South-Carolina
The 10 Best Beachfront Hotels In South Carolina
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!
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
Folly Beach: Tides Folly Beach
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
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
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
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
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
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.
omnihotels.com/hiltonhead; 23 Ocean Lane, Hilton Head, SC; 843-842-8000
Hilton Head Island: Disney Hilton Head Resort
Disney Hilton Head Resort
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.
hiltonhead.disney.go.com; 22 Harbourside Lane, Hilton Head, SC; 843-341-4100
Pawley’s Island: Sea View Inn
Sea View Inn
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.
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.
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
South-Carolina
Live nightly lottery drawings hit ABC15 as SC Education Lottery partner
(WPDE) — ABC15 is the new official broadcast home for South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) drawings, beginning Wednesday, July 1!
Weekday evening drawings for Pick 3, Pick 4, Palmetto Cash 5 and Cash Pop will air live just before the 7:00 p.m. newscast and are approximately one minute long.
ABC15 will also air live jackpot drawings during its 11 p.m. newscast on:
- Mega Millions: Tuesdays and Fridays
- Powerball: Wednesdays and Saturdays
In addition to the live broadcasts, official SCEL results will be displayed on-screen following the midday Pick 3, Pick 4 and Cash Pop drawings. Weekend evening drawings will also be shown through official results crawls.
South-Carolina
Hricik launches no-money pledge campaign for SC attorney general
Richard Hricik, South Carolina’s Democratic nominee for attorney general, has officially launched his campaign for November’s general election.
Hricik was unopposed in the primary, automatically advancing to the ballot in November. He will now race against the Republican nominee David Stumbo, who beat Republican challenger Stephen Goldfinch in a runoff on June 23.
Hricik launched his campaign on June 25, just two days after the Republican primary runoff concluded.
In a press release Hricik, a Charleston attorney of more than 25 years, said that his campaign focuses on the fact that the rule of law should protect everyone equally.
“The Rule of Law isn’t red or blue. It has to apply to everyone, and be defended for everyone,” Hricik said. “An Attorney General who treats the law as their own political agenda — who protects some people and not others — threatens our democracy and makes every South Carolinian’s rights less safe. If someone attacks the State House in Columbia, I won’t ask who they voted for; it won’t matter — they are going to prison. That’s the law, and the Attorney General’s job is to defend and uphold The Rule of Law. For everyone.”
Hricik also announced that he has a no-money pledge for his campaign.
“An Attorney General is supposed to answer to two things: You and The Rule of Law. No one and nothing else,” Hricik said. “So, I take no money — not from special interests, not even from myself. That’s not a gimmick. It’s my firewall against corruption and influence. When you owe no one, you can fight for everyone and The Rule of Law.”
There has not been a Democrat in the attorney general office since Thomas Medlock, who left office in 1995.
Stumbo, who is currently serving a fourth term as Solicitor for the Eighth Judicial Circuit of South Carolina, ran his primary campaign on the basis of being a career prosecutor and lifelong Republican.
On runoff election night, Stumbo and his supporters gathered at the City Club of Greenville to watch results come in. In his winning speech that night, Stumbo said that while there hasn’t been a Democratic attorney general in South Carolina in many years, there would still be work ahead.
“We still got a lot of work to do, and I need everyone in this room fighting like crazy for the next few months to make sure that when we’re standing there on election night in November that we are officially the next attorney g eneral of South Carolina,” Stumbo said.
Ruth Cronin covers Greenville County business, growth and development. Contact her at rcronin@usatodayco.com.
South-Carolina
SC moves to revive death-penalty in double murder after federally commuted sentence
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — A judge has started the process for South Carolina to pursue the death penalty against Brandon Council, the man accused of killing two women during an armed bank robbery at CresCom Bank in 2017.
Council is charged federally with murder after authorities said he walked into the bank to commit an armed robbery that ended with two employees being shot and killed.
He was originally sentenced to death in federal court, but the Biden administration commuted the sentences of 37 death row inmates, changing their status to life in prison.
With Council no longer facing execution under the federal sentence, South Carolina is moving to revive state charges that had been dropped before he was federally charged.
READ MORE: Spectators pack courtroom as Alex Murdaugh returns to court after convictions overturned
In court, prosecutors sought to add dates to the case calendar as they pursue the death penalty again.
Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson said the state had initially been looking at April 2027 for a trial date, but the judge denied that as too soon.
“We were being as aggressive as we could be. But by July 17th, the defense will give their order. We will turn in another order, and we’ll see if we can’t come to an agreement. That way, the judge doesn’t have a lot of problems. It’s just an agreement between the two sides,” Richardson said.
During the hearing, the judge and the state were asked about any bias before moving forward.
Richardson said, “I don’t know him. So he’s from a different state, and, they ask us to let them know about any bias. I don’t know about any bias. I just, you know, it’s whatever the crime is.”
He added, “The main thing for me was to get the schedule in order so that we know where we’re going, and it looks like we’re on the road to that, but we’re not there yet.”
READ MORE: Florence woman sentenced to 35 years in prison for 2-year-old’s death
At one point, Council sought to represent himself in court and objected to statements made by the prosecution.
By the end of the hearing, he changed his mind and accepted representation.
Richardson said he does not expect the trial until 2028.
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