Travel+Leisure puts spotlight on the ‘underrated, uncrowded’ Hammock Coast®

Travel+Leisure puts spotlight on the ‘underrated, uncrowded’ Hammock Coast®

PUBLISHED Aug. 11, 2025

For all its history and adoration, the Hammock Coast® certainly isn’t the most famous of South Carolina’s vacation destinations, but it isn’t exactly a secret either.

Pawleys Island, arguably the Hammock Coast’s most famous community, makes claim to being the oldest seaside resort in America. Georgetown is the third-oldest seaport in the Palmetto State, and Murrells Inlet‘s history goes back to days when pirates sailed the seas.

Still, as Lydia Mansel’s expansive new article for Travel+Leisure magazine points out, South Carolina’s Hammock Coast® is an “underrated” coastal region with “pristine beaches and tasty local seafood” ready for a broader spotlight.

“Reading the Travel+Lesiure article sort of felt like being seen for the very first time,” says Mark A. Stevens, director of tourism development for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce. “We love everything about the Hammock Coast – its history, its beaches, its attractions, but sometimes it takes someone looking from the outside in to give you a whole new perspective on everything.

“Lydia Mansel’s article was like that. She really dove deep into what makes the Hammock Coast stand apart through a nice collection of interviews where locals really had a chance to shine.”

South Carolina’s Hammock Coast finds itself comfortably nestled between South Carolina’s two tourism behemoths – Myrtle Beach to the north and Charleston to the south, but it also stands apart on just how different it is to its more-famous neighbors.

Mansel’s nearly 2,300-word article takes the reader through a list of tips and advice on the area’s best hotels and places to stay; towns to visit; things to do; best shopping; best restaurants; best time to visit; how to get there; and how to get around. In short, it’s a comprehensive look at how to make the best of a vacation to the Hammock Coast. All in all, the article includes details about 23 members of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and a synopsis on the six communities of the Hammock Coast – southern Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach, Pawleys Island, Georgetown and Andrews.

Also included is a “Top 5 Can’t Miss” recommendations: The George Hotel in historic Georgetown; a beach day on a Pawleys Island or Litchfield beach; fresh shrimp from Seven Seas Seafood; a handmade hammock from The Original Hammock Shop in Pawleys Island; and a suggestion to visit during the shoulder seasons of fall and spring.

“While Charleston and Myrtle Beach have the name recognition when it comes to waterfront destinations in South Carolina,” Mansel wrote, “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; a 19th-century boat captain, Joshua John Ward, created what’s now known as the Pawleys Island Hammock, a comfortable rope hammock that’s still made in the area today.”

Judith Puckett-Rinella, owner of the newly opened Wicklow Hall, a boutique bed-and-breakfast south of Georgetown, was one of the locals interviewed for the article and served as an enthusiastic ambassador for the Hammock Coast.

“One thing visitors shouldn’t overlook is the water,” Puckett-Rinella said. “Be sure to work it into your plans, whether it be a boat trip, an eco kayak tour, a guided fishing outing, or simply a beach day. However you choose to experience it, the water is the soul of this region.”

The Hammock Coast’s culinary scene also gets a well-earned spotlight with Chamber members 631 Frank’s on Front in Georgetown, Frank’s and Frank’s Outback, Bistro 217, bisQit, Pawleys Island Tavern (better known as The PIT), The Claw House, and Russell’s Seafood Grill all getting called out as some of the best.

“What I think is really special about the Hammock Coast when it comes to dining is that, with the exception of fast-food eateries, almost all of the restaurants in Georgetown County are locally owned and operated,” Stevens said. “I can count on one hand, and I don’t need all my fingers either, the number of chain restaurants here. It’s a distinction that makes the Hammock Coast a true culinary adventure for locals and vacationers alike.”

Attractions like Huntington Beach State Park, Brookgreen Gardens, and The MarshWalk in Murrells Inlet; the historic district of Georgetown, and the Hammock Shops Village in Pawleys Island are highlighted, too. “Huntington Beach State Park is a favorite of mine. It’s a nature lover’s paradise where you can easily spend a day with the family. The park offers pristine beaches, multiple hiking trails, a chance to see the alligators along ‘Alligator Alley,’ and the opportunity to visit the historic and beautiful Atalaya Castle,” Katelin Lindrose, marketing director at Crazy Sister Marina, detailed in her interview for Mansel’s article.

Beth Stedman, president and CEO of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, which serves as the county’s official Designated Marketing Organization for tourism promotion, said it was a thrill to be included in Travel+Leisure.

“It’s very much like getting a true stamp of approval for the Hammock Coast,” Stedman said, “and I couldn’t be more pleased.”