South Carolina is still home to some weird laws that have been, or still remain, on the books in "The Palmetto State." And while most of these laws weren't, or currently aren't, enforced, we've all likely broken them at one time or another. Take a look at the eight weird laws in South Carolina that are listed below to see how many times you crossed the line between hardened criminal and being squeaky clean. How many of these laws are you guilty of breaking?
1. Playing pinball before your 18th birthday.
2. Purchasing a clock, or virtually anything other than groceries or a light bulb, on a Sunday.
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3. Making a U-turn within 100 feet of an intersection even when signs aren't posted.
4. Driving your motor vehicle on King Street in Charleston.
5. Do you have a tattoo, or know someone who does? It's still an offense to have one.
6. Making a quick change of clothing at a gas station.
7. Have you ever danced in a club after midnight on Saturday? It's illegal to dance in a club on Sundays.
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8. Working on Sundays.
Breaking the law is seriously no joke, but these particular eight laws are carryovers from days gone by and are just plain weird. If you're interested in learning about more weird laws in South Carolina, be sure to take a look at the following article: Not Many People Realize That These 10 Things Are Actually Illegal In South Carolina.
There are a ton of reasons why I like visiting South Carolina and the food is a big one. Being part of the Barbecue Belt, which stretches from the Carolinas in the East to Texas and Missouri in the West and from Kentucky in the North down through the deep South, it’s not surprising that a BBQ spot would develop a cult following. Meet Lewis Barbecue, located in Charleston, one of the best areas of the state to find delicious food and ranked in a list of America’s Ten Best Food Cities by The Washington Post. Despite Charleston not being historically known for barbecue, when Lewis Barbecue opened in 2015, it took off like wildfire. Some would argue it’s now the place to get the best barbecue in South Carolina.
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Meet John Lewis, the Pitmaster behind Lewis Barbecue. He has spent the majority of his life tending to an open flame. At age 18, his parents gave him a New Braunfels smoker for his birthday when he moved from El Paso to Austin. With it, he started dabbling in the city’s longstanding tradition of the backyard barbecue and participated in some competitions.
For John, barbecue is synonymous with smoke, and he soon became obsessed with controlling the perfect temperature and smoke when making BBQ. He eventually found the type of smoke he was looking for using a propane tank. He now builds his own custom pits with his father, welding tanks to smoke boxes. He attributes his barbecue's taste, texture, and consistency to the pit. And it is definitely some of the best barbecue in South Carolina.
Five of the pits they have built can be found at his restaurant in Charleston, which expanded and opened another location in Greenville in September 2022. The pits pictured here are at that location on Rutherford Street.
The Charleston location is on Nassau Street. Prior to coming to Charleston, John was instrumental in helping to open Franklin Barbecue in Austin, hailed by Bon Appétit as the best barbecue in America.
Be prepared for a line, especially at busier times. It could even take as much as an hour to get through the line at peak times for the best bbq near me in South Carolina.
There's both indoor and outdoor seating available.
The Lewis Barbecue menu features the Lone Star State’s meat trilogy: brisket ...
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... pork ribs ...
... and Texas-style mildly spicy beef sausage (called “hot guts”).
More specifically, hot guts are house-made sausages, always served fresh. They are mostly beef with a little bit of pork, a bit spicy and snappy!
Pulled pork is also available on the menu. With all the fanfare over the BBQ, the options for sides are not to be disregarded. One fan would "drive the miles" just for the collards!
Visit the website for Lewis Barbecue for more information, including the option to have meats shipped to you if you don't live near one of the restaurant's locations. And follow the Facebook page for Lewis Barbecue for updates. Perhaps other areas of the state will be so lucky to have a location opened in the future!
Do you have a favorite on the Lewis Barbecue Charleston menu? What is your favorite spot for the best BBQ near me in South Carolina? Share all about it with us in the comments section below!
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Work off those barbecue calories with a hike! Check out what AllTrails has in the area.
Like most of you, we love South Carolina. The South Carolina pride we feel about is largely attributed to her grace and perseverance through the tough times she's endured in the last 3+ centuries. But deep down we're also very proud of things that make us stand out from the rest. Here are a few things only people from South Carolina do that other people (a.k.a. outsiders) might consider weird but seem perfectly normal to us. Okay, maybe we're not proud of them, but we get them, we embrace them.
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1. Some of us might roll in a giant vat of grits every year at the World Grits Festival in St. George, South Carolina
People line up to roll in the grits at the World Grits Festival each April in this small town in South Carolina. Why, you ask? Because (1) it makes a great photo post on your social media accounts, and (2) to win the grand prize for being able to have the most grits stuck to your body when you exit. (To determine the winner they weigh contestants before and after.)
2. We use "Miss" and "Mister" in front of everyone's first name
We learn at a very young age to insert "Miss" and "Mister" in front of someone's first name when addressing them. For example, this cute little girl probably just said, "Miss Cathy, may I have a cookie?"
Relatives from out of state come to visit and think its cool and suddenly you find all their kids are doing the same thing so they fit in.
3. We put HOT SAUCE on EVERYTHING
Well, you either do or you don't in South Carolina. But what others find weird is that if you DO, you put in on everything. I even put hot sauce on my salad. What all do you put hot sauce on? What's your favorite one? Tell us in the comments section.
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4. We carry deodorant in our purse or vehicle
The heat. The humidity. The hot sauce. 'Nuff said, right?
5. We think everyone else has an accent. But it goes beyond that....
As you know, there are several dialects found in our fine state. And in spite of that well-known fact we each are adamant that our accent is perfectly normal and that everywhere else in the state has the weird accent.
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Frequently overheard statements in SC:
"What, me? No, I don't talk funny. YOU do!"
"I'm sorry (insert name), can you say that again? I didn't quite get you."
6. We go to great lengths to ward off no-see ums
As South Carolinians we know how impossible these pesky little mosquitos can be. There are times when I can't walk from my house to my car without getting a ton of bites. We'll try just about anything to keep from getting bitten.
Over the years desperate attempts to find a solution have produced these hacks that seem to work
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Rub dryer sheets all over yourself before leaving the house - I've read this works on pets too
Eat a ton of garlic
Smother yourself in Avon's Skin So Soft product
Have you found any other remedies that work? Share with the rest of us in the comments section.
7. We carry sunscreen in our purse or our car - or both
You never know when you're going to need it!
Bonus:get the kind that's ultra sweatproof!
8. We'll shag just about anywhere
True South Carolinians aren't shy about shagging. In this picture from an event in the Olde Village of North Charleston people are even shagging in the street!
If you have been living in South Carolina you might have noticed a pelican or two. In Charleston you can even take this baby pelican cruise:
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Have you noticed any weird or different things only people from South Carolina do? Feel free to share them with us in the comments section.
We wouldn't trade life in South Carolina for anything. Here are 20 reasons why living in SC is the best.