Secluded Oceanfront Hotel Minutes from Myrtle Beach

About 25 miles south from Myrtle Beach's tourist shops and bustling boardwalk, the town of Pawleys Island proudly promotes a laid-back vibe under its unusual moniker "arrogantly shabby." Here, the Atlantic beach and its sand dunes are untouched and quiet, fishermen venture to the town creek for crabbing, and rope hammocks symbolize the area's penchant for taking it easy. Soaking in the attitude of the town, The Oceanfront Litchfield Inn evokes a relaxed mood with its location next to unspoiled white sandy beaches.

A private balcony overlooks the Atlantic in each oceanfront Tower room, and private screened-in porches connect to oceanfront Dunes rooms. Each individually appointed room has tropical accents and a beachy palette that evokes summer even in middle of January. A continental breakfast erases morning hunger with make-your-own waffles, bagels, danishes, cereal, muffins, juice, coffee, and seasonal fruit.

Neighboring the two outdoor pools, Austin's Cabana Café and Beach Bar serves casual fare and beverages for lunch and dinner six days a week. For an upscale dining affair, the chic Austin’s Ocean One restaurant serves seafood and hand-cut steaks amid views of the Atlantic and synchronized-seagull routines. Diners can talk to the staff sommelier about the copious wine list before digging in to a 6-ounce grilled filet mignon with shrimp or a panko- and herb-crusted local flounder prepared by executive chef Bill Austin.

Pawleys Island, South Carolina: Historical and Laid-Back Beach Town

Though Pawleys Island is "arrogantly shabby," it charms visitors with its unpretentious barefoot style and rich history. Twelve residences in the historical district date back to the late 1700s, recalling an era when wealthy owners of nearby rice plantations inhabited Pawleys Island. Shoppers can peruse a cluster of more than 20 specialty stores and restaurants known as The Hammock Shops, which date back to 1938. Surrounded by gardens teeming with moss-draped oaks and azaleas, hammocks and rockers provide places to pause and slip into a siesta.

Nearby Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, named one of America's 100 Greatest Public Courses by Golf Digest in 2007–08, was built on the site of a former rice plantation. An antebellum-style clubhouse anchors the property, which is dotted with centuries-old live oaks and abandoned pelican speakeasies.