The state park is only 60 miles from Columbia and about 70 from Greenville. Access from I-26 is easy. Take exit 74 to Highway 34 toward Newberry. Stay on Highway 34 for about 25 miles and turn onto Highway 702 for about two miles and the park entrance is on the right. If you are coming from Greenwood, take Highway 72 for about six miles, turn right on Highway 246. Go about five miles and turn left onto Highway 702 and the park will be about seven miles on the left.

One of the great things about Lake Greenwood fishing is you can focus on either the great bream fishing or channel catfishing, or you can do both at the same time.

The best bream fishing during June is had by working the shallow water along the shoreline of the lake. There are steep shorelines where you can fish 3 to 5 feet deep with spinning tackle and stay in excellent bream action most anytime of the day. Or, during the full moon period, you can quietly slip to the back of shallow coves on sand and gravel bottoms and find fish bedding.

There's another technique I particularly like when family fishing, which can be great if you have a roomy boat such as a pontoon. Get the boat in about 8 to 12 feet of water, in the back of a quiet cove, and anchor. Fan-cast worms and crickets around the boat. You'll have good action from both bream and channel catfish this way. If the action slows and you are ready to make a move, it's also a great place to let the family take a break with a quick swim in the water.

If you want to focus specifically on channel catfish, orient the boat to points and use night crawlers or stink baits to keep the action going strong.

Another reason for picking this spot for a family adventure is the opportunity for shoreline fishing. The park is large, encompassing 914 acres, and has camping opportunities available. Also, the park's property includes shoreline access into several different coves. There's plenty of room for family adventures at this state park and lake.

For more specific information, you can contact the Lake Greenwood State Park at 302 State Park Road, Ninety Six, SC 29666, or call (864) 543-3535.

No South Carolina family trip planner would be complete without some saltwater adventures. One outstanding place for such a trip is the Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort.

Access is easy. From I-95, take Highway 21 toward Beaufort. Drive about 42 miles and Highway 21 ends at the park. The park is also only about 85 miles from Charleston, making it well within range for a day or weekend outing from this area as well.

Hunting Island State Park is a 5,000-acre barrier island, with over four miles of beach. On the beach, you can fish for whiting and a variety of other saltwater fish. In the many saltwater creeks around the park, crabbing is excellent using the chicken-back-and-string method. Crabbing at many places along the coast has always been a fun activity for the entire family. You don't need a boat or any special gear. Just tie a chicken back (or any part of the chicken, backs are usually inexpensive) onto a string, and toss it into the water. Give the crabs a few minutes to locate the meat (it won't take long), and start pulling the string in slowly. When you can see the crabs feasting on the chicken, use a long-handled crab net to dip them up.

A few of these and you've not only had plenty of fun, but you have some prime eating in store for you. Blue crabs may be smaller than the restaurant variety of king crab we enjoy, but the taste of blue crabs is unbeatable.

If you bring a boat, you're in an even better position to enjoy this area. St. Helena Sound offers great fishing for a variety of fish species, as well as unlimited crabbing opportunities. If you have a big boat, you can fish in the main body of St. Helena Sound. If you have a smaller craft, get back in the Coosaw River or the South Edisto River. There, you have great fishing for flounder, redfish and even speckled trout.