A Step Back in Time Along Highway 17
As you enter historic McClellanville through a shady tunnel of moss-covered live oaks, you’ll discover a tiny, quaint fishing village just off Highway 17 North. With a population of about 600, residents invite visitors to experience the feeling of stepping back in time to a simpler, friendly way of life, where shrimping, fishing, and oystering are a mainstay. At the town park, children bounce on joggling boards, glide on a rope swing, and gather for a town-wide game of wiffleball.
Locals stroll or bike to the shrimp docks for a pound of the freshest seafood around or park by the Town Hall on Jeremy Creek to conveniently launch their boats for the afternoon.
Where Nature, History, and Small-Town Life Meet
Natural beauty surrounds this rural town, nestled in the Francis Marion Forest and adjacent to the Atlantic Coast. It’s located at the edge of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, and is known as one of the most pristine estuaries funneling into the Atlantic. Established in the 1860s, the main street is dotted with stately, metal roofed historic homes and a small downtown area with a charming, rustic restaurant serving fresh seafood platters, a few offices, a gift shop, and an eclectic arts center and gallery.
Just a few blocks away, there’s a Village Museum for history buffs and maritime enthusiasts, and a boat themed playground for the kids. Many of the churches, the Cape Romain lighthouse, plantations, and homes in the historic district are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A Creative Surprise in the Heart of Town
Shrimp Boats, Traditions, and Festival Days
With a healthy dose of southern hospitality and a pinch of quirkiness, McClellanville is best known for its shrimp and hosts a popular yearly Lowcountry Shrimp Festival, featuring a “Blessing of the Fleet” early in May, before the season begins. Add McClellanville to your list for a laid-back, unforgettable day surrounded by the marshes, creeks, and history of the Lowcountry.
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