Just south of the bustle of Myrtle Beach, the roads start to thin into winding two-lanes, high-rise hotels are replaced with single-family rental homes, and the pace slows way, way down.

The laid-back communities here, along the southern stretch of South Carolina's storied Grand Strand of beaches, don't draw as many tourists as their neighbor to the north, but that's proven to be a big part of this area's appeal. The beaches are less developed, the restaurants and inns more often family-owned and cozy. Even at the height of spring break season here, you're more likely to hear the crashing waves at night than a band of rambunctious vacationers.

Driving south of Myrtle Beach, you'll first come across tiny Surfside Beach, a family-focused town tucked along a two-mile-long strip of white sand. Next up is Garden City, famed for its popular fishing pier, followed by Murrells Inlet, widely considered the seafood capital of South Carolina. Finally, there's Pawleys Island, a less than four-mile-long barrier island that's been attracting visitors since the early 1700s, when Charleston rice plantation owners would vacation here to escape the muggy, mosquito-filled summers back on the river. If you're looking for a quiet respite along the sea, follow their lead: This part of greater Myrtle Beach remains one of the most peaceful stretches along the Atlantic.

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