Coastal Living Names Pawleys Island a Top Place to Live
Thousands of families flock to Pawleys Island each year to spend time together while enjoying the beautiful scenery and relaxed atmosphere of its ocean and creeks.
That family-friendly attitude is one of many accolades that earned the historic island a spot on Coastal Living Coastal Magazine’s Top 10 “Best Places to Live on the Coast.”
(Photo by Chris Rogers/Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce)
The article by Tracey Minkin states when it comes to beaches, local life, climate resilience, and straight-up beauty, the list compiled the best areas that cozy up to the water’s edge, from East Coast to West, the Great Lakes to the Gulf.
In the article’s description of Pawleys Island, with the heading, “The slow life in South Carolina,” Minkin says that the island is poised between docks along its creeks and beaches lining its shores.
“Pawleys Island is all about the water from crabbing to kayaking,’ she writes. “Small and close-knit, the community turns out for town meetings, works to protect its heritage trees, and cherishes its non-commercial zeitgeist.”
Mayor Brian Henry said he was thrilled but not surprised that Pawleys Island made this prestigious list. He noted that Pawleys is the only South Carolina location listed.
“My wife, Sassy and I moved here 23 years ago from Atlanta and not one day goes by that we regret that decision,” he said. “It seems that the rest of the world has figured out that Pawleys Island is a fantastic place to live and work.”
Henry said Pawleys offers a laid-back lifestyle with all the comforts of life, including restaurants, shopping, grocery stores, and recreation nearby on the mainland.
Minkin also wrote about the beach on Pawleys, noting that the island has been named Best Beach in South Carolina by USA Today and that it has four miles of oceanfront beach with plenty of public access.
Henry said that Pawleys is also known for relaxing on creek docks, enjoying a spectacular sunset with a favorite beverage, or rocking on a breezy porch overlooking the ocean and enjoying a book.
As far as beauty goes, Minkin said, “Pawleys has been a restorative escape for visitors since the 18th century, and that history is reflected in picturesque historic homes and cottages amid the natural splendor.”
Henry said he would also include picturesque sunrises and squadrons of pelicans flying in formation when talking about the beauty of Pawleys.
“Pawleys Island is a very small town with a national brand,” he said. “It is true to its roots, unpretentious, and great place to unwind.”
(Photo courtesy of Sea View Inn)
Minkin adds that the town of Pawleys Island is resilient, as it continues to engage in engineering studies “to address drainage and infrastructure related to sea rise and climate changes.”
Other coastal communities listed in the article are Saugatuck, Michigan; Navarre and Navarre Beach, Florida; Old Saybrook, Connecticut; Lincoln City, Oregon; Fernandina Beach, Florida; Oak Island, North Carolina; St. Simons Island, Georgia; Carpinteria, California; and Greenport, New York.
By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce