Coastal South Carolina
Coastal South Carolina
Welcome to coastal South Carolina, home of historic seaport towns like Georgetown, Litchfield, and barrier islands. This is part of the Grand Strand. The charm and history can seep right into your skin! http://www.coastal-sc.com/schistory/ Our first stop in Georgetown began with a wonderful little supper at the Goat Island Grill. We each ordered the Crab Cake Caesar Salad. I added a cup of creamy, spicy Shrimp and Roasted corn Chowder. Greg added sautéed oysters. They came with the crab presiding over a bed of lettuce, green peppers, and zucchini. Delicious! And quite filling. We had a glass of Pinot Grigio, which had a nice crisp taste. The dining room is comfortable and pretty. A patio offers bay views. A sushi bar is upstairs. Service was very good. Total sans tip was $44. http://www.goatislandgrill.com/
Georgetown is the third oldest town in South Carolina, founded in 1729. Town is filled with art galleries, boutique shops, restaurants, and flower boxes. There are plenty of chances to take home Low Country mementos. The Rice Museum and Kaminski House provide history. The Harborwalk gives nice views of Wynah Bay. Many of the homes are from the 1700s! Some are beautiful antebellum homes; others 1950’s style Cape Cods. Francis Marion, “the Swamp Fox,” fought many of his battles in the area during the American Revolution. Golf, tennis, fishing, boating and biking are some outdoor activities. Shopping, antiquing, and sightseeing are others. http://www.seaportgeorgetown.com/
Driving north along Rt. 17, we found Pawleys Island, another historic town. The rice planters of the 1700s lived here in the summers to avoid malaria which was a danger along the rivers. 12 historic homes remain. The atmosphere is decidedly laid back. The quaint City Hall-Police Department building demonstrates that. Docks go out to the marsh. Joggers and bikers were common. http://www.townofpawleysisland.com/sitepages/pid29.php
Murrell’s Inlet is the next historic town we explored. It’s an old fishing village and marsh preserve. Rice plantations are part of the history, as is fishing. We saw dozens of restaurants; some with names like Dead Dog Saloon, Big Ass Sandwiches, and Drunken Jack’s. Murrell’s Inlet calls itself the “Seafood Capital” of South Carolina. http://www.murrellsinletsc.com/ When it was time for lunch, Cedar Hill Landing was a great choice. They specialize in seafood! There’s both an indoor and outdoor dining area; both have an extremely pleasant view of the water. A pile of oyster shells that promises to be a sizable midden someday is outback. So are some old boats, creating a fascinating still life. I chose the Murrell Inlet Shrimp Salad, a flavorful combination of shrimp, egg, and mayo. Greg’s Oyster Po’boy was melt in your mouth good, served with fries and cole slaw. We enjoyed our meal, for $22 before tip. The view was worth that much! Fishing, boating, and other water sports, camping biking, and hiking are some doings. Also in the area is the Brookgreen Botanical Gardens! From what we saw, they are breathtaking! http://www.brookgreen.org/
We are enjoying our discovery of some hidden gems!
Huntington Beach State Park has nature trails, biking, camping, wildlife viewing, miles of beach, fishing, birding, picnicking, Atalaya Castle, and an Education Center, making this a family, couples, or friend’s friendly getaway. What is Atalaya Castle? It was the winter home of Anna Hyatt Huntington and Archer Huntington. While there, we saw an alligator floating in the water, dozens of birds, and lots of flowers. http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/1020.aspx
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The scenery we passed on the way to North Carolina was diverse: farms, marsh, woods, fields, clusters of homes, and a few businesses. It was raining, so there were no more outdoor activities. At Little River we crossed out of South Carolina and into North Carolina.
