By Mark A. Stevens, Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce
On South Carolina's Hammock Coast, everything begins with the water, from winding blackwater rivers and salt marshes to Winyah Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Photos Courtesy of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina's Hammock Coast.
Surfers ride the waves. Kayakers explore the tidal creeks. Fishermen reel in prized catches while boaters create stories along the rivers and out at sea. Historically and culturally, water has defined the region, and today it remains the driving force behind Georgetown County's reputation as one of America's premier vacation, boating, and fishing destinations.
Countless others soak up the sun on the pristine beaches of Pawleys Island, Litchfield, Murrells Inlet, southern Garden City and DeBordieu Colony near the historic city of Georgetown. These unspoiled, uncrowded beaches attract visitors throughout the year. It's a welcome contrast to the Hammock Coast's better-known neighbors, Myrtle Beach to the north and Charleston to the south, and it’s part of what made the area one of America's first vacation destinations. In fact, Pawleys Island, named the best beach in South Carolina for the past three consecutive years by USA Today/10 Best, has welcomed visitors to its shores since the 1700s.
In the summer of 2025, Lydia Mansel, writing for Travel + Leisure, summed it up this way: "While Charleston and Myrtle Beach have the name recognition when it comes to waterfront destinations in South Carolina, they're not the only places you can find gorgeous beaches, fresh seafood, and a generally laid-back atmosphere. In fact, the area between the two coastal cities was deemed the 'Hammock Coast' in 2010, harkening back to its relaxed nature and its history.”
It was, after all, a river boat captain, Joshua John “Cap’n Josh” Ward, who was looking for a good night’s sleep during the sultry summer Lowcountry days 130 years ago who first fashioned what is today known far and wide as the “Pawleys Island Hammock.” It’s a hand-woven hammock bed, two wooden spreader bars, and clew knot with a ring for hanging. Folks have been swaying their thoughts away in one of them ever since, and they are still handmade at the Original Hammock Shop in Pawleys Island. Rest, relaxation, rejuvenation? Yes, no wonder, Georgetown County officially adopted South Carolina’s Hammock Coast as its official registered trademark tourism moniker in 2010!
But it's the creeks, rivers and the spectacular stretch of the Atlantic Ocean bordering the Hammock Coast that continue to draw those who love life on the water. In Georgetown, South Carolina's third-oldest city, marinas welcome boaters from around the world. Winyah Bay is the East Coast's third-largest watershed and the area's largest saltwater marsh estuary. Anglers seek out the Hammock Coast for some of the best fishing anywhere, and national tournaments, including the Bassmaster Series, have long been held here, launching from Winyah Bay and bringing competitors to the area's rivers and inlets.
Georgetown also hosts the annual Blue Marlin Tournament; in fact the city is renowned for its blue marlin fishing, with catches reaching up to 14 feet in length and weighing hundreds of pounds. In fact, W.C. "Corky" Taylor landed South Carolina's state-record blue marlin there, an 881.8-pound giant in 2005 aboard a boat named Rascal.
There are plenty of places to boat and walk to in Georgetown for those who enjoy the waterfront. The Harborwalk Marina and Georgetown Landing Marina are among the area's premier facilities for anglers and anyone who enjoys being on the water. Just south of the historic city, Belle Isle Yacht Club and Marina boasts the closest marina to the Gulf Stream in South Carolina.
The recently opened George Hotel, the first hotel in Georgetown's historic district in nearly 60 years, overlooks the Sampit River, and the Hampton Inn shadows the water. New to the scene is the Winyah Bay Club, offering 17 waterfront cottages, each with its own private dock. Georgetown also proudly embraces its maritime heritage via establishments like the South Carolina Maritime Museum, located on Front Street, which hosts the annual Georgetown Wooden Boat Show every October.
Just north of Georgetown, the Hammock Coast community of Murrells Inlet, a historic fishing village proudly known as the "Seafood Capital of South Carolina,” offers its own collection of marinas and water-inspired adventures, including fishing charters, dolphin cruises, parasailing excursions and more. Crazy Sister Marina serves as a hub for many of the area's most popular water activities.
Murrells Inlet's MarshWalk, a half-mile wooden boardwalk along a natural saltwater estuary, offers some of the finest waterfront dining on South Carolina's Hammock Coast. Restaurants along the boardwalk include the iconic Drunken Jack's and several other outstanding eateries. Just a short distance away, visitors will find additional seafood favorites, including Russell's Seafood Grill and Lee's Inlet Kitchen, which has been owned and operated by the same family since 1948 and was once named South Carolina's best seafood restaurant by Southern Living.
For those who prefer to catch or purchase their own dinner, fresh local seafood is never far away. Seafood markets such as Seven Seas Seafood and Stormy Seas Seafood Market offer fish, crab, oysters and succulent South Carolina shrimp. Fresh local catches include black grouper, flounder and many other species.
Whether residents call South Carolina's Hammock Coast home or visitors choose it for a vacation, the water remains its defining attraction — whether it's the Atlantic shoreline, winding creeks, scenic rivers, or expansive Winyah Bay. Warm saltwater breezes remind residents and visitors alike that water is history, life, business and, above all, something everyone can enjoy.