With 2876 miles of tidal shoreline, South Carolina is a beach-goers dream, whether or not you’re in search of solitude, household enjoyable, or a spring break vibe.

South Carolina beaches entice guests, not simply with the cool, glowing Atlantic and broad, sandy beaches that cover dazzling seashells. You possibly can see wildlife, dive deep into historical past, take pleasure in water sports activities, and dine, store, and spa.

Every of South Carolina’s beaches has its personal vibe. Many are a brief drive from Charleston, a nexus of southern attraction. So, think about South Carolina in your subsequent seashore trip if you wish to steep your self in luxurious or make reminiscences that may final a lifetime with out spending a mint.

Folly Seashore

Best seashore for surf city vibes

Simply south of Charleston, Folly Island has the Atlantic Ocean out the entrance door, and the Folly River out the again door. The intersection of the 2 waterways created six miles of broad beaches across the island’s perimeter, the place guests can surf and boogie board, kayak and fish, boat or water ski.

Folly Seashore’s wealthy and storied historical past begins with its unique residents, the Bohicket Indians, who lived in the world in the 1600s till European colonists compelled them to maneuver. 

Typically referred to as one in every of America’s final true seashore cities, the 12-sq-mile barrier island has 2400 residents. An enthralling and funky surf city, Folly Seashore’s Middle Avenue is lined with boho clothes retailers and seafood eating places.

The island teems with ocean-focused sights, together with 1000ft Folly Seashore Pier, a pelican rookery and the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Protect. 

Discover the Folly River marshlands by kayak – it’s an journey that’s secure and enjoyable for youths of any age. 

Folly Seashore is a superb place for tradition too. The Porgy Home was residence to Charleston authors Dubose and Dorothy Heyward in the 1930s. That is additionally the place, in 1934, George Gershwin wrote Porgy and Bess, based mostly on Dubose Hayward’s novel.

Hilton Head

Best seashore for luxurious 

Well-known for its luxurious lodging, low country-beaches and greater than 23 world-class golf programs, Hilton Head was the primary eco-planned vacation spot in the USA.

Steep your self in decadent luxurious at Hilton Head’s spas, dine in its four-diamond eating places and play a spherical or two between bronzing and beach-combing,

The 42-square-mile barrier island is bordered by 12 miles of beautiful beaches, and lots of the island’s unique inns have non-public entry. The Gulf Stream retains the daytime temperature at a pleasant 70°F, and the ocean waters are near the identical.

Whereas Hilton Head is known for its high-end choices, there’s loads of exploring for households and nature buffs. Pinckney Island Nationwide Wildlife Refuge is residence to deer and alligators and is a maze of salt marshes and lagoons. Moss-draped oaks, magnolias, pines, and palmettos make it a birder’s paradise.

Vacationers on a finances will respect the general public seashore entry with metered parking obtainable at eight of the island’s beaches.

Best neighborhoods to discover in Charleston 

Edisto Seashore

Best seashore for nature lovers 

Considered one of 4 oceanfront state parks in South Carolina. Edisto Seashore, positioned on Edisto Island, is a superb rustic getaway for nature lovers. A trip at Edisto seashore invariably entails journey in the good outside.

The Seashore State Park is crosshatched with mountaineering and biking trails, together with the state’s longest system of ADA-accessible mountaineering and biking trails. Hike, bike, discover the seashore, fish and splash in the shallows. Edisto Seashore gives reasonably priced seashore enjoyable, based mostly, from furnished cabins perched in the woods, in addition to oceanfront and forest campsites.

The park additionally has an environmental training heart with displays on the pure historical past of Edisto Island and the encircling ACE Basin. The ACE Basin boundaries embody the watersheds of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers. The park can also be is a nesting space for loggerhead sea turtles.

When it’s time for the seashore, search the mile-and-a-half, palmetto-lined strip of sand on Edisto Seashore for shiny and colourful seashells, pause to catch a dawn and maintain a watch peeled for fossils.

Bull Island

Best seashore to keep away from the crowds 

Stepping onto Bull Island—additionally referred to as Bulls Island– in Cape Romain Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, is like setting out on an east coast safari.

Accessible by ferry or kayak, with 16 miles of trails and roads, and 7 miles of undeveloped shoreline to discover, that is the proper island to keep away from the crowds. 

Bull Island is thought for its chook life, with greater than 293 species recorded there. Youngsters love recognizing a regal American Bald Eagle. Naturalist-guided excursions are nice for all ages if observing alligators, catching a glimpse of black foxes, and recognizing bottlenose dolphins is in your bucket checklist.

The 66,000-acre island is the biggest of 4 barrier islands throughout the Cape Romain Nationwide Wildlife Refuge. The refuge accommodates saltwater estuaries, barrier islands, freshwater impoundments and maritime forests.

Bottlenose dolphins elevate their calves in Bull’s Island protected creeks, and loggerhead sea turtles nest on the island beaches.

Boneyard Seashore, named for the bleached skeletons of oaks, cedars, palmettos, and pines that litter a three-mile stretch of seashore on the island’s northeast nook, is in style with photographers. 

Go for the day or just some hours. It’s enjoyable for the whole household, and an incredible day journey from Charleston, which is about 50 minutes from the ferry launch in Awendaw.

Crescent Seashore

Best seashore for households 

Myrtle Seashore is South Carolina’s hottest, with greater than 19 million guests yearly. Vacationers come for the family-friendly sights, beachfront resorts, leisure, and naturally, the white-sand beaches.

Crescent Seashore, one in every of North Myrtle Seashore’s 4 beaches, is town’s hidden gem and the very best spot to submit up with a seashore umbrella with a superb ebook as the children boogie board or construct a sandcastle. 

Rub elbows with the locals at Molly Darcy’s Irish Pub and Bay Watch Cafe on South Ocean Boulevard. You’ll discover loads of journey and water sports activities in North Myrtle Seashore. From wakeboarding and jet-skiing to browsing and parasailing, the seashore is an adrenaline junky’s paradise.

Best issues to do in and round Myrtle Seashore 

Kiawah Island

Best seashore for privateness 

A non-public island with 10 miles of white-sand beaches, Kiawah Island is usually referred to as paradise. Probably the greatest seashore locations for a luxurious trip. On Kiawah,  a world-class resort and a vibrant village coexist alongside a pristine shoreline, 10,000 acres of maritime woodlands, sand dunes,and marshes populated by whitetail deer, alligators, bobcats, seabirds and sea turtles.

The pure maritime setting is being preserved and enhanced for present and future generations. Take in the solar and splash in the surf—the island is as welcoming to households as grownup vacationers. Go to the 5 centuries-old Angel Oak Tree. Seize a meal or a drink at Charleston Tea Backyard and Firefly Distillery.

Most beaches are non-public and accessible to property homeowners, friends and renters. Guests who aren’t staying on the island can solar and swim at Beachwalker County Park.