Moving south from Massachusetts (Columbia, Aiken: house, good schools, live in)

[Davismoving]

Hi everyone,

Our family is currently organizing a move to South Carolina in the next year. The appeal is merely moving south and South Carolina seemed to be the majority choice. However, we don't know much about this pretty state. We are looking for an area rural, have a horse, but suburban with good schools(no corporal punishment) perhaps a Target or Home Depot close by and not so removed from the shore but not right on the coast either. I came across this website from Google and hope I can get some good advice. All we know is we will have warmer weather and will be able to afford twice the house we have here. ( we are looking for land in SC to build) We currently live in a small town, about 3000 people and it's about 10 minutes from the suburban stretch of shopping and business but 1 hour from the "big" cities. We are hoping to find something similiar.
ANY advice would be great!! Thanks everyone.

[RichCapeCod]

Aiken should be on your list of places to check out. Lots of horses and equestrian sites, reasonable home prices and pretty area.

Good luck,

Rich

[Akhenaton06]

Camden (http://www.camden-sc.org/camden.php - broken link) sounds like your match. It's got horses and history (it's the state's oldest inland city), is only a short drive to suburban northeast Columbia, and not far removed from the coast.