Whether you are a
history buff or an outdoor enthusiast, or your just want to get away for a
weekend of relaxation and fun, Georgetown County in eastern South Carolina
offers a great selection of destinations, including Murrells’s Inlet, Pawley’s
Island and the city of Georgetown.
Known as the
oldest resort area in the United States, Georgetown County
draws thousands of visitors each year with its offerings of sandy white beaches,
outstanding golf courses, antebellum houses and restored rice plantations. So
why not get a jump on the summer
crowds and enjoy a spring weekend getaway?
Georgetown — A City Steeped in History
In order to really appreciate the
area, an overview of its history is a must. The city of Georgetown
is the state’s third oldest city,
dating back to the early 1700s, and
was founded on land granted by King George II of England. Located at the convergence of four rivers — the Black, Pee Dee,
Waccamaw and Sampit— and on the Intracoastal
Waterway, the city of Georgetown had become a
thriving port by 1735 with the exports of indigo and then
rice. The city also played a pivotal role in both the
American Revolution and the Civil
War.
When you arrive in town, hop on one of the trolley tours provided by Swamp Fox Tours for an
hour-long ride through Georgetown’s
Historic District, with more than 50 homes and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The guides
are well-informed and will entertain you with fascinating stories of the people, events and places that have contributed
to the history of Georgetown. As part of your tour you will
visit Bethel African-American
Episcopal Church, the oldest black
church in South Carolina
and the church where Michelle
Obama’s great-grandfather was married.
Other recommended
historical sites to visit while in Georgetown
include the Kaminski House Museum,
home to a Confederate sea captain and naval commander, the Rice Museum
and the Georgetown County Museum.
Georgetown
has a very laid-back feeling. Take time to stroll the
1,000-foot-long, 12-foot-wide Harborwalk
at the water’s edge with its
many restaurants and shops. For lunch, stop at Goat Island Grill and enjoy one of their
outstanding salads on the deck
overlooking theSampitRiver.
Then stroll down the quaint, lantern-lit
Front Street,
exploring its many unique shops. Be sure to stop at Sweeties, but be warned — you won’t be able to resist their homemade pralines and chocolates. And while we’re
on the subject of food — be sure to make
dinner reservations at theRice Paddy, one of the best restaurants in the
area.
MansfieldPlantation
B&B
While visiting such a historical area, you can experience
what it was like to live on one of Georgetown’s
many historic rice plantations by staying at Mansfield Plantation (circa1718). As
you drive down the beautiful, tree-lined
entrance to the Plantation House,
you will be transported back in time to one of the
most architecturally intact rice plantations in South Carolina, covering almost 1,000 acres.
Current owners John and Sallie
Parker are restoring many of the
buildings, including the slave quarters, the
rice mill and a rice-winnowing tower. You may recognize Mansfield Plantation as
the setting for the movie The
Patriot.
Mansfield Plantation is also a bed and breakfast inn with
nine beautiful guest rooms decorated in period antiques. A full Southern breakfast is served daily in the Plantation House. A sampling for just one
morning includes shrimp and grits, eggs, ham, biscuits and baked apples.
Mark and Wendy Cantey and their
two-year-old son, Michael, are repeat visitors to Mansfield Plantation. “We’ve
come four or five times,” says Mark. “We love to take walks around the grounds, and we like the
fact that children and pets are welcome here.”
Allen and Janet Porter are first-time visitors, who brought
along their kayaks to explore the Black River and
marshes nearby. “We’ve seen bald eagles, hawks, vultures, deer and other sea birds on our outings,” says Janet.
Murrell’s Inlet and
Pawley’s Island
Nature lovers will also want to explore Huntington Beach State Park, located north of Georgetown at Murrells
Inlet. Enjoy a picnic or afternoon at the
beach at this 2,500-acre park, which offers beaches, a maritime forest, salt
marshes with more than 300 bird species, nature trails, a freshwater lagoon and
an education center. There are also tours of the
former winter home of the Huntingtons, known as Atalaya, with its Moorish architecture
and lush courtyard.
Directly across U.S. Highway 17 from the
park is Brookgreen Garden, a must-see.
Originally named The Archer and AnnaHyattHuntingtonSculptureGarden,
it opened in 1931 as America’s
first public sculpture garden. Today, this nonprofit, 9,000-acre outdoor museum
and garden contains the world’s
largest collection of figurative sculptures surrounded by flora. Spring is a
great time to visit as the gardens
are bursting with colorful daffodils, azaleas, dogwoods and other flowers. Leisurely stroll the garden paths or take a pontoon boat tour along former
rice fields to spot alligators and other
wildlife. Plan to spend at least half a day here, and don’t forget your camera!
Heading back toward Georgetown,
stop at Pawley’s Island to explore the
more than 20 specialty shops, restaurants and galleries at the Hammock
Shops Village. Stop at the
original hammock shop where the
world-famous Pawley’s Island rope hammocks are
still made by hand, as they were
centuries ago.
For a wonderful dinner in a unique setting, ask a local
where to find Frank’s Outback,named for its 100-seat outside
dining area located behind the
restaurant in a garden setting under a canopy of lighted trees. Executive Chef
Pierce Culliton serves delicious fare with flavors from Low Country to Pacific Rim.
Don’t despair that the
weekend has flown by. Make plans to visit again during a different time of year,
knowing that each season along theSouth Carolina coast
holds new adventures and wonderful opportunities for visitors.
Sidebar 1
Special Spring Events
Taste of Murrells
Inlet at Huntington Beach State Park Wildlife &
History Day — March 18
Enjoy free admission to Huntington Beach State Park
for the day and enjoy displays,
tours and hands-on activities that give visitors the
opportunity to learn about salt marsh ecology, the history of rice culture,
birding, Atalaya, alligators and more! Restaurants set up at the park to bring to you a “taste of the inlet.” Call (843) 235-8755.
BrookgreenGarden’s Diggin' It! — March 24
This spring garden festival features gardening seminars and
plant vendors. It’s free with paid admissionto BrookgreenGardens ($12 adults/$10
seniors). Visit www.brookgreen.org.
Georgetown’s 62nd Annual Plantation Tours — April 3
& 4
Sponsored by the Episcopal
Church Women of Prince George Winyah Parish, the
tour includes pre-Revolutionary and antebellum churches, town houses and
plantations, as well as tea each afternoon at the
Winyah Indigo Society Hall. The tour is self-guided, but histories and maps
showing routes are provided with tickets. A one-day ticket is $35 and a two-day
ticket costs $60. Call (843) 545-8291 or visit www.pgwinyah.org.
Sidebar 2
For more information
about the places mentioned in this story, see these websites:
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