Polk County Townships to Choose From And One More...

TRYON (www.tryon-nc.com) Billed as "The Friendliest Town in the South", Tryon's whimsical wooden horse MORRIS welcomes you as you drive into town. Known as a premier equestrian community and retirement area, it is also home to arts, crafts, and culture. It is governed by a council-mayor form of government and has a total tax rate of 61.75 cents per $100  valuation. The town operates its own police and fire departments, offers twice weekly trash pickup and curbside recycling, and public water & sewer to its residents.
	SALUDA (www.saluda.com) Located at the top of the Saluda Grade rail line, the town sits at 2,100 feet above sea level. Its main street is lined with maples and its building fronts take you back in time. Governed by a mayor and 4 commissioners, Saluda's tax rate is 54 cents per $100 valuation. It is protected by a volunteer fire and rescue department and Police Department. It offers garbage pickup and curbside recycling.
COLUMBUS (www.columbusnc.com) County Seat of Polk County. Its historic Court House has been in continuous use since 1857. It is governed by a mayor and council under a manager-council form of government. Its tax rate is 45 cents per $100 valuation and it is protected by its own police and fire departments. Garbage pickup is provided in the city limits and it has a recycling center.
LANDRUM, SC (www.cityoflandrum.com) although it is located in the upper part of Spartanburg County, Landrum has always been identified with the Tryon area. Its main street bustles with restaurants, shops, resale stores and antiques. Governed by a mayor - council form of government it provides police and fire departments, a rescue squad operated by the county, and garbage pickup and curbside recycling for its residents.

Pawleys Island:

Pawley's Island is bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by a salt marsh with an almost limitless supply of flounder, oysters, and crabs. Today Pawley's is one of the few unspoiled, non-commercial oceanfront communities remaining on the east coast of the United States.

"Arrogantly Shabby" is how you will hear the locals describe this beautiful island of paradise. Pawleys Island is the oldest seaside resort community along the Carolina coast. In the 1800's this tiny barrier island was a summer retreat for wealthy plantation owners and their families; many of their weathered cottages still remain. Today; Pawleys offers a relaxing atmosphere where you can swing in your hammock in the ocean breeze while taking in the breath-taking views or strolling along the wide beaches enjoying the "barefoot paradise". This area has some of the best shelling in the Carolinas. Pawley's is known and loved for it's low-key lifestyle... simple, unassuming and perfectly tranquil.

Litchfield Beaches:

Litchfield, North Litchfield and Litchfield by the Sea are all located on an eight-mile stretch of beach in the Waccamaw Neck section of Georgetown County, South Carolina. The Waccamaw Neck is a long, narrow stretch of land bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the Waccamaw River (the largest fresh water section of the Intracoastal Waterway). Litchfield shares a zip code with Pawleys Island!

The locale is rich in natural beauty and history. There is no commercialism on the ocean front, but all the conveniences for a beach vacation are close by. Beach development has come without the density of Myrtle Beach, Garden City and Surfside Beach, the beaches just north of us. Come dig your toes into the white sand of our wide beaches, which our guests tell us over and over are among the prettiest in the world (the beaches, not your toes).

This area is home to little and great blue herons, snowy egrets, osprey, seagulls and pelicans. Sea turtles nest on the beaches here, and you can safely look at alligators at Huntington Beach State Park, just north of North Litchfield Beach. Other wildlife, as well as the world's largest collection of outdoor statuary, can be seen at Brookgreen Gardens, only a five minute drive. Here, stately oaks shelter more than 400 pieces of art work, a wealth of American sculpture dating from the 19th century.

There are great restaurants. She crab soup is a specialty, but there are other bounties from the sea. Like plump jumbo shrimp (you can catch smaller ones on your own in the salt creeks here if you want to invest in a net and have lots of energy), succulent oysters, soft shell or blue crab and the very freshest of fish in settings from casual to casually elegant with outside dining. We'll be glad to give you our own personal list of favorite restaurants.

Quite simply... Pawleys and Litchfield are a different state of mind and a different way of life.

Georgetown:

The Tidelands of Georgetown offer the opportunity to travel down a trail of history that weaves its magic through marshes, beaches, ports of call and a way of life far too tranquil (yet turbulent) to be forgotten.

Enjoy a relaxing escape browsing through stories of rice and indigo, time and tides, fact and fancy. Comb the beaches, sail the waters, meander on the harborwalk and explore the plantations. Savor the local cuisine and the ambience of wonder. Live and indulge yourself in southern hospitality. You will have discovered for yourself why Georgetown has been rated among the top 100 small towns in America.

Myrtle Beach:

As part of the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach is part of sixty miles of sandy white beaches along the beautiful, blue Atlantic Ocean which is your playground for fun, excitement, and relaxation. With close to 14 Million people visiting Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand each year, Myrtle Beach has earned the title of the No. 1 Family Beach in America.

From day to night, Myrtle Beach offers the finest in entertainment and dining establishments. It is commonly known as the "seaside golf capital of the world" with over 117 world class golf courses and tee times readily available. There is something in Myrtle Beach to wow family members of any age.

McClellanville:

If you could design the perfect spot to settle down and enjoy life, it would look a lot like McClellanville.

Just off Highway 17, about midway between Myrtle Beach and Charleston, McClellanville is a tiny fishing village on the banks of Jeremy Creek. Residents live in a mix of modern homes and old-fashioned two-story houses with welcoming porches.

Surrounded by the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge, the Francis Marion National Forest and the Santee Coastal Reserve, the small fishing village of McClellanville is the perfect refuge from the outside world.

Charleston:

CHARLESTON IS RATED THE fifth most popular vacation destination in the United States, and it surely must rank in the top five among places to spend the rest of your life. If it doesn't yet, it eventually will.

Visit the city once and you'll discover that it pulls at your heartstrings like no other place in the country. Charleston is truly one of the most cosmopolitan places around, offering sophisticated dining rivaling that of much larger cities and shopping experiences for even the most jaded consumers.

To say that Charleston is steeped in history is much like saying the sun is yellow. Other places have long histories as well, but none is a living museum that grows and changes with the times. Suffice it to say, if you're a history buff, you will never grow tired of Charleston and the surrounding countryside.

While the city itself has no beaches, it is surrounded by water on three sides-if you're lost, just continue on and you'll surely run into a familiar river and get your bearings. The most picturesque spot in Charleston might be The Battery, with its panoramic views of the Ashley and the Cooper, the two rivers that form the peninsula, and the Atlantic Ocean. If you love the sights and sounds of gentle waves lapping against the shore, you can reach some of the best beaches along the Atlantic coast in a matter of minutes. If you revere golf, there is no shortage of challenging courses to conquer. If you enjoy walking, Charleston is full of interesting little parks and side streets filled with art galleries and boutiques.

In spite of all that Charleston offers, it maintains a small-town charm you'll cherish for years to come. You'll love morning strolls around Colonial Lake and sunset cocktails at restaurants overlooking the water. You'll come to appreciate the intricate artwork in the wrought-iron gates and the lovely Charleston single style of architecture, designed to catch the breeze on sultry afternoons.

Most of all, you'll cherish the many new friends and acquaintances you'll make when you choose Charleston.