South Carolina’s coastal towns are not only full of charm, they offer beaches and hotels to suit every type of traveler. From bustling Myrtle Beach with its shops, restaurants, and attractions for all ages, to peaceful and pristine spots like Pawley’s Island, you can plan a beach trip here that’s just your speed.
Finding the right hotel is key, especially if you’re looking for activities and amenities beyond having the ocean steps away from your door. South Carolina is home to lavish resorts (and even a private resort island) that offer championship golf courses, spas, and just about every customized experience you could ask for, from falconry lessons to kayak trips. If you’re looking for something more simple, we have suggestions for old-fashioned beach bungalows and hotels for a fun and nostalgic beach trip. And for those traveling with kids, there are family-friendly resorts and hotels aplenty—one even has two waterparks.
One thing all of these stays have in common is that you’ll be located right on the beach. So whatever you choose, you really can’t go wrong!
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Surfside Beach: Surfside Hotel
Surfside Hotel
Located on the “Grand Strand” between Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island, Surfside Hotel is a laid-back stay that will remind you of the simple beach vacations of your childhood. This property isn’t packed with luxurious amenities, but it has everything you need for a fun and relaxing stay. There’s a pool and a hot tub, rooms and suites with ocean views, and private beach access. Plus, you can head right next door to Scotty’s Beach Bar for tropical cocktails (and lunch and dinner) on an outdoor patio.
surfsideoceanfronthotel.com; 15 South Ocean Boulevard, Surfside Beach, SC; 843-238-4444
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Folly Beach: Tides Folly Beach
Photo: Courtesy of Tides
If you’re looking for a laid-back beach trip that only requires you to pack one pair of flip flops, Folly Beach fits the bill. And Tides Folly Beach is a comfortable and convenient place to rest your head while you’re there. Each room has an ocean view and either a private balcony or patio. There’s a heated oceanfront pool, a tiki bar, and pets are welcome. When you’re ready for a break from the beach, the hotel is within easy walking distance of plenty of shops and restaurants.
tidesfollybeach.com; 1 Center Street, Folly Beach, SC; 843-588-6464
Isle of Palms: Wild Dunes Resort
Courtesy of Wild Dunes
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Whether you’re traveling with a group or just the two of you, Wild Dunes is a massive resort complex on the Isle of Palms that offers just about every type of accommodations you could imagine, plus amenities including multiple pools (for kids and adults), a spa, and two Tom Fazio-designed golf courses. Sweetgrass Inn, the resort’s newest addition, offers beachfront rooms and suites, as does The Boardwalk Inn. Or, for more privacy, rent a vacation home or condo within the property.
destinationhotels.com/wild-dunes; 5757 Palm Blvd, Isle of Palms, SC; 866-359-5593
Myrtle Beach: Marina Inn at Grande Dunes
Marina Inn at Grande Dunes
A stay at Marina Inn at Grande Dunes comes with private beach access, but that’s just one of many perks that this hotel offers its guests. Enjoy spacious indoor and outdoor pools, the Hibiscus Spa, on-site dining options, a fitness center, and more. The hotel provides guests with beach umbrellas, chairs, and towels. The location is great, too. The Marina Inn is right near The Marina Parkway trails for walking and running, Myrtle Beach Water Sports where you can rent jet skis and pontoon boats, and the 18-hole Grande Dunes Resort Course.
marinainnatgrandedunes.com/beachclub; 8121 Amalfi Place, Myrtle Beach, SC; 843-913-1333
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Myrtle Beach: Dunes Village Resort
Photo courtesy of Dunes Village Resort
If the words “lazy river” make you instantly feel relaxed, head to Dunes Village Resort. The property, which bills itself as “Myrtle Beach’s favorite waterpark resort,” has two indoor water parks with slides, whirlpools, fountains, and swimming pools for everyone. There are four on-site dining options, a fitness center, and plenty of activities for kids. And, of course, the beach is just outside the hotel’s doors, once you’ve had your fill of waterslides.
dunesvillage.com; 5200 North Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC; 855-340-7301
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Hilton Head Island: Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
This beautiful Hilton Head property offers the perks of a resort, with all the comforts of home (and more). Three miles of sweeping ocean views offer plenty of room to spread out and soak in the sun. And with multiple restaurants, a full-service marina, two lakes, a lagoon, a tennis center, and three golf courses, you can be as busy or as relaxed as you’d like at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. Choose from a villa, condo, or house rental—many come with their own pools. All the lodging options offer more privacy and space than a hotel, making them ideal for families or groups.
palmettodunes.com; 4 Queens Folly Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC
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Hilton Head Island: Omni Hilton Head
Courtesy of Omni Hilton Head
This family-friendly hotel is ideal for travelers who like to stay active. Choose from 25 tennis courts, three pools (one is adults-only), volleyball, kayaking, canoeing, and access to Palmetto Dune’s 54-hole golf course. And that’s not even counting the beautiful white sand beaches. If you do find that you need a little downtime, the on-site spa offers massages, facials, body treatments, and more. With the Omni’s six dining options, you’ve got everything you need for an unforgettable vacation under one roof.
You probably don’t associate South Carolina with Disney, but the famed company actually has a resort in Hilton Head that’s as family-friendly as the theme parks themselves. Situated on 12 miles of beach, the property is inspired by a “1940s hunting and fishing lodge.” Kids will love the enormous pool with a waterslide, old timey general store, and dolphin-watching boat tours. Grown-ups will appreciate the cozy Live Oak Lodge, golf course, and fitness center. Rooms have views of the woodlands or the ocean, and range from studios to two-bedroom villas.
This old-school, family-run stay calls itself “a barefoot paradise since 1937.” The Sea View Inn isn’t as fancy as other lodging options along the South Carolina coast, but it is a special one. With just 20 rooms, Lowcountry cooking (breakfast and dinner is included for guests), and the beach just steps away, this is the kind of place where you can really get away from it all.
Choose from three types of rooms: oceanside, oceanfront, or cottage rooms. With quilts on the beds and wooden floors and walls, rooms at this inn are like stepping back in time in the best way.
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seaviewinn.net; 414 Myrtle Avenue, Pawleys Island, SC; 843-237-4253
Kiawah Island: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Open since 2004, this grand four-story hotel is a luxurious getaway. Obviously, golf is a major draw here—there are five beautiful championship courses on the property—but that’s not all this resort has to offer. Get pampered at The Spa at The Sanctuary, explore nature with a guided kayak tour, take a swim in one of two pools (one is reserved for adults only), or stroll the pristine coastline. There are three restaurants–a steakhouse, a Lowcountry-inspired restaurant, and a poolside grill–plus a cafe, ice cream shop, and bar.
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There are four ways to stay here: The Sanctuary Hotel (with 255 rooms), private villas and homes, and the Cottages at the Ocean Course. Each option is decorated in Lowcountry coastal style and furnished with everything you could ever need. (And if not, a concierge is never far away.)
kiawahresort.com; One Sanctuary Beach Drive, Kiawah Island, SC; 800-654-2924
The Clemson Tigers are getting ready for what will be a crucial game in Week 14 against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
This rivalry matchup is not going to disappoint, as both teams are coming into the game as Top-25 schools. For the Tigers, there is a lot on the line in this matchup.
Due to Clemson not holding the tie-breaker against the Miami Hurricanes in the ACC and the SMU Mustangs already clinching a spot, the Tigers are going to have to hope for a Hurricanes’ loss to the Syracuse Orange if they are going to make the title game.
However, due to recent upsets in the SEC, another path might have emerged for Clemson to make the College Football Playoffs. If they can beat a Top-25 team in the Gamecocks on Saturday, it could be the type of statement win that propels them into an at-large bid.
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While making the CFP still might be realistic, they first and foremost have to handle South Carolina, which will be no easy task.
The Gamecocks have also had a great season, and they could present some matchup problems for Clemson.
On offense, South Carolina is a run first team. Stopping the run has been an issue at times for the Tigers, as they just recently got torched on the ground against The Citadel Bulldogs. If Clemson is unable to stop or at least slow down the rushing attack for the Gamecocks, it will allow them to control the pace of the game. That obviously wouldn’t be ideal for the Tigers.
Furthermore, on the defensive side of things, the Tigers’ offense is going to have their work cut out for them against a very strong Gamecocks defense. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has had a very strong season and this could end up being a defining game of his college career.
Going back to the win against the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Tigers’ offense really struggled on the ground trying to run the football. If that’s the case once again in Week 14, it will fall on the shoulders of Klubnik to get the job done.
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This matchup could very well go down as one of the games of the week and potentially the year, with both teams being fairly even talent-wise on paper. For Clemson, this is a must-win game to keep their playoff hopes alive, as a win this late in the season against a Top-25 team would be a nice last thing to put on their resume.
Overall, the Tigers are going to need to have a balanced attack and prepare to stop the run if they are going to come away with the win against their rival.
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The entire police department of a small South Carolina town resigned en masse, leaving the area without its own dedicated police force.
Chief Bob Hale of the McColl Police Department announced his resignation on November 21 in a social media post, citing a “hostile work environment perpetuated by a specific Councilman.”
“For months, I have endured unwarranted and malicious behavior aimed at undermining my integrity and leadership,” Hale wrote. “These actions have not only affected me personally but have also created a toxic atmosphere that has hindered the department’s ability to function effectively.”
The chief also said his department’s resources had been severely cut. The four officers under his command quickly resigned as well.
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“At the end of the day, I have a family. And when my job is constantly getting threatened and certain things are getting said I’m not going to stay somewhere and tolerate that,” former McColl investigator Courtney Bulusan told WRAL.
“I’m not going to stay where I’m tolerated,” Bulusan said. “I’m going to go where I’m celebrated.”
As the town seeks new officers, the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office will fill in for the department police force, according to South Carolina Public Radio.
The town has gone through six chiefs in the past four years. Hale’s tenure in the position lasted little over a year.
“I feel unsafe. Very unsafe,” resident Lisa Bowen told local outlet WPDE. “Because anytime anybody could do anything.”
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“They jump ship back and forth all the time,” Mayor George Garner told the Post and Courier newspaper. “This is nothing new.”
The paper reported that the councilman in question denied he had harassed any of the officers and told the paper the allegations were “hearsay.”
Such mass resignations, while uncommon, are not unprecedented.
The entire police force of Geary, Oklahoma, resigned earlier this month, Fox News reports.
UCLA’s win over No. 1 ranked South Carolina wasn’t a fluke, and Bruins center Lauren Betts says if you haven’t been paying attention, now would be the time to.
Let’s say the thing. It was not close on Sunday. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, UCLA commanded the floor and had an answer for everything the Gamecocks tried to do. The Bruins beat South Carolina on the boards (41-34), held four starters to under five points, and *checks notes* not a single starter went to the free-throw line. UGLY STUFF.
Furthermore, five UCLA players scored in double figures, including Londynn Jones, who was sensational from the line with five 3-pointers, and star center Lauren Betts, who had 11 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks. WHEW. Postgame, Betts raved about her team and how proud she was, but she also sent a direct warning to college basketball. “If you’ve been sleeping on UCLA,” Betts said. “You need to stop right now.”
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