Exploring the Best of South Carolina

South Carolina is a beautiful state that has so much to offer. Whether you are simply travelling through on your way to sunny Florida or planning to stay awhile, this state will leave a lasting impression. The young and old alike will find plenty of activities to do and sites to see in the Palmetto State.

The Rugged Outdoors

This state is the home of a wide range of terrains and landscapes which makes it the perfect place to explore. Here you can take a scenic ride along the Reedy River or explore on foot the Swamp Rabbit Trails of Greeneville. You can take on the challenge of the Chattooga River rapids, and you can hike the paths of the Blue Ridge Foothills. South Carolina even hosts guided hunting trips like those at Cedar Knoll Hunting Lodge in Fairfax.

The Beautiful Beaches

The name South Carolina immediately brings to mind the beauty of Myrtle Beach with its 60 miles of sandy shores. Here you can enjoy celebrity golf courses or simply stroll along the boardwalk where you’ll discover arcades, souvenir shops, and restaurants serving local seafood dishes. You may also think of Hilton Head when planning a South Carolina vacation. You can wander through the Coastal Discovery Museum or the Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum with their historic buildings and themed gardens, and you won’t want to miss the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge. Here you will discover some of the state’s most intriguing wildlife such as alligators, deer, and a variety of bird species.

Historical Sites

South Carolina made it possible for the American Patriots to achieve their military victory just when they most needed it. They also guided the South into the Civil War. This is why the Palmetto State is home to so many historical sites and attractions such as Fort Sumter, Cowpens National Battlefield, and Isaac Haynes burial spot. A trip across South Carolina is an adventure in history with stops at battlefields, historic plantations, and a multitude of memorials.

Whether you can only visit for one single day or plan to stay for an extended period, you will go home knowing just how meaningful South Carolina is. Here you’ll discover just what it took to create our great nation as well as how beautiful it can be.

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Teen Mom's Chelsea Houska Welcomes Baby Boy

He's finally here, and boy, is this boy a cutie! Teen Mom star Chelsea Houska welcomed her baby boy Watson with hubby Cole DeBoer a couple of weeks ago, and the family seems to be settling in nicely. The couple have shared some super adorable photos in the past few days, and even the cutest video of 7 year old daughter Aubree holding her new baby brother! The beautiful reality star has been so excited in the days leading up to her baby's birth, posting on her website about how ready Cole was to be a dad! It is SO nice to see Chelsea and Aubree both so very happy! 

Will there be more babies to come for Chelsea and Cole? She has said in the past that she would like to have three more babies after Watson, but joked that people always think she is crazy when she says that! She definitely makes an adorable pregnant woman, and is a great mom already, so we could totally get behind the idea of a whole little Cole/Chelsea army! We are so happy to see how happy Chelsea is, even though she has been going through a bit of a hard time dealing with Aubree's dad, her ex, Adam Lind. Adam reportedly fell more than $4000 behind in child support for Aubree, and more than $5000 behind for his other daughter, Paisley. The two are reportedly still engaged in a lengthy custody battle as well. We will be following Chelsea on the status of that case as well as updates on her adorable new baby boy! 

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Finding Help in Melting Snow

If you live in a part of the country that has its fair share of winter, you probably are interested in finding the best products for melting ice and snow. Particularly in the Midwest, ice melt St Louis is important for driveways, sidewalks and public places such as parking garages and entryways. Depending on the situation in which you plan to use deicers, knowing what is available will help you make better choices.

Narrowing Your Choices

There are literally hundreds of brands and products that will melt ice and snow. However, the chemical ingredients in each product is the only useful thing to know when making your selection. Very few are actually different from each other. In fact, performance, chemistry mix and costs are what may differentiate one from the other.

Keep this in mind. Otherwise, the myriad of options can make narrowing your choices more confusing that it needs to be. To make things a little easier, understand the difference product ingredients make and how chemicals work makes your choice easier.

Understanding the Basics about Deicers

One basic factor to consider starts with the type of surface you need to clear. Additionally, knowing where the runoff from melted ice and snow will end up is useful on making the right decision. For example, chloride based products can present two hazards on a wooden deck.

First, chloride can attack the system that holds your deck together. As it becomes diluted, it will saturate the deck. Second, the mixture could attract moisture into capillary pores causing it to refreeze as black ice. You do not want either of these scenarios that can lead to serious injuries.

The Big Three Deicers

There are three commonly used deicers that fill nearly 100% of the market: sodium chloride, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride. 

Sodium chloride is the number one choice. Also referred to as rock salt, the abundance of this chemical in the earth makes it readily available and the least expensive option.  Magnesium chloride is very effective and considered a high performing deicer. Like sodium chloride, it is also a natural occurrence in the ground.  Calcium chloride is more expensive than the other two and is widely used.

Choosing the Right One

Making the right choice from all the deicer products on the market starts with getting as much information as possible. Spend some time talking to the experts. Ask specific questions about the products so you can separate different choices and select the one that fits your needs.

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