Perfect Day Trips from Pawleys
While there is plenty to do on Pawleys Island, there are also great attractions that make fun day trips from your beach vacation rental.
History buffs will enjoy a day in Georgetown. Start with a Swamp Fox Tour on a tram, which departs on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday from Bienvenue Home Gift Shop, 814 Front St. Your guide will tell stories (including some ghost tales) of the historic buildings, homes, and churches. Tours are also available by appointment.
After your tour, head to the South Carolina Maritime Museum, currently hosting the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit Water/Ways through Nov. 8. The Museum displays artifacts and interactive exhibits related to South Carolina’s maritime history.
Hungry? Stroll Front Street, packed with restaurants offering mouth-watering dishes. There are also plenty of quaint shops and specialty stores for the shopper in the family. It’s a wonderful way to spend the day.
Or, head south on U.S. Highway 17 to Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum on Charleston Harbor. The USS Yorktown is the centerpiece at this site, but there is so much more including a fleet of National Historic Landmark ships, the Cold War Memorial, and the only Vietnam Experience Exhibit in the U.S. It is a hands-on history lesson that children and adults will enjoy. Finish your day off in the Charleston Harbor with a private sunset sailing tour by Blue Life Charters to enjoy an incredible scene over the Charleston Peninsula before your drive back.
Wine lovers should head about an hour’s drive up U.S. Highway 17 to Duplin Winery at North Myrtle Beach, which offers wine tastings Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s a perfect way to relax while sipping a sweet muscadine wine or a light bubbly. Duplin Winery offers live music and a tasty menu from its onsite Bistro. Cheers!
For the sea lover, Myrtle Beach’s Ripley’s Aquarium offers an amazing look at the underwater world. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Aquarium has implemented safety measures like reduced capacity and mandatory masks for everyone over 6. See clownfish (like Nemo) at the Indo-Pacific Coral Reef exhibit, experience hands-on learning at the Discovery Center, and touch stingrays at Stingray Bay.
Of course, we understand if you prefer to kick back and enjoy the ocean view from the porch or deck. The six-bedroom Dolphinview, for example, offers gorgeous views of the sunrise from its porch and sunsets from its creek dock.
Or, book your stay at The Dinghy, aka Little House, a classic beachfront home on the south end of Pawleys Island with a deck and enclosed porch.
Stay awhile and enjoy all the region has to offer.