Pawleys Island

About 4 miles long and a half-mile wide, Pawleys, sometimes referred to as "arrogantly shabby," began as a resort before the Civil War, when wealthy planters and their families summered here. Today, it's mostly made up of weathered old summer cottages nestled in groves of oleander and oak trees. Headed south, this is the place where you've officially left behind the bustle of the Grand Strand and entered the slower pace of the Lowcountry. You can watch the famous Pawleys Island hammocks being made and bicycle around admiring the beach houses, many dating to the early 1800s. Golf and tennis are nearby. Parking is limited on Pawleys and facilities are nil, so arrive early and bring what you need.