Other Palmetto State beaches in the running included: Myrtle Beach, Folly Beach, Folly Field Beach Park (Hilton Head Island), Isle of Palms, Kiawah Beachwalker Park (Kiawah Island), Sullivan’s Island and Surfside Beach. The voting period ran from April 21 to May 19, and the beach with the most votes won. Winners were announced May 28. "I couldn’t be more excited about this news," said Mark Stevens, the chamber's director of tourism development. "Clearly the Hammock Coast’s beaches are beloved by residents and vacationers. Our beaches are adored for their pristine shores and mild crowds, and we wouldn’t have it any other way." Locations along the Hammock Coast have been featured in the USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in previous years. Huntington Beach and Brookgreen Gardens have been nominated in several categories, while Georgetown topped the list for the Best Coastal Small Town in 2018. Murrells Inlet placed sixth earlier this year in the contest for the Best Small Town in the South, according to the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce. Also, Caledonia Golf and Fish Club in Pawleys Island placed fourth this year in "America's Best Public Golf Course" poll from USA Today/10Best. The USA Today/10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlight “top-notch attractions and businesses, providing readers with trusted recommendations,” according to a news release. A panel of judges chose the South Carolina beaches in the running. The judges included travel writers Jamie Davis Smith and Marla Cimini and USA Today Top 10's coordinator Catherine Smith, according to USA Today.