First Time in Georgetown? Read This First

A short orientation for anyone coming for the first time.

Where it is. About 45 minutes south of Myrtle Beach, about an hour north of Charleston, on the South Carolina coast. Close enough to both to make a day trip from either, good enough to justify staying.

How old it is. Founded in 1729, which makes Georgetown the third oldest city in South Carolina after Charleston and Beaufort. USA Today has named it America’s Best Coastal Small Town.

The thing that surprises everyone. Georgetown has more 200-year-old homes than Charleston — more than 250 historic homes in and around the downtown district, with more than 60 on the National Register of Historic Places.

The thing that surprises everyone else. Downtown isn’t on the ocean. Georgetown sits on the Sampit River where five rivers converge and empty into Winyah Bay. Beaches are a short drive away, and they’re far less developed than the ones up the coast.

Park once. The historic district is genuinely walkable end to end. Leave the car and don’t think about it again.

How long to stay. A day gets you the highlights. Two days gets you the museums and the water. Three or more and you start to actually know the place, which is when most people decide they’ll be back.

What to wear. Comfortable shoes, always. Layers in winter and spring. Sun protection and insect repellent in summer. The humidity is real from about May through September.

No chains. There isn’t a single national chain store in the historic district. Every shop and nearly every restaurant is locally owned, which is worth knowing before you go looking for something familiar.

Say hello. This is a small Southern town and people speak to each other on the sidewalk. The correct response is to speak back.