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3 Fun Things to Do Near Manning, SC

Parks in Manning, SC
With work and family commanding much of our time and brainpower, it can be hard to remember to take some time to have fun. Thankfully, the area around Manning, South Carolina, has several places you can go to have a good time and recharge a little from everyday life. Here are three fun things to do near Manning.

Explore Santee State Park

Santee State Park is on the shores of Lake Marion, just about 25 minutes south of Manning. This is a great place to enjoy the outdoors and go for a walk or have a picnic. If you want to get out on the water, there are several options for paddle boating, kayaking, and canoeing. Many different species of birds make their homes around the water, so there's plenty of opportunities for bird watching. For a fun adventure with family or a group of friends, book a Wildlife Swamp Tour. You'll get on board a pontoon boat for a 2-hour trip around the water to see egrets, herons, ducks, turtles, and even some alligators. Tours for 20 or more people can be scheduled at any time of the year. Regular tours run from March through October on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 1 p.m. There's also a tour of the historical area of the Santee-Cooper locks available upon request.

Tour the Swan Lake Iris Gardens

In the city of Sumter, a 25-minute drive north of Manning, the Swan Lake Iris Gardens welcome visitors to see the spectacular flowers and swans that live on and around the lake. Open every day from dawn until dusk, this is an easy place to visit when the weather is nice. Admission is free and there's a visitor's center open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekdays. From March through November, the Iris Market and Cafe offers visitors a bite to eat on Thursdays, Fridays, and throughout the weekend. Don't miss the Chocolate and Butterfly Gardens during your visit. The Butterfly Garden cares for several species of butterflies, and you can even see some undergoing their transformations during the right season. The Chocolate Garden features several edible plants that look like chocolate but maintain their vegetable or plant tastes. Eight different species of swan make their homes at Swan Lake including the Whistler Swan, the Bewick Swan, and the Coscoroba. Be sure to visit during the annual Iris Festival at the end of May.

Party at Savannah Break

Savannah Break is a fun spot in Sumpter where adults can go for a great night of drinks, darts, karaoke, and more. Come and belt out your favorite tunes on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Stop in on a Wednesday night to try your hand at some competitive darts. You'll need to become a member before making this your regular spot for drinks, according to South Carolina law, but it's definitely worth the short application time. Keep an eye on their social media sites for regular events and happy hour specials. Next time you're feeling a little worn out, take some time out for fun with people you love and enjoy. Check out these local spots and make great memories. image via pixabay 
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Hikes Around Manning, South Carolina

3 Underrated Winter Hikes Around Manning, South Carolina

If you love the outdoors, you probably desire cooler weather. If so, good news! There are some great hikes that get even better in the winter months. Here's a look at some of the most underrated winter hikes in the Manning, South Carolina area. more Congaree National Park This South Carolina gem is one of the oldest bottomland hardwood forests in the state. With most of the park situated at the bottom of a flood plain, there is very little elevation change, making this a great place to hike for novices. There are also eight trails to choose from at Congaree National Park, some as short as 0.3 miles. For the seasoned hiker, the park offers trails over 11 miles long. All trails wind through this beautiful forest starting from the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. The Boardwalk Loop Trail is a 2.4-mile loop with a slight elevation change to the bottom of the flood plain. The trail is wheelchair accessible, and has benches along the way. For another fairly easy hike, the Bluff Trail loops north from the visitor center for 1.7-mile hike through young loblolly trees, and pines. If you want a longer hike, check out the Oakridge Trail. This is a 7-mile hike across a ridge of old oaks. The low-lying sloughs across this ridge line offer plenty of shelter to deer and wild turkey. Poinsett State Park Accessed from Poinsett Park Road in Wedgefield, South Carolina, the Poinsett State Park is a great place for hiking in winter. The 10-acre pond offers plenty of winding trails with very little elevation change, making this a great location for casual hikes. The Park is nestled in the High Hills of Santee, and includes a dozen trails of varying length and skill level. The kids will love the quick 0.2-mile Levi's Run. If you want a view, try the Hill Top Trail. This short 0.4-mile trail will take you up quickly. If you plan on spending the day, the Whippoorwill Trail offers 5.4 miles of hiking through the beautiful hills. You can see animals like deer, and birds of all types. The park offers cabins for rent, and a camping area too. There are park offices and restrooms, and plenty of trail signs so you don't get lost. Ann Springs Close Greenway This nature preserve is located in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and accessed via the Greenway Gateway on Adventure Road. The serious hiker can join their hiking club, which regularly explores this 2,100-acre wonderland. The novice will enjoy guided hikes through the region, while you learn about nature and the local wildlife. History buffs will enjoy hiking a portion of the famous Nation Ford Road. This was once part of the main roadway stretching from Augusta, Georgia all the way to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There's also the Garrison-Webb Gristmill to visit. Check out this historic 1780 gristmill, which served the local area for over 100 years. You'll hike trails that have been used for nearly 250 years. There are plenty of winter hiking venues in the Manning, South Carolina area. The next time you're looking for a fun day outdoors, you should check out one of these three great places. image via pixabay

Five Reasons the 2026 Jeep Gladiator Should Be Your Next Midsize Truck

If you love adventure, you’ll love the 2026 Jeep Gladiator. Not only does this truck offer the practicality of a truck bed, but it also boasts remarkable off-roading skills, making it a well-rounded choice for Manning, Sumter, and Florence drivers. Designed for tough jobs and outdoor adventures, the durable Gladiator can switch from hauling a load of supplies or towing a trailer to exploring a rugged trail out in the wild. Featuring a 5-foot steel bed, a versatile design, advanced technology, towing strength, water fording ability, and rock crawling proficiency, the Jeep Gladiator for sale is ready for just about anything. If you’re looking for a capable, off-road-ready pickup truck for sale, find out why the 2026 Jeep Gladiator should be on your radar this year! more 2025 Jeep® Gladiator Mojave X Unmatched Open-Air Freedom One of the greatest advantages of the Jeep Gladiator is its open-air freedom, which enhances every adventure. Thanks to this truck’s fold-down windshield, easy-to-remove doors, and removable top options, you can let in the sunshine and fresh air for an unrestricted driving experience. So whether you’re traveling along the beach or navigating a rugged trail, you can enjoy every mile even more. Iconic Off-Road Skills There’s no holding back when it comes to off-roading in a 2026 Jeep Gladiator. Boasting unbelievable capability, this fearless truck is designed to take on sand, mud, rocks, and more without thinking twice. Designed with a water fording depth of 31.5 inches and armed with steel skid plates and many other off-road-ready features, the Gladiator dares to go farther. Want to push your adventures to the max? The Rubicon offers a ground clearance of up to 11.1 inches, the Mojave offers a ground clearance of 11.6 inches, and both trim levels are outfitted with 33-inch all-terrain tires. Impressive Towing & Hauling Capability The 2026 Jeep Gladiator features a 5-foot steel bed that’s ready to handle a variety of loads, from home improvement supplies to all of your beach gear. When properly equipped, Sport S trims can haul up to 1,720 pounds. When you need to tow a boat, camper, or trailer, the Gladiator can handle up to 7,700 pounds when properly equipped. Intuitive Technology The midsize Gladiator can keep adventure-seekers connected even in the wild with advanced features like a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen display, available Alexa Built-in, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The truck even offers an available TrailCam off-road camera that can boost driver confidence during off-road navigation. Plus, the standard eight-speaker sound system can be upgraded to an available nine-speaker Alpine® Premium Audio System on most trims to enhance your favorite adventure soundtrack. Highly Customizable Trims & Special Editions Available in a range of trim levels and even special editions, the 2026 Jeep Gladiator is designed to meet many different needs and preferences. Whether you choose the base trim level or the top trim level, the Jeep Gladiator takes every adventure to the next level and beyond. Here is the full Jeep Gladiator lineup for 2026: Sport Sport S Willys Sahara Rubicon Mojave Mojave X Rubicon X Limited edition models currently include: Gladiator Willys '41 Gladiator Shadow Ops Gladiator 85th Anniversary Edition Gladiator Whitecap Gladiator Rockslide Gladiator Rewind Gladiator Sarge And more on the way! You can further customize your Jeep Gladiator model with a range of quality Mopar accessories. Talk to our team today to learn how you can tailor your truck to fit your lifestyle! Visit Your Local CDJR Dealership for New Jeep Trucks! Ready to drive home a Trail Rated Jeep Gladiator? Shop our selection of new 2026 Jeep Gladiator models at Santee Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Manning today! And if we don’t have what you’re looking for in stock, you can place a custom order! Our team is committed to helping you upgrade to your ideal Jeep Gladiator model, whether that’s one from the current lineup or one of the special edition models. If you need more information about one of the Gladiator trim levels in our inventory or have questions about this off-road pickup truck’s performance, features, or accessories, please let us know! If you want to explore other pickup truck options, we recommend checking out our Ram truck inventory. As a trusted Ram and Jeep dealer near Sumter and Florence, we’re proud to serve drivers in the area and beyond. Come see us soon!

2026 Dodge Durango GT America250 Edition: Power Meets Patriotic Style

America doesn't do anything halfway, and neither does Dodge. To mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Dodge debuted something special at the 2026 New York International Auto Show: the 2026 Dodge Durango GT America250 Edition. This is a rolling tribute to the boldness, grit, and unapologetic attitude that built this country, and the brand that's carried that spirit under the hood for decades. more American-themed exterior and interior upgrades set it apart from every other Durango on the road, while performance enhancements are unmistakably Dodge: fast, fierce, and impossible to ignore. Every detail was designed to honor American automotive heritage without sacrificing the modern muscle you want from your Dodge. "This Dodge Durango A250 is a celebration of American performance, American attitude, and, fittingly, America's 250th birthday," said Dodge CEO Matt McAlear. "Dodge has always stood for American muscle: speed, strength, and the unapologetic pursuit of automotive excitement. Today, we celebrate that legacy and the road ahead." Orders are officially open for the 2026 Dodge Durango GT Plus AWD A250 Edition, with a starting U.S. MSRP of $49,590 (excluding tax, title, and fees). This is a limited-edition piece of American history, and it won't be available for long. Dodge is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary this summer with the introduction of the 2026 Dodge Durango America250 (A250) edition, infusing Dodge’s unmistakable American muscle with special-edition content that celebrates power, heritage and patriotic grit. 2026 Durango GT America250 Edition Key Highlights Durango GT A250 edition will be available on three trim levels: Durango GT Plus AWD powered by the Pentastar V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. Durango GT HEMI® Plus AWD with a 5.7-liter V8 engine, which produces 360 horsepower. Durango GT HEMI Premium AWD adds cutting-edge content and convenience features. This limited-edition Durango celebrates heritage, power, and American pride. Here's what sets it apart: Exterior Graphics & Colors The A250 wears its patriotism proudly. Exclusive exterior touches include an American flag A250 decal and badging, plus dual stripes featuring a star pattern outlined in striking blue tracer accents available exclusively on models finished in White Knuckle. The A250's color palette was hand-picked to match the America250 theme: Red Oxide White Knuckle Night Moves (navy blue) Destroyer Gray Diamond Black Premium & Patriotic Interior The tributes continue in the Durango’s cabin. The A250 brings premium interior upgrades typically reserved for higher-performance trims, all wrapped in red, white, and blue. Highlights include: Black Laguna leather seats with exclusive blue perforation and an embossed American flag Red-and-white accent stitching throughout the cabin Tricolor-stitched steering wheel Demonic Red seat belts for a bold pop of color Forged carbon-fiber appliqués for a modern, performance-driven finish Inside and out, this special edition Durango celebrates America’s 250th anniversary in style. Shop New Durango SUVs For Sale at Your Dodge Dealership Near Sumter! The 2026 Dodge Durango GT America250 Edition is a reminder of what makes the Durango one of the most unique SUVs on the market. With muscle car DNA and SUV versatility, there’s nothing else quite like it! Add in the America250 styling, and you’ve got a ride that turns heads everywhere you go. The A250 Edition is limited, and demand will be high. If you've been waiting for a reason to get into a new Durango, 250 years of American freedom is a pretty good one. Explore our Durango inventory online, and when you’re ready to see it in person, visit Santee Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Manning, SC! We proudly serve drivers throughout the Sumter area and beyond. Stop by, schedule a test drive, or give us a call today. Your Durango is waiting!