Paris Mountain State Park, South Carolina

No Louvre or Arc de Triomphe here, but you’ll still find plenty of history and culture at Paris Mountain State Park, including the renovated bathhouse, preserved stone and timber from the time of the Great Depression, and an educational center full of historical exhibits. Like Paris, tourism is on the rise here, and this state park is no longer a rural retreat to the wilderness, though if you’re looking to get away from the crowds it does offer 15 miles of trails for hiking and biking, plus a top-notch campground. Take a hike up the steep Sulphur Springs Trail, a narrow, strenuous path that will take you into deep ravines, past flowing streams, patches of rhododendrons, and finally to the shores of Mountain Lake. Paris Mountain State Park is a hiker’s playground. Plan your trip around the Music in the Woods concert series and you can listen to some original tunes as you rest your weary legs beside the mountain laurel. Now that’s music to our ears.