If you love N.O. you probably will love South Carolina. I've been to both places a lot and in fact they are two of my favorite places. Charleston and the area around it is sort of like N.O. and it's surrounding areas. Charleston isn't AS touristy as N.O. and not quite as loud with the nightlife. But there is some similarity there. The city is the hub and very charming with lovely old homes and building and then outside of that is the natural environment which the climate and trees/plants etc are so much like N.O.
My aunt lives in Aiken. I see someone else thought you might like that. I haven't been there so can't attest, but you can always check it out on the internet. It's closer to the mountains. Some people who have lived around the ocean all their lives need that ocean all the time.
Thank you so much. I've always felt that S. Carolina would have that "comfort" factor. I can't wait to check it out. I haven't done enough research to find out what areas are close together and the proximity to one another. (Greenville, Aiken, Charleston, Myrtle Beach)