Situated on a barrier reef in South Carolina, Pawleys Island is a small town that’s also one of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast. Even as far back as the 1700s, travelers came to enjoy the island’s beaches and dunes. Now visitors come for the white sandy beaches; kayaking, crabbing, and fishing; and locally-made hammocks and cheeses. Some of the first rope hammocks were designed on Pawleys, and can be bought from the original hammock shop, while the local cheesemonger supplies the regional classic, pimento cheese. The area is also known for its ample qualities of delicious blue crab.

The best time to stay in Pawleys Island rentals is from April until October, when temperatures are pleasantly warm with little to no rainfall. Pawleys Island has many events occurring during this time. One such standout is the Pawleys Island 4th of July Parade, with celebratory floats and a boat parade. In October, Pawley Island hosts multiple events, including the Fall Harvest Festival, featuring hayrides, scarecrow building, and pumpkin painting, and the Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art. During this time, musicians perform motown, jazz, and funk, with food and wine tastings offered alongside the performances. During October, you can also catch The Georgetown Wooden Boat Show. Always held on the third weekend in October, it features wooden boat exhibits, boatbuilding, a corrugated boat race, children’s model boatbuilding, and a youth sailing regatta, among other activities.

Atalaya Castle

Atalaya Castle in Huntington Beach State Park is one of the area’s most unusual attractions. Built in the 1930s as the winter home of an acclaimed sculptress and her husband, the residence was inspired by the original Atalaya Castle in Spain. Listed as a National Historic Landmark, it's now the site for the annual Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival and is also available for private functions such as weddings and receptions.

Cheryl Newby Gallery

Cheryl Newby Gallery once exclusively held antique maps and prints but has since expanded to include a wide variety of art and media. Some standout examples include sculptures, fine paintings, and ceramics from talented local artists alongside pieces from national artists. The gallery also hosts a number of shows throughout the year, while still honoring its origins as a talented producer of regional maps and charts.

Hammock History

For over 130 years, the tradition of hammock making has been kept alive by a single family-run shop. The original hammock store still peddles rope offerings in a shopping plaza where it’s joined by a variety of other shops, including art stores, fresh crab and oyster stalls, and a plant nursery. Daily events include international wine tastings and rope hammock-weaving demonstrations.