The 10 Best Things to Do in Georgetown, United States

September 4, 2017 Hana Mouser

Brimming with historical attractions, boutique shops, antebellum mansions, restaurants, art galleries and antique shops, historic Georgetown offers a delightful escape from daily modern life. The oak-lined avenues of Georgetown, dubbed “little Charleston”, are alive with history and small town commerce. If you’ve ever wanted to see antebellum mansions, Georgetown is the place for you. There are an amazing 50-plus antebellum mansions in the area. One of the best ways to see Georgetown is by boat. Take a tour in and around Winyah Bay and the surrounding rivers and you’ll pass plantation mansions and long-abandoned rice fields. Two of the most visited plantations are Hopsewee Plantation and the Hampton Plantation State Historic Site. High on your list of local don’t miss attractions should be the Kaminski House Museum, the stately former home of a Confederate sea captain, and The Rice Museum, which details the history of this important crop through dioramas, maps, artifacts and other exhibits. Other popular activities in the Georgetown area include golf, sailing charters, eco-tours, shell collecting, deep-sea fishing and beach activities at nearby beaches. If you want to tee up, try Wedgefield Plantation Golf Club and Heritage Club, which are less than 10 minutes from Georgetown. Once you’ve geared down and de-stressed in slower paced Georgetown, you’ll have easy access to two dynamic destinations, Myrtle Beach, 36 miles away, and Charleston, 60 miles away. Myrtle Beach, known as America’s Great Golf Vacation Destination, offers more than 100 golf courses, 1,600 restaurants, shopping complexes, amusement parks and live entertainment theaters. Charleston, which is loaded with museums, Civil War sites and plantation homes and gardens, also has superb golf offerings highlighted by the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort.
Restaurants in Georgetown

1. Hopsewee Plantation

494 Hopsewee Rd, Georgetown, SC 29440-5598 +1 843-546-7891
Excellent
69%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 554 reviews

Hopsewee Plantation

Hopsewee Plantation is an original lowcountry rice plantation on the North Santee Rive built between 1735 and 1740. Birthplace of Thomas Lynch Jr., Hopsewee is one of just 12 remaining birthplaces of Signers of the Declaration of Independence. The home has not been modified from its original design and is furnished with 18th and 19th century antiques. Two original slave cabins remain on the property. The guided tour explores the history of the Patriots and Planters who lived at Hopsewee while you explore the architectural features of the house from Attic to Cellar. Enjoy the hour long tour or just come for lunch in The River Oak Cottage Tearoom with Lowcountry favorites such as Shrimp and Grits, Pulled Pork, Soups and Sandwiches and our Southern Tea service modeled after a British Afternoon Tea.

Reviewed By 007Renee - Charleston, South Carolina

This beautiful tea room is decorated so delicately and brilliantly that my spirit is transformed as soon as I walk in. There are plenty of big windows to see the lovely outdoors and also feel “away” from all the hustle bustle. The food they serve...MoreThanks Renee - we are recommending people make reservations so we have your table ready for you when you come - you can make reservations through our ticketing agent and you can now pre-order our Southern Tea service for a special treat!

2. Hampton Plantation State Historic Site

1950 Rutledge Rd, at edge of Francis Marion National Forest, 16 mi south of Georgetown, Georgetown, SC 29458-9588 +1 843-546-9361
Excellent
52%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 158 reviews

Hampton Plantation State Historic Site

Reviewed By welovedolphins - Atlanta, Georgia

This is an interesting part of colonial architecture as well as history.The Swamp Fox hid out in back of this plantation while .the British dined. Was considered for the film The Patriot. George Washington also visited here and recommended saving an oak tree which still stands today. The staff is small but very informative. Nice variety of items in the gift shop.

3. Kaminski House Museum

1003 Front St, Georgetown, SC 29440-3521 +1 843-546-7706
Excellent
67%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 115 reviews

Kaminski House Museum

Guided tours take place at: 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Museum Shop is open from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Located in historic Georgetown, South Carolina, the Kaminski House Museum offers antiques, architecture, and history all wrapped up in a bow of Southern hospitality. Meticulously preserved, you will experience life in Georgetown from the 18th Century though the two Great Wars as you take a guided tour and listen to intriguing tales of South Carolinians.

Reviewed By dskeens

We visited here this month. It was closed but just looking at this gorgeous home overlooking the Harbor and Harborwalk was so beautiful. There was a gift store on the property as well as very clean restrooms. They have certain hours that you can tour...MoreThank you for posting your review. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your visit to the Kaminski House. I am sorry that you were not able to tour the inside of the Kaminski House.

4. Georgetown Harborwalk

Front Street, Georgetown, SC +1 843-477-0287
Excellent
42%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 253 reviews

Georgetown Harborwalk

Reviewed By Karen G - Linwood, New Jersey

The boardwalk along the water is really beautiful! Although it is not very long - the views of the boats and the waterway is lovely. There are some great restaurants along it. My favorite is the River Room. If you take a close look in the water along the bank, you might even see an alligator!

5. Hobcaw Barony Visitors Center

On U.S. 17, 2 mi north of Georgetown, Georgetown, SC +1 843-546-4623
Excellent
78%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 105 reviews

Hobcaw Barony Visitors Center

Bernard M. Baruch family estate

Reviewed By Pnemiller - Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Bernard Baruch, the famous financier and advisory to presidents, bought this property in 1905. He and his family lived here in the winters and he had many famous visitors, including Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

You can tour the grounds and visit his home by means of the Introductory tour which is done a number of times a day. Cost is $20 per person and runs about 2 hours. The tour bus holds 16 people and some tours are sold out. If interested in taking a tour, you should make reservations in advance online, on their website.

The visitor center has a small museum and before the tour there is a 15 minute film about Hobcaw. The narrated bus tour takes you though a part of the 16,000 acre property where you learn some of the history of the place. You pass slave quarters, small villages and Baruch's daughter's home. You then spend time touring Hobcaw House, the 13,000 square foot main building where there is the chair Churchill used, as well as the room where FDR stayed in 1944.

This tour should not be missed if you are in the area. It is on Highway 17, just north of Georgetown, SC.

6. Rice Museum

633 Front St, Georgetown, SC 29440-3623 +1 843-546-7423
Excellent
55%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 138 reviews

Rice Museum

Reviewed By John B

Very interesting peek into a world you probably know little about or would think at all worth knowing about. Tour guide knew his subject and inspired me to go out and purchase a bag of fluffy whie Carolina rice.

7. Georgetown County Museum

120 Broad St, Georgetown, SC 29440-3602 +1 843-545-7020
Excellent
52%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 37 reviews

Georgetown County Museum

Artifacts and items of historical significance and displays in the Museum are the results of gifts from residents of the Georgetown County community and from those outside the local area who are interested in preserving and documenting the rich cultural history of Georgetown County. Featured Collections: Industry, Native American, Entertainment, Sport Fishing, Slavery, Military, SS City of Georgetown, Famous Americans, Hunting, Plantation Life, Dr. Frances Doyle, 20th Century, and Study Archives.

Reviewed By Keith M - Arden, North Carolina

This is a nice little museum with a LOT of items, especially upstairs. A little musty, a little tossed together - the Smithsonian it is not, but it IS very interesting. A docent will gladly assist in providing a narrative if you'd like it, or you can wander on your own. Georgetown has a very nice history, so it's worth listening to the stories and taking the time to read and poke around.

There was a sign on the front door stating it was free to enter for the summer, which made it even more enticing. Take a few cool moments to step off the Waterfront and learn some history!

8. The South Carolina Maritime Museum

729 Front St, Georgetown, SC 29440-3625 +1 843-520-0111
Excellent
28%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
23%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 82 reviews

The South Carolina Maritime Museum

The South Carolina Maritime Museum (SCMM) opened its doors in December 2011. The Museum has been a sixteen year-old vision of the Harbor Historical Association (HHA) a grassroots, volunteer group that began in 1996 with a mission to preserve and promote the maritime history of Georgetown County and South Carolina. Through community support of the annual Georgetown Wooden Boat Show and related events, HHA was able to accumulate initial funding for the museum. It is the only museum in the state with the sole mission of interpreting South Carolina Maritime history. The SCMM is located on the first floor of an old McCrory five and dime store building, on the waterfront in the middle of Georgetown's historic business district. There are endless stories connecting the sea to agriculture, commerce, military, recreation, education, and how ships and their crews and builders played a role. It is the mission of the South Carolina Maritime Museum to tell these stories through: Interactive Exhibits, Rare Artifacts from the Marine Industry, Model Ships and Artwork, Educated Volunteers and Staff, Special Programs for Young and Old.

Reviewed By cdolphin - Charlotte, North Carolina

We stopped by to look around on a rainy day mainly because it was free. It was really neat to read the history of Georgetown and see the model ships. They are in the middle of renovations and on the particular day we visited, they were holding a private event in the back so we never did see any personnel that worked there.

9. Georgetown County Chamber Visitors Center

531 Front St, Georgetown, SC 29440-3621 +1 843-546-8436
Excellent
87%
Good
4%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 22 reviews

Georgetown County Chamber Visitors Center

Located on Georgetown's historic waterfront, the Georgetown County Chamber Visitors Center offers information on attractions, accommodations, events, dining and much more - for all of Georgetown County. Andrews, Georgetown, Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet, and Garden City.

Reviewed By Pnemiller - Kutztown, Pennsylvania

This excellent visitor center has much useful information about the area. There are maps showing the magnificent historic homes, places to dine and attractions. The staff were warm and helpful. Another plus--there is free street parking in the historic district.

10. SC-CARES - SC Coastal Animal Rescue & Educational Sanctuary

236 Abbeville Rd, Georgetown, SC 29440-4144 +1 843-546-7893
Excellent
96%
Good
4%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 23 reviews

SC-CARES - SC Coastal Animal Rescue & Educational Sanctuary

SC-CARES (Coastal Animal Rescue & Educational Sanctuary). **Tours are by appointment only** Please check our website under visiting for details. We are a sanctuary for unwanted, abused, and neglected exotic/domestic animals and wildlife. We are providing over 150 animal residents a place to live out their days in a compassionate environment treated with respect, given proper care, and with a good quality of life.

Reviewed By Kathy M - Georgetown, South Carolina

This is a wonderful place to visit to learn about the true meaning of caring for an animal. If you are considering an "exotic" pet, like a ferret, parrot or snake, go out to SCCARES and talk to Cindy about the animals in her care....MoreThank you so much for your kind words and for volunteering. We could not survive without the compassion and support of people like you. I hope others are motivated to expand their circle of compassion to include all animals.

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