Pawleys Island Pier — Pawleys Island, South Carolina

This pier is one of just many jewels on Pawleys Island, located 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach along the southernmost stretch of South Carolina’s “Grand Strand.”

Although the pier is accessible only through Pawleys Pier Village, a condominium complex that greets people at the end of the north causeway, it is a great endpoint for those adventuring into the Atlantic on a stand-up paddleboard or in a kayak.

Although the island claims to be “the oldest seaside resort in America,” there certainly aren’t any traces of resort life. Pawleys Island is home to one of the most undeveloped public beaches in the state and is known for its “arrogantly shabby” style. Life on the island is slow and relaxed, and locals work hard to keep it that way.

Austin Bond, who contributed two of the beautiful photos featured above, describes the scene for us: “Every Tuesday I lead a Prayer Breakfast for high and middle school students before school in Pawleys Island for our church’s youth ministry. When the sun rises before 6:45 AM (since that is when the breakfast starts), I try to watch it! It has rained a lot over the last week so it was so nice to see a beautiful sunrise after so much rain … and the high clouds made the morning even more beautiful!”

Pawleys Island Pier Map

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