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Santee General Store is just that - the kind of store where you can find everything from fishing rods to hand dipped ice cream, along with friendly Southern customer service. Travelers will be happy to know that this is also a good place to stop for a clean rest room.

Shelves are stocked with house brand preserves: tomatillo salsa, canteloup jam, asparagus chow chow, moonshine jelly and scuppernong cider, but locals know to pick up some of (owner) Uncle Ed's BBQ sauce too. All of these make great gifts to bring for someone back home or someone you are going to visit. Stone ground grits are there, of course, and fireworks and Western Union. You can buy lottery tickets here - and perhaps win enough to pay for your trip.

Santee is popular for fishermen. Anglers head to this store for fishing needs to catch catfish and stripers in Lake Marion. Rods by Zebco and Daiwa, Daiichi hooks, Dorman lures, Terminator spinners, Eagle Claw lead or Zoom worms are all here. For bait there are crickets, shad, red worms, night crawlers and herring.

Since the Santee State Park is nearby (with both a campground and waterfront motel-like cabins), campers come in to pick up cast iron cookware and portable BBQ grills.

If you've been hankering for boiled peanuts, you can take home a 6 lb. can - or some pickled pig's feet.

Hours: Sun-Thurs 6am-9pm, F&S 6-10. 8932 Hwy 6. Tel: 803-854-2105.