The Georgetown County community has won the National Civic League’s All-America City Award. After a weekend of competition, including a presentation and cultural exhibition, the Georgetown delegation rose from a group of thirty finalists to be one of ten nationwide winners. This contest is the nation’s longest running and most prestigious civic recognition program.

The All-America City program both encourages and recognizes civic excellence by honoring outstanding communities in which citizens, government, businesses and nonprofit organizations demonstrate successful resolution of critical area issues. This year marks Georgetown County’s first entry into the contest, a field that initially had 800 entries from communities nationwide.

In winning this acknowledgment, Georgetown County is being recognized for its commitment to providing quality public health care, promoting community service, and developing a long-range plan for the county’s growth and future prosperity.

In accepting the award, County Councilman Thomas Earl Drayton remarked, “The people of Georgetown are a very proud people, and we brought that pride to this competition. If sometime during this week, you feel like your buttons are about the pop off, you might just find that you’ve talked with or walked with someone from Georgetown County.”

“Beyond the benefits Georgetown County will derive from this award – in tourism, in economic development, in civic pride – personally, this has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my life,” said County Council Chair Sel Hemingway. “The sense of unity of people from all walks of life in our county has been inspirational. I just wish everyone in Georgetown County could have attended and experienced this.”

Preparations for the competition involved county officials, leaders, and citizens in an overall effort to boost awareness and rally support for the delegation as it left for Atlanta. From distributing and submitting flyers to publishing newspaper articles, from making financial contributions to supporting the delegation in Atlanta, Georgetown’s residents made their excitement about the All-America City competition clear.

Georgetown County intends to leverage this win in economic development efforts, travel and tourism marketing, residential development and in fostering community pride.

Whether you have seen Georgetown County in passing or spent a lifetime here, it is no secret to anyone that the area is unlike any other. With its rich history, beautiful natural scenery, strong sense of culture, and old-fashioned Southern hospitality, Georgetown County is a true coastal treasure. This year, Georgetown County is receiving the national attention it deserves for being such a unique and undeniably inviting place to live or visit.

If it's a picturesque beach escape you are looking for, Georgetown County is the place to visit. Your family will always enjoy the memories of a vacation on the gorgeous, inviting shore of South Carolina. For the perfect "turn the TV off" getaway, head down to Litchfield Beach, Pawleys Island and Garden City; these beaches promise miles of powdery white sand perfect for building sandcastles, impromptu games of beach tag and afternoon walks searching for sharks' teeth. Bring your binoculars and look out into the vast blue ocean; you may just see a group of dolphins passing by. Catch sight of a diving pelican or toss out some breadcrumbs on the sand and watch the seagulls gather for a show.

To escape the traffic and noise of your daily life, enjoy a lazy day exploring the natural beauty of Georgetown County. Huntington Beach State Park is ideal for discovering freshwater lagoons, salt marshes, and maritime forests. The park, a natural habitat for all types of wildlife, has been widely recognized as one of the best birding locations along the East Coast. With camping sites equipped with electricity and water, boat access, swimming areas and picturesque nature trails, Huntington Beach is sure to entertain and excite your family with its natural splendor. With your admission to the park, you can also visit Atalaya, an enchanting 55-room Moorish style castle with a 40-foot tower.

If it is historical places you would like to explore, your family trip should start in the town of Andrews. Housed in the city's original Town Hall, which was built in 1900, the Old Town Hall Museum offers an exciting educational experience for the whole family. Children will enjoy exploring the Victorian-age schoolroom and seeing the children's toys and train memorabilia that are on display.

From Andrews, you can take a trip to the Rice Museum, located in historic downtown Georgetown, the third oldest city in South Carolina. The Rice Museum sits at the end of the beautiful downtown harbor walk and marina, where you can grab an ice cream cone, wander along the docks, admire the magnificent boats, and perhaps catch a glimpse of the Kaminski House, a historic home located on a bluff directly behind the Visitor's Center.

Later, take your family on a window-shopping stroll down Front Street, Georgetown's own Rainbow Row of stores. Savor the long, warm days and unhurried evenings; Georgetown County is a place where time seems to move a little more slowly than normal.

When your life seems to be one typical, hectic day after another, the solution could be as simple as a relaxing family trip to this beautiful coastal area. The serene beaches, easy-going attitudes, and rejuvenating family activities may be just what you need to slow down your busy life. Whether it's building sandcastles, visiting historic sites, dining at waterside restaurants, viewing coastal wildlife or just making your own family memories in a peaceful setting, there is something for everyone. Share with your loved ones an experience that will stay alive forever in their hearts and memories. Start your vacation planning now by visiting www.visitgeorgetowncountysc.com.

As part of the Myrtle Beach Grand Strand, Georgetown County is a golfer's paradise. In the vernacular, "an ace." With a variety of top-ranked courses that offer breathtaking views and challenges for both the beginner and pro, you're sure to find the layout and price range that suits you to a tee.

Georgetown County's history was built on the growing of indigo and rice on plantations that lined its five beautiful, black-water rivers. Today, many of these plantations grow flag sticks on superbly maintained courses that wind around old reserve ponds and graceful cypress swamps. Links style courses lined with centuries-old oaks draped with Spanish moss overlook our waterways, bays and ocean, offering golfers challenges tempered with breathtaking Carolina Lowcountry beauty.

The quality of golf in Georgetown County is unsurpassed. The list of course designers who have worked their magic here reads like a who's who. Greg Norman. Pete Dye. Jack Nicklaus. William Byrd. Tom Fazio. Mike Strantz. Ron Carl. Tom Jackson. Dan Maples. and Clyde Johnson.

Golf publications have recognized the high caliber of golf in Georgetown County. A Top 100 Course for Women is located on the Waccamaw Neck, with two others located in the neighboring Myrtle Beach area. And Golf Digest magazine ranks the Waccamaw Neck area as having the most Top 25 courses in 2001 in South Carolina.

With the quality and the variety of courses in and near Georgetown County, it's easy to make golf a part of your vacation. Budget-minded golf packages are available at many of the area accommodations, and a number of courses offer programs that make golf for the entire family affordable and fun. So why not plan to make this vacation the one where you introduce the kids to the great game of golf?

Georgetown County, the oldest family resort area in the nation, is a peaceful alternative to the hustle and bustle of its northern neighbor, Myrtle Beach. The county extends from Garden City Beach south to the Santee River at the Charleston County line and offers visitors an array of opportunities - from outdoor activities to historical tours, inns and resort accommodations and meeting facilities.

Many exciting possibilities await visitors in Georgetown County! For more detailed information on area golf courses or further information on Georgetown County, visit the Web site at www.visitgeorgetowncountysc.com, or call 1-866-368-TOUR

One of Georgetown County's most celebrated and unique aspects is its flourishing Gullah culture. Today's Gullah community is descended from West African slaves who were brought to South Carolina's many coastal rice plantations. There, they remained relatively isolated, strengthening their beliefs, traditions, and language - all of which have been passed down through the generations.

For over three hundred years, Georgetown County has been home to this distinctive population, which has maintained the many African traditions that form its foundation. The word Gullah is used both for the native members of this culture and for its language, a distinctive blend of English and African words. The social order in the Gullah community is tightly woven, based on African mores. Gullah culture continues to evolve and flourish due to a renewed desire for the preservation of their traditions and proud history.

The word 'Gullah' represents a people, a language, and a culture that have survived, and even flourished, through years of slavery, cultural change, and development. Even today, native Africans can look to the Gullah of Georgetown County as a people sharing many mutual elements of language, customs, culture and cuisine.

Sweetgrass basket weaving is one of the dominant pastimes of the Gullah people, and one of the oldest crafts of African origin in the United States. Other Gullah traditions include preparing traditional African meals, quilting, and knitting fishing and shrimp nets. Folklore, stories and songs also play a significant role in their culture.

Visitors to Georgetown County can learn more about the Gullah culture and its role in history by visiting the Dreamkeepers' Community Art Center, a project of the Committee for African-American History Observance. This center follows the history of African-Americans in Georgetown from slavery on, and is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Director David Drayton will also open the center at other times upon request. To visit, please stop by 1623 Gilbert Street in Georgetown, or call the center at (843) 546-1974.

For further information on the Gullah culture, or to take home a piece of its history, visitors can go to the Gullah Ooman shop on Pawley's Island. Owner Bunny Rodrigues sells sweet grass baskets, shrimp nets, African herbs and spices, and many books on Gullah history for any interested visitors. The store is located at 421 Petigru Drive and visitors can call (843) 235-0747 with questions.

Visitors familiar with Myrtle Beach's attractions are invited to vacation this year in Georgetown County, SC - close to all the activity, yet a world apart.

Located south of Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet is known for its sumptuous seafood restaurants. This fishing village offers antique browsing, strolling the Marshwalk, jet skiing, championship golf, charter fishing, ecology tours, bicycling and more. An intriguing history including ghosts and the legend of Drunken Jack make "The Inlet" a must stop. Murrells Inlet and Garden City Beach both offer accommodations from beach house and condominium rentals to hotels/motels to suit any budget.

A little further south on US 17, Brookgreen Gardens, located on the site of four colonial rice plantations, is home to trees and plants native to the Southeastern United States and 900 pieces of American figurative sculpture. Huntington Beach State Park offers visitors an up-close glimpse of wildlife and 7 miles of pristine undeveloped beachfront.

Continuing south to the Pawleys Island/Litchfield Beach area, a place where families have been building lasting memories for generations, visitors can enjoy glimmering sunsets over salt marshes and white, sandy beaches. This area, known as "the oldest resort area in the nation," has been a vacation home to families since rice plantation owners came during the hot summers to enjoy the cool ocean breezes. Fishing, crabbing, boating and building sand castles are favorite pastimes to pass on to children and grandchildren. Kayaking, canoeing, swimming, surfing and jet skiing are also great fun. This area is rich in history and Lowcountry beauty with majestic Live Oak trees, Spanish moss and vast expanses of marshlands. All types of accommodations are available for nightly and weekly rental.

Rated among the top 100 small towns in America, the historic City of Georgetown seaport anchors the county with its tree-lined streets and historic homes. The downtown area offers riverfront dining and shopping as well as plantations and other attractions. Visitors can learn about Georgetown's extensive history from narrated tram and riverboat tours. Rice was first produced here in 1720. The flooding of black-water rivers nurtured the fields which made commercial rice production possible. These rivers also formed a seaport that opened the market for slaves brought to work the rice fields. Based on the methodology of wetland rice cultivation and the labor of knowledgeable enslaved Africans, the region produced more than 50% of the rice grown in the Unites States. The friendly town of Andrews is located west of Georgetown and offers visitors a peaceful agricultural alternative, antiquing opportunities and blackwater kayaking.

Georgetown County is a peaceful alternative to the hustle and bustle of its northern neighbor, Myrtle Beach. For more information on building lasting memories in Georgetown County, visit our Web site at www.visitgeorgetowncountysc.com or call toll free 1-866-368-TOUR.

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Home to America's first public sculpture garden, Brookgreen Gardens was founded in 1931 by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington to preserve the native flora and fauna and display objects of art within a natural setting. A National Historic Landmark, Brookgreen is today home to one of the country's leading cultural and educational institutions, a wildlife sanctuary, 2,000 species of native plants and 900 works of American sculpture that date from the early 1800s to the present.

Located in the heart of a 9,100-acre preserve along the South Carolina coast between Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island, Brookgreen is open daily from 9:30-5:00 pm. From March 26-April 30, 2005 Brookgreen will be open until 8:00 pm, allowing visitors to take full advantage of the colorful gardens at their peak.

Many exciting activities and events take place year-round at Brookgreen Gardens. In celebration of African American History Month, Brookgreen Gardens will feature a new sculpture exhibition entitled "African Echoes: Influences in American Arts." The exhibit, which runs from January 29 through February 28, showcases the influence of African tribal arts on many of artists from the 20th century and includes examples of these influences in sculpture, potters, basketry and more.

The annual Spring Celebration will take place March 10th, in honor of founders Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington's birthdays and wedding anniversary. The celebration will include birthday cake and special activities throughout the day.

Admission to Brookgreen Gardens is valid for seven consecutive days and includes access to many of the daily programs and tours, including a guided garden stroll, sculpture focus tour and the interactive "meet the animals" program. Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for seniors over age 65. Children 12 and younger are free when accompanied by an adult and admission for young adults ages 13-18 is $10. For more information, including a list of upcoming events, visit www.brookgreen.org or call toll-free 1-800-849-1931.

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GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C.- People who enjoy hunting for spooks, spirits and ghost stories conjured up from the South's rich history will find a host of legendary tales in Georgetown County, S.C. Located just north of Charleston, S.C., Georgetown County has been home to ghosts for generations.

More than a half dozen haunted houses are within walking distance of each other in downtown Georgetown, while others can be found in many of the old churches and Lowcountry plantations of South Carolina. See a complete listing at www.visitgeorgetowncountysc.com.

Visitors can stay at the Harbor House Bed and Breakfast, www.harborhousebb.com, in Georgetown to learn about a prominent young lady who met a sailor while walking her dog. Her father did not approve of the sailor, because he was a common ship's officer, and forbade her from seeing him. When her father was away, the girl would turn on all the lights on the second floor to let him know it was safe to come over. Today lights are sometimes seen on the second floor for no apparent reason. People also see a girl looking out the window in the distance for her love to come back to her.

Many people have died at Georgetown County's Hampton Plantation, www.discoversouthcarolina.com/stateparks, built in 1735, now a historic site that is open for tours. The owner's son, John Henry Rutledge, committed suicide in the house after his girlfriend's parents would not allow their romance to continue. Guests have heard a man sobbing, as well as thumping noises on the floor above the dining room.

The original owner of the Henning-Miller House, built in 1760, let British soldiers stay in his house during the Revolutionary War. Back then, all houses had a "burglar step," a broken stair that a burglar would not know about, trip on and alarm the family there was a trespasser. One night the soldiers were called out in the middle of the night. One of the soldiers tripped on the step, broke his neck and died. Today no one ever trips on that step because people say they feel a hand come up to help steady them. It's said to be the soldier's hand.

Georgetown is home to some of the most beautiful and historic sites still standing, and the perfect place for a ghost story to come alive.

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The Stories Behind The Haunted Houses Of Georgetown County, South Carolina

Below is a list of a few haunted places in Georgetown. The first is a home in Murrells Inlet. The next five are located in downtown Georgetown, the two following are located on old plantations and the last one is an old church. Some are private homes no longer open to the public. Others are bed and breakfasts or historic sites open for daily mansion tours.

1. The Hermitage - Murrells Inlet
More than 150 years ago, 16-year-old Alice Flagg and her widowed mother moved into her wealthy brother's home in Murrells Inlet, in coastal South Carolina. Despite her family's disapproval, she fell in love and became engaged to a young merchant. When her family forbade her to see him, she secretly wore her engagement ring on a ribbon around her neck, concealing it beneath the collar of her dress.

Soon after, Alice was sent to Charleston to attend school, but she never forgot her true love and often pressed her hand to her chest to make sure her ring was still there. When Alice became sick with malarial fever, her brother rushed by carriage to bring her home. Back at Murrells Inlet and drifting in and out of consciousness, Alice reached for her ring, and found it was gone. She weakly cried out, "Give me my ring. I want my ring." She died the next morning.

For more than 150 years, Alice has been seen roaming the halls and grounds of her home, the Hermitage, at Murrells Inlet, presumably in search of her ring. To this day, observers also say they've seen a young lady in a lovely white flowing dress walking beneath the live oak trees in the cemetery at All Saints Waccamaw Episcopal Church where Alice was buried.

While The Hermitage in Murrells Inlet is now a private residence, the gate at All Saints Church is usually open, and you can walk among the grave markers of the rice planters, the people who lost their lives during the terrible hurricane of October 13, 1893, and see the gravesite marked ALICE. All Saints Church is on S.C. 255, about three miles west of Pawleys Island.

2. The DuPre House- 921 Prince Street, Georgetown, S.C.
Built in 1740 - www.duprehouse.com
When her husband died, a young mother was forced to move into the guesthouse in the back and rent out this house for income. One night, her child was playing with a matchbox and left it outside when her mother called her in for dinner. The mother woke up in the middle of the night to find the house in flames. She escaped with her daughter, but realized she had forgotten the cashbox. She went back and was killed in the flames. No one knows what ever happened to her little girl. Recent owners have seen tiny footprints appear on newly vacuumed carpet leading from a door to a blank wall, but not returning. A child is also seen in the window trapped on the top floor, but when people go up to check they can never find the child.

3. The Henning-Miller House - 331 Screven Street, Georgetown, S.C.
Built in 1760
The original owner let British soldiers stay in his house during the Revolutionary War. Back then, all houses had a "burglar step," a broken stair that a burglar would not know about, trip on and alarm the family there was a trespasser. One night the soldiers staying in the house were called out in the middle of the night. One of the soldiers forgot about the step, tripped, broke his neck and died. Today no one ever trips on that step because people say they feel a hand come up to help steady them. It's said to be the soldier's hand.

4. The Harbor House (formerly the Heriot-Tarbox House) - 15 Cannon Street, Georgetown, S.C.
Built in 1765 - www.harborhousebb.com/
A prominent young lady once lived there with her family and beloved dog. One day, she met a man while walking her dog, and they began a romance. Her father did not approve of the sailor because he was a common ship's officer, and forbade her from seeing him. The girl discovered a way to see her love when her father was away. She would turn on all the lights on the second floor to let him know it was safe to come over. Today lights are sometimes seen on the second floor for no apparent reason. People also see a girl looking out the window in the distance for her love to come back to her. She was heartbroken and never found another love. She lived alone in the house with her dogs until she was very old. She died one morning while giving the dogs their water. People also say they hear the sound of the dogs walking around the house looking for their master.

5. The Waterman House - 622 Highmarket Street, Georgetown, S.C.
Built in 1770
A young girl who once lived there haunts this house. She was in love with her cousin, but her parents refused to let their relationship continue. When he left to travel, she asked him to bring her some perfume. When he came back, he brought her the perfume and then had to leave again. Sometime later, she saw him from her upstairs window leaving a downtown tavern with his arm around a local wench. They were headed for a local inn. Heartbroken, she spotted the bottle of perfume on her dresser, gulped down the poisonous liquid and died. Her ghost still keeps a vigil in the dormer window of her favorite treetop room, waiting and watching for her faithless captain.

6. The Morgan-Ginsler House - 507 Prince Street, Georgetown, S.C.
Built in 1825
This house was a gift to a young couple after their wedding by family members. During the Civil War, Union soldiers forced the couple to leave so they could use the house as a hospital. After the war, the family moved back in. They continued to hear sounds in the dining room, which was used as the operating room, and realized it must be the ghosts of the soldiers who died while being treated at the hospital.

7. Hampton Plantation State Historic Site -1950 Rutledge Road, Georgetown, S.C.
Built in 1735 - www.discoversouthcarolina.com/stateparks
Many people have died at the Hampton Plantation, including one of the owner's sons, John Henry Rutledge. Rutledge committed suicide in the house after his girlfriend's parents would not let them be together. Guests have heard a man sobbing as well as dragging and thumping noises on the floor above the dining room. Guests also see rocking chairs sway back and forth with no one around.

8. The Wedgefield Plantation Manor -129 Clubhouse Lane, Georgetown, S.C.
Built in 1760 - www.wedgefield.com
British soldiers kept Patriot soldiers prisoner in this house. A lady who wanted to help the Patriots escape pretended to be a British sympathizer. She threw the British soldiers a party, and all of them came except one British soldier who stayed on guard. When Patriot soldiers came to rescue the prisoners, the sole British soldier kept them all out until a Patriot soldier came at him with a sword and cut his head off. The Patriot soldiers did not know what to do with him, so they buried the headless soldier in the garden. Today people claim to see the headless body searching the grounds looking for his head.

9. Old Gunn Church - Corner of Plantersville Rd. & Frederick Dr., Georgetown, S.C.
Built in 1859
A carpenter who was building the church climbed the roof of the church to measure it, fell and died. The front porch is all that remains today. People still say they see the ghost of the carpenter up on the roof.

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Finding Hidden Treasures on South Carolina?s Coast

Georgetown County, between Charleston and Myrtle Beach on South Carolina?s vacation paradise, has been home to both scoundrels and heroes over the past two centuries. The notorious pirate, Blackbeard, haunted the county?s coastal waters and plundered local shipping. No one is sure if he buried his own ill-gotten treasure here, but the area?s jewels are far too abundant to be contained in a single sand-covered chest. And its treasures are steeped in history ?

In the late 1600s and early 1700s, the profits from rice plantations built Georgetown County into one of the wealthiest areas in pre-civil war America. But the price of rice was costly in human terms. The old slave market located on Front Street -- today known as the Rice Museum ? is ironically the same building a Confederate town council met in 1865 to surrender Georgetown to the Union Navy.

Drunken Jack?s Restaurant in Murrells Inlet will serve up a seafood platter with a heaping helping of lore about local pirates. Guides provide boat tours along the same plantation-lined black-water rivers made famous by Revolutionary War general Francis Marion, the ?Swamp Fox.?

The county boasts 16 golf courses, and a relaxing rhythm of the ocean waves, sea birds and the squeaking of a rope hammock swaying in the breeze.

Enjoy walking barefoot along the miles of pristine white beaches found in Pawleys Island, Litchfield and Garden City Beach. These beaches are amongst the prettiest the coast of South Carolina has to offer. Beach-goers can enjoy the powdery-soft sand between their toes as they scout the shores for sand dollars, conch shells and starfish.

For a first-hand feel of Georgetown County and its unique brand of Southern hospitality, spend the night at the Harbor House, a waterfront Bed and Breakfast, circa-1765, in Georgetown. Or try the 1780s-built Mansfield Plantation on the Black River, where you?ll wake up to a big Southern breakfast (with grits) with a side order of local ?pearls of wisdom.?

The heart of the City of Georgetown is Front Street. Lined with a rainbow of calico shops and tempting eateries, you can shop for antiques, fashions and unusual gifts. Behind the shops, saunter along the boardwalk on the same harbor where the Marquis de Lafayette came ashore when he arrived to aid a beleaguered George Washington. Stop in the Front Street Deli for lunch, or in Thomas? Caf? for a ?blue-plate special,? complete with that Southern delicacy, fried green tomatoes.

Stroll through the national historic district of downtown Georgetown, where more than 50 beautiful old buildings and immaculately gardened homes lend their shaded charm to the Spanish moss cascading from centuries-old live oaks. These oaks guard the old gravestones in the cemetery of Prince George Episcopal Church on Highmarket Street, which date back into the early 1800s.

Restaurants throughout the county take great pride in preparing the abundant local seafood and ingredients into meals to remember. Enjoy the finest in dining experiences, at, say, the Rice Paddy. Or, if a more casual evening seems more your style, grab your cooler and head for the Independent Seafood company just off Front Street, and take home a fresh-off the boat seafood feast.

Much of the local fare comes from Winyah Bay, a salt-water estuary just south of Georgetown. Bounded by reserves which serve as homes to valuable wildlife including millions of waterfowl, otter and deer, the bay is a gigantic nursery, producing flounder, red fish and shrimp.

Much of the natural beauty of Georgetown County lies to the north in the area called Waccamaw Neck. Here, the river waters run fresh, uniquely black and bountiful.

The first stop northward is Pawleys Island, the oldest resort area in America, now a bustling seaside community with unique shops and restaurants, championship golf courses and large beach homes that easily accommodate large family groups. A few of the original summer homes built by the early planters still stand on the island today.

Litchfield Beach, adjacent to Pawleys Island, as well as Garden City Beach, also attract generations of vacationers to wide expanses of white sand and gentle sea breezes each season. Accommodations from individual beach houses to condominiums to hotels and inns are abundant throughout.

One of the area?s unique shops is the Gullah O?oman Shop. Bunny and Andrew Rodrigues, a local couple known nationally for their knowledge of the history and culture of the Gullah people, own this Lowcountry craft store, where you?ll find gourds, dolls, sweet grass baskets, African artifacts, books and much more. Bunny narrates stories of the Gullah people, many of which are beautifully illustrated on many story quilts found throughout the shop.

Brookgreen Gardens on Highway 17, America?s first sculpture garden, houses magnificent gardens, a natural zoo, and over 500 pieces of sculpture. Alligators, otters, deer and egrets can be seen here in their natural habitats. Pontoon boat cruises are available to take guests through the old rice fields, creeks and the cypress-lined Waccamaw river.

Not far away, Huntington Beach State Park offers a fresh water lagoon, camping, nature trails and programs, beach recreation, fishing and a boardwalk from which visitors can view wildlife. It even boasts Atalaya Castle, the original home of Brookgreen Garden?s founders.

Murrells Inlet, only minutes away, boasts its ?restaurant row,? which has earned this fishing village the title, ?Seafood Capital of South Carolina.? At day?s end, head for the Hot Fish Club in Murrells Inlet for some live music and a spectacular nighttime view of the salt marsh.

This is just a sampling of what Georgetown County has to offer. Come and discover the treasures for yourself.

Call toll-free 1-866-368-TOUR.

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From hush puppies with honey butter to shrimp, grits and grilled grouper, Georgetown County, South Carolina is a Southern culinary destination

Flowing black water rivers and tranquil ocean waters provide the backdrop to some of this area?s most succulent seafood, time-honored biscuit recipes and freshly grown vegetables. Welcome to South Carolina?s Georgetown County, where award-winning chefs have come from all over the world to create delicacies in a place where only the freshest of seafood graces the local markets. Georgetown County?s rich gaming traditions have also influenced its culinary history to include specialties like quail and duck to tempt the palates of locals and visitors alike.

The days of searching the seas and inlets for dinner are still very much a way of life for the small community known as Murrells Inlet, located just south of Myrtle Beach. Mouth-watering Lowcountry cuisine has earned it the title ?Seafood Capital of South Carolina.? The four-mile stretch of land that abuts a saltwater estuary is home to more than 30 restaurants with a long history of serving hushpuppies dripping in honey butter, sugary sweet southern iced tea and, of course, the best tasting fried and broiled seafood on the coast. Many have captured culinary awards judged by internationally known icons of food preparation. Others serve their family-owned secret recipes each evening in weathered, age-old structures. Try Lee?s Inlet Kitchen or the more upscale Divine?s Fish House for your meal and, after dinner, don?t forget a stroll on the new 1,400-foot marsh walk that winds over the wetlands and allows a closer view of the wildlife and waterfowl that grace the village shores.

Pawleys Island, Litchfield and Garden City Beach offer more Lowcountry favorites. Louis Osteen, chef and owner of Louis?s at Pawley?s and the Fish Camp Bar located at the Hammock Shops on Highway 17, is widely celebrated for his rejuvenation of Southern cuisine. He began his career at Pawleys in 1980, and has since stirred the attention of international audiences with his original recipes, including Lowcountry She-Crab Soup and Preserved Duck with Fried Grits. Frank?s Restaurant is located in the historic landmark site of Marlow's Supermarket off Highway 17 in Pawleys Island, and is a favorite of locals. The enormous, antique mahogany bar that was handcrafted in the late 1800s provides a centerpiece to this bustling bistro with a truly fantastic wine list.

Historic downtown Georgetown also offers a wide variety of satisfying dining choices to suit all desires, from dining at the Lands End Restaurant and enjoying its magnificent views of the harbor, grabbing a sandwich and something sweet (the sugar cookies are the best!) at the Kudzu Bakery, or sitting down to a heaping home-style ?meat and three? plate at Thomas Caf?. For an elegant evening option, make reservations at the Rice Paddy or The River Room, both located on Front Street directly across from the Harborwalk. The Rice Paddy is known for its succulent lamb and veal, and they both boast the freshest seafood around.

If you are looking for delicious country cooking, be sure to visit the town of Andrews and Magnolia?s Dining and Catering, located on Main Street, where the chefs cook up well-known Southern entrees, such as fried chicken, green beans and gravy, daily. It?s worth the drive!

From the freshest local delicacies, to spectacular oceanfront views and lively local entertainment, Georgetown County has a dining experience for everyone to enjoy. Georgetown County, South Carolina, situated along the coast between Myrtle Beach and Charleston, is a peaceful alternative to the hustle and bustle of its northern neighbor, Myrtle Beach. The county extends from Garden City Beach south to the Santee River at the Charleston County line. For further dining information, please visit the website at www.visitgeorgetowncountysc.com or call the toll free number at 1-866-368-TOUR.

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Summer Family Fun in Georgetown County, South Carolina

Of all the things your kids will remember growing up, family trips are sure to be high on their lists. From the relaxing days spent building sandcastles and counting pelicans flying overhead to the group of alligators spotted during an afternoon boat trip, these experiences create memories that your kids will carry with them forever. Rated among the top 100 small towns in America, Georgetown County offers a laid-back, relaxing beach vacation as well as a wealth of activities, attractions and accommodations for the entire family.

THE BEACH
Your kids will enjoy the memories of a vacation on the beautiful, sandy beaches of South Carolina. For the perfect ?turn the TV off? getaway, Litchfield Beach, Pawleys Island and Garden City beaches promise miles of powdery white sand, perfect for building sandcastles, impromptu games of beach tag and afternoon strolls searching for shark teeth. Show your kids how to catch crabs off the dock of your vacation house and hear them scream with delight when the wiggly crabs come up with the net. Bring your binoculars and look out into the vast ocean; you may just see a group of dolphins passing by. You can watch a diving pelican looking for his lunch or toss some bread crumbs on the sand and watch the sea gulls gather for a show.

WILDLIFE AND AN ENCHANTING CASTLE
Huntington Beach State Park is an ideal destination for families interested in exploring freshwater lagoons, salt marshes, maritime forests and tranquil beaches. The park, a natural habitat for all types of wildlife, has been widely recognized as one of the best birding locations along the East Coast. With camping sites equipped with electricity and water, boat access, swimming areas and picturesque nature trails, Huntington Beach is sure to entertain and excite your family with its natural splendor. And, with your admission to the park, you can also visit Atalaya, an enchanting 55-room Moorish style castle with a 40-foot tower (Atalaya is Spanish for watchtower).

PIRATE ADVENTURES
Further up the road in Murrells Inlet, Capt. Dick?s offers deep sea fishing trips, ocean sightseeing, saltwater marsh exploration and pirate adventure tours that are fun for every age group. With special rates for children, Capt. Dick?s deep-sea adventure is a fun and affordable way to experience some real Lowcountry fishing action while gazing up close at the dolphins swimming alongside the boat. Captain Snake Scabbard narrates tales of pirate adventures, ghost stories of the sea and much more.

HISTORIC SITES
If it is historical places you would like to explore, your family trip should start in the town of Andrews. Housed in the city?s original Town Hall, which was built in 1900, the Old Town Hall Museum offers an exciting educational experience for the whole family. Children will enjoy exploring the Victorian-age schoolroom and seeing the children?s toys and train memorabilia that are on display. From Andrews, you can take a trip to the Rice Museum, located in historic downtown Georgetown, the third oldest city in South Carolina, where town the council met in 1865 during the War Between the States to surrender the city to the U.S. Navy.

Whether it?s building sandcastles, visiting historic sites, dining at dockside restaurants, viewing coastal wildlife or listening to ghost stories on a sunset cruise, Georgetown County has something for everyone. So share with your kids an experience that will survive forever in their hearts and memories. Start your vacation planning by visiting www.visitgeorgetowncountysc.com and let the rest make history.

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Timeline:

• Pre-1500?s--The Native Americans, including Pee Dee, Waccamaw, Winyah, and Santee came to live peacefully in Georgetown
• 1526?The first Europeans came to settle in Georgetown County
• Mid-1600?s?The Native Americans were conquered and English and French outposts replaced the wild but beautiful terrain left by the Native Americans
• Early 1700?s?The demand for the rare Royal Blue Indigo dye in England skyrocketed, creating the opportunity for amazing wealth in Georgetown where indigo was already growing along its coastal plains. This change to indigo cultivation created an aristocratic society of planters and helped Georgetown to sever ties with England thanks to its newfound financial independence.
• 1729?Georgetown became a busy seaport, bustling with imports and exports from England. All this activity gave rise to the reign of the pirates, who lurked ominously offshore burying their stolen treasure and plotting their next attack.
• 1781?Francis Marion, born in Winyah, single-handedly defeated a troop of British soldiers in the Revolutionary War, coming to the aid of his American compatriots. His role in the ordeal earned him his name, ?The Swamp Fox.?
• Late 1700?s?Over 40,000 acres of land were cleared in Georgetown, and the second largest rice culture in the world was established, transforming the area into one of the wealthiest in the nation. This crop, which became known in England as ?Carolina Gold? rice insinuating it?s high quality, created an enormous amount of growth and expansion in Georgetown, and gave life to the elegant plantations and mansions still standing today.
• Early 1800?s?With the prospering rice Plantations came slavery. Some of the largest slave-holding plantations were found in this area along the Waccamaw River. The largest plantation was said to have 1,121 slaves.
• 1840?s?Georgetown produced almost half the rice grown in the U.S.
• Early 1900?s? The golden era of the rice empire was crushed by Mother Nature, who sent devastating storms through the fields. With slavery at its end, there was not enough labor to rebuild, and Georgetown saw its last commercial rice harvest whither away in 1919.
• 1930? It was announced that the largest paper mill in the world would be built in Georgetown. Today this very mill is responsible for the majority of our agricultural forestland.
• 1930s? Brookgreen Gardens, a showplace of art and nature, was developed by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington on the site of four colonial rice plantations. Today it remains home to among 2,000 species of plants and over 550 pieces of America?s finest sculptures.
• Today?Georgetown is home to some of the most beautiful and historic sites still standing, serving as constant reminders of its rich and unforgettable history. Today it serves refuge for many vacationers, offering its natural beauty, historic attractions, and tranquil waters to all who come.