Unwind in the Historic River Town of Conway

After you check in, take a stroll along the Riverwalk, a trail along the Waccamaw River. It's a beautiful spot, with trees draped in Spanish moss, which reflect in the dark water on still, sunny days.

The Riverwalk is a popular spot for photographers, as it offers an array of stunning photo opportunities and many families and brides have their photos taken there.

Your walk will take you to the Conway Visitor Center, where you can pick up free guides for shopping and dining, including menus for many local businesses. While most of the downtown area was built in the early 1900s, some churches and homes were built in the early or mid-1800s. Pick up a map of historic sites, which lists 39 historic buildings and homes, 17 of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Don’t forget to grab a copy "A Guide to Some of Our Oldest Citizens," which will take you on a tour of Conway’s beautiful live oak trees which are so treasured the streets have been built around them.

There's the Hanging Oak just across the street from Conway City Hall; public executions were held here until 1908. There's the Mary Beaty Oak, named for the woman who stood in front of another oak, the Wade Hampton Oak, to prevent workmen from cutting it to place railroad tracks. My favorite is the oak at the intersection of Beaty Street and Seventh Avenue. It is actually in the center of the intersection, and the streets circle around it.

Before dinner, head back to the Cypress Inn to relax on the front porch. When you’re ready, walk up the street to Rivertown Bistro for an incredibly good dinner. Everything here is delicious, but my favorites from the starter menu are the Lowcountry spring rolls stuffed with chicken, tasso ham and cheeses. The salads and sushi are excellent, and entrees include seafood, chicken, beef and pork. Some interesting sides are available, including mac-n-cheese noodle cake, collards and sautéed spinach.

Chef Darren Smith and his wife, Cyndi, opened Rivertown Bistro in 1994, and it gained a loyal following. It was destroyed by fire in 2008, but it reopened with more space a year later. The staff is very friendly, the decor is pleasant, and this is just one of those places where you feel very welcome and comfortable.

Some of the tables upstairs give you a peek down into the bustling kitchen. If the weather is pleasant, ask if you can dine on the upstairs porch.

If you love good community theater, see if there is a performance at Theatre of the Republic. The home of Theatre of the Republic is an old movie theater that opened as the Theatre in 1947 and now is Main Street Theatre.