First, you’ll need a place to stay. Cypress Inn offers wonderful accommodations within walking distance from downtown, and on the Waccamaw River waterfront. Innkeepers Hugh and Carol will help you relax and recharge in the most gracious of surroundings. This four diamond inn is a real find and one you’ll want to revisit time and again.

There are self-guided tours available, including the Historical Trail, which identifies beautiful buildings and homes admired from a sidewalk stroll. The homes are a source of pride to the citizens, whether they are fourth generation owners, or recent transplants who have discovered Conway and decided to move here.

If you’ve driven through the town, you may have noticed the very unusual speed bumps in the form of stately live oak trees, perched in the middle of the streets. Legend has it that these beauties have been protected with shotguns raised by town matriarchs who refused to let them be cut down to straighten a roadway. Now, a city ordinance protects the town’s oldest citizens, and cars carefully maneuver around their massive trunks.  A self-guided trail introduces you to the town's oldest citizens.

You’ll find fabulous antique stores and some more modern charmers. Bodega is a boutique for food and wine enthusiasts, with wonderful cooking equipment and entertaining accessories, as well as a fine selection of wine and spirits, gourmet coffee and tea, and even a small drink bar. The building is historic, on the corner and across from the iconic town clock. It feels good and clearly, the buyer has an eye for lovely things.

Stroll further down the street and you’ll see Park Smith, a women’s clothing boutique that offers an uptown selection of unique and attractive clothes. The Horry County Museum is downtown and provides a glimpse of a bygone era, as well as snippets of history about this, one of the oldest towns in the Carolinas.

When it’s time for lunch, Berni’s American Style Café & Deli is a great option. Named for the owner’s mother, Bernadette, Nate and Shawna Palmer’s signature dish is a homemade spinach cake which is an old family recipe created to help young Nate eat his veggies. Ingredients include baby spinach, fresh Italian Mozzarella, bread crumbs and secret seasonings. Diners rave about it and their other items including a variety of sandwiches and their fruit cobblers, made from a 136-year old recipe. (This time of year, go for the peach version. With apologies to Georgia, the peach state, South Carolina peaches are magnificent orbs of juicy sweetness. Great on their own, they become positively sublime when paired with flaky crust and a scoop of rich vanilla ice cream.)

After eating, walk off your meal along the Riverwalk, a beautiful, shady boardwalk that meanders along the river. You’ll see families strolling, or perhaps an artist, capturing the murky dark, shimmering water on canvas. Sometimes, there’s entertainment, so check with the Visitor’s Center for scheduled events.

For a different look at your surroundings, soak in the peace and serenity of the riverboat River Memories, a luxurious and quiet electric cruising yacht. Captain Jim, a Conway native, takes you on an adventure. Along the way, you’ll see a 19th century warehouse once used by steamboats that traveled the dark waters of the Waccamaw. You’ll pass by historic southern riverfront homes that belonged to some of Conway’s earliest and most prominent citizens. Most of all, simply being outdoors on the water is guaranteed to refresh your soul.

Speaking of refreshment, ask your innkeepers about Neroli Body Therapy, available through the inn. The treatment uses a blend of essential oils and organic plant extracts. A warm moist towel compression is used as well as a gentle massage. A body moisturizer follows to hydrate the skin & improve skin elasticity.

When it’s dinnertime, head for The Rivertown Bistro, one of my favorite restaurants in all the world. I’m not alone in my accolades. The restaurant recently was voted Number 2 on the Top 10 Restaurants by Chef2Chef!

The seasonal menu serves the best the local area has to offer. The Rivertown Bistro brings culinary artistry to the heart of historic Conway. Always innovative yet true to the southern roots so celebrated in this region of South Carolina, the specials are guaranteed to please.

After dining, if you haven’t lingered too long over your meal, within walking distance is the Theatre of the Republic, Conway’s spectacular community theatre.  Upcoming productions include Nine, Into the Woods and Miss Saigon.  Alert: The theatre virtually always sells out - the productions are that good!

Coastal Carolina University sits on the edge of Conway and offers musical, film, dance, cultural and theatrical experiences at its Wheelwright Auditorium. Yearly, the Wheelwright Cultural Arts Series focuses on the music literature and dance of national, as well as international cultures. The university also equips a beautiful gallery displaying artistic creations of students and special showings of traveling pieces.

Finally, your evening’s entertainment may simply consist of a stroll around town, then back to deep, restful sleep in plush surroundings.

Next day, breakfast is served at the inn and you’re sure to enjoy it.

If you’re a fan of historical agriculture, check out the L.W. Paul Living History Farm where visitors sample the everyday life of farm family living in Horry County between 1900 and 1955.

Guests on this working farm can observe and participate in activities that would have been commonplace on traditional family farms. Plowing with mules, making lye soap, grinding grits, blacksmithing, curing meat, preserving vegetables, milking cows, and harvesting crops are only a few hands-on activities the farm offers. Events at the farm change with the seasons so check throughout the year to see what’s happening. (2279 Shortcut Rd., Conway, SC 29526)

Following the South Carolina farm theme, you may want to visit Hyman Vineyards. Their mission is to formulate and produce botanically-based products, including the creation of natural products which are composed of plant extracts that are beneficial to human health and well-being. They serve as a support model for 21st century agricultural practices in South Carolina. Plus, the wine made from muscadines is said to be really good for you (in moderation, of course). And, if you don't like the taste, you're sure to enjoy jams, jellies and other natural products.

Hyman Vineyards’ General Store, Tasting Room and Vineyard are open for wine tastings and tours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. The General Store also offers an assortment of retail items and is located at 6027 Old Bucksville Road about 5½ miles south of Conway off Hwy 701.

Afterwards, shoppers will enjoy a trip to Tanger Outlet Mall, just a few miles toward the beach on Highway 501 (the Waterford and Lenox outlets offers great buys to tuck away for a wedding gift).

Then, you’re less than ten miles from the Grand Strand with its temptations and glittery nightlife. Fun, fun, fun, no matter where you stay, but remember, Conway has its own entertainment that’s sure to draw you back for more meandering.

Conway, SC

Day Trips Directory