Four Reasons to Live in Manning, SC
Located just off Interstate 95 in Clarendon County, Manning, South Carolina, is a hidden gem of the Palmetto State. Named after South Carolina governor John Laurence Manning, the town was established in 1855. In the 160-plus years following its incorporation, the town has grown to over 4,000 residents and become the center of government and commerce in Clarendon County. While some may not get the appeal of moving to a place like Manning, its small-town charm is more than enough to entice those who want a simpler life. Here are just a few reasons to live in Manning.
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Ideal Location
Just because Manning is a small rural community of only 4,100 people doesn’t mean that it’s far off the beaten path. Situated just 2 miles from I-95, you can hop on the highway in just five minutes. From there, you can head south to hit Charleston in about an hour and a half. U.S. Highway 378 also runs through the middle of town, offering easy access to both Myrtle Beach and Columbia in two hours or less. When you want to get out of town or head out on a road trip, Manning gives you plenty of options in close proximity.
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Two Major Hotels
No one’s saying that the in-laws can’t stay at your house. But it is nice to know that two major hotel chains operate right outside of Manning off I-95. A Baymont Inn and Super 8 offer superb accommodation that’s right near some of the best shopping in the town. When you need a breather from family holidays or other occasions, these two hotels are the perfect escape for either you or your relatives.
4 Summer Events Hitting Manning, SC
Summer in Manning, South Carolina, is arguably the best time of the year. The sun is shining, people seem happier, and the calendar of events starts to explode. If you’re in the mood to break out of cabin fever, become more social, and enjoy everything this lovely rural town has to offer, check out these summer events hitting Manning and the surrounding area in 2019.
1. Wild Summer’s Night Auction & Wild Game Feast
Take the 1.5-hour drive to Columbia, South Carolina, on Saturday, July 20, for a night unlike any other. On this date, the Wild Summer’s Night Auction & Wild Game Feast takes place at Seawell’s Catering with over 400 attendees. At this event, you can place your bids on handmade jewelry, guided nature tours, fishing equipment, hunting gear, and more.
During the auction, chow down on a wild game feast that includes tastings of venison, quail, duck, alligator, catfish, and shrimp. You won’t find any menu like this in Manning or anywhere else. All proceeds from the auction benefit local education and wildlife preservation funds. Attire is business casual. The event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Read the rest of this entry »
Affordable isn’t an adjective you often heard to describe three-row crossovers. This emerging subsection of the crossover segment adds a hefty price for practicality, albeit with some nice finishing touches. The 2019 Dodge Journey isn’t one of those exorbitantly priced models. Offering comfort, convenience, great interior features, and sporty styling without the hefty price tag, the 2019 Dodge Journey is in a class all its own. Here’s a look at the features that will make you want to pull one into your driveway this year.
Performance
Under the hood, the 2019 Dodge Journey comes with one of two engine options. The stock engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that dishes out 173 horsepower and up to 166 pound-feet of torque. That’s plenty of power to satisfy most drivers, but the true upside is its 25 mpg. With a single tank of gas, you’ll go over 500 miles before you have to hit the gas station.
If you crave more power, upgrade to the award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6. Doling out 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, this brute can propel you from zero to 60 mph in just 7.8 seconds and a quarter-mile in 16.1 seconds to go along with a top speed of 118 mph.
Best Golf Courses Near Manning, SC
Right off Interstate 95, Manning, South Carolina, is a rural community that’s not too far off the beaten path. While the town remains quaint and charming, there’s more to the city than meets the eye. Top-notch golf courses surround Manning, giving the avid linksman a chance to hone his craft on the green or fairway. The next time you’re in the mood for a round, check out these amazing golf courses near Manning.
The Players Course at Wyboo
Voted the best golf course and golf shop in Clarendon County by The Manning Times for 2018, The Players Course at Wyboo is the area’s premier championship golf course. Situated along the shores of Lake Marion, this scenic course adds a beautiful backdrop to your round of 18. Well-manicured and full of difficult approaches, undulating greens, and other hazards, you’ll have to be at the top of your game to dominate this course.
Rates start at $15 for South Carolina residents or $25 for nonresidents.
The Ram 1500 is a workhorse of a truck that’s designed to handle the rigors of the worksite and the demands of daily driving. The 2019 Ram 1500 takes this truck to the next level with top-of-the-line technology and new features that improve power and driver comfort. Here are four of the top reasons the 2019 Ram 1500 is the right truck for you.
Added eTorque
eTorque is one of the 2019 Ram 1500’s newest features. eTorque is a unique hybrid system that’s designed to make driving the 1500 smoother. This feature works by storing power in a lithium-ion battery that powers the 1500’s automatic start-stop system to enhance the truck’s performance while still conserving gasoline.
In addition, this battery adds bursts of power when needed for a little extra push, instead of draining the fuel tank. eTorque isn’t the same as a gas-electric hybrid system, but it improves the 1500’s overall functionality and drivability. The new 1500 has improved performance, fuel economy, and handling without sacrificing power. Read the rest of this entry »
With the arrival of spring comes the opportunity to get out and visit some of the beautiful locations and events around the Manning area. Here are four of the best spring activities.
1. Fisheagle Wildlife Tours
Spring is the perfect time to view nature at its finest, and a wildlife swamp boat tour gets you up close to the animals. The Osprey is a 40-foot pontoon boat that holds 30 passengers and will take you on a voyage of Lake Marion lasting around two hours. The trip departs from Santee State Park at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, March through September.
An experienced naturalist will narrate the trip with information about the history of the lake, the natural history of the area’s flora and fauna, and some folklore tales. As you never know what you will see, every trip is unique and will take in wildlife refuges, sunken forests, and places that can only be accessed by boat.
For private parties, you can rent The Osprey or the 26-foot deck boat, FishHawk, which carries up to six passengers. Other tours offered include the historic lock trip and the Wyndham Resort sunset cruise.
Read the rest of this entry »
Check Out the 2019 Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger is one of the most iconic muscle cars of all time. With strong lines, an aggressive stance, and old-school aesthetics, the Challenger combines the best of modern and traditional muscle car design. The 2019 Challenger will continue this heritage with better-than-ever performance and features. Here’s a quick round-up of the top four features offered in the 2019 Dodge Challenger.
Endless Customization
The 2019 Dodge Challenger was made to stand out, and the endless customization options let your personality. From paint colors to drive packages and more, it’s easy to get exactly what you want out of your Challenger without having to compromise.
The Challenger comes in six major trim levels: SXT, GT, R/T, and the R/T 392, plus the ferociously indomitable SRT Hellcat and SRT Hellcat Redeye. Beyond these trims, there are also a number of additional subtrims that add even more features and driving styles. These subtrims include the R/T T/A, Plus, R/T Shaker, R/T Scat Pack, and the new R/T Scat Pack 1320. Whether you’re going for more technology or a more drag-race inspired drive, these subtrims let you design the Challenger of your dreams.
Roaring Power
What would a Challenger be without an impressive engine? There are several engine options available for the 2019 model. The base level SXT and GT trim levels are powered by a rumbling V-6 engine. If speed is a necessity, the other models come with a V-8 engine that provides a mind-blowing 797 horsepower when fully equipped.
Best Places for Hiking Near Manning, SC
Hiking is a great way to get close to nature and release yourself from the rigors of everyday life. Within easy reach of Manning, South Carolina, are some awesome parks with hiking trails offering a variety of scenery and terrain. Here are some of the best places to hike.
Poinsett State Park
A little over a half hour drive west from Manning is Poinsett State Park on the edge of the Manchester State Forest. It offers over 1,000 acres of diverse landscape with more than 25 miles of hiking trails. Some trails connect to the Palmetto Trail which takes you through the Manchester State Forest.
The hiking areas include the Scout Trail, Hill Top Trail, Laurel Group Trail, and the Coquina Trail. Along the way, you can enjoy the serene setting of the 10-acre Poinsett Park Lake, visit the 1930s coquina bathhouse, and the ruins of the pre-revolutionary grist mill. There is a variety of wildlife habitat in the park and over 300 plant species.
Woods Bay State Park
A similar distance to the northeast of Manning is the 1,590-acre Woods Bay State Park. The park provides the opportunity for you to get a close-up look at one of the last Carolina Bays remaining in the State. The landscape features oak-hickory forest, sandhills, marsh and shrub bog.
Hikers can follow the 0.9-mile Mill Pond Nature Trail, or you can take the 1,150-foot boardwalk which offers the opportunity to see alligators in the cypress-tupelo swamp. Other wildlife you might spot includes more than 80 species of birds, raccoons, otters, tree frogs, and various snakes.

In 2005, Jeep shook the world of pickup trucks with the Jeep Gladiator. Fifteen years later, the company is doing it again with the all-new, all-powerful 2020 Jeep Gladiator, which is slated to roll into dealerships in Spring of 2019.
The new Gladiator is a hot topic for our team and we can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this unstoppable truck. Here are just a few reasons why you should be excited about the return of this iconic pickup:
Best-In-Class Everything
Everyone expects a Jeep to be massively capable, and the 2020 Gladiator will do that trust justice. Thanks to Jeep’s keen eye for performance engineering, the Gladiator will have a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,650 pounds, which is enough to handle most adventurers’ gear. Drop the tailgate and load up the Gladiator’s truck bed — it has a best-in-class maximum payload rating of 1,600. The 2020 Gladiator will dominate the midsize pickup world.
Off-Road Like a Wrangler
As expected, the Gladiator will have Jeep’s four-wheel-drive system that will allow it to tackle terrains more than any other truck. Simply put, the 2020 Gladiator will be the most off-road-capable truck in its class, period. It’s equipped with great gear that helps it earn this title, such as lockable wide track axles, FOX shocks, an electronic disconnecting front sway bar, and much more.

It’s a perfect marriage: the performance and power of a muscle car, with the space and stance of an SUV. The 2019 Dodge Durango is the best of both worlds. Unrelenting, dominating, and stylish to boot, the all-new Durango is an SUV for the driver who needs a ride that’s as useful and tough as they are.
Muscled Exterior
The 2019 Durango’s aggressive presence makes it turn heads everywhere it goes. From the split-crosshair grille to its taillight that stretches across the entire back end, the Durango isn’t afraid to show off some muscle. Add some Mopar Dual Strips to your Durango to give it even more of a muscle car look.
The Perfect Durango for You
Building a Durango that matches you and your style perfectly is easy to do thanks to its high level of customization. Shopping for your Durango starts with the trim levels: the SXT, GT, Citadel, R/T, and SRT. Give your Durango a personality with one of ten exterior paint colors. Upholster your seats in quality cloth or leather, available in seven colors.
Unbridled Power
The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, standard on the SXT, gets you 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, which is a great start. Next on the list is the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine, which packs 360 horsepower and a 7,400-pound maximum towing capacity. If you’re looking for maximum power, go for the 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 engine. This top-of-the-line engine packs an impressive 475 horsepower, 470 pound-feet of torque, and ramps up the towing capacity to 8,700 pounds. The Durango’s engines are matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission that’s designed to give you the smoothest, most exhilarating ride possible.
Each Durango comes standard with trailer sway control, which is a game-changer when you’re hauling. Available steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters let you give your Durango more of a manual racer feel.

