Best Coastal Small Town — Again!

USA Today Names Georgetown One of 20 Finalists For “Best Coastal Small Town” Award

Georgetown’s famous Harborwalk allows visitors to stroll along the water behind eclectic restaurants and locally owned shops. (Photo by Chris Rogers/Courtesy of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce)

Georgetown Looking To Win Contest For Second Time In Three Years

For the third consecutive year, Georgetown is among 20 finalists for the USA Today/10Best “Best Coastal Small Town” award. 

In 2018, Georgetown came in first in the online contest and was named America’s “Best Coastal Small Town.” The following year, in 2019, the working waterfront community was nominated again and finished fourth.

Now Georgetown has found itself a contender for the third straight year.

As voting begins, USA Today/10Best said, “Our 20 nominees for Best Coastal Small Town – each with a population of fewer than 25,000 people as of the last census – offer uncrowded, unpretentious and affordable seaside fun in small packages that prove bigger isn’t always better. Vote for your favorite once per day until polls close on Monday, June 29, at noon ET. The 10 winning small towns will be announced on Friday, July 10.”

To vote for Georgetown, go to https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-coastal-small-town/georgetown-south-carolina/. People can vote – and are encouraged – to vote once per day for each day of the contest period.

Georgetown Mayor Brendon M. Barber Sr. was thrilled to hear that the community had earned yet another nomination.

“It is an honor and a privilege and a humbling experience to be nominated again by USA Today as the Best Coastal Small Town in the United States,” Barber said. “Georgetown is our home. It is where we live, work and play.

“All of our citizens from every corner of the city of Georgetown need to be congratulated for this honor– three years in a row!”

Mark A. Stevens, director of tourism development for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast, agreed with the mayor.

“We are just so thrilled that Georgetown is again one of 20 nominees for the Best Coastal Small Town award,” Stevens said. “Georgetown is the quintessential American small town. Our community is tight-knit, rich with history, and offers vacationers easy access to an abundance of outdoor activities, including the nearby Atlantic Ocean.”

Visitors flock to historic Georgetown to shop, visit its five museums and stroll along its tree-lined streets for a glimpse of its 66 National Historic Register properties. (Photo by Chris Rogers/ Courtesy of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce)

A working waterfront community, Georgetown is matched against coastal towns that reside along nearly every major body of water in America, ranging from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Ocean.

“When USA Today first named Georgetown as America’s Best Coastal Small Town in 2018, it was something local residents have always known,” said Beth Stedman, president and CEO of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce. “Our roots run deep in American history, and our location here on South Carolina’s beautiful coast is something we celebrate every day. We are so pleased to once again to be included in this annual best-of list.” 

South Carolina’s third oldest city, Georgetown is home to more 200-year-old buildings than Charleston, and historic Front Street, located along the water and home to series of charming shops and restaurants, is the town’s heartbeat and boasts five popular museums.

Georgetown is one of six communities that make up South Carolina’s Hammock Coast, joining Andrews, Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield and Pawleys Island.

For more information on the Hammock Coast, go www.HammockCoastSC.com. For more information about Georgetown, go to www.DiscoverGeorgetownSC.com.

The Kaminski House is one of five museums in Georgetown’s historic district. (Photo by Mark A. Stevens/Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce)

About Georgetown and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast

Georgetown County’s casual charm and Southern hospitality earned it the nickname Hammock Coast. Adventure and relaxation blend together in perfect harmony, like the flowing and ebbing of waves on the county’s famed beaches. With six communities – Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, Pawleys Island, Georgetown and Andrews – comprising the pristine coastal area between Myrtle Beach and Charleston, visitors can experience South Carolina’s Hammock Coast like never before.

Georgetown, named one of America’s Best Coastal Small Towns two years in a row, offers an abundance of accommodations for guests, including hotels and cozy bed and breakfasts. Georgetown marinas welcome boaters from around the globe. For details specifically about Georgetown, visit www.DiscoverGeorgetownSC.com.