Things to do in Georgetown SC

We kinda stumbled upon Georgetown, South Carolina. We were in the area for a wedding, and wanted an afternoon pit stop on our way to the beaches further north. Georgetown is such a cute place so we are so glad we found it. Sitting on Winyah Bay, at the confluence of several rivers, the city has a fascinating history. Once buoyed by a huge steel mill, the town has concentrated on the tourism side of things since the mill shut down in 2015; building a lovely boardwalk along the harbour. The steel mill has recently been bought and will be resurrected soon; which will hopefully bring new families into the town. With a rich history and a promising future, here are some things to do in Georgetown SC.

Hotels in Georgetown

There are lots of accommodation options in Georgetown, from B&Bs based out of beautiful old antebellum homes, to reliable chain hotel brands. You could also stay in nearby Pawleys Island, where there are a lot of options depending on your budget. We stayed at the Best Western Pawleys Island – the rooms were fresh and the staff were friendly – it even had grits on offer for breakfast!

Things to do in Georgetown SC

The Georgetown Harbourwalk

I really appreciate when a town shows off its assets, and the Harbourwalk shows off Georgetown’s waterfront beautifully. A boardwalk runs along the harbour front from the Rice Museum to Kaminski House, and there are plaques explaining the history of the town. Along the front of the boardwalk there are houseboats and boat tour operators, where you can get to see Georgetown from the water.

If you look carefully you can see the occasional juvenile alligator scavenging below the boardwalk – waiting for tourists to drop fries from one of the many restaurants along the boardwalk. It’s important that people don’t feed the wild animals though, because this interrupts the ecosystem and makes the animals dependant on humans. It was wonderful to see an alligator in the wild – such a highlight!

Restaurants

You can have your pick of restaurants along the boardwalk. From bistros with refined southern food, to spit and sawdust bars serving blue cocktails! We chose the latter and enjoyed a relaxing couple of hours looking out over the water; with alligators and boats coming and going. We got chatting to the locals and made firm friends while learning about the history of Georgetown. We encountered such friendly and welcoming people!

Museums and History in Georgetown

Did you know that in the mid 1800s, Georgetown was the biggest exporting port of rice in the world? Yep, rice. Using the swampy lowlands and irrigation from the rivers that drain into Winyah bay, rice is what Georgetown was built on. Unfortunately at the expense of slaves. This boom ended after the civil war and freeing of the slaves; along with some unfortunate bad years with the crops due to hurricanes. There is a Rice Museum on Front Street in Georgetown, where you can learn all about the history of the industry that made this city.

Georgetown Antebellum Homes

With a plantation town comes plantation homes. These grand antebellum homes are a sign of a split society – rich plantation owners and the slave trade. A confronting, but important part of US history which should be acknowledged and understood. The narrative of the slave history of these old houses is often overlooked. Although there are some positive initiatives happening, like ‘Behind the Big House’ in places like Holly Springs.

These days, the beautiful homes are used as museums, B&Bs, and private homes. I adore antebellum architecture. The strange subversion of neo-classical architecture, often mixed with greek revivalist and Georgian elements. These become an interesting reflection of the connection to Europe, yet the break from it too.

There are many plantations in and around Georgetown to visit. Kaminski House is located right near the Harbourwalk and Front Street, and is a wonderful example of Georgian architecture. It is possible to visit as part of daily tours of the premises. Other plantations of note are: The Annandale Plantation, The Black River Plantation House, Mansfield Plantation, and the Hobcaw Barony. Take a walk up Broad Street from Front Street to see an array of beautiful homes.

Front Street

The main street in Georgetown is called Front Street, and has many lovely shops to attract visitors. Galleries, gift shops, jewellery, and low country specialties mixed with bistros, museums, and ice-cream parlours! You can easily fill an hour walking down one side and back the other because of the range of shops on offer. We even found some amazing street art near the public toilets!

Things to do in Georgetown SC

With all the charm of a southern belle, the grit of a town laden with history and its share of ups and downs. And the friendliest locals you could ask for. Georgetown, South Carolina, is a peach of a destination. There are so many things to do in Georgetown SC; but one of the best is getting to experience some good ol’ fashioned low country hospitality. Go on, get on it!

We fell in love with the east coast of the US – from Rock n’ Roll in Myrtle Beach, to manatee-spotting on Cumberland Island!

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 24 mm f/2.8 STM Lens; and an iPhoneX.