10 Greatest Seashore Cities in South Carolina

Folly Seashore

“As somebody who lives 10 minutes from Folly Seashore, I definitely really feel like I’m on trip the place I dwell,” Katie Hirsch, the director and chief curator of the Halsey Institute of Modern Artwork, tells Journey + Leisure. It’s one of many closest seashore cities to Charleston, so it’s an incredible choice for a day journey in the event you’re visiting the Holy Metropolis; simply you should definitely arrive on the sooner aspect if you wish to beat the crowds and have a neater time parking. Plus, “in the event you’re an early riser,” says Hirsch, you may wish to “strive discovering shark enamel throughout a morning seashore stroll.” She additionally recommends grabbing some meals at native favourite Jack of Cups Saloon for “sudden bites impressed by Asian delicacies.”

Associated: This South Carolina Seashore City Is a Native Favourite — and It is Simply Outdoors Charleston

Hilton Head Island

“Hilton Head Island is without doubt one of the greatest locations to flee to if you wish to be close to a seashore city however need a completely different surroundings from Charleston,” explains Hirsch. “It has fashionable touches however nonetheless retains its Southern attraction, interesting to each vacationers and locals alike.” Hilton Head is understood for its golf programs and bike trails, however there’s one thing for everybody on the 12-mile-long, five-mile-wide island. Gullah heritage excursions, boat rides, paddleboarding, and birding are all itinerary contenders, and Hirsch additionally says the vacation spot has “among the greatest thrift shops.” If that’s up your alley, save a day for exploring the products at The Discount Field, My Sister’s Closet, and The Church Mouse.

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Isle of Palms

I’ve spent numerous days on Isle of Palms, a small barrier island just below half-hour from downtown Charleston. It’s one of many extra family-friendly seashores within the space, with many guests opting to remain at Wild Dunes Resort or lease a roomy oceanfront house. Regardless of the place you’re on the island, although, its leisurely tempo, extensive seashore, and basic small-town options will entice guests of all ages. One in all my favourite issues to do on “IOP,” because the locals name it, is to seize dinner at Islander 71 and watch the boats come out and in of the marina. I’d additionally suggest trying out the dwell music schedule at The Windjammer — or choosing up a to-go frosé from The Co-Op.

Sullivan’s Island

Named one of many greatest seashore cities on the East Coast, Sullivan’s Island continues to be a favourite — particularly for Charlestonians. “The seashore could be very relaxed, and the marsh views are second to none,” says Betsy Fuller, proprietor of A Maker’s Submit. “In the event you’re visiting, I’d suggest taking a protracted seashore stroll ending at Station 22.5, so you’ll be able to head into ‘city,’ aka Center Road, to do some purchasing.” This a part of Sullivan’s Island is standard for its varied eateries; there’s every thing from Mexican and barbecue to burgers and seafood. Fuller recommends getting a desk at Excessive Thyme or The Obstinate Daughter — then grabbing a nightcap at Dunleavy’s.

Associated: Methods to Plan the Excellent Journey to Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina

Beaufort

The second-oldest metropolis in South Carolina, Beaufort is commonly in comparison with Charleston; it’s historic, lovely, and stuffed with oak bushes and wonderful structure. Its proximity to the water can be a perk. Equally to Charleston, you’ll need to drive a bit out of the primary hub to get to the seashore. In the event you don’t thoughts parking your seashore chair by Battery Creek, slightly than the Atlantic Ocean, make your solution to the Sands Seashore on the southern finish of Port Royal. The seashore is free to the general public, and there’s lots to maintain the entire household entertained, together with shark tooth looking, a boardwalk, and an remark tower. For true oceanfront seashores, you’ll must drive to Looking Island State Park, the place 5 miles of gorgeous seashores dwell alongside marshes, a saltwater lagoon, and maritime forests. 

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Pawleys Island

Rest is paramount if you’re visiting Pawleys Island, a barrier island seashore city positioned between Myrtle Seashore and Charleston. That is the kind of place the place time routinely slows, the place you’re inspired to sign off, and the place you’ll be able to see the unparalleled pure splendor of South Carolina’s coast. Spend your days crabbing, browsing (if the waves allow), fishing, {golfing}, or eating on basic Lowcountry staples; simply don’t overlook to avoid wasting time for the artwork of doing completely nothing. For a very rejuvenating getaway, ebook a room at The Pelican Inn, an eight-bedroom bed-and-breakfast with quite a lot of studying nooks and locations to take a nap. 

Murrells Inlet

Murrells Inlet, or the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina,” makes this record for a couple of causes. For starters, the historic fishing village has a characteristic often known as MarshWalk. The picket boardwalk spans a half-mile alongside a pure saltwater estuary and several other eating places, together with Bovine’s, Wahoo’s Fish Home, and The Claw Home. In between journeys to the far-from-crowded Huntington Seashore State Park, guests ought to make a degree to cease by Brookgreen Gardens, a zoo and 9,100-acre sculpture backyard. Murrells Inlet was additionally beforehand the situation of Goat Island, which Hirsch calls a “spectacle to see,” however as of 2023, the resident goats have been changed with steel goat replicas as excessive tides posed an excessive amount of of a risk to the animals.

Edisto Seashore

Edisto Seashore isn’t your typical, buzzy seashore city — and that’s the fantastic thing about it. There aren’t any stoplights, excessive rises, or chain eating places on the whole lot of Edisto Island, and the seashore city itself wholeheartedly embraces the magic of sluggish dwelling. For leisure, guests can (respectfully) discover the 4.5 miles of shoreline, take a dip within the ocean, and seek for shells, shark enamel, and different fossils which will wash up on shore. Biking, kayaking, and dolphin excursions are additionally favourite trip additions. But when there’s completely one factor you’ll be able to’t miss whereas visiting Edisto Seashore? The fantastic sunsets. Convey a blanket to Edisto Seashore State Park, sit again, and benefit from the present. 

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Myrtle Seashore

Myrtle Seashore could technically be a metropolis, however it has all the trappings of your basic seashore city. There’s a bustling boardwalk, golf programs, go-karts, memento purchasing, and, after all, quite a lot of public seashores. “I’ve all the time been drawn to the nostalgia that you could find on Myrtle Seashore,” says Fuller. “One in all my favourite films, “Shag,” is about there, and every time I watch it, I daydream about going again to go to the seashore city within the Nineteen Fifties.” And whereas it is perhaps synonymous with spring break crowds and households on summer time trip, this can be a vacation spot that delivers — whether or not you’re hoping to spend the day by the water or maintaining your schedule full, from sun-up to sunset. 

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Kiawah Island

“Seashore city” has completely different associations for various individuals. To me, a seashore city is someplace that’s simply navigable by bike; it’s a spot with only some retailers that each one, for probably the most half, promote some type of solar hat or location-specific t-shirt. In South Carolina, a seashore city additionally evokes a nostalgic mixture of humidity, salt water, and the scent of pluff mud. Kiawah Island meets all of those standards — after which some. A majority of the island capabilities as a gated non-public neighborhood, accessible solely to residents, their visitors, and people with reservations, although there are a few areas open to the general public, specifically Kiawah Beachwalker Park and Freshfields Village. On the latter, you’ll be able to load up on all of your trip necessities — groceries, seashore reads, bathing fits, and extra. 

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