Georgetown, a Welcoming Stopover on the ICW

Snowbirds on the Intracoastal Waterway look forward to several idyllic stopovers on their way south — Beaufort, North Carolina, and St. Augustine, Florida, are just two that spring instantly to mind — but boaters looking for one of the warmest welcomes in the South know to set a course for Georgetown, South Carolina.

The third-oldest seaport in the country, Georgetown, South Carolina has become a must-visit snowbird destination, offering some of the finest shopping, dining, and fishing, plus an impressive assortment of historic tours and ghost tours. On Front Street, you will find some of the best shopping around for furniture, clothing, shoes, gifts, housewares, and jewelry. When the dinner bell rings, you’ll find great restaurants serving Lowcountry cuisine, fresh fish, Northern Italian, pIzza, and Sushi. And even those who arrive in Georgetown by boat take a few minutes to stroll the Harborwalk, one of the most pleasant seaside walks in the South. Finally, no trip to Georgetown is complete without taking some time to visit the museums and take a tour to learn about the area’s history. Grab your camera and get ready to capture some of the best photographic opportunities in the South!

This stunning seaside spot has endured its share of challenges over the years, most recently on September 25, 2013, when a fire tore through the downtown historic district, destroying several buildings. And yet even such a tragedy did little to slow folks in Georgetown down: a road race, The Bridge to Bridge 5k, was run October 12, and the Annual Wooden Boat Show was scheduled to go on as planned October 18-19. A town with more than 300 years of history will not let one fire put it down, apparently!

For more information about Georgetown’s many offerings for boaters, click here.

If you’re setting your waypoints along the ICW this year, you’ll do well to punch in the coordinates for Georgetown, South Carolina. This year, especially, you can be guaranteed a warm welcome!

Photos of Georgetown, a Welcoming Stopover on the ICW