South Carolina is blessed with an embarrassment of riches in golf courses, a fact on display in examining one organization’s ranking of playing opportunities in the state.

From the brawny Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort to the Aiken Golf Club that measures less than 5,800 yards and everything in between, the Palmetto State offers a smorgasbord of links that whets every golfer’s appetite.

The South Carolina Golf Course Rating Panel’s annual survey emphasizes the obvious again in this year’s rankings of the best classic courses, designed pre-1980, and modern layout, those designed since 1980.

The Ocean Course, scene of high-profile events ranging from the 1991 Ryder Cup to PGA Championships in 2012 and 2021, takes its usual place at the top of the modern category. Harbour Town Golf Links at Hilton Head Island’s Sea Pines Resort, the home of the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage each April, headlines the classics.

And those only scratch the surface.

“There are so many great golf courses in the state,” Aiken GC owner Jim McNair Jr. said. “There’s something from everyone. We have something like 37 acres of turf; I imagine a course like the Dunes (Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach) has 100 acres or more.”

McNair’s course, located within shouting distance of Aiken’s business district, ranks seventh in the classic category and drips with history. More than 100 years old, the club is among the first to have women’s tees and staged the Women’s Invitational Tournament (1937-39) that brought stars such as Babe Zaharias and Patty Berg to compete.

“We’re short by today’s standards, but we have members who say it’s too hard from the tips,” McNair said. “The green complexes are incredible. The course is about strategy, accuracy and position off the tee.”

Those are among the qualities the rating panel seeks and finds everywhere in the state.

Courses represented in this year’s rankings range from Aiken’s Palmetto Golf Club, which dates to 1892; Seth Raynor’s Lowcountry gems; Camden Country Club with Donald Ross’ influence and Robert Trent Jones’ beauties among the classics. The modern layouts include the handiwork of, among others, Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Mike Strantz.

“Ranking the courses is really a challenge,” said Michael Whitaker, the association’s executive director. “As always, there are so many outstanding golf courses in South Carolina that you’re really splitting hairs in picking one over another.”

The top five in the classic category include Harbour Town, Yeamans Hall in Hanahan, Palmetto GC, the Dunes Golf and Beach Club, and Greenville CC’s Chanticleer Course. Joining the Ocean Course at the top of the modern list are the Secession Club (Beaufort), Congaree GC (Ridgeland), May River GC (Palmetto Bluff) and Sage Valley GC (Graniteville).

“To be included on a list with some of those exclusive private clubs is quite an honor,” McNair said. “That’s the beauty of the game. Courses such as ours and the Ocean Course are very different and yet are very challenging.”

The S.C. Golf Course Ratings Panel is composed of 125 golf enthusiasts who represent a diverse range of occupations, handicaps and backgrounds. The group’s objective is to promote excellence in the state’s golf course design and operation through competitive ranking, education and public advocacy. Criteria used in the judging include routing, variety, strategy, equity, memorability, aesthetics and experience. A panelist must have played the course to vote for it.

Classic Courses

(Designed Before 1980)

1. Harbour Town Golf Links

2. Yeamans Hall Club

3. Palmetto Golf Club

4. Dunes Golf and Beach Club

5. Greenville CC Chanticleer Course

6. CC of Charleston

7. Aiken Golf Club

8. Camden CC

9. Greenville CC Riverside Course

10. Surf Golf and Beach Club

11. Orangeburg CC

12. Florence CC

13. CC or Spartanburg

14. Myrtle Beach National King’s North Course

15. Columbia CC

16. Palmetto Dunes Resort R.T. Jones Course

17. Palmetto Dunes Resort George Fazio Course

18. Charleston Municipal Golf Course

19. Furman Golf Club

20. Pine Lakes CC

Modern Courses

(Designed Since 1980)

1. Kiawah Island Resort Ocean Course

2. Secession GC

3. Congaree GC

4. May River GC

5. Sage Valley GC

6. Cherokee Plantation

7. Kiawah Island Club Cassique Course

8. Long Cove Club

9, Chechessee Creek Club

10. Kiawah Island Club River Course

11. Bulls Bay Club

12. Caledonia Golf and Fish Club

13. Colleton River Plantation Dye Course

14. Old Tabby Links

15. Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards

16. Colleton River Plantation Nicklaus Course

17. Cliffs at Mountain Park.

18. Musgrove Mill GC

19. The GC at Briar’s Creek

20. Haig Point Club

21. Barefoot Resort Dye Course

22. Wachesaw Plantation Club

23. Belfair GC West Course

24. Reserve at Lake Keowee

25. Cliffs at Glassy

26. Tidewater GC and Plantation

27. Berkeley Hall North Course

28. Belfair GC East Course

29. True Blue Plantation

30. Grande Dunes Resort Club

31. Dataw Island Cotton Dyke Course

32. Wild Dunes Resort Links Course

33. Thornblade Club

34. Prestwick CC

35. Kiawah Island Resort Osprey Course

36. Cliffs at Keowee Falls

37. DeBordieu Club

38. Callawassie Island Club

T39. Oldfield

T39. Kiawah Island Resort Cougar Point Course

41. Reserve Club at Pawleys Island

41. Sea Pines Resort Atlantic Dunes Course

43. Daniel Island Club Beresford Creek Course

44. Kiawah Island Resort Turtle Point Course

45. Grande Dunes Members Club

46. Cliffs at Keowee Springs

47. Seabrook Island Club Ocean Winds Course

48. Berkeley Hall South Course

49. Cliffs Valley Course

50. Daniel Island Club Ralston Creek Course.

ISLE OF PALMS, SC. — Though futures markets already have priced in uncertainty tied to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, grain markets the world over will truly begin to feel the impact of supply deficits on the global wheat and corn balance sheets beginning in August and September.

How a three-million-tonne global wheat supply deficit plays out is largely dependent on how the rest of the world treats Russia financially. But for corn, the principal uncertainties lie in Ukrainian farmers’ ability to procure enough diesel fuel, fertilizer and labor to seed the crop.

These global outlooks were the central focus of market research analyst Joe Lardy’s presentation earlier this month at the North American Millers’ Association 2022 Spring Conference. Mr. Lardy honed his expertise in the commodities over a 25-year career in grain, initially as a trader with Cargill, Minneapolis, and for the past eight years with CHS Hedging, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

“The way I look at markets, I’m up at the space station, looking at markets at a super-high level,” Mr. Lardy said. “Sometimes I feel like Tony Stark in ‘Iron Man’ with his giant movable touchscreen computer as I try to bring the perspective of what’s happening here and here and here and what’s interconnecting them.”

The spring session at Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, SC, provided milling and non-milling members of NAMA background information and analysis on wheat, a commodity in which Russia and Ukraine provide 14% of global supply, and corn, production of which is important to Ukraine but negligible in Russia.

Ukraine, one of the biggest countries in Europe and the 45th largest in the world, features a land area roughly the size of the US Midwestern states stretching from Chicago to central Kansas to Nashville tup to northwestern Ohio. Half of that land is devoted to agricultural endeavors that employ about 15% of the population compared with 3% of the US population. Wheat is produced throughout Ukraine, but most production takes place in the eastern areas, currently a hot spot for fighting, Mr. Lardy said. That’s unfortunate for grain since the region is a key southerly logistical route for crops to ocean-going ports, which are closed indefinitely and will require extensive rebuilding.

“Even if a peace treaty was signed tomorrow, there’s infrastructure that has been damaged and going to need to be replaced,” Mr. Lardy said. “The longer the war goes on, certainly the more destruction takes place, but there’s still going to be this period after the fact that’s still going to take a lot of time to get resolved.”

The USDA has reduced production and export projections in Ukraine for the current marketing year but eliminated neither. That’s because Ukraine already shifted a significant portion of its wheat crop before Russia invaded, Mr. Lardy said. Whatever remains in storage has the advantage of most easily feeding the populace compared with corn, which feed animal in an intermediary step toward feeding people. As for new crop, Ukraine is a few months out from a winter wheat harvest and, under normal circumstances, their supplies would hit the market in July-September. This year, Ukraine likely won’t be able to sell or ship any wheat in that period.

“We can see this on paper now, but when are we really going to start to feel the impact of this?” Mr. Lardy asked. “When the boats aren’t there, when the product doesn’t arrive, when people reach for the panic button, that’s when we’re really going to start to feel the lack of those shipments really kicking in.”

On the other side of the territorial dispute sits Russia, which turned wheat into a front-and-center commodity over the past decade since the country was stung by depressed oil prices. Most Russian wheat is grown in its western region, adjacent to the conflict. As a major exporter of wheat, Russia now factors heavily into the “world grid” of supply, Mr. Lardy said, but the flow of wheat remains in a war-time haze for now. The USDA lowered Russian wheat export expectations by 3 million tonnes, to 32 million tonnes in February. To date, restrictions imposed on Russian exports by the United States and many other countries have yet to curtail their exports of food and fertilizer, he said.

“Is Russia going to be able to continue to export and have that system operate?” Mr. Lardy asked. “If they don’t, that changes the whole dynamic. And we’ve seen the futures market react, pricing in the uncertainty. But it has not priced in a calamity. The US futures market has suddenly become the international market for wheat prices. The Chicago Board of Trade represents 4% of the world’s wheat. But right now, it’s getting all the trade, it’s acting like it is the benchmark of world wheat prices. Rightfully, it probably should. There needs to be this risk premium in the market because if you take out one of the leading exporters in the world, where does that gap get filled?”

At least in part by Australia and India, Mr. Lardy said. In the case of the latter, India historically hasn’t exported much wheat. But its crop is considerable and the country is looking to significantly increase its presence in the world market, Mr. Lardy said. At the same time, China was expected to lift Russian import restrictions and provide a potential home for excess Russian capacity. If China takes in more Russian wheat, that leaves Australian wheat to go other places, he said.

But no matter how some wheat supplies find homes via atypical lanes and bring the market into relative equilibrium, the global wheat balance sheet is going to have some holes in it, he said. How the rest of the world treats Russia in terms of its financing is expected to dictate the path forward for the next crop year, Mr. Lardy said.

“The more severe the sanctions, the bigger the hole in the grid is going to be, and the bigger the hole, the firmer the price is going to be,” he said. “Every impact from this war is kicked down the road. The market has priced in the uncertainty. The 2022-23 crop is a calamity, and we don’t know how to price that yet. I don’t see markets going down until we see a signed peace treaty, and then I think we take a substantial chunk out of the wheat market the day that happens.”

So small is Russia’s corn production it doesn’t factor into the world grid, Mr. Lardy said. In Ukraine, unlike its wheat crop, corn grows largely in the northern and central regions that aren’t under Russian occupation and are outside the key fighting areas. Thus, the biggest unknowns as Mr. Lardy sees them are whether Ukrainian farmers can find enough supplies and labor to plant the crop in spring. Seventy per cent of Ukraine’s diesel fuel was supplied by Russia prior to the start of fighting, Mr. Lardy said. The availability of inputs such as fertilizer, also a major export from Russia, is in doubt, as is labor, though for far different reasons than in the United States.

“To me, the manpower aspect is a greater concern,” he said. “If you have able-bodied people, are they going to be planting crops or are they going to be fighting? What I think is going to happen, longer term, is that Ukraine is just going to be sitting on a stockpile of corn. So, whatever they can’t export, they’ll keep and as long as it doesn’t get destroyed, they’ll have it.

“Is their production going to be down this year? Absolutely. You can probably cut Ukrainian corn production in half this year. That’s a significant hit. However, they’re going to have a lot of stock left over. If this conflict doesn’t persist for years, when Ukraine comes back to the market, they should probably have a decent exportable surplus. The Ukraine problem isn’t a right-now problem, it’s a big-time next-year problem. Are they going to be able to harvest soon, and are they going to be able to get their corn crop in the ground?”

Another war-time impact to consider is sunflowers. Ukraine is the biggest global sunflower exporter in the world at 46% of the world market.

“They’re huge in sunflowers,” Mr. Lardy said. “Sometimes there are things we normally don’t hear about, see or talk a lot about, but that can have a major impact, especially if, as in this example, you’re impacted by sunflower oil and seeds. That could be a big loss for the world grid.”

Fertilizer

Russia’s importance to crop inputs such as fertilizer — it provides 44% of the global supply of potash — and South America’s ability to source it for the upcoming crop will be an important factor to watch, Mr. Lardy told the NAMA millers. Potash and urea price spikes were noted as far back as July 2021, six months before the Ukraine conflict. Prices made a significant bump then and took off substantially when the conflict began.

“The Southern Hemisphere is going to start their growing season soon,” Mr. Lardy said. “July and August are the key import times for fertilizers into South America. In a couple months, we’re going to have a pretty good understanding of what South America’s going to be facing in terms of their fertilizer availabilities. What South America has to apply will be huge on what their yields are next year. The world grid needs South America to produce a good crop.”

And tight world corn supplies mean we can’t afford a corn crop failure here in the United States, either, Mr. Lardy said. US farmers balked at high fertilizer prices but purchased them anyway after weighing it against good margins and high futures prices on corn, he said.

“Our farmers and producers said prices are so high,” he said. “Well, we’ve got pretty expensive corn. It pencils. There was some griping, of course, but they’ve bought it and put it down. Our balance sheets are tight, but we’re setting up OK in terms of availability. We’ve got seed, we’ve got fuel, we just need Mother Nature to cooperate.”

ISLE OF PALMS, SOUTH CAROLINA, US — Even as it faces considerable challenges that may take years to address, the trucking industry sees some positive signals as the country emerges from the global pandemic that could help the industry evolve in the future.

John Dillman, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Foodliner Inc., spoke to millers April 11 during a general session at the North American Millers’ Association’s 2022 Spring Conference at Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, US.

Dillman said the supply chain struggles seen over the past two years increased the market awareness of the national driver shortage, even at the consumer level.

“Anyone who is shipping anything in a truck and paying for it has been told about the driver shortage until they’re sick and tired of hearing about it, but it’s still here,” he said. “What we found particularly interesting was that even the people pushing the shopping carts down the aisles and the people trying to make those grocery purchases online trying to figure out ‘why can’t I get any vanilla syrup for my lattes?’ or ‘why aren’t the products on the shelf today?’ know there’s an issue with trucks. Certainly, that awareness has been boosted to a new level.”

Within the triangle of shipper, carrier and customer, the pandemic years have increased cooperation to work toward solutions.

“There’s no quick or overnight fix but they’re asking what are the things we can do out there and bridge that gap together?” Dillman said.

In the same timeframe, dedicated assets have become a much hotter topic, and a small number of locations have gone that route, he said. Another technique, drop-and-hook agreements, have become more common, he said. In that scenario, trailers are left with a customer after being delivered when a driver is available and within their hours-of-service limits.

“As long as that coordination works, it creates some gap and some relief in the capacity issues in the market,” Dillman said.

Finally, Dillman said there has been increased transparency of the true cost when shippers have repeated delays or cancellations amid such tight capacity.

“What does that actually cost us when a customer finds it’s easier to order heavy and then cancel back because if they try to add a late load on, it’s not going to get there because of what’s going on in the marketplace,” he said.

As for solutions, it all boils down to “topload, payload, time of day. That’s it,” Dillman told the millers. “With all that’s going on and all the issues around trying to get deliveries and trying to get carriers to haul, we can get more loads on per tank wash, we can get more on the unit to maximize the payload, and then time of day, how flexible can customers be. How many can we get hauled that are not happening between 6 and 10 a.m. when 85% of customers want their deliveries.”

The outlook for the trucking industry is for higher driver wages. Already, Walmart announced a second increase in driver wages in as many years, most recently to a $95,000 to $110,000 per annum range. Companies are looking at equipment changes to increase the pool of potential drivers, such as all automatic transmissions. Apprenticeship programs and attention to giving drivers under age 21 a path toward becoming an over-the-road trucker both are increasing areas of focus for the industry.

The latest US government estimate projected a driver shortage of 80,000 today would increase to 250,000 over the next 10 years.

Choosing a wedding venue is one of the most important — albeit stressful — aspects of the wedding planning process. If narrowing down your choices seems overwhelming, consider a rooftop wedding venue, which checks off all the boxes for a beautiful wedding day celebration. (After all, the sky’s the limit, right?)

Fortunately, there’s a romantic rooftop wedding venue for every budget and style, and there are dozens of options to choose from all across the country. The best part? Many of the best rooftop wedding venues offer a mix of indoor and outdoor space, which means you and your guests can bask in the beautiful views any time of year.

The current outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. As the situation remains fluid, we’ll be sharing tips and stories from industry experts to give you of-the-moment advice and help you navigate wedding planning today. For the most up-to-date guidelines and latest on travel restrictions and requirements, check the CDC and U.S. Department of State websites.

From sleek industrial-inspired spaces with skyline views to oceanfront oases, we rounded up our favorite rooftop wedding venues in America below.

The New York City views from Tribeca Rooftop are sure to leave you and all of your guests awestruck. This 12th-floor venue, which can accommodate 325 seated guests or 720 standing guests, is housed in a former printing press that dates back to the 1920s. Highlights include a glass-enclosed atrium, a 14,000-square-foot rooftop terrace, and 15,000 square feet of interior space. For an even more modern vibe, check out Tribeca 360° on the 11th floor, which can hold a maximum of 450 guests seated or 720 guests standing. Here, you’ll find 17,000 square feet of loft-like interior space and 2,500 square feet of rooftop space.

Located atop DiamondView Tower in downtown San Diego, this one-of-a-kind wedding venue — which holds up to 200 people — will have you feeling like you’re dancing in the clouds. Ultimate Skybox at DiamondView Tower features 4,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including a wrap-around terrace and an oversized outdoor fireplace to keep guests warm. The natural light-filled interiors are just as spectacular with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and sky-high ceilings.

The Roof at Ponce City Market is situated on top of Atlanta’s bustling Ponce City Market, which means you can expect sweeping city views from all angles. The 10,000-square-foot rooftop terrace can host up to 250 people and is equipped with a permanent tent should you have to relocate due to rain or wind. Skyline Park is another excellent option, especially if you’re hosting a larger affair. The space spans over 20,000 square feet and can accommodate 550 people.

This Chicago rooftop venue is best known for its hip Fulton Market location, modern design elements, and, of course, the fully retractable, glass-enclosed rooftop, which is especially ideal for cold-weather weddings. The dynamic space, known as the Penthouse, features a 6,000 square foot roof deck, lush greenery, private cabanas, and, of course, stunning skyline views. The Penthouse can comfortably hold 160 seated guests and has a maximum capacity of 250 standing.

Enjoy a bird’s eye view of some of Washington, D.C.’s most famous attractions at Top of the Town in Arlington. The elegantly appointed space, which can hold up to 180 guests, offers floor-to-ceiling windows, dazzling chandeliers, and a gorgeous wood-paneled dance floor. Consider hosting your ceremony or cocktail hour out on the terrace before moving the party inside.

The Penthaus is located in Cincinnati's eclectic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. It’s housed in a 20th-century-era former bakery. The expansive indoor space offers high ceilings and large windows, while the rooftop patio offers a plush lounge area plus panoramic views of the Cincinnati skyline. The venue can hold up to 125 guests indoors and an additional 80 guests on the rooftop.

Who said beautiful rooftop venues were only found in major cities? Enjoy breathtaking oceanfront views as you say "I do" at Indigo Room & Rooftop, which is part of Sweetgrass Inn at Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. The 3,000-square-foot rooftop ballroom and 6,000-foot outdoor terrace can accommodate up to 200 people. The sun-drenched space also offers a partially covered veranda and open-air terrace for optimal sunset viewing.

High Crest is located atop The Wave Resort, a luxury beachfront property in Long Branch, New Jersey. The ocean-facing High Crest ballroom, which boasts more than 7,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, is large enough to hold up to 200 guests. If you’re having a slightly smaller summer affair, consider renting out the 150-person rooftop terrace, which offers the same serene views and over 2,000 square feet of outdoor space.

The Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans’ observation deck will wow all of your guests with its dazzling views of The Big Easy and the Mississippi River. The rooftop venue spans two stories (the 33rd and 34th floors, respectively), offering a total of 3,800 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. Since the observation deck only holds up to 100 of your nearest and dearest, it’s especially ideal for smaller soirées.

The recently opened Ray Hotel in Delray Beach is home to the sprawling Rosewater Rooftop. Between the pool deck, outdoor dining area, and enclosed restaurant, the venue spans more than 23,000 square feet (maximum of 120 guests). Expect plenty of plush seating, sleek wooden accents, beautiful flora, and vibrant pops of color. For a more intimate ambiance or low-key elopement, consider reserving the 50-person Garden at Rosewater, which offers a serene, secluded atmosphere surrounded by lots of greenery — plus sweeping views of the surrounding city.

Across the U.S., more than 10,000 state parks offer opportunities for visitors to bike, hike, climb, camp, snowboard, ski, snowshoe, and soak in stunning views. Some experiences are iconic, such as strolling through the majestic redwoods at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park or watching as 750,000 gallons of water rush over the falls every second at Niagara Falls State Park. But plenty of lesser-known parks offer incredible adventures that reach beyond well-worn hiking trails and showcase a variety of stunning natural landscapes.

Here are 12 state parks that offer unique experiences for anyone ready to unleash their inner adventurer.

1. Pokagon State Park, Indiana

In the winter, families in the Midwest flock to Pokagon State Park, known as “Indiana’s Winter Playground,” to ice fish, snowshoe, cross country ski, or speed down the park’s timeless toboggan run (one of the last still in operation in the Midwest). With a total vertical drop of 90 feet, tobogganeers here reach speeds up to 42 mph on the quarter-mile ride through the park’s pristine woods.

2. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Utah

At Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah, you can surf a shifting sea of shimmering sand. It took more than 15,000 years of continual erosion of the nearby Navajo sandstone cliffs to form these massive dunes. Sand boards (stand-up) and sand sleds (sit-down) are available for rent, so you can surf the dunes of this 3,730-acre nature-made playground.

3. Hot Springs State Park, Wyoming

More than 8,000 gallons of 128-degree Fahrenheit water flow every 24 hours over the colorful terraces along the Bighorn River at Hot Springs State Park in Wyoming. Soak your worries away at the park’s free bathhouse, where the thermal waters are believed to have healing properties. Post-soak, visit with the park’s resident bison herd: During the late fall and winter months, the park bison are fed a special treat at 8:30 a.m. daily to supplement their diets, so you can get up close and personal with our national mammal.

4. Kaumana Caves State Park, Hawaii

At Kaumana Caves State Park, descend into a 25-mile-long lava tube formed from an 1881 flow from Mauna Loa, the world’s largest subaerial volcano. You’ll enter the magnificent lava tube by ladder, through a collapsed skylight. Sunlight illuminates the initial passage, but bring your flashlight to explore deeper. According to local lore, the 1881 flow stopped within 1.5 miles of Hilo thanks to the divine intervention of Princess Ruth, who camped in front of the flowing lava and begged Pele, the goddess of volcanoes and fire and the creator of the Hawaiian Islands, to spare her beloved city.

5. Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Florida

You’ll find a variety of ecosystems at scenic Jonathan Dickinson State Park, including pine flatwoods, mangroves, and swamps. But once upon a time, beyond the many alligators that live here, a legendary local called this corner of Florida home. Take a 90-minute pontoon ride down the Loxahatchee River, which flows through the park, and you’ll stop at the restored 1930s homestead of Trapper Nelson, the so-called “Wildman of the Loxahatchee,” who once lived off of the land as a trapper and fur trader. Nelson’s camp morphed into Trapper’s Zoo and Jungle Gardens, and the abandoned attraction makes for a mysterious state park adventure. Trapper’s peculiar death in 1968 only adds to the eeriness.

6. Slide Rock State Park, Arizona

Slide Rock State Park in Arizona boasts a nature-made water park, complete with an 80-foot-long slide formed by the slippery red-rock bed of Oak Creek. Bring an inner-tube or body surf the slippery algae-covered rocks for a state park adventure to remember.

7. Panola Mountain State Park, Georgia

Located just 30 miles east of downtown Atlanta, Panola Mountain State Park offers a whopping 1,635 acres of leafy forests. If you’ve ever dreamed of climbing a towering tree into the canopy, the park offers Tree Top Excursions, which are guided, rope-assisted journeys into the treetops. Daredevils can challenge their tree-climbing skills by taking on “Naomi Ruth,” a Southern Red Oak that reaches around 100 feet into the sky.

8. Tallulah Gorge State Park, Georgia

The 1,000-foot-deep gorge at Tallulah Gorge State Park is one of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern U.S. The park’s Hurricane Falls Trail runs along the upper rim, and only the most adventurous hikers will dare to cross the wobbly suspension bridge, which sways 80 feet above the gorge’s rocky bottom.

9. Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina

Hunting Island State Park features 5 miles of unspoiled South Carolina beaches, surrounded by a vast marsh and maritime forest. Visitors are welcome to climb the historic Hunting Island lighthouse: Built in 1859 and rebuilt in 1875 after it was destroyed during the Civil War, the only publicly accessible lighthouse in South Carolina comprises interchangeable cast-iron sections.

10. Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon

Today, it’s one of the largest public campgrounds in the U.S., but from the Civil War until World War II, Fort Stevens State Park guarded the mouth of the Columbia River. The rocky coastline here was once known as the “Graveyard of the Pacific,” and visitors to the park can explore one of its casualties: the wreck of what was once a 275-foot-long, four-masted ship that landed here in 1906.

11. Chimney Rock State Park, North Carolina

Ride an elevator up 2,280 feet above sea level inside a 535 million-year-old monolith at Chimney Rock State Park. At the top, 75-mile panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure await. Adventure-seekers can forgo the elevator and hike to the top of the 315-foot rock formation via the challenging Outcroppings Trail.

12. Peninsula State Park, Wisconsin

Located on Wisconsin’s Door County peninsula, Peninsula State Park offers endless bike trails and a sandy beach with sweeping views of Green Bay. Tucked into the park’s woods, a 650-seat amphitheater stages everything from musical comedies to Shakespearean dramas under the starry sky in the summer months.