The Simple Beauty of Pawleys Island
July 19, 2019
Pawleys Island is a thin, barrier island on the South Carolina coast. It’s barely a quarter of a mile wide in spots. The island lies along the northern coast of South Carolina that curves inward forming Long Bay. The curved shape of the bay and Pawleys Island’s famous hammocks give the island the nickname “The Hammock Coast”.
Pawleys Island is bordered by two inlets, Midway Inlet to the north and Pawleys Inlet to the south. Instead of a sound, the influx of water from these two inlets creates a slender, salt-water creek called Pawleys Creek. Marsh grasses line this tidal creek, with a navigable portion on each end for very small boats and kayaks.
We’ve kayaked the southern portion with friends, paddling down to the tip, beaching the boats for an hour to walk the shoreline and search the tidal pools for shells and treasures, and then riding the incoming tide back to the boat launch.
We’ve also done a little kayak fishing on the northern end in Midway Inlet. While getting out of the kayak, I realized there was a flounder on my rod. That was a nice surprise, especially when locals sitting on their porch gave a round of applause!
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The simple beauty of Pawleys remains because there is no commercialization on the island. There are two inns, which occupy historic homes or lodges, and one quaint, little chapel local photographers adore. It’s a quiet, peaceful island sanctuary with a few beach accesses for those of us not fortunate enough to live there. Several homes are available for vacation rentals so we can all get a taste of a South Carolina paradise!
For more photos of the area and our adventures and travels,
check out our Instagram gallary @
https://www.instagram.com/yadkinvalleyhome/
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Paddling the South Strand
July 13, 2019
There’s lots of shallow landings along Murrell’s Inlet and Pawleys Creek to put a kayak or small boat into the creeks to paddle the marshlands.
Whether you want to fish, paddle around the marsh, or get an up-close view of the wildlife, we have plenty of opportunities here on the Southern Strand. Murrell’s Inlet is just south of the Myrtle Beach area, and Pawleys Island is about 20 minutes further south.
Here are a few of the landings we have used or visited:
Morse Park Landing off Hwy 17-Bus in southern Murrell’s Inlet, (top photo and sunrise photo above). Morse Park Landing is a small park with limited parking. There is no access here at or near low tide. You can see the jetties in the view from the dock beside the palm trees. There is also a beautiful memorial to the fishermen and women who have been lost at sea from the area.
The Oyster Recycling Road Boat Launch just south of Murrell’s Inlet on Hwy 17 is part of Huntington Beach State Park. At the end of a narrow road, the landing opens up to a peaceful section of the inlet and state park area. Free access while the gate is open, which is usually from dawn to dusk. Paddling to the right will take you right up to the state park walkways, depending on the tide. Lots of fishing going on from here.
Pawleys Island Boat Launches To the North – there are two areas to the north of the causeways into Pawleys Island with parking where kayaks can be launched into Pawleys Creek. The 3rd Street boat launch is on the left, heading north on Myrtle Avenue. The northern most is the last short street on the left off of Atlantic Avenue, with parking on the street. There is a beach access to the right. All vehicles must be parked behind the marked lines on Pawleys Island.
To the South – Driving south of the causeways onto Pawleys Island, there is a boat launch to the right on Pritchard Street with marked parking spaces. There is also a whole parking lot on the very southern end of the island with free parking (as of now), but no parking for trailers.
There are several local companies who will drop off kayaks, SUP boards, and small boats for half-day and full-day rentals.
We have used Pawleys Kayaks several times while paddling with friends or fishing for the day on Pawleys Island. They drop off and pick up right on the island. It’s super convenient and makes for a great beach date.
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For more photos of the area and our adventures and travels,
check out our Instagram gallary @
https://www.instagram.com/yadkinvalleyhome/
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Yadkin Valley Home 