Cruising Through Scenic South Carolina

Making Memories

By Sue Strauss photos by author

Often overlooked by visitors to more popular destinations nearby, Georgetown is steeped in history and offers a wealth of coastal wildlife viewing.

The Harborwalk Marina is located on the Sampit River in the heart of downtown Georgetown. Step off the docks and onto Front Street, which has numerous restaurants, bars, art galleries, gift shops and more.

few years ago, while traveling through South Carolina, my husband and I discovered what USA Today named in 2018 “America’s Best Coastal Small Town” — Georgetown, South Carolina. Georgetown is located in the center of South Carolina’s beautiful Hammock Coast and is just one hour north of Charleston and 30 minutes south of Myrtle Beach on Highway 17. This small coastal town has more 200-year-old homes than Charleston along with scenic plantations, a rich history and lots of Southern charm — and it has none of the crowds that you find in Charleston or Myrtle Beach.

Recognized as the third-oldest city in the United States, Georgetown is located on Winyah Bay and is at the convergence of five rivers: the Black River, Small Pee Dee and Great Pee Dee rivers, and the Waccamaw and Sampit rivers. The earliest residents of the Georgetown area were Native American tribes, which are responsible for many of the names of the rivers and natural features around this region. In the 1520s, European explorers from Spain discovered this seaport area, later followed by English and French settlements along the five rivers. The city of Georgetown was officially established as a “trading post” and seaport in 1729 (it is, today, the second-largest seaport in South Carolina). As trade with the Native American tribes declined, residents developed large plantations and cultivated indigo and rice. By the mid-1700s, Georgetown exported more rice than any port in the world.

In addition to trade, Georgetown played an important role in both the American Revolution and Civil Wars. Georgetown was occupied by British troops for a year during the American Revolution, and many skirmishes between Francis Marion (more commonly known as “the Swamp Fox”) and British troops took place in the marshlands surrounding this town. The area is steeped in history: Take a tour of Hopsewee Plantation, an original lowcountry rice plantation on the North Santee River and the birthplace of Thomas Lynch, Jr., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The house is filled with original furnishings dating back to the 1740s.

Georgetown is located in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, an area along the coast that has its own culture, geography, architecture, economy and cuisine. The geography of this area encompasses the marshes and sea islands along the Atlantic Coastal Plain province (Georgetown sits at just 18 feet in elevation). Lowcountry culture is a blend of Southern, Native American, European, Caribbean and African roots. Gullah culture developed as a blend of people from many different African cultures and countries who came together in South Carolina. The Gullah people live in the Lowcountry and developed their own creole language, known as Gullah or Geechee, and their own cuisine, featuring fresh seafood such as oysters and shrimp with grits. If you want to learn more about South Carolina’s lowcountry, be sure to visit the Gullah Museum in the city’s historic Front Street district — the only one of its kind in the United States — where the Gullah people have their own storytellers teach about their culture.

the clock tower at the Old Market Building

The Georgetown Rice Museum is housed in the Old Market Building, often referred to as the “Georgetown Town Clock.” The museum focuses on the influence of the rice culture on both Georgetown and the state of South Carolina. Artwork, artifacts, dioramas and interpretive tours are included within the museum.

view down a neighborhood street line with large trees

In the city of Georgetown, neighborhoods vary from waterfront areas to historic districts. Many of the quiet streets in the city are lined with live oaks, providing a canopy of large branches dripping with Spanish moss. These streets provide picturesque scenes found only in the South.

Another piece of Georgetown history that you won’t want to miss is the Kaminski House Museum. This house was the home of former South Carolina Governor Harold Kaminski and a tour through the house will give you an accurate view of life in Georgetown from the 18th century through the American Revolution and Civil War. Tours are held every day except Sundays.

The Rice Museum in Georgetown is another one of the top attractions to visit in the city’s historic Front Street district. This museum explains the historical importance of trade in the area and detailed exhibits explain the various aspects of the rice industry and its importance to the economy and history from the 1700s to the 1900s. Rice was so important to the area that it was often called “Carolina Gold.” The entrance fee for this museum is $7, but well worth it. The museum is closed on Sundays.

a raised Lowcountry home with a broad-hipped roof hanging over a large pillared front porch

This Lowcountry home is a perfect example of the architecture. Typically, these homes have broad-hipped roofs that extend over deep and large covered front porches, accented by pillars and providing a shady sitting area on hot days. Lowcountry architecture usually includes raised living spaces and are constructed of timber set on pilings.

If history doesn’t interest you, today’s modern-day Georgetown is still a “must see” on a trip to South Carolina. Georgetown’s Harborwalk connects Front Street’s quaint shops and restaurants with the waterfront. Many visitors to the city arrive by boat for lunch or dinner and a stroll around this historic town. Georgetown is a town with lots of Southern charm with its streets lined with live oak trees and a harbor that offers picturesque views and beautiful sunsets.

Each year Georgetown hosts a variety of festivals. It is always well worth the time to check the city’s events calendar by going to: www.historicgeorgetownsc.com/events-calendar-georgetown-sc. Some of the more popular festivals include the Shakespeare Festival, Winyah Bay Heritage Festival and Wooden Boat Show. If you are interested in fishing, major Bassmaster fishing tournaments are often held in Winyah Bay.

an alligator soaks up the sun on a rock in the middle of a river

An alligator suns itself at Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center. Alligators are primarily freshwater animals and can often be found in the rivers surrounding Winyah Bay area. You can tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile by looking at their teeth; an Alligator will only show its top teeth when the jaw is closed whereas you will see the top and bottom teeth interlaced in the jaw of a crocodile.

The surrounding area has many natural areas filled with wildlife. The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, located in Georgetown, is a wildlife preserve and research area that encompasses more than 24,000 acres of marsh and wetlands. There are miles of pristine beaches filled with driftwood and the wildlife is both a bit dangerous (alligators) and fascinating. Reservations are required, as this is a preserve and research center. The Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, located about 20 miles north of Georgetown, encompasses more than 55,000 acres of tidal wetlands and forested wetlands along the Waccamaw and Pee Dee Rivers. This is a must-see if you like boating, canoeing or kayaking as these activities are welcome in this national wildlife refuge. Other interests and activities encouraged in this refuge include photography, birding, hiking, freshwater fishing and even hunting (according to season). If you want to see South Carolina’s Lowcountry from the water, consider taking a Barrier Island Beach and Wildlife Outing, a boat tour that reveals more than 45 miles of uninhabited and protected coastline. The guided tour includes untouched beaches, shelling and possibly viewing sea turtle nesting areas.

an egret stands in the middle of some brush

The Great Egret species is the largest in North America. This snowy white bird’s beautiful plumage made it far too popular in the 19th century and it was decimated by plume hunters who killed it for its feathers for ladies’ fashions. The birds were near extinction, but now as a protected species have increased their populations.

There is a lot to see in Georgetown, so you might want to plan to stay a few days in the area. Hidden Marina and Campground is a great place to park your RV for a night or two. The campground is located in Georgetown and features 55 back-in RV sites; full hook-ups are available with both 30- and 50-amp service. Sites can accommodate RVs up to 45 feet long and the cost is $45/night. Tent sites are also available, as well as cabins with a waterside deck. To make a reservation, go to: www.hiddenmarinacampground.com.

Another camping option is Huntington Beach State Park, about 20 miles away in Murrell’s Inlet. A popular state park with campsites often reserved months in advance, this location offers RV sites that are 70 to 80 feet long, plus back-in sites with water and electric; some sites have been upgraded to include 50-amp electric service. If you are interested in staying in this state park, go to: www.reserve.southcarolinaparks.com.

driftwood sits on the beach with waves flowing in the background

The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center offers views of pristine beaches, often filled with driftwood and wildlife. Guided nature tours and educational field trips are offered to the public in this beautiful wildlife preserve.

Often overlooked, “America’s Best Coastal Small Town” has a lot of history and southern charm packed into it. I enjoyed making memories there, and look forward to visiting Georgetown again in the future.

Suzanne Strauss

Suzanne Strauss and her husband, Rich, have been full-time RVers for about four years. They started out camping on weekends in a pup tent; eventually, they bought a small single-axle travel trailer to “test the waters” and fell in love with RVing. Now living full-time in a diesel-pusher motorhome, they ply the roadways in search of beautiful, interesting and “off the beaten path” places.

Back to Issue