Area Beaches
PAWLEYS ISLAND BEACHES
One of the remaining pristine public beaches uncluttered by high rises and unspoiled by overcrowding and commercialism, Pawleys Island, South Carolina is a longtime favorite to locals and out-of-state visitors alike. The Lachicotte Company has many oceanfront and off ocean properties for vacation rental and homes for sale on the island.
The beaches at Pawleys Island in South Carolina are situated on the Atlantic Ocean between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. There are two causeways that access the beach: one located at the north end of the island between Highway 17 North, otherwise known as Ocean Highway, and across from Waverly Road; the other causeway is south of the island from Highway 17 North and veers off to the right at the traffic light before the Food Lion Shopping Center on to South Causeway Road.
Once on the island, beach goers can go north or south and find beach access along the oceanfront. There is limited public parking on the island and visitors who are not staying on the island need to beware of frequent ticketing of vehicles not utilizing parking locations. There are limited public restroom facilities at the south end of the island only. The best beach access is from one of our rentals homes either oceanfront or off ocean.
Since the island of Pawleys Island itself has no commercial properties, visitors can venture across the causeways to Pawleys Island mainland to find restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, boutiques, beach services, boating and fishing equipment and services, and many other retail establishments that offer anything one might need for their beach experience.
LITCHFIELD BEACHES
Go north on Ocean Highway from Pawleys Island and you'll enter the area known as Litchfield. There are three distinct areas of this community: South Litchfield, Litchfield by the Sea, and North Litchfield. South Litchfield is accessed from the south portion of the island along Litchfield Drive. Once on the island, there are beach access points between various homes. The parking is also very limited. The solution? Stay on or close to the ocean in one of our accommodating homes or condos for rent. The north end of Litchfield can be reached from North Boyle Road off Highway 17 North.
DeBORDIEU BEACHES
Just north of the bridges leaving Georgetown, SC on Highway 17 is the gated community known as DeBordieu. Derived from the exclamation by an explorer as "the place of God," residents and vacationers alike agree as they enjoy the breathtaking inlet and ocean views, play the 18-hole golf course, take advantage of the extensive biking trails, kayak and fish in the meandering creeks, relax by the pool, play tennis, or walk, jog, or bask in the warm Carolina sun on the beach. The Lachicotte Company offers beachfront to off ocean properties for weekly rental as well as assists buyers in finding their new home in this one-of-a-kind South Carolina beachfront community.
BEACH REGULATIONS-GEORGETOWN COUNTY
Here are some basic regulations for the use of the public beach areas in Georgetown County which include Pawleys Island, DeBordieu, and Litchfield:
No Littering
No Alcoholic Liquors
No Glass Containers
No Vehicles on Beach
No Horses March 15-Sept 15
No Obstructing Free Access
(no tents, cabanas or other items may be left overnight)
Dogs must be leashed 9:00 am-7:00 pm
Beach Access Hours:
Open one hour before sunrise
Closed April 15-October 31 at 10:00 pm
Closed November 1-April 14 at 8:00 pm
Check the Georgetown County website for up-to-date information.
Beach Regulations (posted July, 2009)
RIP CURRENTS
What is a rip current? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, a rip current is a "channeled current of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches." These currents extend from the shoreline through the area of the surf in the "surf zone" and past the line of breaking waves. The "surf zone" is the area between the high tide level on the beach to the seaward side of the breaking waves.
Rip currents are NOT "undertow" or "riptides." The action of a wave knocking someone down and pulling that person under contributes to the myth that a rip current pulls you under. Instead, A RIP CURRENT PULLS YOU OUT instead of under the water.
How do these currents form? When waves break near the shoreline and pile water up between the breaking waves and the beach, the water may go back to the sea in the form of a rip current as a narrow stream of water that moves away from the shore, often perpendicular to the shore.
The size of a rip current varies. It may be 10 to 20 feet in width or up to ten times wider and may slow down past the breaking waves or may continue for hundreds of feet beyond the surf zone.
Fast? They are sometimes slower than you can run but faster than an expert swimmer can swim. Rip currents have been measured faster than 5 mph. The conditions of the tide and the form of the beach can affect the speed.
Are rip currents dangerous? They are usually present all year but are usually too slow to be dangerous to swimmers. But, under certain tidal conditions, the strength and speed of the current can increase as the wave height and frequency increases.
Where to look for rip currents? These types of currents can occur in or around sandbars, jetties, piers, and groins.
How do I get out of a rip current? A common suggestion to get out of a rip current when pulled out away from the shore is not to swim directly towards shore to get away from it but to swim along the shore, or almost parallel to the shore, in a slight cross direction to eventually get out of the rip current and then go towards the shore. The best advice is to stay out of the water when rough conditions exist. Be on the lookout for signs that indicate rip currents or for actual notices posted by local officials of rip current conditions.
More information about rip currents is available at the following websites:
http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov
http://www.usla.org/ripcurrents
http://www.weather.gov/nwr/
RECYCLING PICKUP NOW AVAILABLE WEDNESDAYS ON PAWLEYS ISLAND
As of June 1, 2010, the Town of Pawleys Island began a VOLUNTARY modified recycling program with pickup on the island Wednesdays. House occupants should purchase clear trash bags (available at Pawleys Island Supplies on the North Causeway) and make arrangements to collect recyclable cans and plastics inside the house into these bags prior to placing them in the marked containers.
PLEASE DO NOT PUT GARBAGE IN THE "RECYCLE" CONTAINERS.
DO RECYCLE:
all cans
all plastics - milk jugs, soft drink containers, shampoo bottles, laundry detergent bottles, cough syrup containers, peanut butter containers, water bottles, salad dressing containers, household cleaner containers.
DO NOT RECYCLE (on Pawleys Island):
glass of any kind, wine or beer bottles, plastic food wrap, yogurt containers, syrup bottles, bottle tops, styrofoam, butter containers, solo drinking cups, meat packaging containers, fast food to go containers.
RECYCLING CENTERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL OTHER TYPES OF ITEMS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THEM BY ONE OF THESE GEORGETOWN COUNTY LOCATIONS ON YOUR WAY OUT OF TOWN. For hours of operation and holiday schedules, call (843)545-3443.
PAWLEYS ISLAND - Grate Road (843)237-1154
MURRELLS INLET - Wesley Road (843)651-0872
MARYVILLE (south of Georgetown) - Highway 17 South (843)527-8029
SANTEE - Veronica Road (843)546-3730
SAMPIT - Highway 17A (843)527-8166
ANDREWS - Ten Acres Rd. (843)264-9265
BROWNS FERRY - Highway 51 (843)545-3443
DUNBAR - Dunbar Rd. (843)545-5001
JOHNSON RD - off Hwy. 17A (843)520-4650
BLACK RIVER - off Hwy. 701 (843)545-5760
YAUHANNAH - off Hwy. 701N (843)545-9875
OLD PEE DEE - off Hwy. 261 (843)558-6615
LANDFILL - off Hwy. 51 (843)545-3443
PLEASANT HILL - off Pleasant Hill Dr. (843)558-6753
ITEMS ACCEPTED AT ALL GEORGETOWN COUNTY RECYCLING CENTERS:
aluminum cans
appliances/scrap metal
batteries, lead-acid
cardboard, corrugated
cooking oil
glass bottles and jars
metal "tin" cans
magazines and newspapers
office paper
oil, filters, bottles
plastic bottles
tires
yard trimmings
