and Southern sensibilities make it a warm and inviting destination for soon-to-be parents. Set up base camp in downtown Charleston—most everything you’ll want to see is easily accessible (and often walkable) from there.

Start with a stroll around the Historic District, an intersection of narrow streets laid out in the 1670s. Immerse yourself in the old homes, weathered cemeteries, and technicolor gardens that populate the district with stops at the waterside Battery and White Point Gardens and the pastel-colored houses on Rainbow Row. Then, pick up a few souvenirs and baby accessories inside the quirky boutiques along King Street.

All that walking should tee up your appetite, and in Charleston, that’s great news. The city is known for its culinary chops, specializing in low country cuisine. On your dining bingo card: shrimp and grits, she crab soup, fried green tomatoes, and a low country boil (shrimp, corn, potatoes, sausage, and seasonings) at tried-and-true favorites like Magnolia’s and Poogan’s Porch.

San Diego, California

With more than 60 beaches and enviable year-round balmy weather, it’s easy to see why San Diego locals love their city. Its warm, relaxed vibe is something you’ll want to soak up before your new little bundle comes a-knockin’.

For a rollicking beach scene made for prime-time people watching, head to Ocean Front Walk, the boardwalk running from South Mission Beach Jetty to the Pacific Beach pier. There’s plenty to do here, but the option to spread a blanket on the sand and watch the resident surfers crest the waves is always there.

The legendary San Diego Zoo can be almost a full day’s itinerary itself. It is home to more than 4,000 animals representing more than 650 species in the beautifully landscaped setting, which is divided into geographical zones and bioclimatic environments. If flora is more your thing, the 1,200-acre Balboa Park is the right call—the park is home to 16 museums, a formal Spanish-style garden, and more than 50 species of palms.

After the sun sets, the Gaslamp Quarter lights up the night thanks to its wrought-iron, 19th- century-style streetlamps. More than 16 blocks of restaurants, live music venues, galleries, and rooftop escapes thrum with energy long into the night.

Bozeman, Montana

You’ll always remember the first time you saw a moose, a wolf, or the majesty of Yellowstone—all of which are possible in Bozeman. While recent TV shows have brought the town some considerable attention, it still retains its tight-knit community feel while attracting outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure in the mountains.

Go on a historic walking tour and learn about the town’s frontier history or get in tune with your surroundings and learn to fly fish on the Gallatin River. If the temperature calls for it, walk to Palisade Falls—it’s easily accessible on a paved trail that’s perfect for those carrying an extra passenger with them. But you can also opt to float down the Madison River if another day on your feet just isn’t in the cards.

At the end of the day, refuel with local eats like grass-fed bison rib-eye steak, elk mince Bolognese, or locally caught pan-fried trout at one of the rustic downtown eateries.

Companion Pass: Get the sibling experience at these fresh destinations

Companion Pass: Exciting father-daughter trips you’ll both never forget

Make it happen

Whether you decide on majestic mountain terrain or balmy ocean breezes, there’s a babymoon destination perfectly suited to your needs. With the right travel credit card, you can earn rewards on everyday purchases to use towards planning your picture-perfect babymoon. Now through March 13, 2023, Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase are offering new Cardmembers the opportunity to earn Companion Pass^®through February 28, 2024, plus 30,000 Rapid Rewards^® points*, after they spend $4,000 on their card in the first three months from account opening.

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No matter where you go, take this special time to eat, explore, adventure, or simply soak up quality “me” time.

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The folks at the Statehouse are blowing through cash these days like they’re playing with house money.

Because they are.

“House money,” by the way, is a gambling term for winnings … not that anyone in South Carolina would know about such things. More on that in a moment.

Just last week, Gov. Henry McMaster and state Department of Transportation officials announced that the widening of Interstate 26 between Charleston and Columbia is actually ahead of schedule, thanks to all the money they’re pouring into asphalt.

Then the state Department of Education announced it would spend more than $80 million to upgrade facilities in two rural counties that severely need the help.

And earlier this year, the Legislature decided to send $1 billion in rebates to everyone who pays South Carolina state income taxes. The check, the Department of Revenue promises, is in the mail. Or will be by year’s end.

No doubt all these things make many South Carolinians happy — taxpayers, people who regularly commute between the capital and the coast, parents and students in Clarendon and Lee counties.

Point is, the state can make a difference when it steps off the culture wars battlefield and, you know, actually does things.

But lest you think this largesse is the result of masterful budgeting and investment, remember this: Much of that money is coming directly out of the $1.9 billion South Carolina got from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

Yes, the same CARES Act that’s supercharged the economy and, some predict, will plunge the country into recession. Whether that’s already happening, or happens in the next year, you know it’s going to happen sometime. That’s the nature of the economy.

So before long, state officials will be back to poor-mouthing, claiming they can’t even come up with $100,000 to help ensure the $50 million economic impact of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition.

At that point, we should remind them of all the free money — house money — they’re leaving on the table.

The Rock Hill-based Catawba Nation is building a $300 million casino five minutes over the state line in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. As The Post and Courier’s Jessica Holdman reports, the Tar Heel State will likely rake in between $5 million and $10 million of the profits each year.

That’s just its cut of the casino cash, and doesn’t include economic benefit in the form of jobs, hotel nights and gamblers dropping money in other local businesses and restaurants.

All that could have gone into South Carolina coffers, along with a lot more, if the state just legalized gambling. Last year, mid-level gambling states such as Colorado and Massachusetts cleared $1 billion in gaming revenue. West Virginia, Florida and even Rhode Island each took in about $600 million.

That’s like getting a CARES Act check every year.

But South Carolina let its best chance for a casino go to North Carolina. In fact, folks like Sen. Lindsey Graham helped it along … because the tribe was going to get a casino, but some folks here think gambling is immoral and should be kept out.

Many of them make this pronouncement as they send their kids to college on S.C. Education Lottery scholarships.

“It is silly for South Carolina residents to go to North Carolina to give them more revenue instead of spending that money here,” state Rep. Todd Rutherford, a proponent of legalized gambling, told Holdman. “How tragic it is they weren’t able to stay in their home state to be successful and to share that success with the state.”

He’s right. South Carolina is costing itself money — and for what? The Catawbas’ Two Kings Casino is only a few miles over the state line, so it’s not like South Carolina residents can’t get to it … they just have to spend a few more bucks on gas.

We get nothing out of the deal. And, in the process, the state inconvenienced the Catawbas, who would’ve preferred to build closer to home. And we started a sad feud between the Catawbas and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation — who had a monopoly on gambling in western North Carolina.

But that’s another story.

Bottom line, the CARES Act gravy train is at the end of the line. The federal government won’t be bailing out South Carolina anytime soon (well, not any more than it normally does), and before long folks at the Statehouse will be wringing their hands over a new budget crisis.

At that point, $10 million will look pretty good … and we will watch it roll out of the state, into North Carolina.

All so we can remain the morally superior, and fiscally inferior, Carolina.

Undeniably one of the South's most gorgeous and diverse states, South Carolina always provides plenty of motivation for a visit, along with new places to explore for the locals. The state holds a deeply historical past, as Charleston is the site of the first English settlement in the Carolinas, and the natural beauty, from swamplands and cypress trees to beaches and mountains, makes it an incredible destination. This is all shown off well by its 47 state parks, but travelers may find themselves confused about where to start with such a long list. Here are the top-rated state parks which show off the beautiful state of South Carolina the best.

Table Rock State Park serves as a one-stop-shop for hiking trips as it offers a range of trails of different lengths and difficulty, from demanding ascents to the 3,124-foot summit of Table Rock Mountain to the family-friendly Lakeside Trail of only 1.9 miles which is great for a quick stroll featuring mountain views and wildlife. There is a bonus for enjoyers of bluegrass music here with regularly scheduled Music on the Mountain bluegrass jam sessions. Check the website for specific dates.

Jones Gap State Park

Jones Gap State Park makes this list for its outstanding trout fishing at the Middle Soluda River, bird-watching opportunities, ecology center, and picturesque waterfalls. The park spans 3,000 acres and holds 60 miles of hiking trails fit for any skill level.

Related: These Small South Carolina Towns Are Full Of Charm

8 Kings Mountain State Park

Kings Mountain State Park is hailed as a family favorite in South Carolina for its abundance of family-friendly trails and picnic areas amid lush vegetation and the inhabiting deer, birds, and rabbits. It also suits the outdoorsman seeking adventure with its 16-mile Kings Mountain Hiking Trail and spots for kayaking and canoeing. It is also located near Kings Mountain National Military Park, a revolutionary war site.

Caesar's Head State Park

Caesar's Head State Park consists of a 13,000-acre section of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. Its 60 miles of hiking trails are especially great for views of fall foliage which make up a colorful backdrop to watch bald eagles and falcons as they migrate south. The Raven Cliffs Falls Trail is a moderate route that brings visitors to incredibly scenic waterfalls, and those looking for something more challenging can opt for the Dismal Trail Loop, which leads hikers to a large suspension bridge at the top of the falls.

Sesquicentennial State Park

Sesquicentennial State Park deserves some recognition for providing a fantastic escape from city life while being only a quick 12-mile drive from downtown Columbia. This state park offers something for everyone with its 6-mile biking trail, tons of camping, wildflower-lined hiking trails great for bird watching, fishing, and kayaking, a dog park (permit required), and more. Check out the Jackson Creek Nature Trail for some waterfall views.

Devil's Fork State Park

Devil's Fork State Park is somewhat of a hidden gem in the mountains and serves as the only direct public access point to Lake Jocassee. The area abounds with fishing, hiking, and camping is home to the endangered Oconee bell wildflower its pristine waters are great for scuba diving. Those going for a dive may find themselves in an old sunken city.

Related: 10 Historic Ruins You Can Find In South Carolina

Myrtle Beach State Park

Myrtle Beach State Park, established in 1936, was the first state park in South Carolina. Consisting of 312 acres of tranquil, beautiful coastland with oaks, magnolias, and wax myrtles, the park is great for relaxing beachfront walks, fishing, and swimming. This park offers great amenities like picnic areas with restrooms and showers, on-duty lifeguards, umbrellas, and chair rentals, and its campsites with water and electricity along with sewer hookups.

Poinsett State Park

Poinsett State Park showcases the gorgeous natural scenery of South Carolina in its trails through swamplands densely filled with cypress trees and old railroads and all the water activities one could hope for at Levi Mill Lake. Aside from its 50 campsites, five furnished rustic cabins are available to rent for a fantastic weekend getaway.

2 Charles Towne Landing State Park

Charles Towne Landing State Park makes for a great day trip from downtown Charleston, as it can be reached after a quick 15-mile drive. This historical park marks the site of the first English settlement in the area and gives guests an opportunity to go back in time by boarding a replica of the 17th-century "Adventure" ship, and some trails feature reconstructed fortifications.

1 Croft State Park

Croft State Park is a former army base that was converted into this public space which is one of the largest in the state, spanning 7,000 acres with plentiful campsites and trails for both hiking and biking, and is especially well-equipped for equestrian interests. There is also a large lake great for fishing and kayaking.

State College’s Pierson Manville and Nick Pavlechko are certainly carving out respective legendary careers at the high school level.

They did nothing but increase their status in Pennsylvania wrestling history over the weekend at the prestigious King of the Mountain at Central Mountain High School.

Both Little Lion juniors captured their first titles at the 30-team King of the Mountain. Manville claimed first place at 139, while Pavlechko won at 285.

Manville, a returning 138-pound state champion and state tournament Class 3A Outstanding Wrestler, won the KOM 139-pound title by surviving a 2-1 tiebreaker decision over Central Mountain’s Dalton Perry. Perry, a sophomore who has verbally committed to Penn State, won a state title at 126 last season.

Manville went 5-0 in the tournament over two days with two technical falls, a pin and two decisions.

Pavlechko, a returning state third-placer, also went 5-0 with three pins and two decisions, including a 4-0 victory over Strath Haven’s returning state qualifier Ben Farabaugh in the finals. Pavlechko finished second at 215 in last year’s KOM.

Three Centre County wrestlers placed second in the tournament. State College’s Hayden Cunningham (133) and Asher Cunningham (145) and Bald Eagle Area’s Lucas Fye (121) were all runners-up.

Hayden Cunningham, who went 4-1, dropped a 6-1 decision to Central Mountain two-time state fifth-placer Luke Simcox in the finals. Asher Cunningham went 4-1, with his only loss coming via medical forfeit to Central Mountain’s Griffin Walizer in the finals.

The four State College finalists helped the Little Lions finish third in the team standings with 138.5 points. Central Mountain won the team title by 9.5 points over Canon McMillan, 152-142.5. BEA (91.5) was 11th, while Bellefonte (51) was 28th.

Fye won his first three bouts before running into Williamsport’s Cael Nasdeo in the finals. Nasdeo, a Penn State wrestling commit, rang up an 18-2 technical fall in 4:52.

BEA’s Caleb Close (172) finished third, beating State College’s Carter Weaverling, 5-0, in the third-place bout. BEA’s Coen Bainey (127), an American University commit, placed sixth. Bellefonte’s Maxwell Murray (160) placed eighth.

State College, which dropped to 0-4 with a 42-20 loss at home to Central Dauphin Dec. 14, was scheduled, weather permitting, to wrestle at Cedar Cliff on Thursday.

BEA opened the season with a 41-22 win over Bellefonte Dec. 13, thanks in part to pins from Connor Maney (133), Jeffre Pifer (152) and Caleb Close (172). The Eagles were scheduled to wrestle at Philipsburg-Osceola on Tuesday.

Bellefonte, which got a pin from Wyatt Long (107) against BEA, was scheduled to wrestle at Huntingdon on Tuesday.

PV’S SHUNK, WATSON TAKE SECOND

Two Penns Valley wrestlers finished second at their respective weights in the 49-team Panther Holiday Classic on Saturday at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson.

Colten Shunk (133) and Ty Watson (152) were silver medalists in the two-day tournament. For Watson, a junior, his 9-3 loss to Altoona’s Class 3A state fifth-placer Luke Sipes in the finals was his first regular season loss since his freshman year.

Watson and Sipes, who are workout partners at David Taylor’s M2 Training Center, were both returning Holiday Classic champions.

Shunk, a junior who was second in last year’s Panther Classic, dropped a 10-4 decision to Boiling Springs’ returning state seventh-placer Eli Bounds.

Watson went 4-1 in the tournament with a pin and three decisions. He trailed Sipes, a sophomore, by a point in the third period when Sipes took him down and scored two nearfall points.

Shunk also went 4-1 with two pins, a technical fall and a major decision. Bounds took him down four times in the championship bout.

The Rams finished fifth in the team standings with 126.5 points, while P-O (58.5) was 30th. Boiling Springs won the team title with 179.5 points, and Huntingdon (157) was second.

P-O freshman Caleb Hummel (114) finished third, while Penns Valley’s Conner Myers (107) and Jack Darlington (114) were fourth. Hummel beat Darlington, a returning tournament runner-up, 9-5. P-O’s Marcus Gable (152) placed sixth.

The Rams were scheduled to host Tyrone on Tuesday and Mifflinburg on Thursday before the Christmas break. The Mounties were set to host Bald Eagle Area on Tuesday before the holiday break.

The Palmetto State has more than its fair share of sites that showcase key moments in American history, as well as a national park that showcases astounding champion trees.

At these attractions, you can take your sweet time strolling nature paths, listening to the birdsong and admiring nature’s beauty – while learning about the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Here are the best national park experiences in South Carolina.

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Admire the majestic trees of Congaree National Park

Discover the towering scope of ancient trees with a visit to South Carolina’s only “scenic” national park. Primordial cypresses, giant upland pines and water tupelos count among its towering specimens – the highest concentration of “champion-size” trees (aka the biggest of their species) anywhere in North America.

Look out for the massive loblolly pine, which rises to over 170ft tall. If that’s not enough, the park also protects the eastern US’s largest tract of old-growth bottomland forest, low-lying land that’s periodically covered by water throughout the year.

The best way to see the trees – and to admire the beauty of this unique park – is along the 2.6-mile elevated Boardwalk Trail. You can also paddle along the Congaree River, its dark, tannic-dyed waters hiding turtles, frogs and other watery life.

Bring your own canoe or kayak, or join a paddling tour led by a park ranger. You can also rent a watercraft in Columbia, a 30-minute drive away.

Feel the Revolution at Cowpens National Battlefield

If you thought the Revolutionary War didn’t extend to the Southern states, think again. Among several battles that took place in South Carolina, one of the most significant took place at Cowpens.

The battle occurred on January 17, 1781, near present-day Gaffney. The site was, literally, a wide-open woodland (or “cowpens”) where early cattle drovers would camp overnight.

On the fateful day, Gen Daniel Morgan strategically deployed his Continental troops here against Lt Col Banastre Tarleton’s forces. The end result: more than 1000 losses for the British and about 150 for the Americans.

The park includes a visitor center and a walking tour through the battlefield.

Consider Charleston’s role in American history at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

Two forts guard the entrance to Charleston’s harbor, emblems of South Carolina’s roles in both the Civil War and Revolutionary War.

The more famous of the two is Fort Sumter. On April 12, 1861, the Confederate Army opened fire on the Union fort: the first battle of the Civil War. The bombardment ensued for 34 hours, followed by a Union surrender.

The Confederate troops occupied the installation, making it a symbol of resistance – though constant shelling from Union troops over the course of the war virtually destroyed it. Visitors today can see the cannons and fortifications that remain and hear lots of stories about this crucial fortification.

On nearby Sullivan’s Island, Fort Moultrie is where Col William Moultrie’s South Carolinians warded off a British attack in one of the Revolutionary War’s first Patriot victories.

The only way to visit both forts is by boat shuttle, departing from Liberty Sq in downtown Charleston and Patriots Point across the harbor.

Trace the steps of patriots at Kings Mountain National Military Park

Thomas Jefferson called it the “turn of the tide of success.” During the Revolutionary War, American and Loyalist soldiers clashed on this isolated ridge, just below the North Carolina line, on October 7, 1780.

Fighting tree to tree with rifles and bayonets, the rebels won the first American victory to occur after the British invasion of Charleston.

The park preserves important battle sites, with markers and monuments that detail the action. At the visitor center, you can watch an introductory film, see exhibits and consult a map of the walking trail that winds through the battlefield.

Explore more along the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, a 330-mile route through Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina that follows the path of the American militia leading up to the battle of Kings Mountain.

You might feel under siege at Ninety Six

In addition to the famous Yorktown, the town of Ninety Six presents some of the Revolutionary War’s best remnants of original siege lines anywhere. Established in the early 1700s, this crossroads town was so named because of its location 96 miles from the nearest Keowee village.

Twelve roads passed through it – more than in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1863 – helping it to flourish in terms of commerce, trade and transportation. Then the war came along.

In November 1775, Americans and Loyalists faced each other in a three-day battle here, ending in an uneasy truce. The Americans built an important post, subsequently seized by the British in 1780.

Another battle erupted in 1781, when Gen Nathanael Greene’s army arrived to take the British fort, initiating what became the war’s longest siege. Greene’s forces ultimately failed – though the British were so weakened, they moved their post to Charleston.

Today, the visitor center has exhibits on the site’s history, while walking trails wander past earthworks, cannon and exhibits.

Learn about plantation life at the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site

As a child, Charles Pinckney split his time between the family’s Charleston mansion and Snee Farm, a rice and indigo plantation just outside of Charleston where enslaved individuals toiled.

Pickney is also known for his political involvement in the revolutionary cause: he contributed at least 25 clauses to the U.S. Constitution, before serving four terms as state governor and Thomas Jefferson’s ambassador to Spain.

But as a member of one of the state’s wealthiest and most politically powerful families, Pinckney inherited the plantation (as well as the Charleston mansion) in 1782 and continued to run the "family business" – thanks to, per the 1810 census, 58 enslaved people.

While much of the plantation was sold off over the years, the NPS has preserved 28 acres of it as the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, a quiet place sprinkled with ornamental gardens and pockets of moss-draped live oaks.

A visitor center occupies an old 1828 farmhouse, offering exhibits on Pinckney the politician, the African people he enslaved and the operations of the plantation.

There are walking trails and archaeological displays to explore: for instance, archaeologists have unearthed delftware and pearlware once used by the elite. Archaeologists also uncovered a bounty of colonoware – unrefined, handmade earthenware widely used by enslaved people on the property. Farm tours are also available.

Confront one of the US’ most momentous eras at Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

Many historians claim Beaufort County in the Lowcountry to be the birthplace of Reconstruction, the tumultuous, post–Civil War era (between 1861 and 1898) when the reunited nation faced the economic and social legacies of slavery.

Established only in 2019, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park is a work in progress, its aim to spotlight nationally important places and events throughout Beaufort County that reflect this stormy time.

The park includes four sites in and near Beaufort. Penn Center on St Helena Island was founded in 1862 by Northern missionaries as the first school in the South for formerly enslaved West Africans. Today, the historic building houses a cultural and educational center.

Enslaved people constructed Brick Baptist Church on St Helena Island for white planters. After emancipation, the edifice became a school for formerly enslaved individuals, and today it hosts an active church congregation.

On New Year’s Day in 1863, Union Army Gen Rufus Saxton publicly read the Emancipation Proclamation to 3,000 Black soldiers and formerly enslaved people at Port Royal’s Camp Saxton.

The Old Beaufort Firehouse in downtown Beaufort serves as the new park’s visitor center and offers a good starting point for your visit.