The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Georgetown, South Carolina (SC)

April 19, 2022 Darwin Bolte

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. Cap'n Rod's Lowcountry Shell Island & Plantation Tours

Excellent
85%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 533 reviews

Cap'n Rod's Lowcountry Shell Island & Plantation Tours

Visit an unspoiled barrier island. Who knows what Mother Nature has in store? A lighthouse, eagles, dolphin, maybe even a turtle. You Plantation will​ have one and a half hours to leisurely stroll an unspoiled beach, accessible only by boat. Peace and quiet galore! One of our most popular tours!

2. Georgetown County Chamber Visitors Center

531 Front St, Georgetown, SC 29440-3621 +1 843-546-8436 [email protected] http://www.hammockcoastsc.com
Excellent
92%
Good
4%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 26 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.

3. Hopsewee Plantation

494 Hopsewee Rd, Georgetown, SC 29440-5598 +1 843-546-7891 [email protected] http://www.hopsewee.com/
Excellent
72%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,010 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 penell2015 - Lowville, United States

Ths is my 3rd visit to Hopsewee. Our tour guide was excellent each time,explaining the pre-Civil War rice culture, the plantation owners' lifestyle and the African-American contribution to society, Interesting history of the Lynch family. Beautiful grounds.

4. Hobcaw Barony

22 Hobcaw Rd, Georgetown, SC 29440-9500 +1 843-546-4623 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/BelleWBaruchFoundation/
Excellent
77%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 145 reviews

Hobcaw Barony

Bernard M. Baruch family estate

Reviewed By experienceineating

This is an incredible and insightful history tour of southern history. The only thing I would change would ask the volunteers not apologize for the past. Slaves and the Civil War happened. Move on. No apologies necessary.

5. Swamp Fox Tours

Excellent
81%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 67 reviews

Swamp Fox Tours

Embark on an adventure aboard our blue and white tram and hear authentic history spanning almost 300 years. You will enjoy Southern hospitality at its best as we drive by early homes, public buildings and many other points of interest. The tour also includes a visit inside one of our oldest churches and a ghost story or two. Catch us on the blue and white tram - the oldest tour in town! Tickets are sold at our retail store, Bienvenue Home - 814 Front St.

6. 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 http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/hampton/introduction.aspx
Excellent
53%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 199 reviews

Hampton Plantation State Historic Site

Reviewed By 962anthonyp - Charleston, United States

This fantastic park features a plantation house and rice fields from Washington’s day. The rice fields are crisscrossed with walking trails that are abundant with wildlife - myself having seen alligators and even a wild boar on occasion. During the regular days business, one can also tour the house and the tree Washington purportedly saved. However, this park is anything but regular, and I mean that in the best way possible. Check the S.C. Parks website before coming out. This park often has living history exhibits, which range from tea service to revolutionary war days featuring live fire demonstrations - and more. During the summer months bring some “Off” as it can get a bit buggy.

7. Rice Museum

633 Front St, Georgetown, SC 29440-3623 +1 843-546-7423 [email protected] http://www.ricemuseum.org/
Excellent
55%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 191 reviews

Rice Museum

Reviewed By P4113DWpaulw - Winthrop, United States

This museum consists of two buildings in the historic district of Georgetown. The first is an old general store with a gift shop on the ground floor and exhibits on the second and third floors. There is an older, but interesting video presentation on the third floor along with the remains of an 18th century boat hull. The second building is the “clock tower,” which contains an interesting set of exhibits depicting various aspects of the rice industry stretching from the late 1700’s to the early twentieth century, all very well done. Our guide was very gracious, well-informed, friendly, professional and interesting. Tour was inexpensive and informative. Lots of stairs with limited elevator service.

8. Kaminski House Museum

1003 Front St, Georgetown, SC 29440-3521 +1 843-546-7706 [email protected] http://www.kaminskimuseum.org
Excellent
65%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 138 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 MelissaT1093

Wonderful historical home that my family and I have visited for years. And during the eclipse in 2017 my husband and I were married here. Beautiful home and always decorated so lovely for Christmas.

9. Rover Boat Tours - Carolina Rover

Excellent
79%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 284 reviews

Rover Boat Tours - Carolina Rover

The Carolina Rover a 4 hour Eco-tourism cruise that is guaranteed to be unlike any other attraction along the Grand Strand. Our comfortable shaded 40 ft. pontoon boat cruises on smooth inland waters to a remote barrier island where the Winyah Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. We take you through a bird-watcher's paradise to South Carolina's oldest lighthouse, the Georgetown Light, 1811, that lit the way for two centuries for seafarers. Explore and beachcomb where the sea unfolds her secrets depositing an ever-changing array of shelling opportunities. During this adventure you will see the sight of the Civil War wreck of the Union flagship, the USS Harvest Moon, and our naturalists will give an informative commentary on the historic plantation tidelands. Keep an eye out for such wildlife as Dolphins, Bald Eagles, Alligators, and Sturgeon! This cruise is a wonderful unique experience for all ages.

10. Georgetown County Museum

120 Broad St, Georgetown, SC 29440-3602 +1 843-545-7020 [email protected] http://www.georgetowncountymuseum.com
Excellent
54%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 50 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. Admission is free, and donations are appreciated.

Reviewed By Mrboverman

Nice collection of slave era rice production plantation history. The staff gave us a guided tour and answered questions.

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