This sleepy Southern town makes Charleston look like Manhattan. Its main drag, East Washington Street, still looks much like it did in the 1950s. While continuing to embrace its endearing small-town ways, it is moving in a new, savvy direction. To wit, its marketing slogan is "Walterboro, the Front Porch of the Lowcountry," with a cherry-red rocking chair as its logo. Those rocking chairs can be found outside shops and restaurants, inviting passersby to sit awhile.
Walterboro has become a fun day trip for Charlestonians. The South Carolina Artisans Center has become a major draw, as have the moderately priced antiques and collectible stores. Annual events include the Rice Festival (a street party with live music and performers) and the Downtown Walterboro Criterium International Bike Race in April or May. The town's proximity to Interstate 95 means there's a bevy of inexpensive motels like Days Inn and Hampton Inn nearby. Travelers wanting more local flavor opt for the homey bed-and-breakfasts in restored houses in the historic downtown.
