I’ve done the entire length of the waterway, from Cape May to New Orleans, although not at once. I think the Waccamaw River between Georgetown and where the ditch begins at Myrtle Beach is the prettiest stretch of the waterway. It is black water, cypress swamp, old rice fields, remains of rice plantations, creeks to explore, Sandy Island protected by the Nature Conservancy, rice fields protected by Ducks Unlimited. Perfect sand beach on the south side of Sandy Island. Plus, you can wind your way through the creeks over to the Pee Dee and Black Rivers. You could spend weeks up there and not see it all.
But, beyond that, it is a ditch up to Little River. If you go, stay in the middle of the ditch, especially at the area known as the Rock Pile. Your lower unit will thank you.