Georgetown is perfect for a weekend getaway

With its charming downtown, picturesque Harborwalk and array of museums and art galleries, Georgetown is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. South Carolina's third-oldest city offers everything you need for a fun escape, from inviting sidewalk cafes and locally owned boutiques to river cruises and tours of the historic district.

Here's some advice to help make the most of your trip:

Once you're settled, stroll down Front Street for a casual dinner at SoCo Grille, where you can enjoy homemade Southern comfort foods and fresh local seafood right off the dock. If the weather is nice, ask for a table on the sidewalk. It's a great place to watch what's going on in the city.

If you're not staying at a bed and breakfast, start your Saturday morning at Kudzu Bakery with a delicious muffin or cheese Danish. My favorite things at Kudzu are the cheese biscuits, which are perfect.

Spend the morning taking in some of the museums in this city so rich in history. At the Georgetown County Museum, you can learn about important industries of the past, such as ship building and the lumber business; famous residents, including Thomas Lynch Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence; the Native American tribes who lived in the area; and the plantations where rice, indigo and cotton were grown.

The Kaminski House Museum, in a 1769 home, displays American and English antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Rice Museum is easy to find; just look for the large Town Clock. This museum explores the impact of the rice industry on Georgetown County. At one time, the county produced almost half of the entire U.S. rice crop, and it brought great wealth to the area. Next door, the South Carolina Maritime Museum, featuring the Browns Ferry Vessel, a freighter built in the early 1700s that sunk in about 1730. It was reconstructed by the University of South Carolina and has been on display in the museum since 1992.

All that history can make you hungry, so take a short ride to a small café with a cool name, the Humble Crumb. It offers artisan pizzas, (The Greek one with feta, mozzarella, kalamata olives, peppers, onions and tomato sauce sounds amazing.) meatball sandwiches and lots of specialties such as lasagna and veal or chicken parmesan. I haven't had a chance to eat here yet, but I have a friend who loves it.

While you're out, just drive up and down the streets to look at some of the beautiful old homes. Or take a Swamp Fox Tour and let an experienced guide point out some of the interesting homes, churches and buildings

Another option is to spend your Saturday on the water. Take a cruise on the Carolina Rover to a barrier island and see the Winyah Bay Lighthouse, or get on Cap'n Rod's big pontoon boat for a tour of some plantation homes or to a barrier island for shelling.

For dinner, stop at the River Room for some seafood dishes - shrimp and grits, grilled grouper, crab cakes. You can enjoy your view of the Sampit River while you dine.

If you're lucky, the Swamp Fox Players could be performing at the Strand Theater that night.

Before you leave on Sunday, spend some time at Coffee Break Café for breakfast or lunch. I've enjoyed stopping here for coffee, and owners Meghan and Ron Rader and their staff are friendly. A friend tells me the chicken salad can't be beat.

Some other dining choices are the Buzz's Roost and Big Tuna Raw Bar.