Island Time
I spent the weekend at Pawleys Island—my favorite place on earth. I’ve been lucky enough to grow up spending summers and weekends there. And I get a lot of questions from people considering a visit. My answer is always: Yes, go there. Now. Now that that’s settled, here are some answers to other questions:
Where to eat: Chive Blossom is my favorite spot. It’s cozy and intimate, but beachy and lively. The She Crab Soup is the best I’ve ever had anywhere (and I’ve tried more than a few). If the weather is nice, sit outside under the string lights. And if you like fried oysters, order these and thank me later. Frank’s Outback is a similar spot both price and cuisine wise. I love sharing a bunch of small plates at this restaurant (get the ahi tuna nachos) and it’s hidden garden is especially nice on a cooler night. For a casual lunch, grab a bite a BisQit. The little burger joint tucked back in the historic Hammock Shops has become one of our favorite spots for a midday venture off the beach.
What to do: Honestly, I spend about 60 percent of my time in the hammock on our back porch with a book, 10 percent walking on the beach, 10 percent swimming, 10 percent sitting in the sun, and 5 percent crabbing. That’s the kind of laid back stuff Pawleys is made for. But a few other fun things to do include renting bikes to ride around the island and mainland, riding said bikes over to the the All Saints cemetery to see the old graves including the famed Alice, buying fudge and walking around the Hammock Shops, going early in the morning to Georgetown’s harbor for shrimp fresh off the boat, and taking kayaks out in the marsh. I’ve done other stuff—golf, plantation tours, Brookgreen Gardens, Atalaya castle—but for the most part those just get in the way of hammock time.