20 Finest South Carolina Coastal Cities for Each Sort of Trip

Map of South Carolina Coastal Cities

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Little River, SC

Crossing the border into South Carolina on U.S. Freeway 17 brings you into the small neighborhood of Little River. It’s not an oceanfront city however a waterfront on the Intracoastal Waterway. The city developed as a fishing neighborhood. Since 2004, the annual Little River ShrimpFest honors that custom with two days in mid-October with contemporary native seafood fried by distributors on the road.

Vereen Memorial Historic Gardens is a hidden oasis usually solely identified by the locals. The land was first settled by Jeremiah Vareen, Jr. in 1797 – simply six years after his father guided George Washington by way of coastal South Carolina on his grand Southern Tour. In 1971, the land was donated as a public park. Go for a hike on a boardwalk path throughout the salt marshes to a fishing pier on the Little River.

The Massive M On line casino set sail in 2000 after the state outlawed video poker. The three-story cruise boat sails down the Little River and three miles into the Atlantic Ocean into federal waters, the place playing is authorized. The cruises final about 5 hours.

North Myrtle Seashore, SC

North Myrtle Seashore is the quiet counterpart to its sister metropolis, thirty miles south. Ocean Boulevard is lined with extra rental properties and condos than accommodations. However Freeway 17 – Kings Freeway to the locals – is a bustling leisure thoroughfare.

In 1968, 4 oceanfront communities merged to create North Myrtle Seashore, the peaceable escape from its bustling sister metropolis to the south. The Cherry Grove Fishing Pier is among the longest picket piers within the state at nearly 1,000 toes. The restaurant, bait store, and commentary deck on the finish of the pier have delighted guests because the Fifties.

Head over to the Home of Blues for a live performance, Alabama Theatre for a spectacular selection present, go to the South’s largest vineyard at North Carolina-based Duplin Vineyard, or spend a night buying and eating at Barefoot Touchdown.

North Myrtle Seashore has a quasi-downtown at Primary Avenue and Ocean Boulevard, the place you’ll discover a couple of eating places and the well-known Fats Harold’s Seashore Membership. The membership provides dance classes for guests desperate to learn to do the Carolina Shag.

Myrtle Seashore, SC

Consider it or not, Myrtle Seashore was a navy city within the Forties and 50s. The U.S. Military Air Corps constructed an airport that was later transferred to the newly created Air Drive. When the bottom fell sufferer to Base Realignment and Closure in 1993, the world was redeveloped into The Market Frequent, a mix of residential communities, sports activities complexes, and a preferred retail heart.

Right now, Myrtle Seashore is the center of the Grand Strand, a 90-mile stretch of seashores on the higher South Carolina coast, and a mecca for East Coast beachgoers. It’s a preferred household seashore vacation spot with locations like Broadway on the Seashore for buying and eating and the Household Kingdom Amusement Park for thrilling rides.

One in every of Myrtle Seashore’s hottest sights is the 1.2-mile Boardwalk. It started within the Thirties as an oceanfront concrete sidewalk. However after The Pavilion closed in 2006, the native enterprise homeowners pushed for an enlargement. In 2010, a refurbished and expanded Boardwalk opened with vast picket walkways, meandering concrete paths, and shade sails throughout the seashore accesses. Fodor’s, Nationwide Geographic, and Conde Nast have named it the most effective boardwalks within the nation.

In 2011, the 187-foot-tall SkyWheel opened on the oceanfront. Riders climb inside enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas for a “flight” – 4 revolutions across the huge wheel. Subsequent door, the Homosexual Dolphin Reward Cove is among the hottest present outlets on the East Coast. Opened within the Forties by Justin and Eloise Plyler, the multi-level retailer options souvenirs, house décor, and a big assortment of seashells.

Conway, SC

Based in 1732, Conway is the oldest city in Horry County. Within the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was the headquarters for the logging Burroughs & Collins Firm – the homeowners would later play a pivotal function in Myrtle Seashore’s growth.

Conway is the Gateway to the Grand Strand however an often-overlooked city favoring the oceanfront locations. The Riverwalk on the Waccamaw River is a beautiful place for a night stroll. Downtown is shaded by huge numbered oak timber – you’ll be able to choose up a brochure at many native companies to study the historical past of the timber.

It’s a few thirty-minute drive from Myrtle Seashore. You’ll discover native eateries, retail outlets, and art work within the outlets all through the walkable downtown.

Surfside Seashore, SC

Surfside Seashore is a quiet oceanfront neighborhood south of Myrtle Seashore. The largest attraction is the Surfside Seashore Pier. In-built 1953, the pier was all however destroyed when Class 2 Hurricane Matthew made landfall close by in 2106. The pier is below building with a deliberate opening one thing in 2023.

The draw of Surfside Seashore is the abundance of rental properties and the virtually full lack of towering oceanfront accommodations. It’s a a lot quieter place to spend a trip midway between Myrtle Seashore’s leisure and Murrells Inlet’s eating places.

Backyard Metropolis Seashore, SC

Like Surfside Seashore, Backyard Metropolis Seashore is a quiet oceanfront neighborhood whose greatest attraction is a fishing pier. When Class 4 Hurricane Hugo destroyed the unique pier in 1989, an even bigger model was constructed. The Pier at Backyard Metropolis Seashore options the one reside music stage on the finish of a pier on The Grand Strand.

Atlantic Avenue is probably the most scenic route into city, crossing the marshes with stunning views. A picket walkway alongside the street results in a fishing pier beside the bridge and entry to the sandy patches, an ideal place to look at summer time sunsets.

Get one thing to eat at Causeway Grill or the enduring Sam’s Nook, a neighborhood eatery opened in 1976 boasting “world well-known hotdogs.” Or go for a 10-minute drive towards the tip of the island to Gulfstream Café, a restaurant with the most effective views within the space.

Murrells Inlet, SC

Within the Fifties, Murrells Inlet earned a status because the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina.” When that business moved on, it was changed by waterfront eating places utilizing contemporary catch seafood. It’s the very best foodie city in coastal South Carolina that must be on everybody’s journey bucket record.

Bovines is the odd one serving scrumptious wood-fired pizzas with spectacular outside seating. Wahoos Fish Home will get its seafood from native sources, has a sushi menu, and options outside seating. Creek Ratz provides outside seating and a country environment during which to get pleasure from their seafood and uncooked bar.

Drunken Jack’s Restaurant & Lounge solely has indoor seating, however the giant image home windows present an exquisite view from most tables. They get the seafood regionally and provide the most effective menus on the town. Jack’s Seafood Platter has fried or broiled flounder filets, fantail shrimp, oysters, and a stuffed crab.

Useless Canine Saloon solely has indoor seating, however you’ll quickly overlook in regards to the view whenever you see the menu. The restaurant branches out from extra than simply native seafood with burgers, steaks, and barbecue smoked on-site. The Claw Home subsequent door has a formidable 90 craft beers on faucet to accompany their native seafood menu.

All the eating places are linked alongside the 1-mile MarshWalk. The picket boardwalk is nice for a stroll after a hearty meal. Stroll to the tip of the fishing pier for a sweeping vista of the inlet.

After leaving Murrells Inlet, you’ll go the best pure attraction and botanical backyard in coastal South Carolina. Huntington Seashore State Park is a waypoint for migratory birds, alligators, and the gorgeous oceanfront Atalaya Fortress. Brookgreen Backyard is an outside museum with over 2,000 sculptures by 400 artists. The 9,000-acre attraction features a butterfly backyard, a zoo that includes native wildlife, and several other guided excursions.

Pawleys Island, SC

When George Washington traveled by way of coastal South Carolina in 1791, he spent the night time at George Pawley’s plantation. Like the remainder of The Grand Strand, tourism developed within the Thirties. And shortly after, the city’s greatest attraction opened.

Arthur Lachicotte and his spouse Virginia Wilson opened a small retailer in 1916 promoting hand-woven hammocks. After twenty years of stable gross sales and rising recognition, they opened the Authentic Hammock Store in 1938. The hammocks are nonetheless hand-woven, and guests can sit or lay on them on the store.

The Hammock Outlets Village was constructed across the retail store, including historic constructions from a close-by plantation to function retail outlets. The Christmas Mouse is a Virginia-based year-round Christmas retailer with 9 areas, together with Pawleys Island. BisQit is a neighborhood eatery serving handcrafted burgers, creamy milkshakes, and inventive cocktails.

Oceanfront and sound aspect rental properties line the streets on the barrier island. The seashores are vast and comparatively calm in comparison with the tremendous fashionable Myrtle Seashore. The South Finish Seashore Entry is the biggest public seashore entry within the county. The sandy car parking zone has 140 parking areas and about half a mile of seashore on the finish of the island.

Georgetown, SC

Georgetown is South Carolina’s third-oldest metropolis, established forty years after Charleston. Nevertheless it’s typically bypassed as keen drivers whisk by way of the city to Myrtle Seashore or Charleston. That’s a disgrace as a result of Georgetown has one of the charming downtowns in coastal South Carolina.

The Harborwalk was constructed within the Nineteen Eighties as a spot for locals to moor their boats whereas visiting downtown. The docked boats embody some operated by Rover Excursions and Lowcountry Excursions, providing scenic excursions to the Georgetown Lighthouse and sundown cruises. The Harborwalk is ten toes vast, stretching from each ends of downtown, connecting all of the waterfront outlets, eating places, and museums.

Guests in Georgetown don’t go hungry from an absence of choices. Massive Tuna Uncooked Bar is a country restaurant with contemporary catch seafood – get their seafood platter for the last word meal. River Room Restaurant is an off-the-cuff upscale expertise with contemporary seafood and enormous panoramic home windows overlooking the bay. Buzz’s Roost options the one rooftop seating in Georgetown with spectacular views together with craft beer, seafood, fish tacos, and steak.

In 2006, the husband and spouse staff of Skip Yeager and Cindy Hedrick purchased Sweeties Do-it-yourself Ice Cream & Sweets. A few years later, they started making ice cream in small batches within the equally small confectionary store. The one factor higher than the odor contained in the store is the style of freshly baked pecan pralines or chilly craft ice cream.

McClellanville, SC

McClellanville is a tiny city on a tidal creek. The St. James Santee Parish was established within the early 1700s when sufficient colonial settlers had moved into the world. Within the 1900s, the city developed as a fishing village – an business thriving right now.

The Village Museum is open most weekends and options reveals in town’s historical past. T.W. Graham & Co. is the one restaurant on the town. Opened in 1894 as a mercantile retailer, the restaurant serves seafood platters, burgers, and sandwiches. Everybody should strive Gert’s Well-known Crab Balls and the Fried Catfish Tails with do-it-yourself Jamaican Mayonnaise.

Hampton Plantation State Historic Web site is twenty minutes from McClellanville. The positioning preserves the plantation house in-built 1735 by Noe Serré and expanded by Revolutionary Struggle Patriot Daniel Horry. Take the one-hour guided tour of the home to listen to tales of Harriott Pinckney Horry’s exploits and George Washington’s go to.

Mount Nice, SC

Mount Nice is a rising, thriving, seam-busting metropolis throughout the Cooper River from Charleston. It’s a busy place with a six-lane freeway carrying hundreds of vehicles day by day. But when you recognize the place to look, Mount Nice is usually a peaceable coastal getaway.

Outdated Village is the closest the town has to a downtown. A one-block stretch of Pitt Avenue options a few retail outlets and Pitt Avenue Pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy that opened in 1937 and contains a working soda fountain. Proceed to the tip of the road to the Pitt Avenue Bridge Park. In-built 1898, it was the primary bridge to Sullivan’s Island and carried a trolley automobile. When it was deserted in 1945, the town purchased the property and turned it right into a public park with the very best view of the Charleston skyline.

Mount Nice doesn’t have a downtown, nevertheless it does have Shem Creek. The half-mile Shem Creek Boardwalk extends throughout the salt marsh to a lined fishing pier with spectacular views. Kayaking and paddleboarding are fashionable on the creek – however not so fashionable because the eating.

Water’s Edge and Vickery’s Bar & Grill provide seafood with nice views on the east aspect of the creek. On the opposite aspect, Tavern & Desk is an off-the-cuff upscale restaurant utilizing native components in its savory meals. Saltwater Cowboys is the most recent addition, serving seafood and barbecue with a fantastic view.

However Pink’s Ice Home options the very best view of Shem Creek. Opened in 2003, the restaurant serves seafood and burgers and contains a second-story deck with outside seating.

Patriots Level Naval & Maritime Museum is house to the usYorktown, a WWII-era plane service. Exploring all of the self-guided excursions on the towering naval vessel takes greater than a day. Head inland to Boone Corridor Plantation for guided wagon excursions or go to the Charles Pinckney Nationwide Historic Web site to study in regards to the “forgotten founder” who wrote a draft of the USA Structure.

Isle of Palms, SC

When the Wild Dunes Seashore and Racquet Membership bought the northern 1,000 acres of Isle of Palms in 1972, the island’s destiny as a resort vacation spot was sealed. The charming island is a good base for visiting Charleston – head into the town for historical past and meals, however return to the island for leisure.

Isle of Palms County Park is the one public seashore entry for folks not staying on the island. Stretching about two blocks from the park alongside Ocean Boulevard is the city’s quasi-downtown with a couple of eating places and bars.

READ MORE: Go away the Cobblestone Streets Behind for One in every of These Seashores Close to Charleston

The Windjammer is a country restaurant with hardwood flooring and low ceilings, nevertheless it’s a taking place place with outside reside live shows with the ocean because the backdrop. Coda del Pesce is a recent Italian restaurant with oceanfront seating – an ideal place to get pleasure from their nice delicacies. Luke ‘n Ollie’s Pizzeria and The Dinghy are low-key locations to seize meals, particularly for those who’ve simply come off the seashore. The Boathouse has been serving native catch seafood since 1997 with a view of the Intracoastal Waterway, however they’re solely open for dinner, and reservations are advisable.

Sullivan’s Island, SC

Sullivan’s Island is an enthralling seashore neighborhood etched into South Carolina’s historical past. In 1775, Colonel William Moultrie defended Charleston from British invasion in the beginning of the Revolutionary Struggle. The unexpectedly constructed fort was incomplete, however the palmetto logs offered shocking safety. The canons both bounced off the spongy logs or sank into them. From that second, South Carolina was generally known as the Palmetto State.

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie Nationwide Historic Park preserves the positioning of the unique fort, though nothing stays of it right now. The construction right now began in 1798, one in all twenty new fortifications within the First System of Forts. The fort performed a job within the first photographs fired within the Civil Struggle when the state militia took management of the federal-controlled Fort Sumter.

Three streets are named to honor the island’s most well-known resident – Edgar Allan Poe. Unable to assist himself as a younger man, Poe enlisted within the U.S. Military. He was stationed at Fort Moultrie for a brief interval in 1827. Poe’s Tavern pays homage to the well-known poet. The gastropub has a number of areas within the Carolinas and Florida, together with Sullivan’s Island.

Aaron Siegel opened House Group BBQ in a former gasoline station in 2006 and now has a number of areas all through Charleston. The restaurant is thought for its savory pulled pork and do-it-yourself sauces. Get the BBQ Nachos – pulled pork, three house-made salsas, sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, and jalapenos.

The Obstinate Daughter serves wood-fired pizzas and southern consolation meals on a seasonal menu. Sullivan’s Fish Camp is the oldest restaurant on the island – opening in 1988, they serve contemporary native seafood straight from the boats at Shem Creek.

Charleston, SC

Since its founding in 1670, Charleston has been one of the distinguished southern cities. At first of the American Revolution, it was the fourth most affluent metropolis within the colonies after New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. Though that prosperity pale, notably after the collapse of the rice business on the finish of the Civil Struggle, the town discovered new life as one of many highest-rated tourism locations on this planet.

Go to Charles Towne Touchdown State Historic Web site to see the place the colony was initially positioned earlier than shifting to the peninsula. Then, proceed up Ashley River Street into the Plantation District. Drayton Corridor preserves the best instance of Palladian structure within the nation. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is the oldest botanical backyard within the nation, with miles of meandering scenic trails. Center Place preserves the landscaped gardens and the South Flanker, the one constructing on the property to outlive the Revolutionary Struggle.

Charleston is split into a number of charming neighborhoods with attractive structure, pleasant competitors for the prettiest backyard, and historical past with each step. Go to Rainbow Row for the enduring Colonial Caribbean shade scheme on the row homes. Stroll alongside The Battery to White Level Gardens and benefit from the harbor view.

READ MORE: Find out how to Go to (and the Historical past of) the Iconic Rainbow Row in Charleston, SC

The Charleston Museum is the oldest within the nation – in truth, it’s two years older than the USA. The museum has a formidable assortment of artifacts and a chronological historical past of the town, taking you from the colonial interval to trendy instances and world historical past.

She-crab soup was invented in Charleston, and it’s a typical aspect dish on most restaurant menus. Head to Higher King Avenue – the portion north of Marion Sq. – and also you’ll discover loads of eating places for a night meal.

North Charleston, SC

North Charleston developed as a navy base for the U.S. Navy from WWII till the Nineteen Eighties. When the bottom was closed, a city distinct from Charleston grew as a replacement. Park Circle is the defacto “downtown,” the place folks collect for meals and enjoyable. Head to Frequent Aleworks for craft beer, Southern Roots Smokehouse for savory barbecue, or DIG within the Park for the very best burger on the town.

The setting was so excellent that Jim Irvin and Scott Newitt moved their Firefly Distillery from close by Wadmalaw Island to a brand new facility in North Charleston. In 2005, the distillery created its hottest drink – Firefly Vodka, a candy tea-flavored vodka. Take a guided distillery tour and luxuriate in two cocktails within the tasting room.

Summerville, SC

Summerville is one other of these cities regularly left out as a result of individuals are too excited to get to Charleston. If you happen to drive previous the menagerie of massive field shops on the interstate exit and maintain going for about ten minutes, you’ll uncover the city’s quiet and charming downtown sq..

In 2010, Chick-fil-A earned the Guinness World Report for the World’s Largest Candy Tea with 912 gallons. 5 years later, Summerville took the title with a 1,452-gallon pitcher of candy tea. The locals declare to be the “house of candy tea” based mostly on provides ordered for a Civil Struggle reunion within the late 1800s. After the title was stolen by Lipton, Summerville rebounded and produced an unbelievable 2,524-gallon of candy tea in an enormous vessel named Mason. Guests can see the large container behind the town corridor.

Benny Mazzetto’s is a series of regionally owned pizzerias identified for his or her 28″ pizza – nevertheless it’s okay, you’ll be able to order only one 14-inch slice at a time. Montreux Bar & Grill has a hearty menu served in a country constructing with creaky picket flooring.

Folly Seashore, SC

Folly Seashore is “the” seashore for Charlestonians. It’s simply an 11-mile drive to the seashore city, however that drive can take between twenty minutes and two hours. Folly Seashore is the quintessential seashore city. Towering palm timber and curbside gardens line Middle Avenue. Pastel colours brighten the buildings.

Pier 101 Restaurant & Bar provides a few of the greatest views with meals, though the rooftop bar at Snapper Jacks can’t be crushed. Rita’s Seaside Grille, The Crab Shack, and Woody’s Pizza are different eating places you would possibly wish to strive. Though a block from the seashore, Loggerhead Seashore Grill options the biggest outside seating space.

READ MORE: Go away the Cobblestone Streets Behind for One in every of These Seashores Close to Charleston

Drive to the island’s north finish and take a brief stroll by way of the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Protect. The 0.4-mile paved street – closed to site visitors – results in a secluded seashore with a view of the close by Morris Island Lighthouse. In-built 1876, erosion has left the lighthouse surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.

Whereas within the space, drive out to the Angel Oak Tree on Johns Island. Thought-about one of many oldest timber east of the Mississippi River, the Angel Oak stands 65 toes tall, covers 17,000 sq. toes, and is believed to be about 500 years previous. A free county park preserves the historic website and permits guests to stroll among the many big drooping branches that snake alongside the bottom.

Edisto Seashore, SC

Edisto Seashore is about an hour south of Charleston and roughly half the space to Beaufort. The island’s north finish is an oceanfront campground in Edisto Seashore State Park. The Plantation Course at Edisto spreads throughout the island’s south finish – a just lately renovated golf course with membership and public tee instances.

Many of the island is roofed in rental properties starting from one-bedroom bungalows to seven-bedroom oceanfront mansions. The vast, clear seashores are excellent for household getaways.

If Whaley’s Restaurant and Bar seems to be like a gasoline station, that’s as a result of it was. The gasoline pumps nonetheless sit exterior. The dive is nothing particular, however the seafood is out of this world. On the opposite finish of the island, The Seacow Eatery is the very best breakfast on the island. However you’ll should arrive early as a result of the road generally snakes out the door.

Botany Bay is on the mainland, about 5 minutes from the island. The wildlife administration space is among the greatest locations to go to on South Carolina’s coast. Drive alongside an oak-lined grime street to a car parking zone and stroll a mile throughout a salt marsh to probably the most secluded seashore within the state. Take a digicam since you’ll need photos of the attractive deadwood timber and flocks of brown pelicans flying overhead.

Beaufort, SC

Beaufort is the second-oldest metropolis in South Carolina. Simply earlier than the American Revolution, the residents unsuccessfully tried to entice the royal governor to maneuver the colony’s capital out of Charleston. Two British troopers killed in battle are buried on the Parish Church of St. Helena, the oldest church within the area.

Bay Avenue is the primary drive-through downtown. The road has improbable native eateries like Fireplace Wooden Fired Pizza, Q on Bay, and Plums. Stroll a brief distance from the road and discover the Outdated Bull Tavern with British grub on the menu. Blackstone’s Café continues a practice of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance each morning at 8 a.m. sharp to pay homage to the city’s historical past with close by Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

Stroll off the meals coma with a stroll by way of Waterfront Park to look at the sundown. Even higher, go for a half-hour drive alongside the Sea Island Parkway to Searching Island State Park. The park covers an island with giant seashores, an oceanfront campground, and the state’s solely lighthouse open to the general public.

Be taught in regards to the city on the Beaufort Historical past Museum inside a citadel construction that served as the house of the militia. At Reconstruction Period Nationwide Historic Park, you’ll be able to study what occurred to the southern city after the Civil Struggle.

Hilton Head Island, SC

Hilton Head Island is a becoming bookend for South Carolina coastal cities. It’s practically as fashionable as Myrtle Seashore and simply as peaceable as North Myrtle Seashore. The city balanced city growth with nature, maintaining as many timber as doable as boundaries between the freeway and buying facilities. Driving alongside the William Hilton Parkway feels extra like a state park than a resort city.

And Hilton Head Island is a resort city. From Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort to the Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa, there are over 30 resorts on the island for a pamper oceanfront trip. However that doesn’t imply it could’t be inexpensive – there are many accommodations, together with the most effective Pink Roof Inns.

Coligny Seashore Park is the very best public seashore entry on the island. The entry is surrounded by native eating places and breweries. Harbortown, on the island’s sound aspect, has extra eating places providing views of the round marina.