Historic Georgetown lies where four rivers—the Waccamaw, Black, Pee Dee, and Sampit—converge on the Intracoastal Waterway. That's a lot of water to play in, particularly when you include the swamps at the mouth of the Santee, a few miles southwest, and the sheltered bays between the coast and a string of barrier islands forested with live oak and red cedar.

Georgetown dates back to the 1500s, and locals are protective of the region's heritage—miniature golf and buildings over three stories are not permitted—and its traditional values, including old-fashioned Southern hospitality.

All prices in U.S. dollars
 

Access
Major airlines serve Charleston, 60 miles [96.5 kilometers] south.

Kayaking
Advanced paddlers stroke three miles [five kilometers] along Winyah Bay and camp on the beaches of undeveloped North Island. For information on regulations, contact the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (+1 803 734 3888; water.dnr.state.sc.us).

Black River Outdoors Center Expeditions (+1 843 546 4840; www.blackriveroutdoors.com) rents kayaks for $30 the first day and $20 per day thereafter.

Canoeing
A 9-mile [15-kilometer] route on Wambaw Creek in Francis Marion National Forest winds through swamps spiked with bald cypress and water tupelo trees. Launch sites are at Wambaw Creek Boat Ramp and Bridge Landing.

Two other prime paddling destinations in the national forest are the Santee River and Echaw Creek.

Nature Adventures Outfitters (800 673 0679 [U.S. and Canada only]; www.natureadventuresoutfitters.bizonthe.net) conducts guided daylong paddles in Francis Marion for $85 per person.

Fishing
The big excitement in the past few years has been in-shore saltwater fishing, especially for red drum and spotted sea trout.

Delta Guide Service (+1 843 546 3645; deltaguideservice.com) charges $350 per day to take anglers along the South Carolina coast.

Hiking
The Swamp Fox Passage of the Palmetto Trail, in Francis Marion, winds 42 miles [68 kilometers] through longleaf pine forests, cypress-tupelo swamps, bottomland hardwood swamps, and evergreen shrub bogs that are home to deer and wild turkeys. For much of the way, the trail follows an abandoned elevated rail bed once used by logging trams.

Room and Board
Mansfield Plantation, the antebellum estate where Mel Gibson's The Patriot was filmed, is a charming bed-and-breakfast (doubles from $95; 800 355 3223 [U.S. and Canada only]; www.bbonline.com/sc/mansfield).

Nance's Creek Front Restaurant (+1 843 651 2696), in Murrells Inlet, serves oysters harvested from nearby creek beds.

The River Room (+1 843 527 4110) is known for its shrimp-and-grits plate.

Resources
Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce (800 777 7705 [U.S. and Canada only]; www.georgetownsc.com/)

Francis Marion National Forest (+1 803 561 4000; www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms)