Travel Log: Darlington

Harold Brasington was on to something when he decided to pour an asphalt oval in a cotton field of tiny Darlington, S.C. Most folks thought he was crazy. Today, most folks thank Brasington for putting Darlington on the map.

The racetrack is the second-oldest on NASCAR's schedule, having opened in 1950. But it takes the top spot in attractions for the farming community, population 6,720. It's a region rich with national history, whether it be that of the agriculture boom or the roots that planted the country in Civil War.

The War Between the States, as a local museum refers to it, fought no battles in Darlington, yet the city was home to a brigade of men called the Darlington Guards. These were the first soldiers summoned to defend Charleston when South Carolina seceded from the Union.

South Carolina Cotton Trail -- The true way to discover this part of the South is to follow the trail of cotton and what it meant to this region in the 1800s. Nestled in the north central area of South Carolina, visitors who venture along this route can simply enjoy the scenery, or they can stop at historical landmarks along the way; it runs through five surrounding cities. While it's not the traditional walk-and-read museum, it creates an atmosphere and understanding quite like no other Southern display.
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RDOF_Posse -- Sweet indeed, Young Pecan Plantations is a must. You can sample all their varieties such as Double Dipped Chocolate Pecans, Creamy White Pecans, Honey Crisp Pecans, Praline Pecans, Chocolate Butter Toffee Pecans, Chocolate Honey Baked Pecans and Sugar and Spice Pecans at the outlet. Buy twice what you think you'll need because they will be sorely missed when you run out of them. They used to have a mesquite-flavored Pecan, which was my favorite.
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Join the Darlington Raceway Crew

Thursday: Thundershowers with a high of 84 degrees, low of 65
Friday: Thundershowers with a high of 85 degrees, low of 59
Saturday: Partly sunny with a high of 84 degrees, low of 58
Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a high of 82 degrees, low of 61
Complete Forecast

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• Directions and aerial map of Darlington

It's home, sweet home for NASCAR in the next two weeks in the sport's own backyard. Where's the best local flavor? Share your personal favorites here.