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We asked our readers to vote for their favorite spots for fresh catch and local shrimp in the Palmetto State—here are their picks.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in South Carolina, find the nearest seafood dive and tuck into a platter of fried shrimp—preferably one served with an ice-cold beer and an unobstructed view of the water. While you can take to Google or a guidebook to determine where to go for steamed oysters or shrimp and grits in the Lowcountry, we decided to consult the folks who care about good Southern seafood as much as we do: our readers.

Lee's Inlet Kitchen

When you’ve been around for more than 75 years, you’re bound to be doing something right. At this beloved institution in the fishing village of Murrells Inlet, try not to load up on the hot hush puppies they bring to the table on arrival—though it's awfully tempting. There's still so much more to savor, like the hand-peeled, cold-boiled shrimp pulled from the waters of nearby McClellanville or the thin and crispy onion rings—Lee’s is as famous for those as it is for the seafood.

Order: The Shrimp Salad ($28.95), made with boiled fantail shrimp and Duke's mayo, is another house specialty.

4460 US-17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576; leesinletkitchen.com

explore Murrells Inlet

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks

It doesn’t get much fresher than this Hilton Head Island mainstay, where 90% of the seafood served comes directly from the surrounding waters. Because of its enviable position on the edge of Port Royal Sound, guests can watch a local fishing fleet (one of only two on the island) unload the day’s loot, which could include anything from white shrimp to soft-shell crab.

Order: From September through April, opt for the steamed local cluster oysters in the shell ($12 for a half bucket); the restaurant farms and harvests them.

1 Hudson Road, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29926; hudsonsonthedocks.com

Bowens Island Restaurant

Should you find yourself in the Holy City, make the worthwhile dirt-road detour to this family-owned restaurant that’s been a rambling fixture along Folly Creek since 1946. With its graffitied walls and worn-in wood floors, it doesn’t beg for attention, and it doesn’t need to. Deemed an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation in 2006, the Lowcountry seafood joint shovels fresh-steamed oysters onto trays September through the first half of May and dishes fried shrimp and hush puppies year-round. It’s all delicious—and it's made even more so if you snag a seat on the waterside deck.

Order: The shrimp (served boiled or fried) and fried fish platter is served with the seafood-dive-side-dish trifecta: french fries, hush puppies, and coleslaw.

1870 Bowens Island Road, Charleston, SC 29412; bowensisland.com

The Crab Shack

Situated on the main drag of the freewheeling beach town just 12 miles from buttoned-up Charleston, The Crab Shack is as family-friendly and flip-flop casual as its surrounds. Start with the the she-crab soup, but save room: The value seafood baskets—which you can order with flounder, shrimp, or scallops (or a combination of all three)—are generously portioned. Catch them at another location in Charleston as well.

Order: The marquee offering, The Charleston Steamed Seafood Bucket, includes two snow crab clusters, large domestic shrimp, and steamed oysters (market price).

26 Center Street, Folly Beach, SC 29439 and 8486 Dorchester Rd, Charleston, SC 29420; crabshacks.com

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Leon’s Fine Poultry & Oyster Shop

Housed in a reimagined garage on Upper King Street, the Brooks Reitz-helmed restaurant turned 10 in 2024, but it’s been a neighborhood favorite from the start, thanks to a menu of mouthwatering fried chicken, expectedly fresh oysters, and surprisingly craveable salads. Add to the clever mix soft-serve ice cream and buckets of Miller High Life ponies, and you’ve found yourself one of the best meals in this restaurant-proud town.

Order: Even the bivalve-averse crowd may develop a taste for oysters after sampling Leon's char-grilled take, which swim in a melty swirl of lemon and butter and are topped with a generous sprinkle of parmesan. The "old-school" scalloped potatoes are also not to be missed.

698 King St, Charleston, SC 29403; leonsoystershop.com

The Sea Shack

Don’t let inevitable line out the door during summertime scare you off. This treasured counter-service spot with just 40 seats is an area favorite thanks to its wide array of offerings, from conch fritters to flounder sandwiches. It’s all made to order and to your liking—fried, grilled, or blackened. Wash it down with a glass of what they declare to be the best sweet tea on the island, and finish with a slice of strawberry Key Lime pie (when it’s seasonally available) or a cup of banana pudding.

Order: Hearty appetites should try the Shack Attack Combo ($17.95 for lunch, $19.95 for dinner), which combines a crab cake, fish, shrimp, scallops, and oysters on a giant paper platter. Homemade tartar sauce is the traditional accompaniment, but we think the brandy-infused gator sauce makes an even better platter slather.

6B Executive Park Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; seashackhhi.com

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Sullivan’s Fish Camp

With its lofted ceilings, lacquered-wood booths, and commitment to retro branding, this Sullivan’s Island joint feels like it’s been there forever. In reality, it’s a newcomer—a spring 2022 top-to-bottom overhaul of a restaurant that had called the same spot home for 30 years. And while the nostalgically striped, umbrella-shaded patio is painfully charming, the takeaway window makes a strong case for a to-go lobster roll savored on the beach just a few blocks away.

Order: The shrimp fried rice ($24) puts a fresh coastal twist on a takeout mainstay. We also love the Key lime pie.

2019 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482; sullivansfishcamp.com

explore Sullivan's Island

The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene

So named for the trawler that was tossed ashore on the same spot during Hurricane Hugo in 1989, this dinner-only, no-reservations establishment on Shem Creek shrugs off formalities in favor of its dynamite views and deliciously simple seafood. The best seat in the house belongs to the wooden dockside bar, where sunset views and local craft beers are just an arm’s length away.

Order: Complete with red rice, coleslaw, a hush puppy, and a fried hominy square, the shrimp platter (from $17.95) is a true taste of the Lowcountry. The deviled crab is also worth a try.

106 Haddrell Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464; wreckrc.com

Shrimp Shack

This family-owned lunch spot has been an island institution since it first opened its doors in 1978, and its magic belongs to its simplicity. They're only open for lunch, and you order through a carry-out window—though you don't have to take your food home. Snag one of the picnic tables on the porch for an especially satisfying alfresco dining experience.

Order: Given the restaurant's name, it's obvious you can't go wrong with shrimp here, but the shrimp burger ($9.30), served on a bun with tartar sauce and mayo, is a true crowd favorite.

1929 Sea Island Parkway, Saint Helena Island, SC 29920; facebook.com/shrimpshacksc

Mr. Fish Restaurant

There’s something for everyone on the extensive menu at this landmark Grand Strand restaurant and seafood market owned by a fisherman father and his culinary school-trained daughter. Choose a South Carolina classic, like the Lowcountry boil, or make the most of the raw bar and order a sushi roll or two. Stretch mealtime into a full-fledged Mr. Fish experience by reserving a ride to and from dinner in the Mr. Fishmobile, a bright blue school bus that hits all the nostalgic high notes.

Order: The seafood tacos ($15) are made with your choice of mahi, tuna, or shrimp and are topped with chipotle-lime sauce.

6307 North Kings Highway, Suite B, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572; mrfish.com

Explore Myrtle Beach

Southern Living has selected the eight most beautiful places on the South Carolina coast — one is a city, another a state park, still another an inlet and the rest are beaches.

The state has 187 miles of coastline (if you count outer coast, offshore islands, sounds, bays, rivers, and creeks to head of tidewater, or to point where tidal waters narrow to width of 100 feet, it’s 2,876 miles, the 11th longest in U.S.)

Southern Living selected places from north coast Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head in the south. They were not ranked.

Here are the places selected:

Southern Living said Hilton Head regularly has been a reader favorite in its yearly poll of South’s Best.

The website hiltonhead.org says 40,000 people live year-round on the island yet much of it remains as it was when William Hilton’s ship landed there in 1663. It has been home to Native Americans, English, Spanish, French colonists, pirates, African-Americans and Union soldiers during the Civil Way.

Hilton Head’s development as a resort can be traced back to 1956 when Charles Fraser, whose family owned most of the Island, created a plan for Sea Pines Plantation.

It was incorporated as a town in 1983.

“Hilton Head Island will give you just the right balance of small-town warmth and world-class sophistication,” Southern Living said, adding that bike trails, golf at one of the island’s 23 public courses, or dining “has all the makings of a magical getaway.”

Folks call this place “The Edge of America.” It’s the closest beach to historic Charleston. About 2,400 people live there full time.

“The history of Folly Beach Island is a story of pirates, shipwrecks, soldiers, and dancing (on the pier),” the city says on its website. “It is a story of the hardships and hurricanes that have shaped a thriving beachside community.”

Southern Living calls it “a quaint and colorful destination known for its laid-back beach town vibes.”

“This list wouldn’t be complete without the shining star of the Grand Strand,” Southern Living said. “With 60 miles of coastline to enjoy, Myrtle Beach is as versatile as it is beautiful.”

The magazine called it a “do-it-all destination.”

The Grand Strand is made up of 14 communities from the North Carolina state line to Pawleys Island with a combined population of 398,000. The area has some 2,000 restaurants, about 425 hotels, 80 golf courses, 35 miniature golf courses, Visit Myrtle Beach says.

“Most vacationers won’t think of Murrells Inlet when they think of South Carolina, but as the seafood capital of the state, this neighborhood is worth adding to your itinerary,” Southern Living said.

The magazine called it a prime destination for fishing, water sports, and sunset viewing, especially along The MarshWalk, a half-mile boardwalk along its saltwater estuary.

Once a small shipping area for rice, indigo, turpentine, cotton, and peanuts to Great Britain and the northern colonies, Murrells Inlet is the site of Brookgreen Gardens, once the home of Hispanic scholar and philanthropist Archer Huntington and his wife, Anna Hyatt Huntington, a world-famous sculptor.

The 9,000-acre Brookgreen Gardens is now managed by a private foundation and open to the public. It has nearly 1,500 sculptures, a botanical garden and a zoo.

Last year, Travel + Leisure listed Murrells Inlet as one of six charming SC towns.

“Known for its gorgeous sand dunes, diverse wildlife, and perfectly preserved maritime forest, Kiawah Island is a nature lover’s dream,” Southern Living said.

It’s a 10 mile-long barrier island that began being developed as a resort in the 1970s.

About 2,000 people live on the island year-round with the population growing to as many as 10,000 in the summer.

“You can book a stay at a world-class resort or tee off at one of the five championship golf courses,” Southern Living said. “However you choose to spend your getaway, Kiawah Island is an excellent place to unwind, unplug, and reconnect with nature.”

This is South Carolina’s most popular state park with more than a million visitors a year, SC Parks and Recreation said.

It includes 5 miles of beaches, thousands of acres of marsh and maritime forest, a saltwater lagoon and ocean inlet. Also, it features the historic Hunting Island lighthouse, which is now closed for repairs.

Hunting Island State Park has 100 campsites.

“Make your trip memorable with a horseback ride along the beach or a paddleboarding session along the salt marsh,” Southern Living said.

It’s also where the Vietnam War scenes were filmed for “Forrest Gump.”

Hunting Island was also ranked second on a Tripadvisor survey of SC best parks.

”As one of the oldest seaside resorts on the East Coast, Pawleys Island is rich with historical charm and timeless beauty,” Southern Living said.

Readers of USA Today ranked it as the best beach in South Carolina.

Known as “arrogantly shabby,” the 4 mile-long island remains largely peaceful and undeveloped despite new homes being built and replaced in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo. Some homes date to the 1700s.

It’s located on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast and in many places is just one house wide. Few commercial businesses exist on the island itself.

About 100 people live there full time.

“Less than 3 miles up the road, Litchfield Beach compliments the old-world charm of Pawleys Island with modern comforts,” Southern Living said. “Here you find tennis, golf, and uninterrupted peace and quiet.”

With a year-round population of 8,370, the unincorporated Litchfield was established in 1978 and, besides the beach, includes golf courses, dining, shopping and the 26-mile-long Waccamaw Neck Bikeway.

High praise from Southern Living about South Carolina’s third oldest city: “This slice of Southern heaven is something out of a storybook.”

Towering oak trees, 200-year-old-homes, and gorgeous historic properties, the magazine said.

The historic district beside the Sampit River includes shops, the Harborwalk and restaurants. The population is about 9,000.

The area also has Hopsewee Plantation, a former plantation dating to 1740; and Hobcaw Barony, owned by the Belle W. Baruch Foundation, a 16,000-acre environmental science research and educational reserve .

The Gullah Museum, the South Carolina Maritime Museum, the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center and the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge are also located near Georgetown.

“Thanks to stunning sunsets and scenic river views, a stroll along this boardwalk will have you feeling like the main character in your very own fairytale,” Southern Living said.

This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCSC) - Leaders on Folly Beach are reviewing recommendations meant to help better preserve the city’s marshes amid rising sea levels.

The city is hosting a review of its five-year update to its marsh management plan Tuesday night. Experts studied the land and changes they recorded before making their recommendations.

Click here to learn more about Folly Beach’s marsh management plan.

Elko Coastal Consulting President Nicole Elko and her team worked to map all 7 miles of Folly Beach’s winding marsh shorelines to track changes over time.

“It does take us probably a month of solid working to get along the entire shoreline,” Elko said.

They use real-time kinematic GPS.

“It’s kind of like your navigation in your car, where it knows exactly where you are. We’re collecting information at different points along the marsh front and then mapping that,” Elko said.

Elko said the marsh front has evolved considerably since the last plan was published, and they’ve had several findings.

“Climate Change, increased flooding that we’ve seen along the marsh front,” Elko said.

They surveyed the marsh front to determine where the critical line exists. After that, the city implemented a 15-foot setback from that critical line, meaning nothing can be built within 15 feet of the marsh. New marsh-front recommendations include considering restoration options like living shorelines and thin layer placement.

“If you can imagine it as beach nourishment but within the marsh where we are broadcasting just a little bit of mud or sediment along areas of the marsh that might be sinking to kind of help them keep up with sea level rise,” Elko said.

Elko said the majority of marsh front property along Folly is privately owned.

“It’s difficult for the city to kind of manage the marsh front when they have to rely on a public-private partnership,” Elko said.

While Leonard Spann does not live along Folly’s shoreline, he works there every day. He believes the city should continue to prioritize preserving the natural beauty of the area.

“There’s good wildlife, nature out here,” Spann said. “I feel like they should focus on that.”

Elko said in South Carolina, the beaches have been measured and monitored for about 50 years, but marshes have been a bit overlooked until recently. Experts are now working to educate people about the need for more focus on marshes because that’s where a lot of flooding comes in.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCBD) – To enter Folly Beach, visitors and locals must pass the graffiti boat, a colorful landmark for the community. Soon, the boat will get a fresh paint job to inspire ocean advocacy with the help of some local artists.

Charleston Creative Current and Charleston Surfrider Foundation are partnering to “use art to rally this community together to take care of our beaches,” as stated in a recent Instagram post from Charleston Creative Current.

The event will kick off with an optional litter clean-up starting at 6 p.m. The boat painting will begin at 7 p.m. on July 2.

Creatives participating will paint a notice on the boat encouraging the community to attend the Surfrider Foundation’s post-Independence Day cleanup, since July 5 typically is the dirtiest beach day of the year, the Surfrider Foundation tells News 2.

A notice for the litter sweep is not the only thing artists will paint on the boat; they will be given a general theme to inspire creativity.

According to Sophia Perlee, co-founder of Creative Currents, this event will create “a safe and intentional space for Charleston creatives to connect, create, and be challenged artistically.”

Also, and water-based, non-toxic spray paint will be provided.

“This choice reduces the release of chemicals and compounds into the air, making it safer for both the environment and human health. While the immediate goal of our painting is to raise awareness for our upcoming litter sweep, our broader mission is to protect people and the planet! Using water-based paint aligns with that commitment. Additionally, the manufacturing process requires less energy, which lessens the greenhouse gas emissions,” said Julia Plasynski, the Vice Chair for the Surfrider Foundation.

The boat is located at the intersection of Folly Road and Battery Island Dr.

The community is welcome to participate. Those who are interested can sign up on the Surfrider Foundation’s website.